COOL CLASSIC CAR SPOTTERS POST! (Vol 3)

[ToneyCaroney]

Yes, that's right. Factory car quoted at around 135ish bhp if I remember correctly. Costello I think were about 40 bhp more at that time.

[LeighW]

ToneyCaroney said:

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
.

It's still a 1.8 according to the DVLA.

[DickyC]

LeighW said:

It's still a 1.8 according to the DVLA.

1.8 each bank. An interesting administrative anomaly.

[Little Bob]

Woody.GT said:

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

Such great looking cars, I’ve missed the boat regarding the Bertone 105, but a Giulia will be in the garage in the not too distant future.

What are they like to live with?

[Woody.GT]

Little Bob said:

Such great looking cars, I’ve missed the boat regarding the Bertone 105, but a Giulia will be in the garage in the not too distant future.

What are they like to live with?

The saloon is particularly easy, its a practical size for 4 people and has a huge boot. Its great fun. Parts are very easy, theres almost nothing that ClassicAlfa or Alfaholics don;t stock that you can't get next day or very quickly. They're still undervalued in my opinion and excellent value against the 105 coupe.

[theadman]

ToneyCaroney said:

Yes, that's right. Factory car quoted at around 135ish bhp if I remember correctly. Costello I think were about 40 bhp more at that time.

The factory V8 used the Range Rover engine rated at 137bhp. It was limited to that as the drivetrain was largely taken from the MGC (hence 15 inch wheels) and I think it was the rear axle that was at design capacity.

Not having to worry so much about warranty, Costello wasn't as concerned about longevity and used the 184bhp (gross) V8 from the Rover saloons. I'm not aware they encountered any problems with failures, so I think it was BL being cautious. Also BL didn't want the car to seriously outperform the Stag, nor challenge the V12 E-Type's position as the ultimate performance car in the range.

Downton certainly went to town on the C Series in the MGC, but I'm not aware of them working their magic on the V8.

[GTRene]

Turbobanana said:

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:

I don't know about that ;-)

I mean, I tried the original wire wheels at first, but it could not handle the power of the engine I mounted, it had a 4 speed pedamanual






see, this was mine I built it myself 40 years ago... had some moped parts spare that i did not used anymore, so I thought after some years (I drove only cars then) lets make something funny, a (step) no idea the name in English)with moped parts...

so first the original wire wheels, after a few puls it was a mess.... kept the front wire wheel though then in the place I worked we welded 2 plates in, so it was way stronger and that held, he it is in fron of my then BMW car 320, I was 20, those were the days ;-)



ah, see it was something like this, how you name that? this picture is from the web as example

Edited by GTRene on Monday 17th June 20:40

[JeremyH5]

We’d call that a scooter. One foot on the flat panel and push on the ground with the other?

[GTRene]

JeremyH5 said:

We’d call that a scooter. One foot on the flat panel and push on the ground with the other?

yes, hm, by us a scooter is a sort moped say what they use on Greece Islands or in Italia, so for me it was strange to call t such, but hopefully I remember that for the next time, thanks

[Maxdecel]

GTRene said:

yes, hm, by us a scooter is a sort moped say what they use on Greece Islands or in Italia, so for me it was strange to call t such, but hopefully I remember that for the next time, thanks

Like this Rene ?

referred to as a Scooter or trade name Lambretta in the UK.

[epom]

[GTRene]

Maxdecel said:

GTRene said:

yes, hm, by us a scooter is a sort moped say what they use on Greece Islands or in Italia, so for me it was strange to call t such, but hopefully I remember that for the next time, thanks

Like this Rene ?

referred to as a Scooter or trade name Lambretta in the UK.

Yes, those sorts, Scooter, hm translate from NL to UK or visa versa says scooter, so yes, confusing for me as a Dutch man, we call the child thing (UK scooter) autoped or step in NL words and the 16+ thing with engine a scooter like such in your picture, strange English can call both the same when entirely different :-) your Moped we call Bromfiets.

[generationx]

epom said:

Now that’s a cool spot.

[theadman]

No picture, but an odd coincidence...

I left Silverstone this afternoon and could see an interesting 'endurance racer for the road' following me some distance and a few cars behind. It looked similar to a Radical, but if anything wider and sleeker. Having no idea what it was, I went slowly down the A43 dual carriageway hoping that it would catch up and overtake. But, it went slower than I did! Wondering what it could be, my mind turned to the XJ13 as that was similarly low and wide (but a much older design).

Turning off the dual carriageway, I headed for home. Within a mile, what came the other way...an XJ13 replica, the first I've seen on the road! Bizarre!

[Escort3500]

Great combo at a local show on Sunday

[Little Bob]

Woody.GT said:

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

Such great looking cars, I’ve missed the boat regarding the Bertone 105, but a Giulia will be in the garage in the not too distant future.

What are they like to live with?

[DickyC]

Escort3500 said:

Great combo at a local show on Sunday

That's lovely.



You do wonder why Triumph persevered with that woeful rear suspension set-up for so long. It impaired some otherwise good cars.

[Doofus]

DickyC said:

Escort3500 said:

Great combo at a local show on Sunday

That's lovely.



You do wonder why Triumph persevered with that woeful rear suspension set-up for so long. It impaired some otherwise good cars.

A bit of filler round those bonnet vents wouldn't go amiss...

[tapkaJohnD]

DickyC said:

That's lovely.



You do wonder why Triumph persevered with that woeful rear suspension set-up for so long. It impaired some otherwise good cars.

You mean that woeful rear suspension, just like a Mercedes 300SL? Swing axle was always going to suffer from some "tuck-in" or "jack-up" when mistreated, by braking in the turn, and from the very first press demo, the vultures went out to induce exactly that and het pictures to prove it. Although in fact, and in day-to-day use, it wasn't a problem when driven properly. A proper driver, not an armchair critic, doesn't drive like that.

And Triumph cured it a few years later by the "Swing Spring" mod.

Small chassis Triumphs have long been the victim of bar room bores' pontificating piffle!
John

[DickyC]

tapkaJohnD said:

DickyC said:

That's lovely.



You do wonder why Triumph persevered with that woeful rear suspension set-up for so long. It impaired some otherwise good cars.

You mean that woeful rear suspension, just like a Mercedes 300SL? Swing axle was always going to suffer from some "tuck-in" or "jack-up" when mistreated, by braking in the turn, and from the very first press demo, the vultures went out to induce exactly that and het pictures to prove it. Although in fact, and in day-to-day use, it wasn't a problem when driven properly. A proper driver, not an armchair critic, doesn't drive like that.

And Triumph cured it a few years later by the "Swing Spring" mod.

Small chassis Triumphs have long been the victim of bar room bores' pontificating piffle!
John

Dicky Pontificating Piffle as my new username.

Or just Pontificating Piffle.

Or just Piffle.

I could talk about the pros and cons for hours.

Bar Room Bore. There's another.