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

Volvo did use that under-bumper grille treatment later.

I always quite liked the 460 shape, they were quite common as runarounds in Winchester when I was nobbut-a-lad.

In 1982 Reliant paid Bertone 100k to come up with a new Scimitar design.
Guess what they came back with. Yep, the fucking Tundra again!

Heh, "One design to rule them all".

What else did Bertone do in that period?

hmm, the Mazda MX81?

These wheelarches?

that's right. le mans cars need two seats.

I guess this expired now?

I guess this expired now?

"Each car is required to have at least two seats, although in recent years only the ability to place a second seat in the cockpit has been required; the seat itself has not. No more than two doors are allowed; open cockpit cars do not require doors."

So different for prototype open cockpit... (can't see a spare seat)

There doesn't have to be a second seat, only the ability to put it there. I always figured that's the only reason why the driver is offset. I'm sure Audi could say that there's simply a cover over the space for the second seat.

Then of course there's the F1 which is centrally positioned albeit with side seats.

Bit of an odd rule seeing as it is walked all over.

Yep, don't see the point in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=k-e9wUW3nIg

Previous KRB project...

Really lusting after this today. Totally shouldn't be because its neither Classic, Modern or remotely cool.

That's not hellaflush fitment at all. Gorgeous wheels nonetheless.

Esprit and Quattro. Gnnn...

has anyone ever done their own rusty wheel arch repairs? I've got paint blowing and rust on my mk3 VR6. I guess I take it back to bare metal, rust cure, prime and then paint? But how best to blend in? I guess professionals would either replace the panel, or at least paint the entire panel?

you can use swage lines as edges to blend in.

Yep, though your aim should be to just stop the rust rather than getting a showroom finish.

I did it a fair bit on my Rover.
Take the paint off with a paint- scouring attachment on a drill, and the rust with a wire brush. Try and completely eradicate it.
The rust converter stuff does work well, and you can use a bit of filler to get the surface smooth again.
Prime it with the brown rust-resistant primer. It is a hell of a lot better than the black stuff.
Paint to an edge if you can, rather than trying to blend. Key shiny paint with a scotch pad.
Warm spray cans in a bucket of hot water to make the paint flow better.
Solid colours don't need lacquer and you get a better colour match. You can wet sand and repaint, and polish to your heart's content until you get a good finish.
Metallics need clear lacquer, which means twice as much finishing and are often a terrible colour match.

so, here we are - gah. looks even worse now I've had a proper look at it

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/Eightball69/IMG_20130211_122357_zps2ac0e3c7.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/Eightball69/IMG_20130211_122454_zps41dc1413.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/Eightball69/IMG_20130211_122427_zps33fd035a.jpg

Those areas will be easy to do, nearly no blending of the paint needed. Just go to a an automotive paint shop and get a few cans mixed up in the correct colour!

http://image.hotrod.com/f/featuredvehicles/hrdp_1303_bombshell_buick_1952_super_rivera/42938188+w794/hrdp-1303-06-bombshell-buick-1952-super-rivera-towing.jpg

We're going to need a wider lens...