Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

458 v r8? is that a serious comparison?

Top one is a 961 of course...

Currently struggling with that and a 288 GTO as all time fav.

Amazing to think it is only the Tyrol that seperates them.

I don't think you can compare myself.

Edit. I would pay handsomely for either. (If I had any money)

Edit. Forgot about Countach.

Edit. DP Cargo 944.

Edit. Dallara X/19.

Edit. BMW 2000 Ti.

Edit. Stratos.

Etc

Yep - the V10 obviously.

Other than the MG that Big Red owns (which has about as many original parts on it as one of the new-fangled E-Types that go for half a bar), there aren't many English vintage cars around any more.

My race car used to do that:

That was when it was on 160lb springs at the front and 180lb springs on the rear. It's on 225s all round now.

I think the 2.8 was golf and 2.9 corrado but I may be wrong

i think you're right > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR6_engine

He is right.

I was there.

I lusted.

Here's a long shot BUT...

The Rapha H-Van is currently stuck on Granary Square, Kings Cross. On Tuesday it didn't start because the battery was low, but after an hour charging with a battery charger it just about got going and drove down to Granary Square where it was doing some Wiggins Hour Record promo stuff.

This afternoon it was supposed to return to the office on York Way, but it's not starting. It looks like the battery has a bit of juice left but the starter motor just isn't catching properly.

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:
Does anyone 'on here' have experience fiddling with old vans or know a car mechanic with experience with old vehicles who would be able to come and have a look at it tomorrow? It's supposed to be driving to Smithfield Market for the Nocturne on Saturday morning so it's quite urgent that it gets fixed soon, not to mention it's stranded on Granary Square and the private owners won't like that very much after a few days.

It's another long shot but...

I had a 2CV a few years ago and had it serviced a few times and then a major renovation done at a specialist garage in Battersea run by Mark Waghorn.

H vans have always been honorary members of the 2CV world, so if he can't help, he might know someone who can?

http://www.mwr2cv.co.uk/

160lbs springs? Fucking hell...

What would a road version use?

In other news: I bought a gti.

Well, my old Blackbird-engined car had 150s up front and 130s at the rear.

Yay! Pics?

Sure that rapha can afford to fix it.

The starter relays still have a button to start the van without the key. It maybe flooded, buy the thing a new battery or charge the battery till full. They like charged batteries in good condition to start.

When was the van last serviced by someone who knows how to set up the points. If not updated to electronic ignition.

If you are stuck PM me, can pop down to look in the morning.

...

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42k DSG leather, sat nav, etc super clean...

Ha! I worked for Rapha a few years back and had to singlehandedly cart that thing over the country and to the Etape at Tourmalet and back. I won't repeat the story here, but it was a very long, fraught and I almost abandoned it in Boulogne.

Tell me, do the wing mirrors still fold in at 30mph?

So at a guess unserviced and not looked after. They have 3k km service interval usually less and the brakes and clutches are manually adjusted. There are also loads of grease nipples to be greased.

@peter_h Thank you!

@lynx I don't know if it's anything serious that's actually broken is the problem though. The guy who normally drives it left me a user manual with a page of things to do if it doesn't start but I barely understand it. If I knew more about motor mechanics I'd probably realise its super simple to fix - or as you say it just needs a full battery. The problem is it's now in the middle of a plaza far away from plug points for my plug in battery charger. If I asked one of the other catering vans nearby if they could jump start it for me do you think that would work? It's had an MOT recently and was working fairly well under 'the guy who knows what he's doing' but then it's been sat outside our HQ for 3 weeks in the rain which it hasn't liked very much apparently.

@dirkbang Ha! I do not envy you. I've been in charge of it for 6 months (not actually driving it because I don't actually have a driving license - lol) but just getting it from one end of the country to the other has been stressful enough. It's had the wing mirrors replaced now so I don't think they fold in at speed. It's still fucking loud though.

It's actually being booked in to get the original, falling to pieces constantly engine replaced with a modern Ford engine in November which will be AMAZING. I just need to keep it going until then. Fingers crossed.

very tidy gti

Reflex silver with 18" Monza alloys...very nice!

Thanks!

The wheels are in need of a refurb and likely to be changed.

I really don't get on with them.