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

Before I go out car porn:

I think that might be anti-porn.

No way!

That was my favourite car when I was younger. It was Mercedes's answer to the Mclaren F1, before the days of Mclaren and Mercedes's 'friendship'.

This was the road going version of their GT1/Le Mans car. I don't know if you remember, but there was a Le Mans 24hr race where 2 cars flipped in the air on the Mulsanne Straight? One landed in a tree...
Those were 2 of these cars, Mercedes were running ultra low downforce set ups to maximize top speed on the Mulsanne Straight. Shortly after that, the GT1 cars were eliminated from the Le Mans line up. The Prototype class cars, which were technically number two in importance, became number one. The Porsche RS Spyder that Bellezza posted earlier isa Prototype class, like the Audi diesels and the Bentleys etc etc.

A piece of info for you, all the 'GT' class cars have to be homologated, as in there has to be a set number made for the road. Like the RSR Porsche I posted many pages ago, there is a road going version for homologation purposes. So these GT1 cars had road going versions. Here's some examples:

Porsche 911 GT1

http://www.autowp.ru/pictures/porsche/911_gt1_(993)/autowp.ru_porsche_911_gt1_strassenversion_2.jpg

Mclaren F1 LM (GTR)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/McLaren_F1_GTR_95_P440_CPJ_Ritz.jpg/800px-McLaren_F1_GTR_95_P440_CPJ_Ritz.jpg

Nissan R390 GT1

http://www.nettekeyif.net/gir/data/media/69/Nissan_R390_GT1_1998_Nettekeyif.net.jpg

Toyota GT1

http://www.ae92gts.com/images/1999_toyota_gt1-1.jpg

While these may look like jumped up chav-tastic anti porn cars to some, they are pure porn to me because they are pure function over form. Nothing on those cars are unnecessary. At all.

They are 'modern' versions of something like the Bugatti type 35

The Bugatti Type 35 was designed for racing, and that it did very well! I believe it was the most successful racing road car of it's time.

Hello people. A question for all you car nuts.

A year or two ago a saw a really cool small sports car, low volume small British company best used on the track type car on T.V (maybe top gear).

It had a space frame I think, maybe one seater, two motor bike engines, one to drive the front one to drive the back. It was on T.V because they were trying to break some acceleration world record.

So my question to you is name that car! (A typically vague Tommy question)

Now thats a sports car none of this bullshit super car stuff, just some light small quick car. Low volume individual car. If you are into cars and driving and there are cars like that about I don't know why anyone would look at a poncey Fararri. After all it is not what speed you are going that gives you the thrill it's how it feels. The number is unimportant.

MTM Bimoto Audi TT Perhaps, has 2 RS4 engines in it, 244 mph, was on top gear a while back:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bOwfRZUiD8I&feature=related

http://www.bimoto.de/

Or an Ariel Atom, though only has the one engine:

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/

Actually its a tiger Z100WR, with 2 Kawasaki Z1000 engines in it, 0-60 in under 3 secs . . .

[ame="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u3qtfY0Ps74"]YouTube - Tiger Z100[/ame]

Actually its a tiger Z100WR, with 2 Kawasaki Z1000 engines in it, 0-60 in under 3 secs . . .

Yep I think that was it. If not it was a customized version of the Ariel have.Atom you posted above. One of the only really cool cars IMO.*

If I was going to have a impractical car (rather than all my cars which have alway been for practicae purposes) , go the hole hog IMO* and get something like this to make sure you shit your pants.

*Me actually having an opinion is just a figure of speech and not something I actually hold i.e I am opinionless.

Happy Christmas.

Actually its a tiger Z100WR, with 2 Kawasaki Z1000 engines in it, 0-60 in under 3 secs . . .

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u3qtfY0Ps74

If that's the Z Car one, they're the people who also make the motorbike engined Mini kit. They're pretty much the UK's best Kit Car company after Caterham.

They also get commissioned to make one offs like this batmobile:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1064090_batmobile_dream_a_reality

While these may look like jumped up chav-tastic anti porn cars to some, they are pure porn to me because they are pure function over form. Nothing on those cars are unnecessary. At all.

Number plates
Padded seats

Function over form fail. :)

1 BHP

Bus porn? 1950 GM Futureliner - sold at the Barrett Jackson Auctions in Arizona for $4.5m. If anyone gets the chance to go to that auction, I highly recommend it. Amazing vehicles everywhere.

1937 Cord!!!

Is some of the flack directed at Bellezza due to the the fact that as relatively new forum member you/she has directed a lot (most?) of her energy towards a form of transport/subject that many on this forum find themselves in direct (mortal?) conflict with daily? Plus I'm sure there is some jealousy as to the perception generated exemplified by pistanators "rich kid alert" comment plus a dose genuine hate towards cars mixed in there?

I think that might be anti-porn.

Urgh, I'm with you on that one.

1 BDP

Fixed.

Amazing, page 24 before a Jaguar E-Type makes an appearance.

I know, couldn't believe it myself!

as when i chat about cars generally i talk about all the people they kill, all the noise they make, how they are a pain as they get 40seconds of green time whereas pedestrain get 7secs (priorities)

Okay, when was the last time a car was responsible for a killing? Never I think is the answer you're looking for there.

Big deal, they make noise, ever used a plane before, how much noise do they put out? A lot more I think you'll find.

Oh yes, it's horrible that things that co-exist with roads are given priority over people who walk on paths beside the road, let's reverse that so that congestion gets even worse, woo! Great idea there!

Anyway, saw one of these earlier:

And it made me want one of these sooo much:

Number plates
Padded seats

Function over form fail. :)

As I said, road going versions, number plates are entirely necessary for the road. All Le Mans cars have some sort of padded seats, they are endurance cars, not short races or sprints.

1988 Le Mans winning Jaguar XJR9

In case anybody doesn't read EVO, this car actually broke during the race. It was driven for the last hour without using 3rd gear. After the race they took the back of the gearbox off to inspect the damage and all the internals fell apart and on to the floor. Just one shift into 3rd during that last hour would have ruined Jag's chances of winning for the 3rd year running.

Is some of the flack directed at Bellezza due to the the fact that as relatively new forum member you/she has directed a lot (most?) of her energy towards a form of transport/subject that many on this forum find themselves in direct (mortal?) conflict with daily? Plus I'm sure there is some jealousy as to the perception generated exemplified by pistanators "rich kid alert" comment plus a dose genuine hate towards cars mixed in there?

I dont think it matters anymore... its over.

I see your CAT and raise you my JCB

As I said, road going versions, number plates are entirely necessary for the road. All Le Mans cars have some sort of padded seats, they are endurance cars, not short races or sprints.

Fine, then the manufacturer badge on the front is unnecessary. :P

Fine, then the manufacturer badge on the front is unnecessary. :P

Ah Hippy. Must you always win? But you're right, manufacturer badge is entirely unnecessary.

After a Christmas related absence I thought I'd return with this little gem... Ken Okuyama K.07