You learn something new... - Cars you didn't know existed, until now!
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Roo
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TIL about the Michelin PLR.
It was built to test truck tyres at speeds of up to 110mph. Powered by a pair of 350 small block Chevys, it weighed nearly 10 tonnes and had 4 wheel steering at the front.
It was built to test truck tyres at speeds of up to 110mph. Powered by a pair of 350 small block Chevys, it weighed nearly 10 tonnes and had 4 wheel steering at the front.
MagpieRacer
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- 17,306
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- Seagull_Racer
BMW 320si.
Obviously we all know of the 320i. But the si was new to me until I saw a JayEmm on Cars video about it. It's a homologation special to get the 320 entered into the WTCC seriies under the then S2000 rules. It had all the M-sport stuff of the time underneath, suspension, bigger brakes etc, bespoke BMW Motorsport alloy wheels and some nice interior bits. But the engine was a special 2 litre 4 pot, increased bore, conventional overhead cams instead of the valvetronic system, higher compression and the cylinder head was cast in the F1 factory. Add in the fancy, genuine carbon fibre cam cover and all that equates to a very fruity, high revving 170hp.
For a limited edition homologation special, they're pretty cheap in the UK as well, anything from 2.5k to 5k.
Obviously we all know of the 320i. But the si was new to me until I saw a JayEmm on Cars video about it. It's a homologation special to get the 320 entered into the WTCC seriies under the then S2000 rules. It had all the M-sport stuff of the time underneath, suspension, bigger brakes etc, bespoke BMW Motorsport alloy wheels and some nice interior bits. But the engine was a special 2 litre 4 pot, increased bore, conventional overhead cams instead of the valvetronic system, higher compression and the cylinder head was cast in the F1 factory. Add in the fancy, genuine carbon fibre cam cover and all that equates to a very fruity, high revving 170hp.
For a limited edition homologation special, they're pretty cheap in the UK as well, anything from 2.5k to 5k.
- 17,109
- United Kingdom
DANGER WILL ROBINSON, RUN!
This is mine... I love it...
Statistically I don't believe it's possible to buy a less reliable BMW. The problems with that bespoke engine are significant and expensive and the unique wheels are made from egg-shells, main dealers don't know what it is and I've only found one specialist in the UK that has experience with them. The members groups are awash with the same unsolved, usually terminal problems. The only reason why you would buy this car is if you wanted a 320si. I did, I still do, so I put up with it because I'm a touring car fan and this car did as much for BMW's motorsport credentials as multiple generations of M3 have.... but do not buy one of these cars unless you're prepared to spend the same again on fixing it.
The engine cover is nice, I recently fitted DINAN ignition coils in mine...
..
but this is not so nice, and not an uncommon appearance...
.. fuel economy is total **** by the way. Drive it like your testicles are behind the accelerator and you'll get 22mpg. Drive it like it's meant to be and 6-12 mpg is standard.
It's still one of my most favourite of the BMW's I've owned.
MagpieRacer
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Sounds like ownership is a true commitment, props to you for putting up with it. They are bloody cool cars though, I'll probably never own one but I'm glad it exists, if that makes sense.
Do BMW still help look after these now or is it very much a, you're on your own type thing due to its bespoke nature?
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- 17,109
- United Kingdom
In my experience BMW treat it as a 320i that they can't find parts for on their system.
The main problem is the cylinder bore linings fail, many of these failures occurred during the warranty period and whilst fixed, the problem was not solved. The best solution is to get them re-linered with steel liners, if you buy one with it's original liners, it's a timebomb, and once the block's gone, you're left trying to find one from a small pool of scrapped cars that were likely scrapped because of the same problem - because the F1 foundry at Landshut sure as F isn't making them for you. In short, unless you're buying one that's been re-linered already, you have to get it done pre-emptively - I've got the bill for that in the service history of my car and it was several thousand pounds.
This is what the supply of used parts looks like in the UK ... I'd bet they're not getting taken off the road for anything other than catastrophic, or simply undiagnoseble engine problems...
Frustratingly, my car is exhibiting problems that end up as terminal despite having these major fixes done already, and so far BMW diagnostics can't find a fault. At the current rate, my car will be one of the SORN'd numbers in January (MOT). To protect the engine I'm now not using it until I can get it pulled apart, I'm hoping I've just popped a head gasket... I'm fearing the work done on the car prior to me buying it is not legit.
BMW released this as a true homologation special... i.e. a car that's not fit for road use, but had to be done for the touring car, and once it's out of warranty... **** that.
The wheels (might seem trivial, but it's a big deal), are weak. It's virtually impossible to find a second hand one that's not full of welds, and you can't buy them new.
How weak? you may ask, this was my back left...
... and the ones that have been fixed and refurbed don't have the BMW Motorsport logo etched under the clearcoat, so any that are claiming to be good, but don't have the logo, are being sold by scammers.
...
It's a relatively lightweight, high-revving, naturally aspirated, 6MT, saloon. On the right road, it's massive fun, and possibly the epitome of "slow-car-fast" driving when it comes to post 2000 BMW's. I don't think there's an experience from Munich like it since the M3 went 6-pot.
- 864
- PA
- attilag78
- TheHun99
There was a homologation special from the E36, too, the 318is Class II. Only 2500 cars produced apparently back in 1994-1995 when Super Touring was all the rage and the German championship (STW) started - and Cecotto won the inaugural season with the 318is.
MagpieRacer
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- 864
- PA
- attilag78
- TheHun99
I used to live on German car magazines, mainly Sport Auto but also auto motor und sport, Motor Klassik, Youngtimer etc. I distinctly remember reading about this car. Obviously, meager 140 HP from the M42B18, no special engine but spoilers and other cosmetic stuff like that - I can't recall whether there were more substantial changes tbh, my magazine collection is on the other side of the Atlantic
Still, looks super cool for me but I like sedans and liked the '90s touring cars, plus I'm a BMW shill (+Porsche, Ferrari, Alfa as other main objects of my fanboyism), so this fits the bill perfectly (alongside the E30 M3, 1992 Alfa 155 GTA from the Italian Touring Car Championship, '93 Alfa 155 V6 Ti from DTM, other DTM cars like the 190 Evo II,, '94 C-Klasse, Audi V8, B4 80, B5 A4 , - and a little bit even the 1994 Alfa 155 with its FWD config from BTCC).
Anyway, the 318is in its true form, a real touring car for me:
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INEEDNAWZZZ
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- EGGSBAWCKS
- DigitalLuke64DD
I believe the name is a big reason why the poor thing didn't sell too well here in the UK.
- 11,805
- Marin County
I didn't extensively search to see if this has been posted, but say hello to the Sepand K
Oh, a domestically manufactured Renault 5 you say? Or maybe a knockoff Renault 5? What if I told you this was actually a Mazda 121 / Ford Festiva / Kia Pride in drag as a Renault 5? Yep, produced by SAIPA, this is actually a real car and you could buy one brand new as recently as 2008. That's the body of a car dating back to 1972 Frankenstein'd onto the platform of a car with a different powertrain layout dating back to 1986. Side note, the Festiva was still in production in Iran under the "Pride" model name until 2022.
Oh, a domestically manufactured Renault 5 you say? Or maybe a knockoff Renault 5? What if I told you this was actually a Mazda 121 / Ford Festiva / Kia Pride in drag as a Renault 5? Yep, produced by SAIPA, this is actually a real car and you could buy one brand new as recently as 2008. That's the body of a car dating back to 1972 Frankenstein'd onto the platform of a car with a different powertrain layout dating back to 1986. Side note, the Festiva was still in production in Iran under the "Pride" model name until 2022.
Roo
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- Hampshire, UK
- GTP_Roo
Chaparral, who we all know for their sportscars in the 60s and 70s, made an F5000 car. Original Facebook post here.
"In 1971, with the Chaparral team having withdrawn from sports car racing, a F5000 car was built for Franz Weis, Jim Hall's mechanic, engine builder and test driver. The low-key project joined the series late in the season, entered, as per Chaparral tradition with the #66. On debut, Weis was 20th fastest in qualifying at round 7 at Donnybrooke. He was off the pace by some 9%, and managed only 14th place in Heat 2. Not exactly in line with Chaparral tradition. At Lime Rock for round 8, the final race of the 1971 season, Weis managed 13th in qualifying, 5% back from polesitter David Hobbs' McLaren M10B, but crashed on lap 1, ending the car's short career. The bent remains are said to survive, awaiting the generous funding that would be required for a restoration."
"In 1971, with the Chaparral team having withdrawn from sports car racing, a F5000 car was built for Franz Weis, Jim Hall's mechanic, engine builder and test driver. The low-key project joined the series late in the season, entered, as per Chaparral tradition with the #66. On debut, Weis was 20th fastest in qualifying at round 7 at Donnybrooke. He was off the pace by some 9%, and managed only 14th place in Heat 2. Not exactly in line with Chaparral tradition. At Lime Rock for round 8, the final race of the 1971 season, Weis managed 13th in qualifying, 5% back from polesitter David Hobbs' McLaren M10B, but crashed on lap 1, ending the car's short career. The bent remains are said to survive, awaiting the generous funding that would be required for a restoration."
- 4,763
- Houston, TX
1 of 1 Alfa 155 GTA Stradale. Basically a 155 with Delta Integrale underpinnings.
- 864
- PA
- attilag78
- TheHun99
Everyone knows about the '93 DTM-conquering Alfa 155 V6 Ti but I'm the self-proclaimed evangelist of the '92 Italian Touring Car championship-winning Alfa 155 GTA, also with Larini and Nannini, watched its one-hour recap countless times back in the day. I personally like their Martini livery better than the otherwise great-looking DTM one.1 of 1 Alfa 155 GTA Stradale. Basically a 155 with Delta Integrale underpinnings.
Continuing Renault 5 theme, R7 was sedan version, from which 5 door version of R5 was made.
There is also ultra rare mk2 Super 7, based on Master not R5
RENAULT Super 7 by TRABANTINO*, on Flickr
There is also ultra rare mk2 Super 7, based on Master not R5
RENAULT Super 7 by TRABANTINO*, on Flickr
- 1,965
- wocsoM
Not so much the cars themselves, as much as where they are, but it turns out two Holdens did end up in a non-Bitter guise within Mainland Europe in Germany and Austria, which is normally otherwise devoid of such cars:
While the Monaro is from the UK, the Commodore was apparently Pontiac G8(?) that became a gray import by a dealer as an "Opel Omega"
While the Monaro is from the UK, the Commodore was apparently Pontiac G8(?) that became a gray import by a dealer as an "Opel Omega"
- 23,931
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
We got the Monaro and the Commodore (only in HSV Clubsport and GTS spec) in the UK for a while, rebadged as Vauxhalls, but they were never big sellers, even though they were RHD and keenly priced for their performance. I think with our fuel prices 6.0/6.2ltrs put most potential buyers off. That and the Vauxhall badge.
INEEDNAWZZZ
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I believe Vauxhall only really offered them because they saw a sizeable group of people that were grey importing them in the early 2000s and tried to cash in. I suspect they probably made a tidy profit from it too, since all they really had to do was nail some griffin badges on them, change the clocks to MPH and voila. As you said though, fuel suddenly became too expensive and they fell by the wayside. Most VXR8s I see for sale second hand are usually LPG converted!
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- 23,931
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
I had a quick look on Autotrader to see how much Monaros and VXR8s were going for now; £16k to £20k is the ballpark. Trouble is, that's roughly the same ballpark for E90/E92 M3s which also have a V8 if that's your reason for getting one. I know which i'd prefer.
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- 50,897
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- SpacedustDaddy
Of course I knew the Alphard existed, but not this:
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