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

Amazing weekend, drove down in mates MX-5, stayed in a brilliant campsite in Graffham, walked in the pitch black up the road to a great pub, got burnt, got loaded, gorped at cars, 10/10

^ Lovely shots Mr GLover.

Now this...

http://www.4starclassics.com/assets/Car-Photos/VW-Golf-Rallye/M1A0002-Edit.jpg

http://www.4starclassics.com/Golf-Rallye-For-Sale/

I've developed a hankering for a Reliant Scimitar.

Should that be in the confessions thread?

In a similar vein I think I need a Triumph Stag in my life.

There's something about the two door estate that rustles my jimies.

There's something about the two door estate that rustles my jimies.

Shooting Brake? I like them too. Particularly fond of the BMW M coupes.

They are still many £$£$, however that said a nice Scimitar is probably similar £$£$, and would not (in anyway whatsoever) see which way the M Coupe went.

Volvo 480ES for you, surely?

I'd rather the P1800 ES

looove the 480 turbo. like a car built by nasa.

A friend had one. It was a ropey thing, really, but it could be hustled along, four wheel drifts round Welsh mountain roads. And it had a funky trip computer.

my mate has a p1800 es. Lovely car, really beautiful and surprisingly large amount of leg room. 2 bikes and weekend gear in the back from London to Yorkshire was no problem, apart from a slightly sore back when I arrived, but I think that was from a box pushing into the seat. Very poor fuel economy as standard.

slow as fuck, too. they've had their time - they are too much money now.

What do you think about the Scimitar Richie?

Quite slow, tend to catch fire a lot. Nice cars though, although there are a lot of dogs about because they're worth nothing.

What do you think about the Scimitar Richie?

I had one for years, the sixth from last off the production line. It belonged to a guy who used it to tow a race car (an identical Scimitar) and had a 2.9i with K jetronic and some tuning to improve the torque. Put a bike in the back without taking the wheels off, "traditional" handling, reasonably quick, but thirsty.
The the only real pain was the indicator stalk being on the right, I never quite got used to turning the wipers on at junctions.

What do you think about the Scimitar Richie?

Cheap classic motoring. RWD, V6 and a sweeeet 70s interior - what's not to like? I'd prob buy an mgb gt for similar money, though.

Adroit's looks lovely. brooklands green?

I like those at the front, but never did like the swoopy rear side glass. The old Ogle coupe was nicer.

There's a wealth of information about re-engining those, either with the Cosworth BOA or BOB from the Ford Scorpio, or the Vauxhall X30SE or Y32SE from an Omega. Some nice examples on Retro-rides.

The Vauxhall was available with a manual box if you find an ex police car. Otherwise with either you're getting a 4 speed automatic.

Also the indicator stalk is supposed to be on the right on an RHD car, so you can indicate and change gear at the same time.
It's only recently they swapped it to the LHD side due to an ISO standard.

Oddly my Merc has it on the right and that's a) German and b) from 1990. The wipers are on the same stalk. And the lights. I think they got carried away.

I remember when my father traded in his dark green Morris Marine estate for a poo brown Morris Ital estate. Windscreen wipers wiping away at every junction on the way home.

It's only recently they swapped it to the LHD side due to an ISO standard.

Recently? My first car (made in 1972) had the indicator on the left. The Scimitar was the first one I ever drove with it on the right, (made in 1986) and I have driven cars dating back to 1959!

Quite slow, tend to catch fire a lot. Nice cars though, although there are a lot of dogs about because they're worth nothing.

What aspect of the car encourage the thermal excursion(s)?

^^ 70s Republicans or being made in Tamworth.

And what's happened to Lynx of late?

What aspect of the car encourage the thermal excursion(s)?

Leaky carbs in the vicinity of high-tension electrics, I think. That and a big sheet of highly flammable GRP right above the carb. Once GRP gets going it takes an awful lot to put it out. It took 6 full-size extinguishers to put this out: