Posts Tagged ‘Feature’

Black Bullet – 1980 Triumph TR7 Roadster

May 8, 2010

Out of the many candidates to be my car (and apparently benefit from a lot more financial indulgence than I ever expected), a Triumph TR7 got an interview. It was actually not a bad car, but felt rather heavy and isolated compared to some of the late 60s and early 70s cars I had tried. At the time, it was also just a used car at the time. But the years have been kind to it, and in retrospect it’s a fairly attractive car with a forward-looking shape for the time.

Since they weren’t so well-respected back when they were built and sold, TR7s have had a pretty high attrition rate (especially the hardtops, which were not the most attractive). So in the meantime, they’ve become pretty rare cars (much like, say, Alfettas), and a good one in a desirable color is pretty hard to find. Today’s car is available for $3250 in Wayland, MI (near Kalamazoo).

1980 Triumph TR7 right

(more…)

Gran Turismo Alleggerita?? 1987 Renault GTA

May 4, 2010

Here’s a car that had a promising future when it debuted in the US in late 1982 – the Renault 9/11, the best-selling Renault ever. And yet they just weren’t right for the US market, as was often the case for French cars. They were some of the least costly cars on the market, with great mileage ratings and some innovative comfort features, but actually came out as a decline in the small-car market was starting. Combined with poor longer-term quality ratings, this meant the Alliance, Encore, and GTA only lasted for 5 model years.

And that brings us to our specific car. Brought out in 1986 as a performance model to boost sales, it packed 95 hp, thicker anti-roll bars, body kit, sports exhaust, upgraded wheels, and a closer-ratio gearbox plus stiffer engine mounts. This package added up to something pretty fun to drive, but low cost and sporting intentions mean there aren’t that many left. I’ve been waiting to write about one for a while, so
now you can see one for sale, with bidding currently at $102.50 with only 4 days to go and no reserve.

1987 Renault GTA front

(more…)

You Stay Klassey, San Diego – 1969 BMW 2000 tilux Neue Klasse sedan

May 4, 2010

Here’s an interesting car… I can see the tagline now: The practicality of the Bavaria, with the sportiness of the 2002! Who could resist? It also seems like this could be a good competitor to an Alfa Giulia TI/Super, or the later Berlina… sporty, four doors, and the powerplant of its sportier sibling. Maybe some adventurous person could even drop in an engine from a 2002tii and a later five speed, so you’d have nearly the powertrain specs of the equivalent Alfa sedans, barring the more costly aluminum head/block and the twin cams.

But anyway, enough of my convoluted automotive fantasies. This 1969 2000 tilux is the final iteration of the Neue Klasse sedan as it was available in the US market. It’s got the wider taillights, and the rectangular Euro-market headlights. One interesting design feature on this model is how the clamshell-style trunk lid extends all the way forward to the trailing edge of the rear door. This Chamonix white car (along with a blue parts car with front-end damage) is listed for $2500 in Huntington Beach, CA, near Los Angeles.

1969 BMW 2000 tilux right

(more…)