79 replies to this topic

[kayemod]

Facel Vega - just love these cars, but not sure why...

Me too, and that's helped by the fact that Rob Walker and Sir Stirling both had Facel Vegas, probably at some time back in the 1960s. There was a really lovely example at Goodwood a year or two ago, I think I spent longer examining that one than anything else parked in front of Goodwood House that day, simply gorgeous, and for me the original Chrysler lump would be plenty good enough.

[Bob Riebe]

Me too, and that's helped by the fact that Rob Walker and Sir Stirling both had Facel Vegas, probably at some time back in the 1960s. There was a really lovely example at Goodwood a year or two ago, I think I spent longer examining that one than anything else parked in front of Goodwood House that day, simply gorgeous, and for me the original Chrysler lump would be plenty good enough.

This is just one of the lovely models produced, but I was thinking, what if some person, Jauguar had done it and won, would have ran one of these in NASCAR.
It would have put the Euro hurt on the good-old boys.

The original lump, outside of being rather heavy, was good enough, that in last years more liberal Engine Masters competition, one gent put four Webers on one and came in third, (if you are aware of the extremely high level of competition, that is VERY good) although he used cylinder heads he sells for the old style Hemi.

Edited by Bob Riebe, 10 November 2010 - 00:12.

[ray b]

but you can't buy them for a $1000 any more
in 64 my dad bought a 58 hk500 with the 392 hemi
nice car that never had a problem

he traded the hk500 and 3000 cash for a 62 facel II with a 413 wedge a few years later


but they were cruisers big and heavy nothing like the 356 Porsche he had a 1/2 dozzen of before that
inc a speedster and a late 50's 4 cam coupe

[hipperson]

Other Facel 2 owners of note

Charlie Drake
Lionel Bart
Ringo Starr

[hipperson]

Pre 66 car park Revival 2009

[arttidesco]

I'd want my list to only include one off road vehicles, and I am not sure I can think of ten but to start my list rolling in no particular order

I believe VW made just one Passat 5 door hatch back (B2) with 200hp Audi Quattro engine and running gear which I recall seeing at the VW share holders meeting in Wolfsburg in 1983.

I'd love to include the Bristol Blenheim Speedster in my list but it would appear there really are more than one of them.

Edited by arttidesco, 15 November 2010 - 02:06.

[gtsmunro]

My list;
Volvo P1800.
Ford GT40
Bill Bourke XW GT 428
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
Lotus Europa.

[Lee Nicolle]

My list;
Volvo P1800.
Ford GT40
Bill Bourke XW GT 428
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
Lotus Europa.

wot!! No Munroes!!

[gtsmunro]

wot!! No Munroes!!

Ha!!! I aready have one and they aren't that rare!!! Although someone told me there's only 12 Orchid Metallic 4 door HQ GTS's. I doubt it though.
The only one I'd put on the list is my brothers old HX GTS which was Sierra Tan with 'Chamois' vinyl roof, 253 4 slot with the delet stripe option. I haven't seen it since the early '80's so I assume it ended it's days in Sydney somewhere donating it's good bits for someones van or ute.

[kayemod]

My list;
Volvo P1800.
Ford GT40
Bill Bourke XW GT 428
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
Lotus Europa.

Ah! I deduce from that Watson, that this gentleman stands no more than 5' 9" tall.

[David Birchall]

Ah! I deduce from that Watson, that this gentleman stands no more than 5' 9" tall.

And wears very thick glasses...

[gtsmunro]

And wears very thick glasses...

5'8 and no glasses!!!

[Lee Nicolle]

Ha!!! I aready have one and they aren't that rare!!! Although someone told me there's only 12 Orchid Metallic 4 door HQ GTS's. I doubt it though.
The only one I'd put on the list is my brothers old HX GTS which was Sierra Tan with 'Chamois' vinyl roof, 253 4 slot with the delet stripe option. I haven't seen it since the early '80's so I assume it ended it's days in Sydney somewhere donating it's good bits for someones van or ute.

I doubt that too, have had 2 of those both 253. with black trim. I had the rare HQ 4 dr. Jan 75 350 auto with p/ steer and delete blackouts. It was a special order when new.

[arttidesco]

Two more I'd add to my list of one off desirables

1983 VW Passat 5 door hatch back (B2) with 200hp Audi Quattro engine and running gear
Bristol Blenheim Speedster

are the :-

Unique and four years older than the Tojerio, Ace abd Cobra lines, Williams & Pritchard bodied BMW 315/1

and the equally uniquely bodied Crosley Hotshot Sport built for Phil Styles and George Schraffts 1951 Le Mans bid, ultimately fast and a tad unreliable due to under preparation and a foreign part but who wouldn't want to race a car in the Le Mans 24 hours and then take it on Honeymoon, my idea of wedded bliss.

[David Birchall]

I don't think that a Crosley Hotshit would make a very good road car--750cc really doesn't keep up with the Hondas etc.

[Mistron]

my lottery win list would be (chosen for looks / drivability, with no regard to rarity):

970 or 1071 Coopers 'S' (dry suspension and Fiesta Yellow)
Lotus Seven S2
Lotus Elite
Gordon Keeble GK1 (but then, maybe a Peerless)
Derby Bentley 3 1/2 Litre VDP tourer

And if it was a really big win, I'd have a 250 SWB and a DB3S

Edited by Mistron, 21 November 2010 - 16:38.

[millau]

Excellent banter

Few thoughts in no particular order but I would be happy
C Type Jaguar
Bugatti Type 57
250 GTO
McLaren F1
1963 Corvette Stingray
Stratos
300SL
Jensen CV8
Citroen Avant (think about this one!!Please don't dismiss)
Stratos should be entered twice!!
Thanks for reading
M

Edited by millau, 30 March 2011 - 22:30.

[GMACKIE]

personally I would like a beck 550 with a 911 turbo running gear

Just happen to have one - almost. Mine's got a 911 T engine, with 5 speed, 356 drums, double wishbone rear end.

What a good thing to drive, with 49/51 front/rear weight, and a nice ride to boot. And no, I won't sell it.

[The Oracle]

Just a few to add and some help required please.

My local motor museum (Haynes - yes the one who do the manuals) have a Dunsenberg on dispaly which is one of only 9 in the world (apparentley)

Also have seen going around my locality South Somerset / Dorset a sports car badged as a Mansell! can anyone shed any light on this as I can't find anything on Google

[Allan Lupton]

a sports car badged as a Mansell!

Ah that'd be the one where you can't hear the exhaust note above the whining of the gears.

[Allan Lupton]

My local motor museum (Haynes - yes the one who do the manuals) have a Dunsenberg on dispaly which is one of only 9 in the world (apparentley)

1931 Duesenberg Model J Derham Bodied Tourster is what they say they have (yes "tourster" not "tourer") and elsewhere we find "Designed by Gordon Buehrig, Derham built eight of these Tourster bodies."

[David Birchall]

"Sports Car Market Newsletter" a magazine put out by Keith Martin in Portland Oregon, has just held an on line survey of peoples favourite cars. The survey was done in the form of a "knock-out" competition in which cars were paired up and people voted for their preference--nonsense really. Paired together were the Aston DB5 and the Bentley Speed Six for instance...
As of last night it was down to a choice between the Ferrari Daytona and the Cobra 427 for first place. One wonders if any of the voters have driven either car. The "enthusiast press" has a lot to answer for.

Edited by David Birchall, 02 April 2011 - 23:25.

[john aston]

Come on , few of us have driven our nominated favourites and rely on journalists to inform our choices. Guess it depends on which ones you read but choose carefully and their opinions are valuable. As I have been able to verify on desirable cars I have driven. But Cobra 427 ..? Hmm. Not even my 20th choice thanks. 289..oh yes please, if not for first place.

[arttidesco]

I don't think that a Crosley Hotshit would make a very good road car--750cc really doesn't keep up with the Hondas etc.

My 602cc 2CV never used to keep up with the Honda's either but it was a 'shed' load of fun

[Giraffe]

My list;
Volvo P1800.
Ford GT40
Bill Bourke XW GT 428
1970 Dodge Challenger R
Lotus Europa

Ah! I deduce from that Watson, that this gentleman stands no more than 5' 9" tall.

And wears very thick glasses...

On reflection, I should have done two things: measured my height (6ft 1in) and visited the opticians.


By giraffe138 at 2011-04-03

[David Birchall]

Come on , few of us have driven our nominated favourites and rely on journalists to inform our choices. Guess it depends on which ones you read but choose carefully and their opinions are valuable. As I have been able to verify on desirable cars I have driven. But Cobra 427 ..? Hmm. Not even my 20th choice thanks. 289..oh yes please, if not for first place.

I certainly agree with the choice of journalist but with the passing of Long John Setright who is there to trust?

ps he didn't think much of the 289 Cobra either...

[elansprint72]

Come on , few of us have driven our nominated favourites and rely on journalists to inform our choices. Guess it depends on which ones you read but choose carefully and their opinions are valuable. As I have been able to verify on desirable cars I have driven. But Cobra 427 ..? Hmm. Not even my 20th choice thanks. 289..oh yes please, if not for first place.

Never rely upon a journalist to provide a reliable recommendation for a car to live with (in real life); unless they have lived with it themself for at least a year. I can count on one hand the number of motoring journalists who are not, at least partially, full of **** (oxymoron intended).

Before laying in to me, check out the meaning of journalist. I'm not talking about authors.

[john aston]

Am not quite so damning; I trust the judgement of Messrs Bell, Bulgin, Green, Dron, Cropley, Sutcliffe for starters. LJKS was of course pre-eminent even though his preoccupation with Hondas and Bristols was often unfathomable.I know he didnt like the 289 but he was wrong ! And why a year ? I am no expert but I can form a pretty good view of most cars within a few hundred miles. Long term use may disclose reliability issues but this thread isn't about that. When I drove a Nissan Bluebird many years ago it didn't take me very long -the end of the road- to realise how truly dire it was. Whereas first drive of a Caterham--hooked within a mile and 50k later still am !

[David Birchall]

I agree about Bell, Green, Dron and especially Cropley-don't know the others. The current crop of writers in the enthusiast press don't seem to know-or want to research-anything. I have come to know an English automotive writer quite well recently and his lack of knowledge and his failure to detect bs is stunning! I am not concerned about his reading this since the chance of his coming on this forum are so slim.

I think Peter, Elansprint72, is right about driving a car for an extended period before you can know it-think of the effect different seasons have on the way you use a car--unless you live in Kalifornia of course.

[seldo]

I agree about Bell, Green, Dron and especially Cropley-don't know the others. The current crop of writers in the enthusiast press don't seem to know-or want to research-anything. I have come to know an English automotive writer quite well recently and his lack of knowledge and his failure to detect bs is stunning! I am not concerned about his reading this since the chance of his coming on this forum are so slim.

I think Peter, Elansprint72, is right about driving a car for an extended period before you can know it-think of the effect different seasons have on the way you use a car--unless you live in Kalifornia of course.

Having driven many of the cars on various posters' lists, I have to say that lots of them are at their best when beautifully polished and parked at the kerb. From there the aura begins a steady slide downwards, beginning from when you try to get in, try to get comfortable, then the further you drive them the more the dream is shattered.... Sad