What did you see on the road today?

[Calb56]

41 minutes ago, Earl Marischal said:

Now that is a very fine automobile. To me, the early Barracudas are the nicest looking.

steve

I love the 1st Gen. Barracudas!

I'd love to see them available in 1/25 again!

 

[drodg]

53 minutes ago, Earl Marischal said:

Now that is a very fine automobile. To me, the early Barracudas are the nicest looking.

steve

Wow that is a rare sighting.  

[RSchnell]

Saw this creation in traffic the other day. Wasn't able to get a photo, but watched a guy in a '65 Corvette eating up the hammer lane heading the other direction with a state trooper behind him, disco lights flashing.😃

[iamsuperdan]

Put this in our showroom today. I know nothing about it.

I know that it's not my taste at all, but it's still very cool.

 

 

UPDATE: I've learned two things about this car. It apparently Dyno'd at just over 1000hp.

 

It's for sale. Guy wants $300k CDN for it. lolz.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 10/26/2022 at 1:54 PM, Earl Marischal said:

...Blimey it’s fast and sticks to the road like the proverbial to a blanket...I have wanted a 7 since I was 10 years old...

I was fortunate enough to have one for a while, and the absolute stupidest thing I ever did was to sell it. 

I still dream about the thing some nights. Honest.

But hark...the Lowcost 7 can still make our dreams come true...I have the build book, and it's quite good.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/lotus-seven-vs-the-locost-seven/

 

[cobraman]

42 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

Put this in our showroom today. I know nothing about it.

I know that it's not my taste at all, but it's still very cool.

 

Looks kind of like an Eleanore but with a notch back.

[Tom Geiger]

On 11/2/2022 at 2:10 PM, Earl Marischal said:

Now that is a very fine automobile. To me, the early Barracudas are the nicest looking.

I had a 1965 Barracuda for a long time. Way back when they got little respect.. I remember taking mine to the show at Englishtown Raceway Park in the mid 1980s and was told to get that Valiant outta there!  
 

I garaged it until late 1990s and was surprised at how many people enjoyed it!  Times change

[CabDriver]

On 11/4/2022 at 4:27 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

I was fortunate enough to have one for a while, and the absolute stupidest thing I ever did was to sell it. 

I still dream about the thing some nights. Honest.

But hark...the Lowcost 7 can still make our dreams come true...I have the build book, and it's quite good.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/lotus-seven-vs-the-locost-seven/

 

I’ve driven two different variations of these - both times at the NY auto show in their demo area where they have some actual hands on activities.  

First time was an autocross type deal around a little course (although the one I drove had a throttle stop that brought it down to kiddy-ride speeds), and second time I dropped $100 for the chance to learn to prescision-donut one around a cone with an instructor.  MUCH more satisfying, and well worth the money. 

I’m a Miata fan and I’d always thought they were the best handling car I ever drove, but MAN these 7s are fun, and they made my Miata feel like a box-truck by comparison!  I’d love to run one on a track and actually get to throw one around properly.  

I too picked up this book, suitably inspired - I wasn’t familiar with some of the vehicle parts referenced (obviously, what with it being an English book) and I seem to remember they recommend just finding a flat garage floor or a sheet of wood or something as a ‘jig’ for the frame which seemed a little TOO low budget maybe, but I’d still love to build one.  I’m sure there’s a decent RWD ‘Merican car that a lot of the running gear could be sourced from for a novice 1:1 builder like myself

[Ace-Garageguy]

30 minutes ago, CabDriver said:

... I’m sure there’s a decent RWD ‘Merican car that a lot of the running gear could be sourced from for a novice 1:1 builder like myself

The biggest problem on this side of the Atlantic is the lack of suitably light solid rear axle assemblies. Unsprung weight becomes a critical factor in roadholding on a less-than-perfect surface when vehicle weight is as low as these cars can be. The shipping weight on my Series II Seven from England was listed as 843 pounds. I could practically pick its butt up to put it on stands.

My rear axle was from a Triumph TR 10, and was most likely considerably lighter than a Pinto or Vega unit. It might be worthwhile to look at Chevette rear ends, though I have no clue about that particular part. Something like an early rear-wheel-drive Corolla could work, too.

My car's front spindles were Triumph Spitfire, if I remember correctly, and those can still be found for not insane money...but Pinto or Chevette units could also probably work well.

EDIT: I just did a Q&D search for light rear axles, and it isn't going to be easy. The junkyards are going away faster than I'd realized.

Ain't "progress" wonderful.

Edited November 7, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[stitchdup]

41 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The biggest problem on this side of the Atlantic is the lack of suitably light solid rear axle assemblies. Unsprung weight becomes a critical factor in roadholding on a less-than-perfect surface when vehicle weight is as low as these cars can be. The shipping weight on my Series II Seven from England was listed as 843 pounds. I could practically pick its butt up to put it on stands.

My rear axle was from a Triumph TR 10, and was most likely considerably lighter than a Pinto or Vega unit. It might be worthwhile to look at Chevette rear ends, though I have no clue about that particular part. Something like an early rear-wheel-drive Corolla could work, too.

My car's front spindles were Triumph Spitfire, if I remember correctly, and those can still be found for not insane money...but Pinto or Chevette units could also probably work well.

EDIT: I just did a Q&D search for light rear axles, and it isn't going to be easy. The junkyards are going away faster than I'd realized.

Ain't "progress" wonderful.

have you considered a volvo rear axle. the 340 is about escort size and rwd but i dont know how strong those rear axles are. On this side of the pond the rodders use 240 series axles behind v8s up to around 400 hp but then its on to the 9 inch for most. If it works its a fairly cheap strong axle and comes with good disc brakes.

[CabDriver]

9 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The biggest problem on this side of the Atlantic is the lack of suitably light solid rear axle assemblies. Unsprung weight becomes a critical factor in roadholding on a less-than-perfect surface when vehicle weight is as low as these cars can be. The shipping weight on my Series II Seven from England was listed as 843 pounds. I could practically pick its butt up to put it on stands.

My rear axle was from a Triumph TR 10, and was most likely considerably lighter than a Pinto or Vega unit. It might be worthwhile to look at Chevette rear ends, though I have no clue about that particular part. Something like an early rear-wheel-drive Corolla could work, too.

My car's front spindles were Triumph Spitfire, if I remember correctly, and those can still be found for not insane money...but Pinto or Chevette units could also probably work well.

EDIT: I just did a Q&D search for light rear axles, and it isn't going to be easy. The junkyards are going away faster than I'd realized.

Ain't "progress" wonderful.

Post printed and slipped inside the book for future reference 😁  I see MGBs and Triumphs for sale around here semi regularly, ALWAYS with completely rotted out bodies...something like that might be a good parts source perhaps too.

Good advise, thank you Bill!

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 hours ago, CabDriver said:

Post printed and slipped inside the book for future reference 😁  I see MGBs and Triumphs for sale around here semi regularly, ALWAYS with completely rotted out bodies...something like that might be a good parts source perhaps too.

Good advise, thank you Bill!

Not to beat this into dead horse mode, but I did some digging, and Corolla diffs through '79 look pretty good. They made so many of the things, and they were such tough little cars, I'd think there'd be plenty still running as rustbuckets too. 

Most of the Triumphs we got over here had IRS, so they're not really good donors for rear axles.

But now that I'm thinking about it, I have several VW and Porsche transaxles that could be rear-mounted using a torque tube setup, with Dodge Neon rear suspension geometry (which is actually very good). Hmmmmmm...

Early Miata guts are another possible alternative...

[CabDriver]

23 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Not to beat this into dead horse mode, but I did some digging, and Corolla diffs through '79 look pretty good. They made so many of the things, and they were such tough little cars, I'd think there'd be plenty still running as rustbuckets too. 

Most of the Triumphs we got over here had IRS, so they're not really good donors for rear axles.

But now that I'm thinking about it, I have several VW and Porsche transaxles that could be rear-mounted using a torque tube setup, with Dodge Neon rear suspension geometry (which is actually very good). Hmmmmmm...

Early Miata guts are another possible alternative...

And as if by magic, Bill found himself with another project in the queue 😁

[Ace-Garageguy]

21 hours ago, CabDriver said:

And as if by magic, Bill found himself with another project in the queue 😁

I'd honestly been thinking of building one after I'm moved and have a couple other 1:1 projects back in "drive" mode.

The thinking-out-loud that the Seven references triggered inspired some new ideas (for me anyway...somebody has already done a rear-transaxle Seven clone) that could really get me fired up.

Now I'm thinking Honda B16 up front, and a 914 gearbox in the rear...and Donkervoort-inspired bodywork...

...or maybe scaled-down TR...

Edited November 8, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

From a friends post elsewhere...

 

[Joe Nunes]

That TR would be FUN!

Joe

[Calb56]

I've seen this, though this photo was sent to me by my son when he wasn't... it's his daily driver and project. He's done the work himself with some help from his friends.. 

[BeakDoc]

Saw someone hauling this ‘70 Riviera. Looks like they might have a cool project on their hands.

[Tabbysdaddy]

1 hour ago, BeakDoc said:

Saw someone hauling this ‘70 Riviera. Looks like they might have a cool project on their hands.

Probably should have put better tires on the back. That one looks like it exploded. 

[BeakDoc]

21 hours ago, Tabbysdaddy said:

Probably should have put better tires on the back. That one looks like it exploded. 

Dang! I didn’t even see that. Good catch.  Could be why it was pulled into a gas station. I was trying to order a biscuit at Bojangles and snap a pic at the same time. 

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

On 11/4/2022 at 5:27 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

I was fortunate enough to have one for a while, and the absolute stupidest thing I ever did was to sell it. 

I still dream about the thing some nights. Honest.

But hark...the Lowcost 7 can still make our dreams come true...I have the build book, and it's quite good.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/lotus-seven-vs-the-locost-seven/

 

I saw one of these kit cars on the road yesterday for the first time. The only reason I knew what it was from this thread. -RRR

[NYLIBUD]

Saw this gorgeous Burnt Orange 70 GTX,up at a parking lot when i went and picked up dinner.I had to get a closer look along with some others drooling over it too.👍

[Earl Marischal]

This was parked at my nextdoor neighbour’s house. Ferrari Roma. (I had to look it up.)

steve

 

[espo]

2 hours ago, Earl Marischal said:

This was parked at my nextdoor neighbour’s house. Ferrari Roma. (I had to look it up.)

steve

 

Nice neighborhood, as they say when you see something like this parked at the curb.  

[The Junkman]

Pish-posh: an "entry level" Ferrari.  (It is gorgeous, though.)