Fast Coupes Of The Eighties And Nineties
Discussion
Turbobanana said:
I know what you mean. I think it's because, taken in the context of today's styling, they're actually quite bland. Beautifully proportioned, well built, elegant and classy - but a bit plain-looking.
Still would, though
*
* If my garage were 2ft bigger in every direction
In the right colour with nice wheels and some subtle tweaks they still look fantastic thoughStill would, though
** If my garage were 2ft bigger in every direction
The C124 is the same - a bit dowdy in standard form but lower it slightly and stick some Hammers on it and they look great.
vixen1700 said:
Just skimmed through this thread (on the beach 
) and no mention of the Peter Wheeler era TVRs.
There is mention of the Tasmin earlier.) and no mention of the Peter Wheeler era TVRs. Firstly I think that TVR are not really in the 'coupe' genre. They are out & out sports cars, coupe implies something more akin to a 2 door executive saloon, something you could still use as a normal car. I mean technically a Ferrari 355 is a coupe, but this thread is more geared towards stuff that shared a floor pan with more mundane vehicles.
Secondly most TVRs of the era are convertibles. The Cerbera is an exception, but see point 1.
Jader1973 said:
Turbobanana said:
I know what you mean. I think it's because, taken in the context of today's styling, they're actually quite bland. Beautifully proportioned, well built, elegant and classy - but a bit plain-looking.
Still would, though *
* If my garage were 2ft bigger in every direction
In the right colour with nice wheels and some subtle tweaks they still look fantastic thoughStill would, though
** If my garage were 2ft bigger in every direction
The C124 is the same - a bit dowdy in standard form but lower it slightly and stick some Hammers on it and they look great.
BMW E31 8 Series, described by Evo as a 'Rich Man's Ford Probe'.
Aston Martin Virage, described by Car as a 'Classy Calibra'.
As unfashionable as the were, and to some extent still are, the Virage has a very special place in my heart, the first Aston Martin I saw in the metal, the first one I drove and the one I can almost afford to buy now. As previously explained in my TVR post it doesn't really belong here, being 'exotic' but there is no doubt that this Heffernan & Greenly designed car was the template for many that followed.
I would also state that while Evo were being sniffy describing the E31 as a 'rich man's Ford Probe', that when Car described the Virage as a 'Classy Calibra' the Calibra had only just come out and was a bit of a darling of the press.
Aston Martin Virage, described by Car as a 'Classy Calibra'.
As unfashionable as the were, and to some extent still are, the Virage has a very special place in my heart, the first Aston Martin I saw in the metal, the first one I drove and the one I can almost afford to buy now. As previously explained in my TVR post it doesn't really belong here, being 'exotic' but there is no doubt that this Heffernan & Greenly designed car was the template for many that followed.
I would also state that while Evo were being sniffy describing the E31 as a 'rich man's Ford Probe', that when Car described the Virage as a 'Classy Calibra' the Calibra had only just come out and was a bit of a darling of the press.
Stick Legs said:
There is mention of the Tasmin earlier.
Firstly I think that TVR are not really in the 'coupe' genre. They are out & out sports cars, coupe implies something more akin to a 2 door executive saloon, something you could still use as a normal car. I mean technically a Ferrari 355 is a coupe, but this thread is more geared towards stuff that shared a floor pan with more mundane vehicles.
Secondly most TVRs of the era are convertibles. The Cerbera is an exception, but see point 1.
OK, points taken. Firstly I think that TVR are not really in the 'coupe' genre. They are out & out sports cars, coupe implies something more akin to a 2 door executive saloon, something you could still use as a normal car. I mean technically a Ferrari 355 is a coupe, but this thread is more geared towards stuff that shared a floor pan with more mundane vehicles.
Secondly most TVRs of the era are convertibles. The Cerbera is an exception, but see point 1.
vixen1700 said:
Stick Legs said:
There is mention of the Tasmin earlier.
Firstly I think that TVR are not really in the 'coupe' genre. They are out & out sports cars, coupe implies something more akin to a 2 door executive saloon, something you could still use as a normal car. I mean technically a Ferrari 355 is a coupe, but this thread is more geared towards stuff that shared a floor pan with more mundane vehicles.
Secondly most TVRs of the era are convertibles. The Cerbera is an exception, but see point 1.
OK, points taken. Firstly I think that TVR are not really in the 'coupe' genre. They are out & out sports cars, coupe implies something more akin to a 2 door executive saloon, something you could still use as a normal car. I mean technically a Ferrari 355 is a coupe, but this thread is more geared towards stuff that shared a floor pan with more mundane vehicles.
Secondly most TVRs of the era are convertibles. The Cerbera is an exception, but see point 1.
V8S, Chimeara, Griffith, Cerbera.
Stick Legs said:
vixen1700 said:
Just skimmed through this thread (on the beach ) and no mention of the Peter Wheeler era TVRs.
There is mention of the Tasmin earlier.) and no mention of the Peter Wheeler era TVRs. Firstly I think that TVR are not really in the 'coupe' genre. They are out & out sports cars, coupe implies something more akin to a 2 door executive saloon, something you could still use as a normal car. I mean technically a Ferrari 355 is a coupe, but this thread is more geared towards stuff that shared a floor pan with more mundane vehicles.
Secondly most TVRs of the era are convertibles. The Cerbera is an exception, but see point 1.
here even a 390 coupe
and a 350i FHC there was also a 280i
Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 18th June 12:05
reddiesel said:
The Corrado seemed to disappear just as quickly as the Calibra did and given the VW propensity for longevity I always found that pretty surprising . 205 1.9 GTI strictly speaking was a Hatchback but what a machine ! I got rid of an RS Turbo Escort ( the most crap car I ever owned useful only for pulling birds) to the late Tony Moore of Rickmansworth Sports Cars (anyone remember him ?) in exchange for a 1.9 GTI (H486TNG) . It was the only car up until then that I immediately wanted another of but sadly Production had ended shortly afterwards .
According to how many left (so not definitive and only a guide) on Q4 2023Corrado, 859 licensed, 3228 SORN, peak 8913. 45.8%
Calibra, 368 licensed, 1893 SORN, peak 35898. 6.29%
200SX, 661 licensed, 2707 SORN, peak 11822. 28.5%
There was a Tasmin 2l as well, but few as it didn't sell. Interesting thread on one here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
But yes, not a coupe in the same way.
This seems to be in regular use still
I remember thinking these were quite cool in the late 80s
But yes, not a coupe in the same way.
This seems to be in regular use still
I remember thinking these were quite cool in the late 80s
Downward said:
No love for the Rover 800 coupe 2.7 ?
The working man's Rolls Royce Corniche. I love the way the 1st gen Honda Legend Coupe looks, I wish they had made a Sterling Coupe.
However I think the facelifted 800, on which the coupe was based, lost the purity of design, in exatly the same way the Volvo 740 saloon to Volvo 940 saloon did.
Speaking of Volvo...
780 by Bertone. Ultra cool.
Stick Legs said:
They have been mentioned a few times.
They were pretty crap and as in the OP I hold up my hands to owning one . Memorable only for being my first 200bhp car which for some reason I regarded at the time as a milestone for a performance car and also the first time I travelled at an indicated 150mph . Its funny that admitting to doing those sort of speeds nowadays feels a bit like admitting to being a child abuser , society completely abhors anyone travelling at speed in a vehicle and I often wonder what these sort of people are doing on Pistonheads but sadly they are amongst us .,The candidates for being my two biggest disappointments in my car owning history would be the Rover 220 Turbo closely followed by the 1989 Escort Turbo .Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff