COOL CLASSIC CAR SPOTTERS POST! (Vol 3)

[Rob 131 Sport]

Error_404_Username_not_found said:

reddiesel said:

The Cortina , for 30 years a constant backdrop for the British way of life . We all knew times were good when dad could afford to swap the Cortina for another . We didn't need a Sky subscription , a Raleigh Chopper and a ride on the back of Terrys old Bantam as we raced along the disused railway was all the entertainment I ever wanted

WHS.
I still have a soft spot for 'Tina's. Especially estates for some reason.
The clatter of a well worn and neglected Pinto camshaft is part of the soundtrack of my youth.

I absolutely love Cortina’s provided their in GXL, E, S or Ghia flavours. Unfortunately I never got to own one, although I came close once in an auction.
I passed my test in Feb 1990, so Cortina stock has rapidly diminished by then.

[Damp Logs]

I’ve seen this a few times lately, but never managed to get a picture, and was a bit surprised to see this power bulge - not seen one like it before

[DickyC]

Damp Logs said:

I’ve seen this a few times lately, but never managed to get a picture, and was a bit surprised to see this power bulge - not seen one like it before

A Costello V8?

Hens teeth etc

[DickyC]

DickyC said:

A Costello V8?

Hens teeth etc

For those who don't know, Ken Costello successfully installed a Rover V8 in an MGB in 1969. He then did this as a business until British Leyland decided it was a good idea, introduced the MGB GT V8 and stopped supplying Costello with engines. Unlike BL, Costello offered conversions for both roadsters and GTs.

[Damp Logs]

Thanks, every day a school day

[DickyC]

Damp Logs said:

Thanks, every day a school day

You're very welcome, DL. The bonnet bulge looks Costello-esque. I imagine there are home cooked V8 conversions where a bonnet bulge like a Costello seems like a good idea.

[Error_404_Username_not_found]

Ashley (I think) also made and supplied GRP bonnet mouldings in at least two versions for V8 B conversions.
IDK if they supplied Costello but it's possible.
There was another supplier that normally made caravans in Norfolk but I've forgotten the name.

None of the above is in any way helpful but trivia is mostly harmless.

[Mr Tidy]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Error_404_Username_not_found said:

reddiesel said:

The Cortina , for 30 years a constant backdrop for the British way of life . We all knew times were good when dad could afford to swap the Cortina for another . We didn't need a Sky subscription , a Raleigh Chopper and a ride on the back of Terrys old Bantam as we raced along the disused railway was all the entertainment I ever wanted

WHS.
I still have a soft spot for 'Tina's. Especially estates for some reason.
The clatter of a well worn and neglected Pinto camshaft is part of the soundtrack of my youth.

I absolutely love Cortina’s provided their in GXL, E, S or Ghia flavours. Unfortunately I never got to own one, although I came close once in an auction.
I passed my test in Feb 1990, so Cortina stock has rapidly diminished by then.

I still have a soft spot for Cortinas as my first car in 1976 was a 1967 MK2 1500. Even though it was a clapped-out rust-bucket being my first car still made it special to me!

No rattly cam, but plenty of other mechanical noises instead.

I never had another, but my MK2 RS2000 had the rattly cam, and I remember being out with a mate in his mums' MK5 2 litre when the cam-belt snapped. The AA man wouldn't replace it so it got towed home.

[TR4man]

DickyC said:

Damp Logs said:

Thanks, every day a school day

You're very welcome, DL. The bonnet bulge looks Costello-esque. I imagine there are home cooked V8 conversions where a bonnet bulge like a Costello seems like a good idea.

Wasn’t there also a company called Downton who did something similar (I have no idea if the example in the photo is a Costello or a Downton).

[DickyC]

TR4man said:

DickyC said:

Damp Logs said:

Thanks, every day a school day

You're very welcome, DL. The bonnet bulge looks Costello-esque. I imagine there are home cooked V8 conversions where a bonnet bulge like a Costello seems like a good idea.

Wasn’t there also a company called Downton who did something similar (I have no idea if the example in the photo is a Costello or a Downton).

I didn't know that. Downton were - possibly still are - tuners of BMC cars, so it's highly likely.

A nexpert will be along soon, I'm sure.

A colleague had a factory MGBGT V8 while they were still newish. It was the first car I'd ever driven where changing up didn't set you back a bit. The V8 just pulled. A great feeling when you experienced it for the first time.

[niva441]

Would a Costello have wire wheels, unless they are uprated for the V8 torque.

[stepej]

teeny tiny in Tesco car park yesterday



looked in tip-top condition

[DickyC]

niva441 said:

Would a Costello have wire wheels, unless they are uprated for the V8 torque.

Expert definitely required. The DBS had wires, though. So there were wire wheels strong enough.

[Turbobanana]

DickyC said:

niva441 said:

Would a Costello have wire wheels, unless they are uprated for the V8 torque.

Expert definitely required. The DBS had wires, though. So there were wire wheels strong enough.

I'm not the nexpert referred to, but I'm prepared to venture that wire wheels are more than up to the job:

[Bob CD]

Ah, well. On the wire wheels subject, Rob Walker had wire wheels on his Facel Vega HK500. He lent it to Maurice Trintignant who broke 17 spokes in one lap of the Nurburgring. Rob always had solid wheels thereafter.

Downton Engineering very definitely 'tuned' BMC engines, to great effect, particularly Mini Coopers of course, but whether they actually converted MGBs to V8s I somewhat doubt, but am willing to be proved wrong.

[tog]

1914 Darracq at a local farm shop at the weekend.

[Woody.GT]

Speed 3 said:

Can't say I've ever seen one of these before:

This is Toms Giulia. If this was last week then he was out with us on our annual get together drive. We had 13 Giulia's on a route of A & B roads around Surrey and Sussex. Great night. Heres a few of us. More pics on my insta if thats your thing @woody.gt

[dontlookdown]

Bob CD said:

Ah, well. On the wire wheels subject, Rob Walker had wire wheels on his Facel Vega HK500. He lent it to Maurice Trintignant who broke 17 spokes in one lap of the Nurburgring. Rob always had solid wheels thereafter.

Downton Engineering very definitely 'tuned' BMC engines, to great effect, particularly Mini Coopers of course, but whether they actually converted MGBs to V8s I somewhat doubt, but am willing to be proved wrong.

Yes, Downton a highly respected tuner of BMC lumps back in the day but I don't recall them doing V8 conversions as such.

There was something of a cottage industry putting Rover V8s into all sorts in the 80s, MGBs particularly. So there must a good few 'unofficial' conversions out there too. They can't all have ended up reversing at high speed into hedges;)

[ToneyCaroney]

DickyC said:

TR4man said:

DickyC said:

Damp Logs said:

Thanks, every day a school day

You're very welcome, DL. The bonnet bulge looks Costello-esque. I imagine there are home cooked V8 conversions where a bonnet bulge like a Costello seems like a good idea.

Wasn’t there also a company called Downton who did something similar (I have no idea if the example in the photo is a Costello or a Downton).

I didn't know that. Downton were - possibly still are - tuners of BMC cars, so it's highly likely.

A nexpert will be along soon, I'm sure.

A colleague had a factory MGBGT V8 while they were still newish. It was the first car I'd ever driven where changing up didn't set you back a bit. The V8 just pulled. A great feeling when you experienced it for the first time.

Unlikely a Costello, I think. Only earlier cars had that style of power bulge. Likely a 'home cooked' conversion if it has had an engine swap.
Downtown well known for MGC (amongst other things) tuning but I've not heard of a Downton B
.

[LotusOmega375D]

Didn’t Costello use a higher output Rover V8 than the factory Land Rover version?