The car thread ...

[Vrede too]

We get the specialists in accidents with big trucks, not the others yet.

Who doesn't look nearly as sleazy as "Attorney KING (Aminpour)"

[O Really]

You should get a branch of "Law Tigers"

[neoplacebo]

After reading that story I refer to above, I decided to find out how many Camaros Chevrolet produced in the three year period 67-69. It was just under a million in total. So only 27,000 of those million Camaros were Z28s. I never realized how rare they actually are. Also looked up total Corvette production for that same period and found that ten times more Corvettes were made in those years than Z28s.

Speaking of fast cars . . .

Local TV is flooded with ads that say, "If you've been hurt in an accident that wasn't your fault, call _______ attorneys."

Pffft, any lawyer can do that. I want the number for an attorney to call if it was my fault.

That reminds me of what Hunter Thompson had to say about his attorney in the Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas book.......at one point driving across the desert, Hunter says his attorney (Oscar Acosta, who really was an attorney) took off his shirt and began pouring beer across his chest, leaned his head back and said "man, this is the way to travel." His attorney would also say "as your attorney, I advise you to drive at top speed."

[Vrede too]

1970s German engineering:


Article

German restoration:

CNN visits the iconic Pacific Palisades Volkswagen bus (short video)

After a wildfire destroyed much of Pacific Palisades in January, one image among the devastation went global: a vintage VW bus that had somehow survived the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles. CNN’s Nick Watt has more.

I just watched:

In the Eye of the Storm
Escaping the LA Fires
Season 3, Episode 4
7:00 PM ON • TV-14 • Stereo • CC

When wind-driven fires explode across Los Angeles in January 2025, cameras capture chaos and heroism as residents attempt to rescue loved ones and flee burning neighborhoods.

Terrifying and very well made.

[O Really]

I'm playing with the idea of getting a toy car. I don't want to build one, and I don't want to spend what it would cost to get SIL to build one for me. I just want to drive it, cruise a bit, maybe go to some street shows, hang with other car enthusiasts. It has to be roadworthy and driveable. I don't want anything that "everybody" gets and that's ridiculously overpriced, like tri-5's, 70's Chevelles, etc., nor anything that fits into the "land yacht" category, like most mid-60's models. Not a real "muscle car." At least as old as 80's though. No trucks.

I'm probably just playing with this, although there is a realistic chance that for the right car - driveable, good shape, cool factor, affordable - I'll really do it.

Any suggestions, (other than neoplacebo whose recommendation of Camaro is noted.)

[GoCubsGo]

Guess it depends on how much you want to spend.

I've long been a fan of Fastback Mustangs and that's what I'd get if the stars aligned.

That said, something more affordable and fun would be an old MGB.

You could probably get a nice one for under $20k. But ya gotta get the British Racing Green.

Hope you remember how to drive a standard.

[O Really]

Great minds - actually the MG-B as well as the Austin Healey Sprite are probably at the top of my list. Fairly affordable, fun, and reasonably easy to fix when they inevitably break. I've owned both of them in the past. I've also included a "real" mini-cooper in my list. An MG-A or TD would be fun, but those prices go way up for a good one.

[GoCubsGo]

What about an Alfa Romeo Spider?

[O Really]

What about an Alfa Romeo Spider?

Hadn't thought of that but they're pretty nice. Maybe harder to find and maybe more expensive too.

[GoCubsGo]

What about an Alfa Romeo Spider?

Hadn't thought of that but they're pretty nice. Maybe harder to find and maybe more expensive too.

It'd be different.

[O Really]

What about an Alfa Romeo Spider?

Hadn't thought of that but they're pretty nice. Maybe harder to find and maybe more expensive too.

It'd be different.

Revision: turns out they're available and pretty cheap. Some of their fellow Italians suffered from major rust and "Fix It Again Tony" issues. Don't know much about them except they do have an exotic look.

[GoCubsGo]

What about an Alfa Romeo Spider?

Hadn't thought of that but they're pretty nice. Maybe harder to find and maybe more expensive too.

It'd be different.

Revision: turns out they're available and pretty cheap. Some of their fellow Italians suffered from major rust and "Fix It Again Tony" issues. Don't know much about them except they do have an exotic look.

Italian engineering.

[O Really]

I find you really have to go way back to get an old/classic/retro/antique car because for more than a couple of decades the improvements have largely been internal while the exteriors of most cars pretty much look the same. I've renovated two cars in the past, the first a 1950 Chevrolet Coupe that was a real restoration - everything original. That project was in the late 70's and while the car was "only" maybe 25 years old at the time, it was clearly ancient and antique. It was also crap to drive because of no power steering, no power brakes, vacuum wipers, three-speed column shift and not a lot of power for its weight. No more stock restorations for me. The next one was a '62 Healey Sprite (first year after bugeye) that I did in early 80's. Again, even with only 20 years on it, it was clearly "old". No rollup windows, top had to be actually removed, not just folded down, AM radio, funky electrics, but a load of fun to drive - when it ran.

But now, a 20-year old car looks a lot like a 1 year old car. Back in 80's I drove a BMW 320iS, which would now easily qualify as a 45-year old antique.



But even "antique" it doesn't look out of place on the street, and has quite a few modern conveniences like 5-speed manual, good suspension with Bilstein shocks, fuel injection, pretty good entertainment system, electric sunroof, and Recaro seats that would be good in any today car. Probably still fun to drive, but why deal with the peculiarities of an old car that's not much different from a 3-year old car?

The Bimmer 2002's would be fun and they're sufficiently "old" looking - but they're also frightfully expensive not to mention cantankerous.

So for now, it looks like British sports is still the way to go. Might change my mind when I find the reality of driving the MG-B may not totally match the memory.

[GoCubsGo]

So for now, it looks like British sports is still the way to go. Might change my mind when I find the reality of driving the MG-B may not totally match the memory.

IIRC they're fun to drive but no real pep and no power steering but wasn't a big deal because they are so light.

I liked three on the trees.

[O Really]

Yeah direct rack and pinion worked better than power would have. Suspension had these lever-type shocks that were prone to leaks, and the Lucas electrics weren't the most reliable. 0-60 measured in minutes, but if felt perky around corners. Despite it all, I loved my B and actually kept it about as long as I've ever kept a car.

[GoCubsGo]

They are fun!

[O Really]

How about a lightly modified/restored Volvo 544? Has an "old" look about it, maybe 40's but really a mid-60's car. They were very reliable back in their day.

[neoplacebo]

I always liked seeing videos from Cuba where all those 50's American cars are still running. No idea if an American could actually buy one. I remember Obama normalizing relations with Cuba but don't know if those have been reversed or pronounced "woke" or something.

[O Really]

I always liked seeing videos from Cuba where all those 50's American cars are still running. No idea if an American could actually buy one. I remember Obama normalizing relations with Cuba but don't know if those have been reversed or pronounced "woke" or something.

I've read a few articles about those cars. They look great in the pics, but the major body parts is about all that's left from the original cars. Russian diesel engines, a lot of hand machined parts. They are murkle workers with those things.

[Vrede too]

I've read a few articles about those cars. They look great in the pics, but the major body parts is about all that's left from the original cars. Russian diesel engines, a lot of hand machined parts. They are murkle workers with those things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOd8uznntgk

The AI is really annoying in that vid.