I Absolutely Want One of These

[Keith]

Oh right, but I thought it had been decided that it (the '40) was only deemed "English" when we screwed it up but when Caroll Shelby and the Holmans rescued the program it became an American car.. my bad. I think most Americans don't see it as an English car as most have LHD option and, as it's not a daily driver I don't see the point. Interesting though because I was an avid Muscle Car collector (and racer) back in the day, and, not only would any like minded enthusiast contemplate a RHD American vehicle, they never fetched anything like as much money as the authentic LHD and they WERE daily drivers. It just didn't seem right.

A bit like the (AC) Cobra I suppose. Are they called AC in America? Or just Cobra 289/427? They are always entered as AC's in Historics over here, or perhaps that's because they are originals not replicas, so I guess it might be the same over there.

Also it's interesting you designate your own models as "English" I really didn't know that. What is the rationale behind that?

By the way, I knew it was an XJ13 I was just testing you..

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Because I am English of course....and my house sports the Union Jack...wink..
My personal cars are English too...3 Jags..65 Mk2, XJS ,RAM D rep. and a 1970 Mini

 

[Graham]

Because I am English of course....and my house sports the Union Jack...wink..
My personal cars are English too...3 Jags..65 Mk2, XJS ,RAM D rep. and a 1970 Mini

Fran,

I love the fact that you've got an early Mini - kudos to you, I've always loved them and owned a few Cooper and Cooper S's in my time (before they went through the roof price-wise)...

However, like it or not, I DO like the Ferrari on display in this thread. The Aston is gorgeous, but the Ferrari was meant to grace a circuit, whereas the Aston (please can I have one, please, oh please) looks more at home on an A road rather than a circuit.

After all, I am in the EU, so I MUST choose from all that is available...

One day, the SLC may stand amongst these giants, but there's a ways to go yet.

Cheers,

Graham.

 

[Keith]

Because I am English of course....and my house sports the Union Jack...wink..
My personal cars are English too...3 Jags..65 Mk2, XJS ,RAM D rep. and a 1970 Mini

Yeah, so you say...:shifty:

I heard you like Hush Puppies....:shocked:

Anyway, back to the British car thing. I spotted a Discovery type dumb down knowledge show - this one called 'Massive Speed', today as it happens. During the commentary, Chris Barrie (he of Red Dwarf 'Rimmer' fame) sort of got history right but spoiled it all by saying that "a new type sports car from America changed everything" i.e. the GT40 and qualified the dumb history by saying the car was powered by a 7 litre engine, and was not available for road use. MKI MKII confusion?

Not only that they used replicas to illustrate the point, but at least they were (I think) cars belonging to: 1. Paul Walton, 2. Tony Hunt and 3. I may be wrong but I thought the Gulf car might have been Paul Thompsons. They looked really good, but I wish they'd used an original.

What a load of blox, but this is the stuff they feed to America...

Anyway, F458 GTC {drool}

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Hush puppies...I wear Clarks or Doc Martens...which I am wearing today actually

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

FWIW I'm with you on this Keith I think the Italia is the best looking Fcar since the 355.:thumbsup:

 

[Keith]

Hush puppies...I wear Clarks or Doc Martens...which I am wearing today actually

Sorry Fran, wires crossed, I meant the, er, foodstuff....so beloved of dahn sahf Amerikee.

Like so.... (obvious why they're so named... )

By the Way.. they are disgusting.

 

[Jack]

But they are tastier than Tater-Tots!

 

[Keith]

But they are tastier than Tater-Tots!

Even Corn Dogs and Chicken Fried Steak is tastier than Tater-Tots :stunned:

 

[Cliff Beer]

I have two ferraris. Personally, I don't believe ferrari has made a car which isn't primarily a marketing stunt for rich guys since the 308 of the 80's. Modern ferraris have so many gizmos on them designed to make a ham fisted multi-millionaire/billionaire driver look good when, in fact, he's a pretty poor piloti (in many cases). Plus, really now, who needs an F1 style wheel on a street car? That's just marketing bs to make some rich guy think he's driving an F1 car. Ferrari is primarily a branding and marketing company now.....

Just my $.02.

 

[Keith]

Oh Cliff... break it to me gently.....:bigcry:

 

[Graham]

I have two ferraris. Personally, I don't believe ferrari has made a car which isn't primarily a marketing stunt for rich guys since the 308 of the 80's. Modern ferraris have so many gizmos on them designed to make a ham fisted multi-millionaire/billionaire driver look good when, in fact, he's a pretty poor piloti (in many cases). Plus, really now, who needs an F1 style wheel on a street car? That's just marketing bs to make some rich guy think he's driving an F1 car. Ferrari is primarily a branding and marketing company now.....

Just my $.02.

Cliff,

I've driven Porsche's for the last ten years as daily drivers, but even after all this time, I would still like to own a Ferrari. Don't get me wrong, I can pretty much afford the price tag. I can even appreciate their beauty and frailness that seems to go hand in hand...

For me the last beautiful Ferrari was the F355, the 360 is :thumbsdown: the 430 is :thumbsdown: ...and yet, this racing version of the 458 I find utterly beautiful. If you can raise these "faults" with Ferraris from the last 30 years, then you must raise the same criticisms with all cars of the ilk.

I'll stick with my mass produced Porker. Beautiful NO, Fast as fook YES and reliable to boot... but the allure of the "F" is always there...

 

[Cliff Beer]

Oh Cliff... break it to me gently.....:bigcry:

Hi Keith, sorry, didn't mean to rain on the parade. Here's my source of frustration with ferrari - having to pay $500 bucks for a distributor cap (requires 2), $800 bucks for an ignition wire set, $1,400 for a turn signal switch...for a 30 year old car...and it goes on an on. Ferrari charges these prices because they can I suppose, but you can't help having that feeling that you just got robbed (perhaps because you just did). Their branding and marketing are effective and they sue anyone who might work to bring prices down - they're very litigious.

With that as background, I love going to the local auto parts store and getting plugs, wires, cap/rotor for the GT40 all for $100 bucks.

But, you're absolutely right, the 458 is stunning.

 

[Cliff Beer]

Cliff,

I've driven Porsche's for the last ten years as daily drivers, but even after all this time, I would still like to own a Ferrari. Don't get me wrong, I can pretty much afford the price tag. I can even appreciate their beauty and frailness that seems to go hand in hand...

For me the last beautiful Ferrari was the F355, the 360 is :thumbsdown: the 430 is :thumbsdown: ...and yet, this racing version of the 458 I find utterly beautiful. If you can raise these "faults" with Ferraris from the last 30 years, then you must raise the same criticisms with all cars of the ilk.

I'll stick with my mass produced Porker. Beautiful NO, Fast as fook YES and reliable to boot... but the allure of the "F" is always there...

Yup, I understand the attraction there. The ferrari mystique is pretty strong...but after owning a few and working on them pretty extensively you realize they're just a car too...some bits of metal and plastic and rubber and leather....just like any other car...there's no titanium or unobtainium in there anywhere. They're just a whole helluva lot more expensive to run and maintain.

That said, the styling is quite impressive and the attention to detail is certainly there. However, the old ones (like what I have) are much more like a well built kit car than a mass produced car, so you have to be ready to put up with a fair number is quirks and minor shortcomings. No doubt the new/modern ferraris are pretty sorted though, I just don't like the price tag and the heaps of "driver's aids" - I'll skip the 12 different shock settings, acceleration curves, different exhaust notes, electronic diffs, blah blah blah...that stuff is all just designed to make a poor driver not look so bad on the track in front of his champagne drinking mutual-apprecation-society buddies.

I'll shut up now.

 

[Graham]

Yup, I understand the attraction there. The ferrari mystique is pretty strong...but after owning a few and working on them pretty extensively you realize they're just a car too...some bits of metal and plastic and rubber and leather....just like any other car...there's no titanium or unobtainium in there anywhere. They're just a whole helluva lot more expensive to run and maintain.

That said, the styling is quite impressive and the attention to detail is certainly there. However, the old ones (like what I have) are much more like a well built kit car than a mass produced car, so you have to be ready to put up with a fair number is quirks and minor shortcomings. No doubt the new/modern ferraris are pretty sorted though, I just don't like the price tag and the heaps of "driver's aids" - I'll skip the 12 different shock settings, acceleration curves, different exhaust notes, electronic diffs, blah blah blah...that stuff is all just designed to make a poor driver not look so bad on the track in front of his champagne drinking mutual-apprecation-society buddies.

I'll shut up now.

Cliff,

Please don't shut up. You're experiences, like Jim's are invaluable to the uninitiated. As I said, the allure is there, but shiny things tarnish very quickly when they refuse to co-operate...

This is why I've been a Porsche driver for years now. It doesn't have quite the "kudos" of an "F" car - but I'll always pass them on a breakdown truck, and mine's faster and just as well sorted anyway, even if it is a tad more accessible

There really is no reason to charge so much for parts at all.

So, thanks for your input. you may have just put a dream to bed for the last time.

Cheers :thumbsup:

Graham.

 

[Keith]

Well, urinate in my cornflakes will you Graham.. I just finished wrapping it. Guess I'll have to take it back now.....:veryangry:

 

[Graham]

Well, urinate in my cornflakes will you Graham.. I just finished wrapping it. Guess I'll have to take it back now.....:veryangry:

I....erm....no...don't do that just yet Keith.....

Porsche erm...they're rubbish really. I honestly didn't mean it....honest Keith....

Now...Please can I have my present? :heart: