allan downes Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) You guys ain't got a clue when it comes to supercars when compared to the kit built Ferrari I picked up for 30 quid back in the 60s. Went round to collect it with my mate in his Ford Anglia side valve van and there she stood. low, wide and menacing in Ferrari red. Couldn't wait as I gave my mate instruction for the journey back down the Southend Arterial "Don't worry mate, I'll ease back off the gas so you can keep up " and away we went. Anyway, out on the Arterial I had to shift over at 30 as my mate came hammering past at 40 - I was flat out, he was still in first. Got back, lifted the lid where after a frantic search we discovered a clapped out old Morris Eight side valve engine tucked away in a dark corner of the engine bay gasping its few last breaths of life ! Edited October 14, 2017 by allan downes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) You guys ain't got a clue when it comes to supercars when compared to the kit built Ferrari I picked up for 30 quid back in the 60s. Went round to collect it with my mate in his Ford Anglia side valve van and there she stood. low, wide and menacing in Ferrari red. Couldn't wait as I gave my mate instruction for the journey back down the Southend Arterial "Don't worry mate, I'll ease back off the gas so you can keep up " and away we went. Anyway, out on the Arterial I had to shift over at 30 as my mate came hammering past at 40 - I was flat out, he was still in first. Got back, lifted the lid where after a frantic search we discovered a clapped out old Morris Eight side valve engine tucked away in a dark corner of the engine bay gasping its few last breaths of life ! Hi Allan, Its a little known fact that we did have a clue about supercars because we had the Purvis Eureka kit car from Dandenong. (though admittedly based on a British prototype - maybe even the one you bought?!) You could build it with either a VW engine or Ford engine from the Escort I think. Most seemed to use the V dub one though, cos you'd pull up beside one at the lights thinking it was a Ferrari or whatever until you heard it take off going dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka holding up buses and ice cream vans that were trying to get past it. Edited October 14, 2017 by monkeysarefun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) Talking of ice cream vans, Monkeysarefun, I had one in Bedford that was an ex GPO VAN with a 4.2 jaguar engine fitted. Nobody messed with the kid when I had that ! Anyway, it ended its days in a gravel pit after I took a wrong turn and spun it out of control with desperate and urgent plans that were to involve some dolly bird straddled over the back of the fridge that I'd picked up on my round in St Neots. I walked back to Bedford, she thumbed it back to St Neots and neither of us ever saw the van again - nor each other come to that. Then there was the Packard, a Bedford lorry engine, another quarry and some desperate bird from Marston Valley who's mother and I ran off for a week to join the Fair before her old man got the same idea but enough already. Edited October 14, 2017 by allan downes 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Streak Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Hi Allan, Its a little known fact that we did have a clue about supercars because we had the Purvis Eureka kit car from Dandenong. (though admittedly based on a British prototype - maybe even the one you bought?!) Purvis_Eureka_100.jpg You could build it with either a VW engine or Ford engine from the Escort I think. Most seemed to use the V dub one though, cos you'd pull up beside one at the lights thinking it was a Ferrari or whatever until you heard it take off going dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka dakka holding up buses and ice cream vans that were trying to get past it. Crikey, those things were horrible. I knew a bloke who sold mint HX Monaro to buy a Purvis Eureka back in about 1988 and yes with VW power. He seemed happy enough with it however and cruised around town (not very fast mind you) pretending to be Magnum PI on a budget 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Talking of ice cream vans, Monkeysarefun, I had one in Bedford that was an ex GPO VAN with a 4.2 jaguar engine fitted. Nobody messed with the kid when I had that ! Anyway, it ended its days in a gravel pit after I took a wrong turn and spun it out of control with desperate and urgent plans that were to involve some dolly bird straddled over the back of the fridge that I'd picked up on my round in St Neots. I walked back to Bedford, she thumbed it back to St Neots and neither of us ever saw the van again - nor each other come to that. Then there was the Packard, a Bedford lorry engine, another quarry and some desperate bird from Marston Valley who's mother and I ran off for a week to join the Fair before her old man got the same idea but enough already. Wow, you are more Australian than the rest of us! This is you as an Australian picking up your new car. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Streak Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 A Jag motor in a Bedford Van. Now your talking. Down here in Oz, that's what We call a sleeper. It looks all innocent and run of the mill and then blows the doors off your car as it rips away from the lights. I got done over by a bloke in a ratty old Valiant Safari Station wagon, one Saturday night, it turned out this thing had a full on E49 Hemi motor stuffed in it complete with it's rack of Webers. . Currently there's a little Mk 2 Cortina still running around the streets of Perth with a 5 litre (302) Windsor in it - Seriously ! It was at the All Ford Day this year, most people walked past the back of it without a second glance, anyone who had a bo peep under the bonnet, had to pick their jaws up off the deck ! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 ....urgent plans that were to involve some dolly bird straddled over the back of the fridge that I'd picked up... I was going to ask what those plans were, but thought better of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) Well as SRman knows I had a 2006 Monaro for a company car for a while.( that's as close as I got to the muscle car ownership) it had a few major issues in that the manual gear box was shot to pieces as someone before me used it to tow a 2t boat around with it! Other than that the rear suspension was also shot for the same reason! Nice car to drive but in first useless on takeoff. I think the car was a bit of a lemon. It had, had the exhaust done to push it out to 300kw as the boss thought it didn't have enough power. One time I drove it up to Echuca and let it do its thing not until the engine hit 4000rpm did the beast breath fire! Let's just say I backed right off at that point as the back end was wanting to let go at about 130kmh. As Horse mentioned the old 3.8litre VY s were pretty good, my older car which is up for sale is the VE Calais 3.6l high out put but no one is interested in it. That car is brilliant as it has great handling and performance but due to work and the price of petrol I have changed to a 4x4 which is 2/3s the fuel consumption. Edited October 15, 2017 by DougN 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 G'Day Gents Talking Aussie cars, had a great Ford XB Coupe, back in the early 90's, it had a breathed on 351 cu in, huge tires etc, could be well over a 130kph before it shifted into top gear, and kept on going, even dragged off a 'big' motorbike one night and beat it, when the day came to sell it, I had a guy turn up to look it over, and was very impressed, he then said it was for his son, I asked how old he was, he said 17, it told him it wasn't for sale to him, as it was far to powerful for a 17 year old who had just got his license. He got the hump on, but I wouldn't sell him the car. manna 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Very wise, manna. That would have been lethal in the hands of an inexperienced driver.My own XB has a warm 302 in it. I have to drive with a feather-foot in the wet, although it has lost some power on unleaded petrol. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 ...due to work and the price of petrol I have changed to a 4x4 which is 2/3s the fuel consumption. The price of fuel can't be any worse than over here, surely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikks Posted October 15, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 15, 2017 Talking of ice cream vans, Monkeysarefun, I had one in Bedford that was an ex GPO VAN with a 4.2 jaguar engine fitted. Nobody messed with the kid when I had that ! Anyway, it ended its days in a gravel pit after I took a wrong turn and spun it out of control with desperate and urgent plans that were to involve some dolly bird straddled over the back of the fridge that I'd picked up on my round in St Neots. I walked back to Bedford, she thumbed it back to St Neots and neither of us ever saw the van again - nor each other come to that. Then there was the Packard, a Bedford lorry engine, another quarry and some desperate bird from Marston Valley who's mother and I ran off for a week to join the Fair before her old man got the same idea but enough already. Allan.........you are a bit of a worry, for the last thirty years or so I have been admiring your skills which suggest that you are(were) a quiet studious model maker.............apparently not so! you were a hell raiser like the rest of us baby boomers!!! Still love your model architecture though, Rgds........Mike 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 (edited) Over here in the 60s off the shelf performance was exclusive to Jaguar, nothing touched it and , at 2 grand retail, owner's didn't expect it to - until suddenly one day, and just for 600 quid, anyone could buy the all new mini which also meant that anyone for just 600 quid could burn off any Jag at the lights and loose it completely on country roads. After that, Jaguar owners only came out after dark...Or stayed at home and sulked. Edited October 15, 2017 by allan downes 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 ...As Horse mentioned the old 3.8litre VY s were pretty good.... My hire car was a VX: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Oh I thought it was a VY , Basically the same. Slight changes to the boot, and bonnet but no great leap that the VE were. Well the fuel cost is not as nuts as the UK, however I was finding the rising consumption of the VE was starting to become annoying, also due to work issues I was/am looking to be able to tow 3tonn. Which I can now do with impunity! the Holden trailblazer/ Collorado is a great vehicle as the wagon version I have has great takeoff, handling, space, etc. Let alone being able to see through/ over the small 4x4's that seem to be breeding, and why are they always driven by women who want to be on their phone rather than driving. In fact I would love the cops to get trailblazers/ collorados as the general police car as they would be booking 5 times the number of people on the phone. I heard it once described as "the nodd".... pull up at the red light, head goes down as no one can see you touching your phone, Lights change to green.... finish the tweet/ face book or what ever take off on the orange. In these situations I have taken to using the horn! as yes i can see into your car! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Streak Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) A Few of My old Falcons First My Yellow 1974 XB GS 351 (UK viewers may recognise this model from the first part of the Mad Max Movie) Secondly My Platinum Blue 1978 XC 351 (5.8 litre) Hardtop (this was originally a Ford sales managers car) and Finally My ratty old XB Hardtop. Matt Black, ripped up vinyl interior and no carpets !. This was the one We used when We didn't want to worry about leaving our good cars somewhere. (Dads used to look thrilled when I used to turn up in this to take their daughters out ) I sold this for 500 bucks - I'd probably get 10 times that just for the shell now Sorry about the coffee cup stain on the photo ! later this week I'll try and dig some up of My old Charger, SLR 5000 Toranas and My XY Fairmont. Edited October 16, 2017 by The Blue Streak 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikks Posted October 16, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) Saw the first red bellied black snake of the season today, when it saw(sensed) me and the dog it wriggled at speed into the wood shed where I spent around 5 hours cutting yesterday still they belong here!...... I don't. Mike Edited October 16, 2017 by ikks 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Oh I thought it was a VY , Basically the same. Slight changes to the boot, and bonnet but no great leap that the VE were..... VXs had the Dali-esque "teardrop" headlights and rounded tail lights. The VYs squared all of these off, and were starting to come out at the time of my holiday. Very competent cars, though. Effortless. That's what we should have had in Europe instead of the Omegas, had it not been for the increase in length and width. Cruise control was a bit disconcerting; think I only started trying to use it in the second week, and had a spooky experience at the car did all its own accelerating and braking to maintain the set speed! Fuel was equivalent to about 36p a litre at the time (I think UK level was hovering around a quid or so in 2002) which I thought was just nuts. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) A Few of My old Falcons First My Yellow 1974 XB GS 351 (UK viewers may recognise this model from the first part of the Mad Max Movie) XB 4.jpg Secondly My Platinum Blue 1978 XC 351 (5.8 litre) Hardtop (this was originally a Ford sales managers car) xc.jpg and Finally My ratty old XB Hardtop. Matt Black, ripped up vinyl interior and no carpets !. This was the one We used when We didn't want to worry about leaving our good cars somewhere. (Dads used to look thrilled when I used to turn up in this to take their daughters out ) I sold this for 500 bucks - I'd probably get 10 times that just for the shell now Sorry about the coffee cup stain on the photo ! XB 20002.jpg later this week I'll try and dig some up of My old Charger, SLR 5000 Toranas and My XY Fairmont. Those sure are noice cars - (for Fords!) Does the XC have Radial TAs? How good were THEY in the wet! My Torana had them and whenever it was raining I didn't bother to use the steering wheel because the car would just go wherever it wanted to anyway. Edited October 17, 2017 by monkeysarefun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Those sure are noice cars - (for Fords!) Does the XC have Radial TAs? How good were THEY in the wet! My Torana had them and whenever it was raining I didn't bother to use the steering wheel because the car would just go wherever it wanted to anyway. That was the reason I chose Bridgestones rather than Radial TAs for mine. The grip in the wet is better, but still a bit iffy. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 A Few of My old Falcons First My Yellow 1974 XB GS 351 (UK viewers may recognise this model from the first part of the Mad Max Movie) XB 4.jpg Look at the sheer length of the bonnet! The side profile of the cabin and boot reminds me of the last Ford Zodiac, too.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRman Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 VXs had the Dali-esque "teardrop" headlights and rounded tail lights. The VYs squared all of these off, and were starting to come out at the time of my holiday. Very competent cars, though. Effortless. That's what we should have had in Europe instead of the Omegas, had it not been for the increase in length and width. Cruise control was a bit disconcerting; think I only started trying to use it in the second week, and had a spooky experience at the car did all its own accelerating and braking to maintain the set speed! Fuel was equivalent to about 36p a litre at the time (I think UK level was hovering around a quid or so in 2002) which I thought was just nuts. My 1994 VR Commodore was the first car I had owned with cruise control. I had DougN as a passenger in the car and it was getting dark as we turned onto the Monash Freeway. Doug tried to instruct me on how to operate the cruise control while I tried to press the right buttons that I couldn't actually see in the dark. The result was a series of speed-ups followed by slow-downs as I tried to engage it and failed! I eventually got it. On another occasion not long afterwards, I was using cruise control on the Hume Freeway, on the way to Sydney and Newcastle. There was a hill which caused the gearbox to kick down not one, but two gears, into second (4-speed auto). Now that was disconcerting! Under 'manual' control, I would have let the speed slacken a bit, but the cruise control just wanted to maintain speed at all costs. Then of course, there was the time we were coming back along the Hume, with Mrs SRman at the wheel. She had cruise control on, and we drove past some signs warning of speed cameras ahead; I glanced at the speedo and saw 120 kph on the dial (the speed limit was 110 kph). She was just 'resting' her foot on the accelerator!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) This is my mid-life crisis mobile. 6 litres of SSV redline. - Brembo brakes, Cat back exhaust, power chipped, 6 speed manual gearbox - all those things I'd have killed for when I was 18 - if they'd been invented in 1981. Cars these days have all that electronic stablilty stuff and traction control which is meant to make them safer, but I do think once you get to a larger V8, its kind of the opposite. In the old days you'd plant your foot in your GT HO and the wheels would just spin in the one spot until the rubber wore off, but with this ute, you plant it and it grips and propels you instantly into what had until then seemed to be a far away dangerous bend.. But on the plus side, I've never got stuff to the tip so quickly before! Edited October 17, 2017 by monkeysarefun 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 My 1994 VR Commodore was the first car I had owned with cruise control. I had DougN as a passenger in the car and it was getting dark as we turned onto the Monash Freeway. Doug tried to instruct me on how to operate the cruise control while I tried to press the right buttons that I couldn't actually see in the dark. The result was a series of speed-ups followed by slow-downs as I tried to engage it and failed! I eventually got it. On another occasion not long afterwards, I was using cruise control on the Hume Freeway, on the way to Sydney and Newcastle. There was a hill which caused the gearbox to kick down not one, but two gears, into second (4-speed auto). Now that was disconcerting! Under 'manual' control, I would have let the speed slacken a bit, but the cruise control just wanted to maintain speed at all costs. Then of course, there was the time we were coming back along the Hume, with Mrs SRman at the wheel. She had cruise control on, and we drove past some signs warning of speed cameras ahead; I glanced at the speedo and saw 120 kph on the dial (the speed limit was 110 kph). She was just 'resting' her foot on the accelerator!! I remember an Electronics Australia magazine that I bought in the early '80's (cos I was doing an electronics traineeship with what was then OTC), and it had a project where you could make your own cruise control for your car using something like a Valiant wiper motor and Dick Smith parts. For a few mad minutes I did seriously consider giving it a go for my Torana but I'm glad I didn't because Electronics proved to not be my thing and so I'd probably now be dead. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) Look at the sheer length of the bonnet! The side profile of the cabin and boot reminds me of the last Ford Zodiac, too.... The Torana was a shorter beast than the Falcon but when I was working on it - (checking the dwell angle , gapping the points, using my timing light - all those skills that are forgotten by the modern young person , like shoeing horses and stuff) I could still stand inside the engine bay beside the motor and have my feet on the ground. Admittedly I am in the more petite range, but not a jockey. Edited October 17, 2017 by monkeysarefun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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