Help me choose a Summer-fun classic-car

[manalishi]

107 500

a no brainer for Mercedes fans

Unless, the size of said Mercedes fan's garage rules out many nice classics!

Tiff - What a coincidence! I've just joined the X1/9 club. Not got the password/etc through yet, but should be reacquainting myself with the X1/9's little eccentricities soon. Out of interest have you ever driven a Montecarlo S2 to give some comparison?

 

[manalishi]

Fulvia - classy little device!

Fulvia. Does look the part. I know SFA about them... (time for some more research/slacking)

 

[Bellow]

Fulvia was way ahead of its time. A front driver with a narrow angle V4 laid out longitudinally with the gearbox behind, wishbone front suspension with a dead axle rear all using leaf springs - but not in the way of a cart - much more sophisticated.
Very successful in rallying - could beat all manner of things, especially if there was snow on the ground - followed immediately by the Stratos, the car has real breeding.
Expensive to buy they were nonetheless beautifully finished with gorgeous little touches such as a thumbwheel clutch adjuster, detail that Lancia would lose under Fiat ownership. Possibly the last Lancia from when Lancia could be considered an Italian Mercedes. An absolute jewel of a car.

 

[manalishi]

(later) Alas - it looks like well-sorted Fulvias are already out of my budget. All the best ones are also LHD imports.

 

[prprandall51]

Pitching the MonteCarlo's case again, the Lancia 2.0 litre engine is a lovely unit and, with the right exhaust fitted, it sounds glorious driving along with the roof wound back. I forget the name of the exhaust fitted to mine but it was a beautiful open-box sound and the engine was a screamer. Very like a Ferrari Dino in fact.
This thread has actually got me considering getting another one myself....

 

[manalishi]

And I've just found that there's a Lancia TC specialist not too far away: Guy Croft Racing Engines Lincoln UK 01522 705222 • View forum - PRICELIST & PARTS/SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM GCRE

OK. I think I have my short shortlist now. X1/9. Montecarlo and CRX. I keep coming back to these three when I mooch around PH/Ebay/classics/etc.

So it will come down to availability and the test drive experience in the New Year. That's Plan A. And if they all disappoint - or if the right car proves too elusive - Plan B is the easy option - the MX5.

I'll report back when I've got the car tucked up in the garage. Thanks, everyone, for helping me plan my midlife crisis sensibly.

Have a great Christmas!

 

[Bellow]

Manalishi, it's been a great thread! Nothing like writing up a good car to realise just how much the respect is there for it. Pity the Fulvia prices have gone too far. A sign of its greatness. And being older, rarity.
Last advice is follow your heart, you have Christmas to think it over.
Meantime, for the rest of us, we can have a wee betting session.... So, c'm'on folks, who'll bet against me that Manalishi gets the Montecarlo?.....

 

[Classic_car]

So, c'm'on folks, who'll bet against me that Manalishi
gets the Montecarlo?.....

I think it will be an X1/9 and i'm considering one myself now, after this thread! They do look gd and I just about have the space for a 'little pocket rocket' like that.

Remember a mates Mom at school had a metalicy wine red one for years, always liked it.

Great thread, enjoyed reading everyone's differing opinions.

Merry Xmas all!

 

[A140driver]

As has been said, a Fulvia is worth a look. Provided you stick to 1.3s and search thoroughly, you should be able to find a nice example within budget. One of my friends bought one in the summer as his first car, it had been stored in a warehouse and was pretty reasonable looking on the whole. It needed a fair bit of welding though, which scared him, and although he carried out a lot of brake and engine work, he gave up shortly before going back to uni, and sold it to another of my mates, who hopes to have it back on the road soon, once it's had new sills and a lower half respray.
In terms of driving they're superb from what I gather. Surprisingly nippy, they sound glorious, disc brakes all round, 5 speed Getrag manual 'box, and so stylish.
Only thing you might find is that if you're tall from the waist up, headroom can be an issue. I wouldn't mind a Fulvia. Here's my mate's one.

 

[124fan]

how about one of these ...

Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Vw_181_v_sst.jpg

and I might just know of one for sale

Cheers

 

[Tiff]

Unless, the size of said Mercedes fan's garage rules out many nice classics!

Tiff - What a coincidence! I've just joined the X1/9 club. Not got the password/etc through yet, but should be reacquainting myself with the X1/9's little eccentricities soon. Out of interest have you ever driven a Montecarlo S2 to give some comparison?

I have driven a Montecarlo, a long time ago. Of course I'm slightly biased...I love Lancia's, but have never driven a car that is so "alive" as an X1/9.The Monte is a bit more " grown up". I like them on skinny tyres, and standard, the balance is beautiful. They oversteer, understeer and four wheel drift at will when you learn them, and will bite you hard if you take liberties.. as has been said before, they will spin you 180 degrees in their own length if you are clumsy. 360 degrees if you are very good!

They take a bit of fettling if neglected- get all the niggles sorted and they are 100% reliable, for too long they were just a cheap bit of fun, but now people are actually restoring them and looking after them properly..

I drove X1/9's for years as daily drivers and never had any major mishaps. 36 MPG, cheap tax, Fully Comp under £100 a year,parts are cheap, tyres are cheap, brake pads are under a tenner,totally waterproof,great heater,secure,and much more luggage space than you'd imagine. Full size spare, 400+ miles out of a tank.. I could go on. Its a design masterpiece that you must remember was launched in 1972 and ran until 1989 with very few changes...

You do have to get used to people stopping you for a chat, and even chasing you into petrol stations to ask what it is!!

 

[Bellow]

 

[Tiff]

Top Trumps!! :bannana:

 

[Bellow]

Top Trumps!! :bannana:

Not quite....

 

[Sonny Burnett]

Unless, the size of said Mercedes fan's garage rules out many nice classics!

Tiff - What a coincidence! I've just joined the X1/9 club. Not got the password/etc through yet, but should be reacquainting myself with the X1/9's little eccentricities soon. Out of interest have you ever driven a Montecarlo S2 to give some comparison?

i extended my garage.. for my 202 lol... all these cars listed look herendus compared to the 107 in my opinion

 

[Bellow]

Decided to make the above my Christmas card to you all!!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[prprandall51]

..they will spin you 180 degrees in their own length if you are clumsy. 360 degrees if you are very good!

Yes, I was going for a full 360 degrees - under full control naturally . Except this lamp post jumped out in front of me and ruined my perfect spin. As soon as the lamp post hit me it jumped back onto the pavement and tried to blame me

 

[Tiff]

Yes, I was going for a full 360 degrees - under full control naturally . Except this lamp post jumped out in front of me and ruined my perfect spin. As soon as the lamp post hit me it jumped back onto the pavement and tried to blame me

Yup, respect the wedge!! I rolled my first one at Knockhill, spun me off as I lifted off when cornering- hit the gravel and flipped me upside down, roof off. I drove it home.. I of 2 cars which passed the American '70's test for open cars, surviving a 50 MPH rollover, and I proved it! Came away totally unhurt.

This isn't mine by the way..

 

[manalishi]

i extended my garage.. for my 202 lol... all these cars listed look herendus compared to the 107 in my opinion

Well, if I was going to spend, say, £10k doing a bigger garage, I'd resent the fact the money didn't go on the car!

As for the R107... while its looks are subjective (I can take or leave it), no-one buys one for the driving dynamics, which is what matters for my search.

Tiff - more lift-off oversteer, eh? I'd read about the X's strength. Nice to see it works.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Following Bellow's lead, and drawing a little inspiration from Tiff, here's my Christmas card to the forum...