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

Nicely executed article on emissions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/how_toxic_is_your_car_exhaust

I recently became an MGB owner after buying the Brockley Express from @BRM.

The sell is that it is a great way into classic car ownership: not too pricey, every thing that has ever gone wrong has been chatted about to death on the internet, widely available spares, loads of fun upgrade options.

Also, obviously they look ace and are fun to drive.

Down side is that they are old and stuff breaks. I have had two holes in the engine in the first four months owning it. Mainly bad luck, but some luck is bad, you know?

I'm have no idea about how to find a good one to buy, unless you have a friendly forumenger who can sell you his.

^this is all true. gts look to be increasing in value quicker than the roadsters, in the slow way that mgbs do.

it looks like we are finally getting somewhere with the racer! we are going to get my mg man to sort the body out, then we will paint.

such fond memories of ragging the Brockley express around a field at hillbilly and sams wedding.

it's great to see it has been passed on within the forum. Will have to come out in it for a spin some day dude

haha! I was discussing j&s's wedding with sam and skully this morning. the late night shenanigans and the 'leftovers' in the car the next morning.

bright times.

Without a doubt. Bring some gaffa tape to fix the inevitable engine hole...

(Waves at Richie)

there might still be some gaffa tape in the boot (next to the chloroform)...

^ lold

Near the yoghurt and beetroot stains?

Today, untypically, saw me driving through central London.
Swinging round Hyde Park Corner to join Park Lane at the southern end,
I saw a hulking barge of a car that could only be USA-made,
but badged 'Lancia Thema'!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_Thema#Chrysler_300C_based_Lancia_Thema
Italian plates too.

Jesus. Poor Lancia.

How the mighty fall.

So true. The thing I love about cars from this era is that you can look at them and understand them. How the drive, what they'll sound like etc. All conveyed by their form.

Now, you can have wings, "aero" profiles, multi faceted sports inspired shapes that disclose nothing about the car. Toyota Corollas with chin spoilers and dynamic styling yet are totally numb and lifeless heaps of jelly to drive.

Thing is...

How can you improve on perfection?

That said the Thema did get a V8 Ferrari edition https://www.netcarshow.com/lancia/1988-thema/

Then again.

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S4? Super-turbo magnificence. Group 'B' for Boner.

Nitrous in the rollcage too, if the rumours are to be believed.

t's been a busy week welding and grafting, swapped over my M-Tech 2 kit off my old 325i but ran out of clips on the last trim so I have to wait for the drivers door one to go on, here is her good side :)

awesome!

Not sure if any of you lot would be interested in this. But a family member has recently purchased Graham Hill's old Lotus Elan Plus2 in a less than ideal condition and he is going about returning it to its former glory. CP motors.

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That's extremely cool

Not sure if...
Err, yep. Weekly YouTube episodes covering the restoration please, thanks.

Isn't that particular Evo a tarmac rally replica built by a crazy Finnish dude?

Not sure about Finnish...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_ECV

Sadly the guy who restored it passed away earlier this year.

Totally rad. I'm sure I read a blog somewhere where a Finnish guy has replicated that car but based off a Celica gt-4

Anybody got a defender 130 for sale?