Favorite Old Skool cars?

[a73uk]

Some of my favorite old school European GM products...

 

[a73uk]

You shoud Jack, as I said, they arent expensive to run, they arent complicated mechanically, they are economical & suprisingly cheap insurance on the `normal` ones too. Thoroughly recomended.

The only thing is the sublime handling means that you can do silly things in cars you drive immediately after...

As an example I had an E30 daily driver when I got my first 924, I drove the 924 for a couple of weeks non-stop, then jumped back into the E30... which I then nearly crashed at the 1st corner I came to!

924/944`s are just on another level as far as handlings concerned... proper drivers car

Cool I like the 944s alot, I really hope to own one sometime in my life

 

[Chas Uno]

Yeah, the 3.4 = verrrrry rare! The picture I added is still of a rather nice car though What differences were there, between the US/British one?

The main difference between the European (UK) and the USA Capris was mainly in the lights and indicators. You can see the extra lights in the front grill of the USA spec Capri picture. Apart from that they were pretty much the same as they were built in Germany on the same production line as the European versions.

The 3.4 litre Capri sounds like the 1980's Mustang V6? I must admit that I am not at all familiar with that model. I thought the USA spec. mk1 Capri was available with the same 2.0 litre Pinto as later UK models, and also with, according to my 'American Cars of the 70s' book, a 2.6 litre V6. This would be the early German version of the Cologne engine. The mk2 Capri was also available in the USA and this was available with the 2.3 litre version of the Pinto, and the 2.8 litre Cologne V6.

Importing the European Capri from 1979 onwards was not cost effective because of the unfavourable exchange rates, so the 'Mercury Capri' was introduced. This was effectively a re-badged compact Mustang with a nose job. This was available with a 2.3 litre Pinto (inc. a turbo version), a 2.8 litre V6 and a 5 litre (302 ci) V8. Whether the 1980 onwards version of the Mustang Capri was available with a 3.4 litre engine I have no idea as none of my American car books go beyond 1980! American cars after 1980, with a few exceptions, took a nose dive in both style, substance and quality and were generally awful!

So I'm still none the wiser as to what model Capri had the 3.4 engine. I can only assume it might have been a 1980's Mercury Capri or the South African model though I though they were offered with the same 3 litre V6 as the UK (and I think they might have had a very hot model with the 350 Mustang V8). That leaves Australia, which due to some laws about imports requiring a number of parts manufactured in Oz, could have some European cars with some wild engines. The mk3 Cortina for instance was only available in Europe with a 2 litre Pinto as the biggest option. In Australia, they managed to shoe horn in a homegrown STRAIGHT SIX eek of up to 4.2 litres. It didn't handle that well because of all the extra weight up front, but the power bulge in the bonnet and the straight line performance more than made up for it :devil: Oh yes, and south Africa could also have the mk3 Cortina with the 3 litre Essex V6. We were always short changed in the UK...

But the mystery 3.4 litre Capri - anyone know where this was available?

 

[a73uk]

Here you go!

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/1964/Ford-Capri-RS-Cosworth.html

The main difference between the European (UK) and the USA Capris was mainly in the lights and indicators. You can see the extra lights in the front grill of the USA spec Capri picture. Apart from that they were pretty much the same as they were built in Germany on the same production line as the European versions.

The 3.4 litre Capri sounds like the 1980's Mustang V6? I must admit that I am not at all familiar with that model. I thought the USA spec. mk1 Capri was available with the same 2.0 litre Pinto as later UK models, and also with, according to my 'American Cars of the 70s' book, a 2.6 litre V6. This would be the early German version of the Cologne engine. The mk2 Capri was also available in the USA and this was available with the 2.3 litre version of the Pinto, and the 2.8 litre Cologne V6.

Importing the European Capri from 1979 onwards was not cost effective because of the unfavourable exchange rates, so the 'Mercury Capri' was introduced. This was effectively a re-badged compact Mustang with a nose job. This was available with a 2.3 litre Pinto (inc. a turbo version), a 2.8 litre V6 and a 5 litre (302 ci) V8. Whether the 1980 onwards version of the Mustang Capri was available with a 3.4 litre engine I have no idea as none of my American car books go beyond 1980! American cars after 1980, with a few exceptions, took a nose dive in both style, substance and quality and were generally awful!

So I'm still none the wiser as to what model Capri had the 3.4 engine. I can only assume it might have been a 1980's Mercury Capri or the South African model though I though they were offered with the same 3 litre V6 as the UK (and I think they might have had a very hot model with the 350 Mustang V8). That leaves Australia, which due to some laws about imports requiring a number of parts manufactured in Oz, could have some European cars with some wild engines. The mk3 Cortina for instance was only available in Europe with a 2 litre Pinto as the biggest option. In Australia, they managed to shoe horn in a homegrown STRAIGHT SIX eek of up to 4.2 litres. It didn't handle that well because of all the extra weight up front, but the power bulge in the bonnet and the straight line performance more than made up for it :devil: Oh yes, and south Africa could also have the mk3 Cortina with the 3 litre Essex V6. We were always short changed in the UK...

But the mystery 3.4 litre Capri - anyone know where this was available?

 

[The Beard]

.....'fishnet'.....

We found out how dodgy when we had armed police knock on the door one day, wanting to question my Dad after it had been used in a ram raid on a bank in Southwark Such a shame.

Yeah, the 3.4 = verrrrry rare! The picture I added is still of a rather nice car though What differences were there, between the US/British one?

Now, where to start, Oookay.....the phrases: ....."armed Police" and "knock on the door"..... aren't two you normally see in the same sentance. I don't think they seriously took your dad for a villain. "armed Police" and "flashbangs and wham-ram" are more usually associated together. Followed by a grovelling apology letter from the Commissioner.

As Chas has already put, the headlights were different as any shape other than round was against Federal laws, so 4 round lights in surrounds, a-la RS3100 were the norm, also side repeaters for the indicators and front indicators in the grille. I think some may have had overriders on the front bumpers and if my memory serves, head restraints on all which were only available on the 3000E/GXL in Britain.

At some point in the '70s the law concerning headlights were relaxed and not only could manufacturers fit non-round lights but they could alos have glass or perspex covers. One reason the E-Type lost its faired in headlights was because of the old laws. Contemporary Mercedes with the stacked lamps also couldn't have covers and the S-Class when that came out also had 4 seperate units.

Which brings me finally to....."fishnets".....mmmmmmmmm!!

 

[The Beard]

The 3.4 litre Capri sounds like the 1980's Mustang V6? I must admit that I am not at all familiar with that model. I thought the USA spec. mk1 Capri was available with the same 2.0 litre Pinto as later UK models, and also with, according to my 'American Cars of the 70s' book, a 2.6 litre V6. This would be the early German version of the Cologne engine. The mk2 Capri was also available in the USA and this was available with the 2.3 litre version of the Pinto, and the 2.8 litre Cologne V6.

Importing the European Capri from 1979 onwards was not cost effective because of the unfavourable exchange rates, so the 'Mercury Capri' was introduced. This was effectively a re-badged compact Mustang with a nose job. This was available with a 2.3 litre Pinto (inc. a turbo version), a 2.8 litre V6 and a 5 litre (302 ci) V8. Whether the 1980 onwards version of the Mustang Capri was available with a 3.4 litre engine I have no idea as none of my American car books go beyond 1980! American cars after 1980, with a few exceptions, took a nose dive in both style, substance and quality and were generally awful!

But the mystery 3.4 litre Capri - anyone know where this was available?

I can certainly remember the Mk1 Crapi being sold in the US with the 2.6 Cologne unit and I'm fairly certain it was pretty much always marketed as Capri by Lincoln-Mercury, a division of the Ford Motor Company. If there was a 3.4 V6 it almost certainly wasn't an American unit as US makers all used straight 6s

 

[The Beard]

Some of my favorite old school European GM products...

Ah yes, Big Bertha, a yumping Manta A, Baby Bertha, a Firenza HP aka Droop Snoot, Viva GT with FE Ventora headlights and a PC Cresta. For the younger readers, that didn't mean Politically Correct.

Actually, that Cresta might have been a Viscount.

I can well remember 3 of us, aged about 13 travelling for about 3 miles in the boot of my Dad's Cresta. Of course that was in the time before Health and Safety. Eee, happy days. Mind you, we did have a death rate of about 5,000 a year on British roads

 

[The Beard]

It is indeed Mr Beard, I quite a few FE`s, 1.8-3.3`s as well as Viva HB`s & HC`s, but that one was a rat look (well before it was popular) Blydenstein engined VX2300 estate that was a match for one of my mates BM 325i E30`s at the time, massively fast, enough torque to push a fully loaded skip sideways & pull away from standstill in 3rd, the downside to that torque was the tearing of 5 gearbox mainshafts, 3 diff crownwheels, several propshaft UJ`s & countless engine mounts in the 15 years I had her.... still miss her though

Here she is.. spot the Argenta roof...

View attachment 77185

Bill Blydenstein, Gerry Marshall and Will Sparrow were heroes of mine, all trying to defeat the motorsport behemoth that was Ford. I remember Blydenstein doing a lot of work on the Vauxhall slant 4s and, apart from Porsche and Mitsubishi later on, they ignored the fact that it was considered at the time that if you wanted to go much bigger than 2 litres you needed 6 cylinders. I'm seem to remember that Vauxhall actually encouraged them to develop that 2.3 and they ended up boring it out to 2.6 litres. They were also entered into the tow car of the year competition and beat a 3 litre Grandad Estate for torque and drivability. A superb motor that, sadly was not developed (by Vauxhall) at least, although it did go on to form the basis for the 900(?) series Lotus engine and also found its way from there into the Jensen Healey and Chrysler Sunbeam Lotus.

Argenta roof? That's funny, I thought they had a vynyl roof.

One thing that spoke volumes about the strength of that engine, was that it was only when they got to about 240 bhp in the race Firenzas and rally Chevettes that they really needed to beef up the bottom end.

 

[Chas Uno]

Here you go!

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/1964/Ford-Capri-RS-Cosworth.html

So not exactly a production model then?!!!!

I reckon they must've made all of about 2 of those!

 

[The Beard]

So not exactly a production model then?!!!!

I reckon they must've made all of about 2 of those!

Looks like someone's taken a Cosworth F1 V8, chopped 2 cylinders off then bored and stroked it a bit.

Mind you, if I was being stroked at this moment I wouldn't be bored. Pity I'm on nights tonight.

 

[a73uk]

Looks like someone's taken a Cosworth F1 V8, chopped 2 cylinders off then bored and stroked it a bit.

Mind you, if I was being stroked at this moment I wouldn't be bored. Pity I'm on nights tonight.

I`ve got a feeling its a stroked Essex lump with twin cam heads bunged on!

 

[dpr59]

For a Yank tank

The '59 Corvette

For European

The Testarossa

And the one you could afford

The Escort Cosworth

 

[JackFi]

You shoud Jack, as I said, they arent expensive to run, they arent complicated mechanically, they are economical & suprisingly cheap insurance on the `normal` ones too. Thoroughly recomended.

The only thing is the sublime handling means that you can do silly things in cars you drive immediately after...

As an example I had an E30 daily driver when I got my first 924, I drove the 924 for a couple of weeks non-stop, then jumped back into the E30... which I then nearly crashed at the 1st corner I came to!

924/944`s are just on another level as far as handlings concerned... proper drivers car

Cheers for that insight, might ask my dad if he wants to chip in & buy an 944 but also I do love e30s aswel best old skool beamer imo.

 

[LanciaMad]

So many heres a few:

 

[Garree001]

.....'fishnet'.....

Now, where to start, Oookay.....the phrases: ....."armed Police" and "knock on the door"..... aren't two you normally see in the same sentance. I don't think they seriously took your dad for a villain. "armed Police" and "flashbangs and wham-ram" are more usually associated together. Followed by a grovelling apology letter from the Commissioner.

If you like - but what happened, happened Not all armed police go around with riot gear and a desire to kick your front door in either, I'm sure. I am sure they didn't seriously take him for the 'villain' either, or they may well have adopted the approach to visiting the front door that you alluded to.

So not exactly a production model then?!!!!

I reckon they must've made all of about 2 of those!

It didn't say we had to pick production cars though I just like the look of the Capri (be it from America/UK/wherever) and one with a very powerful engine sounds great to me

 

[maddogmorg]

don't forget

i guess tipos are old enough to be "old skool" now.

 

[Adrian Bravo]

The Opel Manta A bore no relationship to any Vauxhalls.

Thanks for the info captain beard

There have been some really nice car suggestions. Anymore?

 

[JackFi]

My mates neighbour has a opel manta such a nice car in brilliant condition, i never see to move off the drive though.

 

[JackFi]

& i mean this shape manta

 

[ycming]

Bit of a jap fan myself

Toyota Corolla AE-86

Honda NSX

Certain someone in Glasgow got a Manta, lovely looking car they are! And the seats is so comfortable ...
Ming