Author Topic: The car thread (Read 1518 times)

sonicus · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2014, 09:34:38 PM »

John , ___ Is that your vehicle ?

jacko · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2014, 12:56:00 AM »

Is that a Mondial John? about the only ferrari I could have afforded at one time but the prices have shot up over here in recent years.

Speaking of 6 litre behemoths, we had this beautiful camaro a couple of years back to drive around hollywood and the PCH. Using a route recommended by JimmyJ we drove up through Laurel canyon, through some of the backroads then along Mulholland and down to ventura before heading back across Topanga canyon to malibu and santa Monica. We later drove up to the Griffith observatory then on to the Baked Potato to catch up with Jimmy. Subtle it ain't...

we really loved this car and would gladly have one but over here they cost in excess of ?60,000. I'll leave you all to do the currency conversion. I do get to see a fair few American V8s though as I joined an american and custom car club here in Scotland when I decided to go 'Kandy' with the MG. They're a very helpful and friendly bunch and this year I'm aiming to get out on a few of their cruises.

Graeme

terryc · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2014, 01:32:13 AM »

graeme I bet Ed China from 'Wheeler Dealers' would be proud of you.
Nice work and you can see the hours you have put in but well worth it!

bassman10096 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2014, 04:30:56 AM »

Great to see an MG Midg live again. Very, very nice looking job!

My very first auto (back in '72) was an Austin Healy Sprite of the same vintage as the Midget above, so it was a twin. What a fun car! Unfortunately, it caught fire on a Friday afternoon during the rush in July on Route 17 out of Manhattan and tied up traffic for hours. The insurance settlement totalled twice what I'd spent on the car. I've come dangerously close to buying a Midget to restore several times since then.

jacko · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2014, 04:37:07 AM »

Love the Ranchero Wolf. I've always wanted something along those lines like a late 60's El Camino to customise. Again they're not easy to find this side of the pond.

Bill - Go for it. You can buy just about every part and panel for Midgets new nowadays so you've no excuse :-)

Terry - I've never seen wheeler dealers but I know of the show - I got most of my inspiration from watching American Hot Rod and Overhaulin' on freeview.

Graeme

jzstephan · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2014, 07:02:17 AM »

1983 Mondial 3.0 quatrovalve still has less than 20k miles on it. When I visited the mothership last fall, we spent some time in LA and I spent some time driving around Laurel Canyon, Mulholland Drive and must have driven this on some of Jimmy's route:

Great minds think alike!
There was also a trip to Norm's.

sonicus · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2014, 07:59:11 AM »

Graeme, Thanks .
Your restoration work is quite impressive . I have often entertained acquiring a nice UK sports vehicle but have missed my chance on two occasions when they were offered , both times deliberating too long and when I felt that YES was my answer they were already sold to another party. One of those chances was a Sunbeam Tiger when I was 16. and had to ask for my fathers permission as part of the delay. By the time that I had my fathers approval the seller had already sold it for a pitiful small sum . OH well ___LOL !

My Ranchero just suddenly fell into my lap , without any prior expectations just like my Series II did.
Life is like that sometimes. I call such events The Transitive Nightfall Of Diamonds

gtrguy · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2014, 10:38:17 AM »

My picks of Cars to buy before its too late:

Old Porsche 912s (that aren't rust heaps)
Ferrari 308s (if you can afford to work on them)
Porsche 911 SCs (nice ones going up in value)
Ford Pantera (may have already gotten too expensive, but still a good investment)
vintage Baracudas and Challengers

Fun drivers:
TR6 and TR4
Europa and Elan
70's Corvettes
Vintage Pontiac LeMans
Volvo 142Es
Dodge Stealth/GT3000 Twin Turbo (complicated
cars)
Chev Monza V8/Buick Skyhawk (few left)
944 Turbos/1987 924S/cabrios

Neat inexpensive old cars:
Jag XJ sedans and coupe up to 1987

I was actually looking at Ferrari 245 Dinos a few years back (when I bought my house instead) when they were around 75K. Now they go for 250K. What an investment for people who bought one!

mica · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2014, 11:48:58 AM »

OMG Wolf, I love your car. I'm a sucker for the El Camino SS. There's a guy at the grocery I frequent that likes to taunt me by shopping at the same time as me so I can drool over his red and chrome amazing SS!

sonicus · « **Reply #24 on:** March 31, 2014, 01:18:20 PM »

Thanks Mica.
This car just was suddenly offered to me out of the blue so to speak around last July . Hopefully I will be able to find a shell for the back that is available somewhere around here . It would be fun to arrive at the Alembic Gathering in the Ranchero loaded with gear , protected from the elements .

Wolf

alembic76407 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 31, 2014, 08:12:34 PM »

my best friends 1976 912E with 80,000 miles and air-conditioning

David T

alembic76407 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2014, 08:13:14 PM »

(Message edited by Alembic76407 on March 31, 2014)

jzstephan · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2014, 08:42:47 PM »

rami · « **Reply #28 on:** April 02, 2014, 06:33:58 PM »

My American V8 fantasy.... USA! USA! USA!

rami · « **Reply #29 on:** April 02, 2014, 06:39:37 PM »

The other Black Byrd!