Discussion
These were one of the first cars I can remember being transfixed when I was a small lad.
I remember seeing one for the first time whilst on a family holiday to Spain in the mid to late 70’s and being hugely impressed by the three across seating. Such things matter to a 7 year old and of huge importance at the time were the flip light, how cool! I expect it had electric windows, the last word in 70’s motoring chique!!
To be honest I’m as fond of these things now as I was then as asides from the seating I still think they are a handsome bit of kit. I haven’t spent any time looking into these for a long while but one of the second tier classic car magazines ran a feature on restoring one during last year.
An interesting read on what is undoubtedly a proper and affordable sports car and I seem to remember mentioned that it was originally designed to have the driver in the middle. Who would have thought such a thing?
Are you sure about the Tagora?
I remember seeing one for the first time whilst on a family holiday to Spain in the mid to late 70’s and being hugely impressed by the three across seating. Such things matter to a 7 year old and of huge importance at the time were the flip light, how cool! I expect it had electric windows, the last word in 70’s motoring chique!!
To be honest I’m as fond of these things now as I was then as asides from the seating I still think they are a handsome bit of kit. I haven’t spent any time looking into these for a long while but one of the second tier classic car magazines ran a feature on restoring one during last year.
An interesting read on what is undoubtedly a proper and affordable sports car and I seem to remember mentioned that it was originally designed to have the driver in the middle. Who would have thought such a thing?
Are you sure about the Tagora?
telecat said:
And Bagheera. Remembered these wpersuing annother thread. They had a reputation of being able to out-corner anything but had very little power until they put in a 2.2 from the Tagora(now that another car that was totally underated).
Had the unusual feature of three seats.
The early Bageera had a Simca rallye 2 engine in it, 1300cc and about 80 bhp. I allways had a notion for one, as they looked a bit like a Ferrari 308.
But never got there.
Ian......
The Tagora was a credible alternative as an upper-range saloon with interesting design features. The interior was "love it or loathe it" ; it had a very strong engine that would run forever.
The Bagheera and Murena are much known for badly rusting. A lot of them have fallen apart in clouds of dust ; don't touch an average-looking one with a barge pole unless you feel like stripping it down soon and rebuild the shell. I guess not many have survived the British climate.
The Bagheera and Murena are much known for badly rusting. A lot of them have fallen apart in clouds of dust ; don't touch an average-looking one with a barge pole unless you feel like stripping it down soon and rebuild the shell. I guess not many have survived the British climate.
Thom said:
The Tagora was a credible alternative as an upper-range saloon with interesting design features. The interior was "love it or loathe it" ; it had a very strong engine that would run forever.
The Bagheera and Murena are much known for badly rusting. A lot of them have fallen apart in clouds of dust ; don't touch an average-looking one with a barge pole unless you feel like stripping it down soon and rebuild the shell. I guess not many have survived the British climate.
The Murena had a Galvinised Steel chassis so the majority do not suffer the fate of many Bagheera's.
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