Non-Volvo car chat megathread

[abscate]

I can hear the wind whistling through those gaskets as I post….

[BlackBart]

I assume someone makes replacement seals?


From farther South on the Continent -

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[Sveedy]

The rear end of that second to last blue car ( Oregon plates ) looks suspiciously like an MG.

[BlackBart]

That's the legendary 250GT California Spider (short wheelbase) designed by Pininfarina. MGs of that era (and Triumphs) had a lot of Italian influence and sometimes behind the scenes consulting. Pininfarina actually designed the MGB GT roof.

I actually just looked this up...
"For the first time on an MG roadster (discounting the badge-engineered Midget), the bodyshell was an immensely strong monocoque, very effectively styled by MG’s Don Hayter, with assistance from Pininfarina."

So they both came out of the same design house at about the same time (early 60s).

The Fiat 124 Spyder and the Ferrari 330GTS share very similar proportions and details, except for the longer snout on the Ferrari. They both came out of Pininfarina about 1965. American Tom Tjaarda was a designer for Pininfarina and is credited with the 124 Spyder. Both were built at Pininfarina as well, and there are shared trim bits, handles, and switches on both of them, which is a bit of a surprise when sitting in a Ferrari!

The Triumph TR4 was designed by Michelotti, who was also busy with things like the Maserati Sebring coupe.

More CA Spider pics.....

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Here's a really pretty one at Lake Como with a hardtop attached. I think they look best in dark colors. They're all a bit different - some have covered headlights, some do not. There's a long wheelbase version as well - the proportions aren't as perfect as the SWB.

Here's the actor James Coburn's CA Spider. He bought it in Europe while on a movie set. It was originally black. He had it painted silver. At one time he tried dark maroon, and dark blue as well. It's now back to black and there's a video somewhere of James May of Top Gear driving it in the rain.

[BlackBart]

I can't resist.......


https://www.topgear.com/videos/james-ma ... -episode-7


(turn off the music)

[Sveedy]

Thanks so much for that bit of history ! I had no idea there was such overlap with builders in those days.
Based on those numbers, it would seem that the tail light lenses on that car are more than the MSRP of the MG I was driving back in the day.

[BlackBart]

Think of the cost to set up molds and a production run when you only need 16 sets of taillights! Crazy.

[BlackBart]

One of only two all-aluminum Ford GT40s, built by the Alan Mann racing team for Le Mans. Holman & Moody 289. Just over 2000 lbs. Apparently owned by the same guy for 40 years, now restored, and now off to one of the big auctions.

Halibrand magnesium

Note that two of the header primaries on each side go across to the opposite header collector. These were called 180 degree headers. It helped with exhaust scavenging at high rpms, and made a fantastic sound.

At Sebring....

At Le Mans test weekend......

[BlackBart]

Peter Egan on the MG TC......

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cultur ... obsession/

[Sveedy]

That GT40 was my dream car as a kid.....
wait.... did I say " as a kid " ? Of course I'd want the steering wheel on the proper side.