For any true car nuts out there - Singer 911

[chriswt]

Found this on Pistonheads yesterday and for any of you car nuts the video is well worth a watch:

Chris Harris video: the Singer 911 - PistonHeads

 

[Ian Donkin]

Harris had his own special 911 built by Tuthills a few years ago - the retro 911 business is big right now but you need deep pockets to fund almost any classic (pre '73) 911 activities.

Speaking as a previous custodian of a swb '68 911, they were miles ahead of their time and give a sublime driving experience.

 

[TheDeadPrussian]

A good friend of mine owns a really nice Paul Stephens car - these early 911s with updated suspension and updated engines etc are just fantastic.

Some really good people doing upgrades and restorations on the early cars (Tuthills and Canford Classics etc) and this whole 'back to basics' feel really appeals...It’s very difficult to find an original car however, and if you are going to upgrade you really need a good starting point.

 

[chriswt]

A good friend of mine owns a really nice Paul Stephens car - these early 911s with updated suspension and updated engines etc are just fantastic.

Some really good people doing upgrades and restorations on the early cars (Tuthills and Canford Classics etc) and this whole 'back to basics' feel really appeals...It’s very difficult to find an original car however, and if you are going to upgrade you really need a good starting point.

I love the idea of upgrading classic if done properly. I think modern cars will never be able to recreate that sense of occasion that these classics offer.

The E-Type in my Avatar was the car I hired for my engagement weekend in 2006 and it was a sensational experience. The noise, smell and drama was second to none. I pushed it to 100mph which was terrifying and felt like 200 but I loved it!

Even white van man drivers were giving me the thumbs up.

 

[Dieselman]

I love the idea of upgrading classic if done properly. I think modern cars will never be able to recreate that sense of occasion that these classics offer.

Cars got fat and too insulated from the driving experience.

 

[mika]

just had a look at tuthills and canford

....mouthwatering

 

[chriswt]

Cars got fat and too insulated from the driving experience.

I can't help thinking that with the advent of engines like Ford's 3 cylinder engine (being pushed to 200bhp and beyond) and cars becoming lighter for fuel consumption purposes but stronger for safety things might not all be lost.

...fingers crossed

 

[Dieselman]

and cars becoming lighter for fuel consumption purposes

Lighter is a relative term. They still weigh about twice what they used to.

 

[st4]

Cars got fat and too insulated from the driving experience.

And a fair bit safer and better equipped as well...

 

[LTD]

And a fair bit safer and better equipped as well...

Steve

You've never really driven 'old school' cars. You should.

Forget cosseting, airbags and associated creature comforts for a while.

Appreciate direct steering, light weight, taut chassis and responsive throttle and brakes and you get a car that is half the weight, twice the fun and older than you.

Old Escorts, Audis, Mk1/2, Golfs - all phenomenal cars to drive.

 

[chriswt]

And a fair bit safer and better equipped as well...

...and there is the dilemma.

Its great to be 'at one' with the road 10% of the time but for the other 90% its nice to know that your car is going to be well behaved, reliable and safe if someone decides to smash into you.

I guess those with an understanding other half can have a car for 90% of the time and one for 10% but those ten percent cars are never as cheap as the classified ads would have you believe.

 

[LTD]

...and there is the dilemma.

Its great to be 'at one' with the road 10% of the time but for the other 90% its nice to know that your car is going to be well behaved, reliable and safe if someone decides to smash into you.

... and the main question therefore should be.

How many MAJOR accidents have you been involved in that have made you rely on the car's safety features for your ultimate survival ?

 

[st4]

.

How many MAJOR accidents have you been involved in that have made you rely on the car's safety features for your ultimate survival ?

One. The safety cell remained intact and the car rolled over twice, my mate was driving, and was above 50 but below 60, maybe..... Not a scratch on me, BMW was pretty hurt. It was a late 90's model.

What would my chances be in some old heap?

 

[LTD]

One. The safety cell remained intact and the car rolled over twice, my mate was driving, and was above 50 but below 60, maybe..... Not a scratch on me, BMW was pretty hurt. It was a late 90's model.

What would my chances be in some old heap?

Better feedback and response might have prevented the accident.

At that speed I would reckon driver error was the root cause of the accident unless a massive component failure was the problem.

 

[mika]

you might not have rolled in a 911...
hardly a heap
probably the best car i might never get

i think theres a place for classic motoring and modern cossetted driving too
interestingly most of my car ideas get filed under "total waste of time and money"
i suspect if i brought one of these old gems home Mrs H might grab the keys

 

[st4]

Better feedback and response might have prevented the accident.

He hit a rock, it over turned. He's a bufoon. The car saved us both from his stupidity.

I totally take your point about lesser mass, better feedback, handling, response, fun and in time with higher tensile steels, carbon fibre, composite materials I would expect a cars mass to fall.

We are already seeing this with newer models getting smaller and lighter again.

A final point, you drive an S class. A 126 (the one before the one before yours) is about the same size as a 212 E (the one after mine). You have a Polo, its about the same size or larger than the Golf five before yours.

Why did this happen. People wanted larger, safer, plusher cars at the expense of ultimate feedback. Why, their day to day motoring is on motorways, towns, a more detatched car is what they were after. Now cars have become too detached people and fuel costs are dictating we downsize?

 

[Charles Morgan]

I love driving old cars, the handling on my BMW 2002 was just joyous, my Allard is glorious when you open it up, and the Citroen is wondrous. However, the big but, the 02 has no safety apart from a belt and disc brakes, the Allard has neither (each time I speed up I remind myself I'll have to slow down, especially if some loon pulls out) and the Citroen will probably drown me in boiling oil..

Lightness is marvellous, far too many cars are too large, too heavy and driven by people who make use of about 10% of their potential - for heaven sake, my Range Rover 200 tdi can get away from the lights at snail pace, yet I am regularly sprinting away from other users.

 

[chriswt]

... and the main question therefore should be.

How many MAJOR accidents have you been involved in that have made you rely on the car's safety features for your ultimate survival ?

I never plan to be in a major accident but it doesn't stop me wanted to be prepared for one.

My wife's 1979 car seat was about as secure as a Pizza Express high chair and would be fine for my 2 year old to be in... However she travels around in the in the safest possible car seat I could find!!!

..its nothing to do with mine or my wife's driving ability but the lack of control we have over every other driver that shares the road with us.

 

[st4]

you might not have rolled in a 911...
hardly a heap
probably the best car i might never get

i think theres a place for classic motoring and modern cossetted driving too
interestingly most of my car ideas get filed under "total waste of time and money"
i suspect if i brought one of these old gems home Mrs H might grab the keys

I've got a itch for one too...

If I get one, it'll probably kill me so I will not scratch that itch. I cannot be trusted with one

 

[LTD]

I love driving old cars, the handling on my BMW 2002 was just joyous, my Allard is glorious when you open it up, and the Citroen is wondrous. However, the big but, the 02 has no safety apart from a belt and disc brakes, the Allard has neither (each time I speed up I remind myself I'll have to slow down, especially if some loon pulls out) and the Citroen will probably drown me in boiling oil..

Maybe we would have been safer if the lesser mortals succumbed to Darwin's Law ?