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

Such a cool collection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23CDcgQYq8s

I'm tempted to roller the X in Wilko mat black paint..

Friend did her car and it looked good, even close up it looked like a wrap not paint.

Following on from rust chat I remember Harry from Harry's garage saying Lancia's of this era had much thinner steel than other manufacturers of the time, I think it was 0.7mm, which made them light, but also gave them their infamous reputation for rust. Not a single fuck given by this owner I spotted today, driving around the UK in December in his Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato.


To be fair this looks in great condition, though don't know why the back hatch isn't closed properly, maybe a not in the brochure Lancia feature. Needs some proper colour though, why were all the cars, food, clothes and furniture from this era so fucking beige, thank fuck everyone got round to dropping acid and brightening things up a bit.

I just found out the designer of that, Ercole Spada, also designed the BMW E34 5 series as seen on previous page, which was a surprise. He also did the Aston DB4 GTZ and I think the prettiest Lamborghini ever, the 3500 GTZ. https://www.lambocars.com/3500-gtz-by-zagato-image-gallery/ /CSB

Anything with chrome trim now looks beyond ridiculous.

Interesting when others are 'murdering' out what used to have chrome. I'm looking at you Volvo with your 'newer' R-designs. I think they now look a lot cheaper.

Hatch opens electrically for cabin ventilation.

Also if Harry says it it must be true...PS it's not, harry has a zagato, that is a little different. Look at the thickness of the metal in other cars on the era. Some of the lighter competition fulvia cars had thinner glass than the standard as well as some cars having aluminium bonnets, boots and doors. The standard coupe car is 900kg wet, then getting a reliable 90hp out of a 1.3 road is good if you think what else was around at the time.

Hatch opens electrically for cabin ventilation.

Also if Harry says it it must be true...PS it's not, harry has a zagato, that is a little different. Look at the thickness of the metal in other cars on the era. Some of the lighter competition fulvia cars had thinner glass than the standard as well as some cars having aluminium bonnets, boots and doors. The standard coupe car is 900kg wet, then getting a reliable 90hp out of a 1.3 road is good if you think what else was around at the time.

PS The reputation for rust was thats life making a campaign over utter rubbish about one model beta. But when has a fact ever been taken up with a media campaign.

The Zagato one definitely looks beefier, almost an Eastern Block looking car from the front. Here's one of the thin skinned Fulvia's I've seen that's been in the UK for a few dozen winters. Lancia was forward thinking, coming up with crumple zones before they were a thing ;)

Isn't that in Clapham?

EDIT: If weight were a consideration, why have such over engineered (re wide) wheel bearings and big discs (series 1.5 on)

So '72 car, that cost more than an E type jag at the time has a rusty bonnet. Be more concerned about the cills, inner wings and rear.

I agree with you. I'm not a huge chrome fan, but I think there are certain cars that normally suit it.

Bar a few outliers I think BMWs almost always look better with chrome window trims as it frames them better. Black looks a bit Mondeo.

But the fucking state of the front grills on these new cars though... you just need to do whatever you can to make them less visible.

Beautiful :)

Currently being used as my daily which it’s doing with much aplomb. Has made me realize there’s a lot of stuff about new cars I don’t like (and some stuff I really like).

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I just found out the designer of that, Ercole Spada, also designed the BMW E34 5 series as seen on previous page, which was a surprise. He also did the Aston DB4 GTZ and I think the prettiest Lamborghini ever, the 3500 GTZ

Never knew this - will now no doubt bore people with this all the time.

First experiments in packaging the bikes with the kit in the van.

Not enough room for the mudguard though:

I didn't realise you were buying a kitted out van, I thought you were buying a used MPV version and then taking it somewhere. Nice that it's already done!

Which mudguard are you using?

The bed next to crud and shit covered bike/wheels seems slightly sub-optimal. Are you going to use a tarp/cover of some sort?

I didn't realise you were buying a kitted out van, I thought you were buying a used MPV version and then taking it somewhere. Nice that it's already done!

Yes, the appeal of getting something done was very strong - means that a tow-hitch mounted bike rack would enable "full camper", or we can pull out the kitchen, fridge and beds to get four bikes in the back - or anywhere in between.

Which mudguard are you using?

Rapid Racer Products Pro-Guard IIRC.

The bed next to crud and shit covered bike/wheels seems slightly sub-optimal. Are you going to use a tarp/cover of some sort?

It's very much a first attempt at fitting the bikes in, I think a sheet/tarp of some kind would be a very good idea - would also hide the bikes a bit.

Just ordered van/car from Singapore- Viano 3.5 V6 petrol. Only need to wait 3/4 months now!

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I have engine envy

Just for you

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My lowly derv does, I admit, cruise extremely well. Gets a bit breathless and shouty when you ask it to suddenly accelerate however.

Popped out to get a coffee, did 15 or so minutes of fiddling on bike orientation/installation - tried the bars rotated the other way basically. Certainly gave more space for a single bike, but less for two. I think I'm going to pull the single seat of the rear bench out and see how straight I can get the bikes in the back. I also expect there to be a great deal of fiddling before it's optimised.

I have a berlingo, but I want something nicer and comfier to drive long distance. I love the practicality of a sliding door, and of being confident that there is a buttload of space in the back for a washing machine/bikes/pram and bags etc.
Needs to be ULEZ/petrol
All I can really see is a C-Max, which does apparently drive nicely.
Any ideas/recommendations?

Budget - pauper