Are cars less characterful than they used to be?

[a8hex]

QBee said:

You haven't experienced heat soak until you have driven my TVR Chimaera on a warm day.
4.6 litre V8 heater to the left of your legs is a thing of considerable discomfort.
I always go everywhere with the windows open, and it was even too hot yesterday with the roof off.

The TVR Cerbera, with the same Ford Mustang Borg Warner T5 gearbox, is even worse - the gear lever can burn the skin off your hands as it connects directly to the gearbox.

The first time I was lucky enough to beg a ride in a D-Type there was a wooden lattice work piece in the passenger footwell. I asked about it and was told that without it the passenger tended to end up with burnt feet even through boots and protective clothing.

[Turbobanana]

a8hex said:

QBee said:

You haven't experienced heat soak until you have driven my TVR Chimaera on a warm day.
4.6 litre V8 heater to the left of your legs is a thing of considerable discomfort.
I always go everywhere with the windows open, and it was even too hot yesterday with the roof off.

The TVR Cerbera, with the same Ford Mustang Borg Warner T5 gearbox, is even worse - the gear lever can burn the skin off your hands as it connects directly to the gearbox.

The first time I was lucky enough to beg a ride in a D-Type there was a wooden lattice work piece in the passenger footwell. I asked about it and was told that without it the passenger tended to end up with burnt feet even through boots and protective clothing.

I once did a barbecue and welded my socks to the inside of my shoes.

[lowdrag]

a8hex said:

The first time I was lucky enough to beg a ride in a D-Type there was a wooden lattice work piece in the passenger footwell. I asked about it and was told that without it the passenger tended to end up with burnt feet even through boots and protective clothing.

Probably a short nose then, with side exhausts, whereas the long nose exits at the rear. It really can get very hot with heat soak through the N/S cill. Same in my Lynx XKSS, and this summer has made it a lot worse!

[a8hex]

lowdrag said:

a8hex said:

The first time I was lucky enough to beg a ride in a D-Type there was a wooden lattice work piece in the passenger footwell. I asked about it and was told that without it the passenger tended to end up with burnt feet even through boots and protective clothing.

Probably a short nose then, with side exhausts, whereas the long nose exits at the rear. It really can get very hot with heat soak through the N/S cill. Same in my Lynx XKSS, and this summer has made it a lot worse!

Indeed, XKD535, back before she was returned to her original colour.

[Turbobanana]

I've been commuting in the 6 this week, as Mrs Banana has lent her Fiesta to a friend and commandeered the Benz for her own use. Here it is on the drive this morning, just out of the garage and ready for the school run, dwarfed by my neighbours' Juke and Golf.

Note the plethora of racing mirrors - none of which allow any meaningful view rearward at the moment.
Fortunately the weather has been kind, as I've been unable to attend to the driver's door glass which now resides somewhere near the bottom of the door cavity. Should get a chance to look at that this weekend, as Mrs B is in Barcelona. Also, I've got a Spitfire 1500 front spoiler and a set of engine valences coming: the first because I like them and reckon they resolve the front nicely, the second because they are missing on mine and serve as splash guards and heat management devices.

Still don't like the wheels, although they are at least period-correct 1970's.

[a8hex]

Turbobanana said:

Still don't like the wheels, although they are at least period-correct 1970's.

A friend used to have a set of Wolfrace wheels like that on his Stag which looked very good particularly back in the day.
PS. I like the colour on you car it suits it well.

[Yertis]

Nice to see an intact roof too, even if it doesn't help with cabin heat.

[coppice]

The wheels are a bit Custom Car - period , yes , but not quite for PLU . A set of Minilites, though ...

[Turbobanana]

coppice said:

The wheels are a bit Custom Car - period , yes , but not quite for PLU . A set of Minilites, though ...

I keep thinking about Minilites (or, more likely, Minators or similar). They're reasonably cheap new, whereas a set of 5.5J steels in need of a repaint and tyres is still c£300 or more, depending how bad they are. For similar money I could get a set of new alloys with correct offset, a choice of silver, gunmetal or black centres and obviously factory fresh / straight. But... the steels look so right.

Interestingly, the 5.5J wheels were (still are) used on some of the older Formula Ford 1600s and occasionally a set comes up on eBay. I bet they've led an interesting life.

[P5BNij]

Turbobanana said:

I've been commuting in the 6 this week, as Mrs Banana has lent her Fiesta to a friend and commandeered the Benz for her own use. Here it is on the drive this morning, just out of the garage and ready for the school run, dwarfed by my neighbours' Juke and Golf.

Note the plethora of racing mirrors - none of which allow any meaningful view rearward at the moment.
Fortunately the weather has been kind, as I've been unable to attend to the driver's door glass which now resides somewhere near the bottom of the door cavity. Should get a chance to look at that this weekend, as Mrs B is in Barcelona. Also, I've got a Spitfire 1500 front spoiler and a set of engine valences coming: the first because I like them and reckon they resolve the front nicely, the second because they are missing on mine and serve as splash guards and heat management devices.

Still don't like the wheels, although they are at least period-correct 1970's.

I think it looks great on those Wolfies, they fill the arches nicely and it's sitting 'just right'. In fact the whole car looks 'just right' but I understand why you're going for the steelies

There's a lovely Mk2 in the collection at Gaydon...

[Turbobanana]

P5BNij said:

I think it looks great on those Wolfies, they fill the arches nicely and it's sitting 'just right'. In fact the whole car looks 'just right' but I understand why you're going for the steelies

There's a lovely Mk2 in the collection at Gaydon...

Thanks Nij. Not been to Gaydon for a while.

I deliberately wanted a Mk3 as the rear end is better resolved to my eyes: the Mk1 & 2 look too short. However, I'm coming round to liking the Mk2 more and more, particularly on Rostyles. I'm not a fan of the blunt-snouted Mk1 shape though.

The 6 is having a day off as I'm in the Benz today, which feels like an SUV in comparison (in fact it's only an E Class Estate). Someone pointed out the other day that the 6 might even fit under the barrier at the work car park.

[P5BNij]

Turbobanana said:

P5BNij said:

I think it looks great on those Wolfies, they fill the arches nicely and it's sitting 'just right'. In fact the whole car looks 'just right' but I understand why you're going for the steelies

There's a lovely Mk2 in the collection at Gaydon...

Thanks Nij. Not been to Gaydon for a while.

I deliberately wanted a Mk3 as the rear end is better resolved to my eyes: the Mk1 & 2 look too short. However, I'm coming round to liking the Mk2 more and more, particularly on Rostyles. I'm not a fan of the blunt-snouted Mk1 shape though.

The 6 is having a day off as I'm in the Benz today, which feels like an SUV in comparison (in fact it's only an E Class Estate). Someone pointed out the other day that the 6 might even fit under the barrier at the work car park.

Your last comment made me chuckle - at the NEC show in November last year I too ka ride in one of the Sporting Bears charity cars, a beautiful S2 Lotus Europa and coming back into the NEC the owner Steve drove it straight under the barrier! And yes, I did duck inside the car!

[Turbobanana]

P5BNij said:

Your last comment made me chuckle - at the NEC show in November last year I too ka ride in one of the Sporting Bears charity cars, a beautiful S2 Lotus Europa and coming back into the NEC the owner Steve drove it straight under the barrier! And yes, I did duck inside the car!

I'll try it next week - let you know how I get on

[QBee]

I had an 2001 E class estate in very dark grey about 10 years ago. My colleagues referred to it as the hearse.

[Turbobanana]

QBee said:

I had an 2001 E class estate in very dark grey about 10 years ago. My colleagues referred to it as the hearse.

Very poignant, given this week's events: the E Class hearse that was used to transport Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Edinburgh looked awful - like it had been designed by a child and built out of Lego.

No disrespect intended towards Her Majesty, just a comment on car design.

[Duke Caboom]

Turbobanana said:

Someone pointed out the other day that the 6 might even fit under the barrier at the work car park.

I had a student summer job working in a storage facility in a former naval station, complete with man in hut who had to come out and manually raise an ex military stripey pole barrier. My Spitfire just fitted under without raising it. The first few times very slowly. By the end of my time I was attacking it like I was escaping from East Germany.

[Turbobanana]

Duke Caboom said:

I had a student summer job working in a storage facility in a former naval station, complete with man in hut who had to come out and manually raise an ex military stripey pole barrier. My Spitfire just fitted under without raising it. The first few times very slowly. By the end of my time I was attacking it like I was escaping from East Germany.

All of which is fine, until they cotton on and lower the barrier a bit. Ouch.

[lowdrag]

I thought I could get away with the toll in Switzerland In my D-type and all was fine until the head restraint got caught on the barrier. Rather red-faced I was

[Turbobanana]

lowdrag said:

I thought I could get away with the toll in Switzerland In my D-type and all was fine until the head restraint got caught on the barrier. Rather red-faced I was

You lack a sense of drama, lowdrag.

If one has a D-Type, the barrier gets caught on the aerodynamic tail fin specifically designed by Malcolm Sayer for high speed stability, not the head restraint

[Duke Caboom]

Turbobanana said:

Duke Caboom said:

I had a student summer job working in a storage facility in a former naval station, complete with man in hut who had to come out and manually raise an ex military stripey pole barrier. My Spitfire just fitted under without raising it. The first few times very slowly. By the end of my time I was attacking it like I was escaping from East Germany.

All of which is fine, until they cotton on and lower the barrier a bit. Ouch.

Saved the bloke a job, he wasn't bothered. Gave me cheery wave each time. It wasn't an operational base!

Edited by Duke Caboom on Sunday 18th September 14:02