Thread: Classic Cars - My Pick

Here we go again:

Chevrolet Covette Sting Ray 1963

I think this particular model was only made for 1963 with the split rear screen. It could be had with a range of engines and tunes from 250bhp to 360bhp. Guess which one I want? It competed with the Jaguar E-Type, which was a hard task particularly as that car had a rather false claim of achieving a 150mph top speed. The test car did indeed do that, but turned out to be a little above the standard motor. The Sting ray in highest spec could run out at 145mph. It seems to me to be one of the most exciting shapes of the time and quite out of the ordinary for American cars.

Chevrolet Corvette Sing Ray.jpg Chevrolet Corvette Sing ray 1963.jpg


Citroen SM

For a long time France did not compete in the large engined luxury market because of the punitive "puissance fiscale." It was a tax that penalised egines over 2.8litres. BMW and Mercedes cars of the same era were usually under this size too. In 1970 Ciroen launched the SM. It had previously bought up Maserati and acquired the rights to their motors. A similar but slightly larger engine was used in the Maserati Merak and some SMs were retrofitted to some advantage by private owners. The car fetaured much revolutionary technology but was better received in the US than the European market. The Maserati motor produced only 174bhp, which was quite a bit down on the majority of it's rivals. Acceleration was moderate, but not many beat it on top speed thanks to the very low drag coefficient of .26. It was manufactured from 1970-1975.
CITROEN-SM.jpgCitroen-SM-Injection-1973-3.jpg

There were a couple of cabriolets made and a four door version, which Iam not fussed about.

CITROEN-SM 4 door.jpg

This is a performance comparison of the rivals at the time.

CITROEN-SM comparisons.png

Daimler 2½ Litre (250)

Most of us are familiar with the Jaguar Mk1/2, but after Jaguar acquired the Daimler company they placed the diminutive 2½L V8 into the Mk2 body. The Daimler version of Jaguars were normally up market such as Lexus is to Toyota. In addition the Daimler was better balanced with the V8 and produced more power than the Jaguar 2.4 motor, although not as much as the original 3.4L Jaguar motor (from which all others were derived).

Daimler 250.jpgdaimler 250 rear.jpg

It can be difficult to differentiate between the two cars as the radiator grille is only slightly different with the Daimler having no feline on the bonnet and broader fluting at the top. From the rear both have dual exhaust pipes but the Jaguar's are on the same side while the Daimler's are on either side.
Daimler 250 (2).jpgJaguar Mk2 (2).jpg



Horch 853

Ahem! I have been naughty with this one, because unless you are sufficiently cashed up to spend $100million frivously, you really shouldn't aspire to these.

Built in the late thirties prior to WW2 these cars, at this level, were in the era where you could purchase a chassis and then approach a body builder to complete the car. Many were extravagant tending to ostentatious as this one shows.
Horch 853 cabriolet.jpgHorch 853 cabriolet rear.jpg

Horch merged with DKW, Wanderer and Audi to become Auto Union and the four marques are reflected in the rings still used today in the modern Audi. The car had a 4944cc straight eight engine producing 120bhp. The version that appeals to me is the one below which is a replica of the car owned by Bernard Rosemeyer, the Auto Union race driver, and was created on an original Horch chassis. he called his particular car "Manuela." Most of the Horch 853 models topped out at 85mph, but the shortened "Stromlinien" variant of Rosemeyer would have gone beyon the ton I suspect. Only very few pre WW2 cars could top 100mph. Most had large engines of four or five litre with the exception of the BMW 328 I mentioned earlier in the Bristol 405 entry.

Horch 853 Manuela.jpgHorch 853 Manuela rear.jpg

The pic below is of Rosemeyer with the original car, which was found as a wreck in the Ukraine. More here

1939_Horch_853StromlinienCoup1.jpg

I was a little disturbed to read that he was a member of the Nazi party, but it transpired that anybody in pre war Germany in the public eye was obliged (compelled) to be a member and not too much store should be placed in the membership. Rosemeyer was one of three great pre war formula one drivers along with Caracciola and Nuvolari. Rosemeyer died during a land speed record attempt on the autobahn in 1938.

Jensen 541R

In it's time this was the fastest four seater around. Powered by a 3993cc Austin engine it was made between 1957 - 1960 and developed 150bhp and in a test by "autocar" achieved a top speed of 127.5mph. I think that would have been a version fitted with overdrive. An overdrive feature was often found on Austin vehicles in both sedans and sports cars.

Jensen 541R (Medium).jpgJensen 541R side.jpgJensen 541R rear.jpg

It was superceded by the 541S, which was a larger (wider in particular) car, although it looked very similar and consequently with the same engine was slightly slower.. The immediate distinguishing feature from the front is that the 541R had an adjustable "grille" that could be opened. Most pix seem to have the grille in the open poistion. Closed shown below.

Jensen541R closed rad grille.jpg

That is the ten. I only got halfway through the alphabet when I realised I had used the quota!

Now as a bonus I had this pic, which I think is unusual, in that it shows all six original Bugatti Type 41 together. Also, of course known as the Bugatti Royale. There is a seventh replica built on an original chassis, but that doesn't quite count, although I would suggest it is the most attractive of the lot.

Bugatti Royale

Six Bugatti Royales. Pebble Beach 1985.jpg

Please feel free to comment or even add your own ten favourites. Hopefully I won't lose this lot before posting the thread. I did have two close disasters. Of course click on the pix to view more easily.

Regards
Paul

Apparently I've always been attracted to lemons.

Triumph Stag
-W201356.jpg
Fiat 124 coupe
Fiat_124_Sport_Coupe_(1969)_(10275735714).jpg
AMC Gremlin
1280px-1972_Gremlin.jpg
VW Gurgel
1981-gurgel-x12-cabriolet-jeepster-click-to-enlarge-further_9d2ea.jpg
Triumph TR6
triumph-tr6-1972-t1330-037.jpg

BTW I drive a commodore and I've never owned a 2 door other than a VW Type 3 wagon.
sddefault.jpg
(Radar Red. Great car. Best memories when single, back seat down, mattress on top of warm motor with friendly friend. )

Surely I must be due for my midlife crisis by now.

Beetle that’s the VW kind,

I spent many a pleasurable hour (100s of hours cutting rust out of these and putting fresh metal in.
When i was living in the Uk.





I find some more juice classics an post them later.

Cheers Matt.

1925 Rolls Royce ,

Is there anything more to say, when Cars were Coach Built,when you signed your work(Yes earlier Rollers were signed by the people making them ,grill,engine gearbox extra.
When the Job was done when the job was done, no overtime no production time slip too be followed.
When the interior was lined with timber, an the factory kept spare pieces from the same piece of timber or veneer, in case it was needed.



Please Wait... | Cloudflare

I actually used to own one of these ,when i was 8, an it was a very very very small one, given too me by a loving Grandmother.[emoji6]

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Is there anything more to say, when Cars were Coach Built,when you signed your work

Ah, you want a Morgan then.
25_06_20_MP4_MP6_AF_079-show-plates-low-res.jpg

I bought a 1961 Gunmetal Grey with red leather Mk2 3.8 at the age of 17, that year still had the larger chrome bumbers, the car was positive earth, so couldn't upgrade the radio. I drove it up to the lake district for a weekend away with my mum & dad and a mate and it was a great car to drive. One of the things I remember about it was the small side lights on top of the wings, from inside the car the lit up red and sort of gave you the width of the car when driving at night, it was automatic with column change and lots of Smith clocks.

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

Apparently I've always been attracted to lemons.

Triumph Stag
-W201356.jpg

Franklin

I have always admired the stag. Sadly, as you have hinted, it had some issues, but the concept was great.

The Morgan probably would have featured somewhere but I had reached the quota before I got to the letter "M" In fact the mercedes 190SL was on the original list but I realsied I had forgotten about the AC Cobra, so it got bumped.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Beetle that’s the VW kind,

Cheers Matt.

Matt

My first car was a VW.

Regards
Paul

I owned a Beetle as a student at uni, and it was great fun .. 1967 sunroof.

But my first car was this 5th hand, clapped out 1965 Lancia Fulvia coupe. I was in love at 20 …



The one I most regret selling (don’t ask!) was a 1957 Porsche 356A, which I spent 12 years restoring …



I had a series of SAABs - amazing shape - and my favourite was a 1987 Aero Turbo. Lost my license for 3 months in this car ..



My current driver is now 21 years old and I do not plan on selling it. It is now considered a “Vintage” as the model is 25 years old … time flies: 2001 Porsche Boxster S … not much good for carting timber …



Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I owned a Beetle as a student at uni, and it was great fun .. 1967 sunroof.

But my first car was this 5th hand, clapped out 1965 Lancia Fulvia coupe. I was in love at 20 …



The one I most regret selling (don’t ask!) was a 1957 Porsche 356A, which I spent 12 years restoring …



I had a series of SAABs - amazing shape - and my favourite was a 1987 Aero Turbo. Lost my license for 3 months in this car ..



My current driver is now 21 years old and I do not plan on selling it. It is now considered a “Vintage” as the model is 25 years old … time flies: 2001 Porsche Boxster S … not much good for carting timber …



Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek,

I remember those SAABs they use to cause a bit of stir in Body shops no one wanted too work on them, they just seemed to be overly complicated for some reason, always a pain.
Your 356 Porsche looks fantastic, I resist the comments about it being a VW[emoji6].
But I do love them.

An a Lancia at 20 that’s a bit early for a midlife crisis.

Cheers Matt.

Derek

Nice slection of cars. When I first arrived in Oz in 1980 I had considered importing a Saab turbo (9000 I think it was) as I could buy it in the Uk without sales tax if it was shipped direct to Australia. The trouble was I had to keep it for two years first, which would completely tie up my available funds and secondly I wasn't sure Australia was quite ready for such a vehicle. I had consulted my FIL and he was vague on the subject. He later confided that he had confused it with a Subaru (at the time, years before WRXs etc) and it was a poor comparison and indicative that this country was not indeed ready.

The 356A? Should'a kept it .

Regards
Paul

Thanks Paul.

Y'know, I've never owned a new car in all my years. Bought them for my wife, but never for myself. The problem is that the one's I like are always out of the range at the time - too hard to justify the cost. The Boxster cost me the same as a Commodore. I have had it about 12 or so years now, and it is back to the price I paid. Some cars will eventually appreciate in value. The 356A certainly did. I paid $15K for it as a bit of a wreck, and worked the metal and mechanicals as much as I could. Even sprayed it myself. But the gearbox was an ongoing problem - it constantly destroyed pinion gears. It cost a small fortune with "specialists" in Perth, and there really was no one here to do the job properly. In the end I sold it because it was beginning to sit around and deteriorate. It paid for the Boxster. Now I could not afford one as it would run 6 figures! Rats.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Some cars will eventually appreciate in value. The 356A certainly did. I paid $15K for it as a bit of a wreck, and worked the metal and mechanicals as much as I could. Even sprayed it myself. But the gearbox was an ongoing problem - it constantly destroyed pinion gears. It cost a small fortune with "specialists" in Perth, and there really was no one here to do the job properly. In the end I sold it because it was beginning to sit around and deteriorate. It paid for the Boxster. Now I could not afford one as it would run 6 figures! Rats.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek

As I pointed out, at the start of this thread, it is really only gloat value on my part. It is all too easy to forget that the initial price may be the cheap part. Restoration, maintenance and parts may be the aspect that drains the savings and results in you sleeping under the bridge on cold nights with only newspaper for a blanket .

Between SWMBO and I we have only ever bought one new car and the most we have ever spent was $16,000, which was not the new car. In fact back in 1980, the new car was less than half that amount of money!

Perhaps I should do another ten cars list on the low buget spectrum. For example, I have always wanted to own a Citroen 2CV (Deux Cheveaux).

Regards
Paul

If I was looking for cars that might appreciate in the near future, I would be considering from the
1970s
E55 Charger
1980s
ESP Falcon
1990s
1 & 2nd Gen MX5