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

Ah, makes sense now. Still waiting for delivery.

The overhang on that second one is longer than some cars wheelbase.

Yeah when I checked yesterday my old one was SORN and not mot-ed since 2010 so guessing it's tucked away somewhere. I sold it to a mate who did an Mi16 swap on it and he then sold it and bought a 1.9 on ITBs.

@TRA Yeah I've been dreaming of finding a clean 3 door base model 205 and then making it into a Rallye clone with a hot 1300cc TU engine on carbs. You're probably right about a GTi6 or306 Rallye being a more suable car. Think they are even harder to find now though. It's a shame Peugeot haven't made a good hot hatch since the 106/306 days.

Not exactly cars, but just picked these lot up as a winter project.

3 Attachments

Bet they're terrifying when they're going full chat. I vote for a Aprilia Chesterfield Biaggi rep scheme on one, polished exhaust obviously.

After days of clearing out and sweeping the new garage is starting to look more presentable. After parking the Subaru Outback in it's not the biggest space, although granted it's a big car.

My Jaguar XJC dream probably won't happen as it's longer than the Subaru so plan B... other than MX5's, what's the hivemind on small RWD project cars around £5k? Quite like the thought of an MGB GT. If I can take Mrs Jambon to stately homes in it that helps.

1 Attachment

Seen it on Ebay, does the air con work well?

Beemer E30...if you can afford one.

EDIT any of the bigger beemers E34 as I had the 6 pot petrol manual and it was amazing. Once I fixed the over heating, viscous fan failed and new water pump and thrermostat it was great. Had different suspension rubbers replaced at every MOT. Absolutely great at oversteer fun.

MR2? Been wondering the same for myself. Albeit with a smaller budget and a while off in the future.

My dad had an MGB in the 70s and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately my mum drove it into a concrete pillar at the airport and that was the end of it. My mum still suffers from the crash. Avoid concrete pillars if you get one.

In panda news, replacing rear suspension is really straight forward. Biggest pain was removing the cut flexi and brake cables.

So tomorrow go to tyre place and see what matching tyres I can get and then MOT on monday.

@lynx I've also been thinking this too, especially since the new MCM series. I'd like to 'attempt' an engine swap on whatever it is so wouldn't mind a poverty spec car to help bring the price down. Will get the tape measure out tomorrow.

@nefarious the car will be a long-term project with lots of tinkering so don't fancy sitting in the boot to work on the engine! Saying that, I would love a mk1.

@oat44 noted

In that case bottom of the range e30 with no sunroof.

MK1 is easy to work on, but finding one that isn't rusty.

+1 on the Biaggi Chesterfield livery. Ciggy Sponsors really had the best colour schemes and logos.

I'd echo @nefarious suggestion and go down the route of a mk3 MR2 as an alternative to an MX5. Other option could be a Boxter. I did think abut a 924 too but it seems as those most of those are now more expensive so Boxter looks like the entry level porsche now.

Put winter wheels and tyres on the 318i daily and got a puncture at Kennington Oval on the way to work two days later :(

My mate has one along with an old Alvis, I helped him replace all the window rubbers last week :)

More photos plz. E30 is it?

with no sunroof

Great minds think alike. An e28 would be my first choice but e30 would mean more space around the car to work and move. Avoiding a rotten one is definitely sound advice but will be getting a welder eventually so hopefully helps.

@ricky2slicky neither MR2 nor Boxter get me excited personally, 944 maybe, but again I think they're probably out of my price range. No love for the MGB?

1 Attachment

No love for the MGB?

Don’t know owt about them. Look sexeh tho.

I'll get my dibs in on the Outback

That MGB looks great, but is about as far from original as it is possible to get. I have had several and in standard trim they look great but are very slow, don't go round corners and don't stop, don't get me started on the lights.... £5k would get a very good 3.0i Z4, it's what I paid for mine, a very different level of performance!

@umop3pisdn I'll be keeping the Outback for the moment, it's my sensible car. Also I know @sacredhart wouldn't mind it back but noted.

@ColinTheBald can't really argue with any of that, I'm a big fan of the Z4. Was actually close to getting a 3.0si after I sold my MX5, they're great value and tick so many boxes. For me it's just not much of a project although concede performance-wise it's on another planet.

I completely understand why a project is attractive, I have had loads and even completed some. I was looking for a good MX5 when the Z4 came up, but a straight one without tinworm cost more than the Z4, which seems illogical. Quite simply, it would cost a small fortune to turn a project car into anything that would rival the Z4's capability with zero extra spend. I admit, I don't take this attitude to bicycles....

Thinking hard about it you're right again, logically a Z4, MR2 or MX5 would 'beat' a MGB but I know which I'd prefer to see in the garage. This makes me think logic shouldn't be my personal deciding factor. Sounds like I've made my mind up doesn't it although Mrs Jambon agrees with you.

It works, could do with a regas

Correct, marina suspension say it all. V8 didn't make it much better.

EDIT: But look what it competed against....