For those interested in "Modern Classic" Cars

[PatB]

3 hours ago, big jim said:

 

best not go for the 2.7 ecotec version then! 

I can think of few things more pointless than a muscle car without the muscle. 

[PatB]

2 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

That has  killed the V8 supercar race series here pretty much. Public interest  first  dropped when Falcons were replaced by Mustangs and Holden can't get away with running V8  Commodores after this year.

 

It'll be replaced with fantasy cars like the Chev Comaro that  no one can afford and Audis and BMW's that no one wants to  watch. Australians just want to see Ford beat Holden or vice versa..

 

Even Kia are talking about giving it a go, so we'll have the indignity of watching Korean V8's racing in the Australian Supercar series, then drive home in our "Australian" 2.7 ecotecs.

 

Mad Max would be spinning in his grave if he wasn't out there on the highway somewhere...

 

I'm still flying the flag!

 

I think what really killed the V8 Supercar series is that it's about as exciting as watching paint dry. The cars bear no resemblance to anything you can buy (they're basically space-framed single-seaters clad in plastic that vaguely resembles the road car), and the whole thing's so fundamentally tedious that it has to be surrounded by a circus so everyone doesn't fall asleep. For exciting saloon racing, something like the BTCC would be better, but that concept was abandoned in the 80s because it showed up how primitive and uncompetitive the Aussie cars were becoming. Or, if you want big, grunty specialist racers, maybe we should revive the Can-Am concept. Now that I would watch. Maybe the V8 Ute series should be given a bit more prestige. Quintessentially Australian, with cars that do resemble what you can (well, could) buy, grumbly V8s in barely adequate chassis on relatively skinny tyres. Far more exciting and fun to watch. 

 

Yes, I know, after that little rant the Department of Home Affairs will be round shortly to have a little word about my citizenship . 

[monkeysarefun]

I've pretty much stopped watching after 1984 or so, when cars started to handle and stop. That's when the fun went out!

 

The good old days were the 70s when the cars had to be production models so you could go into your local ford,  Holden or Chrysler dealer and buy the tricked up  Bathurst special you'd just seen do 180mph around the track.

Even if you were 18 and had your license for a day. Nutty times.

[PatB]

14 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

I've pretty much stopped watching after 1984 or so, when cars started to handle and stop. That's when the fun went out!

 

The good old days were the 70s when the cars had to be production models so you could go into your local ford,  Holden or Chrysler dealer and buy the tricked up  Bathurst special you'd just seen do 180mph around the track.

Even if you were 18 and had your license for a day. Nutty times.

Probably why Australia was first in the English speaking world to attempt to legislate fun off the motoring agenda. 

[monkeysarefun]

28 minutes ago, PatB said:

Quintessentially Australian, with cars that do resemble what you can (well, could) bu

A Holden VF SS redline ute holds the world speed record for utes around the Nurburgring. I can't see any other country taking that crown!

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, PatB said:

Probably why Australia was first in the English speaking world to attempt to legislate fun off the motoring agenda. 

Was it you who has/ had the Falcon hardtop?

[PatB]

41 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Was it you who has/ had the Falcon hardtop?

I wish. Nearest I've come to such desirability was a former colleague who, thanks to astute buying before prices went stratospheric, owned both an XA (I think) Coupe and a lovely, original Holden HR, on a fairly modest salary. I suspect he could now retire quite comfortably on the proceeds if he sold them now. 

[monkeysarefun]

2 hours ago, PatB said:

I wish. Nearest I've come to such desirability was a former colleague who, thanks to astute buying before prices went stratospheric, owned both an XA (I think) Coupe and a lovely, original Holden HR, on a fairly modest salary. I suspect he could now retire quite comfortably on the proceeds if he sold them now. 

I know! In 1985 got $1500 for  a yellow 73 LJ GTR when I traded it in on a 1981 Honda Prelude.

Now there's a 1973 yellow GTR  on carsales for $140,000. You can't give a 1981 Prelude away!

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1973-holden-torana-gtr-lj-manual/SSE-AD-7135520/?Cr=0&gts=SSE-AD-7135520&gtsSaleId=SSE-AD-7135520&gtsViewType=showcase&rankingType=showcase

 

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[MJI]

The latest commodore is an insignia a boring saloon.

 

Used to be based on the old senator omega floor pan. Much much better.

 

 

[PatB]

1 hour ago, MJI said:

The latest commodore is an insignia a boring saloon.

 

Used to be based on the old senator omega floor pan. Much much better.

 

 

I had a 1996 VS Scumliner, sorry, Executive, as a company car 25 years ago. It was very quick, even with the cooking 3.8 V6, but always felt very light and nervous, and on the point of becoming airborne some way below its (considerable) top speed. The 99 VT that (briefly) succeeded it felt much more solid and planted, though not as quick. Being the bottom of the range model, my VS had a live rear axle. My boss's posher version had IRS and felt a bit better, but I never had the opportunity to really hoof it out of town so I don't know if it worked at speed. 

[big jim]

@russ p anyone you know at LSL?

 

[russ p]

55 minutes ago, big jim said:

@russ p anyone you know at LSL?

 

 

Andy Quale,  got a picture of that with my collection in my garden.  He has a few metros including a GTi

[Hobby]

I always thought the Mk2 versions of the Rover 200s looked better than the "rounded" versions that followed and ended up as the 25.

[russ p]

6 minutes ago, Hobby said:

I always thought the Mk2 versions of the Rover 200s looked better than the "rounded" versions that followed and ended up as the 25.

 I have both and each have their merits  a rover vvc coupe and an MGZR

[Chris M]

I had a 214 like the one in the photo - hated it because it was a gutless wonder. Then I had a 216 GTi with the Honda engine - excellent - I like to be able to spin the wheels in 3rd. I’m pretty sure it didn’t have a Rev limiter; well I got past 7,000 rpm once. Then moved on to a 220 GTi which was a bit faster but not so exciting. Unfortunately I bent that one a bit.

[Phil Mc]

Saw a BRG 220GTI version of that ^^ bodyshell parked up in Wigan last week.

Can't remember the last time I saw one, nevermind in such good nick as that was !!

The foundry I was visiting that day, has a mechanics workshop in the same courtyard, which specialises in Rover/MG stuff.

Had a couple of 75's outside, one saloon, one estate.

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[MJI]

3 hours ago, PatB said:

I had a 1996 VS Scumliner, sorry, Executive, as a company car 25 years ago. It was very quick, even with the cooking 3.8 V6, but always felt very light and nervous, and on the point of becoming airborne some way below its (considerable) top speed. The 99 VT that (briefly) succeeded it felt much more solid and planted, though not as quick. Being the bottom of the range model, my VS had a live rear axle. My boss's posher version had IRS and felt a bit better, but I never had the opportunity to really hoof it out of town so I don't know if it worked at speed. 

 

The Opel builds all had IRS but biggest engines NORMALLY were 3.0 straight 6 then 3.0 V6 finally 3.2 V6 but there was a 3.6l S6 turbo.

 

Holden basically widened the car so a V8 would fit.

[great central]

5 hours ago, russ p said:

 

Andy Quale,  got a picture of that with my collection in my garden.  He has a few metros including a GTi

 

Had several of those in various guises, first was a green 214GSi, cost £20 as a non runner from a dealer friend of my son's. Apparently he'd left it idling, forgot it and when it was switched off several hours later wouldn't start again. Son towed it away with a mate started on the way and it was fine. Had it about three years I think, then the gearbox gave out.

Second was a somewhat abused white one for £100, the paint looked like it had been cleaned with a Brillo pad, lasted a couple of years until I picked up a rather nice Nightfire red SEi for all of £370.

Had that for 3 years until the tinworm got to the rear of the sills and the head gasket gave out about the same time.

Then found a 418SLD, out of MOT and 125000 on the clock for £120. Cost about £100 to get through the MOT. 3 years later, it's got 175000 on the clock and the head gasket seems to be going, as well as the tinworm making advances, so moved on to a PT cruiser.

Not bad really, best part of 10 years almost totally reliable motoring for less than £1000

Saw a tidy looking 418 tourer/estate on Albert Looms (scrappies) website the year before last, it had been off the road for about 5 years but, from the photos, looked rather nice. I suspect they thought so as well with a price of £350 if memory serves. I resisted the temptation to go look and eventually it went out on the yard for breaking. Shame really.

Still look at them on eBay occasionally but would need it to be a daily driver, so don't think I can justify buying a mint one.

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by great central
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[russ p]

I can't understand why I haven't had an R8 until last year.  I looked for a tourer a few years back but couldn't find one so ended up with a ZT

The coupe I have is great to drive its a nightfire red VVC and only 30k .

I wish I'd bought a turbo back in the day as the T series turbo is a fantastic engine,  I've toyed with the idea of putting one in my MG maestro as the ultimate sleeper but decided to put a standard brand new O series instead 

[big jim]

Exactly the same as my mums old one!

[russ p]

2 minutes ago, big jim said:

Exactly the same as my mums old one!

 

Its not your mums one is it Jim?  as when new had a private plate 

[big jim]

Her plate was K2 VEE but she got it 2nd hand from James edwards in Chester, it was sold on to my sister and I don’t know where it went after that 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by big jim

[russ p]

36 minutes ago, big jim said:

Her plate was K2 VEE but she got it 2nd hand from James edwards in Chester, it was sold on to my sister and I don’t know where it went after that 

 

 

 

Ah not the same as mine was 17LYN probably worth more than the car even in 98

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, big jim said:

Exactly the same as my mums old one!

Ha, them would be fightin' words here!

Edited April 3, 2021 by monkeysarefun

[big jim]

15 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

Ha, them would be fightin' words here!

she had one of these before the rover!