You learn something new... - Cars you didn't know existed, until now!

[TheCracker]

I see someone just mentioned the Z3 Coupe... Problem is, I totally forgot that "normal" models existed:

For some reason I thought that they only did an M-version of the car. Weird. The most surprising point is how cheap the 2.8 and 3.0 versions are. All are well-under $10K now. Hmmmm... Affordable, stylish (to me), and apparently rather reliable. I'll take it!

They only ever sold the M-power version of it in the UK too. I was quite taken aback when there was a very vanilla looking 2.8 coupe parked in the hotel car park when i got married in Italy a few years back.

 

[Rue]

I never knew that a non M version existed. The M is easily one of fave cars.

For some reason I thought that they only did an M-version of the car. Weird. The most surprising point is how cheap the 2.8 and 3.0 versions are. All are well-under $10K now. Hmmmm... Affordable, stylish (to me), and apparently rather reliable. I'll take it!

Buy them ALL damn it and fill them with ridiculous engines! Muahahahahaha!

 

[YSSMAN]

Trust me... Now that I know how cheap they are, even with hardly any miles on them, I'm seriously considering buying one after the Celica is paid off. Seriously.

 

[nk4e]

Jay-z's famous Maybach in "Lost Ones"

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

^ You mean the Maybach Excelero?

^ Aka. as the perfect car for Darth Vader.

 

[Paulie]

The 1973 Capri RS

They must never have been sold as road cars overseas, because I can't find anything else on them other than what the FPV site says. I'm guessing it was really just a couple of these on the road.

Ford Sierra XR8 (mentioned in the last paragraph here)
Only 250 made according to Wiki for homologation purposes and only in South Africa (it's fascinating what models SA got, like V8 RWD Opels, they had their entire own muscle car era away from the rest of the world), I don't even know what wheels these were driven by.
Curiously this is where the Falcon XR8 name pays its homage to, it was around before the XR8 Falcon.

 

[TheCracker]

They made 250 of the Capri for Touring Car homologation. Some will have made it onto the road i'd have thought. The South Africans also got a V8 Capri at a similar time to the RS3100. The Perana i think it was called.

*edit* They made 500 Perana Capris.

"Their performance was derived from a 302 Mustang GT motor with highrise headers and hotter cams fed by a single 600cfm 4-barrel Holley. The transmission was either a Top Loader Manual 4-speed or the C4-Auto with tuned suspension and a 9" LSD at the back. In its day it was a very fast car, even in Auto form she delivered over 220KPH with blistering off the line performance which put all-comers to shame"

 

[Paulie]

The Perana was a South African model? I always knew about that one and thought it was an Aussie model. My mistake. Here's a good site for the Perana. It's a 1067kg V8, love it.

 

[Glanza-V]

 

[homeforsummer]

Time to revive this thread. Anyone ever heard of this one before?

Chevrolet Niva

GM-AvtoVAZ, a joint venture between AvtoVAZ and General Motors, produces the Chevrolet Niva. The car was previously known as the VAZ-2123 in the design stage. It features an updated body and 1.7-litre gasoline engine with fuel injection. Although the body and the interiors are new, it is still based on the old VAZ 2121 engine, transmission and most mechanicals. Its off-road ability is exemplary compared with many modern budget SUVs, having been designed for tough tundra territory.

Source

 

[Danny]

That's a new one on me.

 

[land sea air]

I was about ready to post saying we had that as the Chevy/Suzuki Tracker until I realized it was russian. Is that the same as a Lada Niva?

 

[Jim Prower]

Underneath, I believe that's true.

 

[homeforsummer]

Yup, it's made by the same company as the Niva (as in, AvtoVAZ rather than Lada itself) with a little help from GM. Not the prettiest of things but it could probably knock the spots off 95% of off-roaders when it comes to life in the rough stuff.

 

[Sniffs]

MAHAHAHA...

a Russian bowtie! the Chevy guys over here are groaning loud enough to make Louis sit up in his grave and go what the beep! (and I thought Vaz was a corpse by now)

GM, you poser...first ford disappears, now chevy...

 

[homeforsummer]

Ironically, that VAZ is probably a better off-roader, and probably even better built, than any Chevy SUV...

 

[a112]

While on VAZ subject,about old Niva.
Offroad capabilities are good(most people say because you don't feel sorry for it),but the build level is plain rubbish.
But suspension concept is good,double A arms in front.

 

[exigeracer]

Anyone know what the hell is happening here?

 

[homeforsummer]

I call shoop. Look at the smudging on the wheelarch. In fact there are all sorts of bad photoshop signatures in that pic...

 

[buickgnx88]

That's what MC Escher would design if he was a car designer!

 

[Jetboy.]

Bad-assness at its finest!

Oldsmobile FIRENZA FE3-X CONCEPT CAR
1985 CALAIS FE3-X CONCEPT CAR

100% Pure Sick.

Now, funny enough, my one friend has a 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier 3-Door Hatch.. Very rare stuff. I'll see if I can get pics from his place. They use it as a storeage bin now.

Also.

The Cadillac Cimmaron (Read: Cavalier)

Absolute failure. There is one local one and I didn't even believe it in the metal. Powered by the 2.5l Tech-4 engine that limped along in similar offerings from GM at the time.

Following the GM theme, I had no idea about the car I purchased:
Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad442

Powered by the amazing (but sometimes problem-addled) Quad 4 engine. Power of 180 horsepower, 5 speed manual. Mine's one of 1364 examples that I had no idea ever existed.

Another car I had but had never heard of before that point.
Hyundai Scoupe GT

1.5 Litre Turbo unit, Something like 120 horse for a 940 kg car it was pretty entertaining to drive. Sophisticated Independent rear set-up, also.

1938 Phantom Corsair

Darth Vader's personal transport? Someone have any info??

Sunbeam Tiger

See.. I know this is a Sunbeam Tiger. Something noone prolly knew was sold in the US.

There's a Blue Hardtop that runs around locally, has a Ford 260ci. V8 for power..

Which finally led me to find...
The Australian Falcon Cobra XC

Whatever and however this came to be, it's ****ing gorgeous!!!!!!




Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[kikie]

Just found out that Russia is building a supercar.

http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/09/13/marussia-b1/

 

[bergauk]

I like it, kinda looks.. Pagani-esque? Just smoother.

 

[Sniffs]

Jetboy: actually, british imports were the majority of the ones we recieved for decades till the Japanese took over. Sunbeams, Talbots, Morrises, etc.

 

[TVC]

Just found out that Russia is building a supercar.

http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/09/13/marussia-b1/

I remember seeing a picture of this car on the back a truck (The picture was unrelated to the car) and I had no idea what it was. A few cars looked similar but none of them were the same. Thanks for posting it. 👍

 

[kikie]

Artega GT

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http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Artega-GT-2008-CAR-review/

 

[Danny]

I followed the progress of the Artega GT, a very pretty car.

 

[Northstar]

1938 Phantom Corsair

Darth Vader's personal transport? Someone have any info??

I had a Hot Wheel's version of that when I was a kid.

Here is the Wikipedia.

 

[Cano]

on the Phantom corsair, I just researched it for a book, so I know some stuff. The car had a Cord L29 drivetran (FWD, inline-8) and sat 5 poeople inside (3 abreast, 2 behind facing rearwards accompained by a custom minibar) and was custom-made by some crazy guy who wanted the most aerodynamic car he could create, It was built in 1938 and for the time it was utterly advanced in it's design, not having it's fenders separated from the body. Of course, the front wheels did not turn but that did not stopped him from trying to do a limited production run of it. Sadly, the guy died (The wikipedia must have his name, I forgot) and the carjust sat as a custom one-off. Bill Harra restored it after it was painted gold or someting. The car also appeared in a made-for-TV cheapo movie named "The young at heart", in which it was marketed as "The Flying Wombat".
The Hot Wheels mentioned appeared in 1997 (:

 

[ND4SPD]

Looks better slammed.