There's nothing I hate more than trailer Queens, often over-restored, so to please Concours d'Élégance crowds of millionnaires. It's Ok, in the case of early unique luxury cars that would'nt be affordable by the common man anyway. In the case of this car, I'd make sure that the basic mechanicles are updated, not modified, to make it drivable and enjoyable. As for it's looks, at least the engine bay, the interior is clean, buy also repair the torn leather, As often Iain Tyrrel's guys do on on clents cars. As for the body, a few color matching touch-ups on rusted parts and a good polish and wax. That's it. I could'nt drive an as dirty car as a garbage bin. No way. ... View more

As Tom Cotter and others say, drive what you like. Period. If it gains value, great, but it should'nt be your first criteria. Enjoy it ! ... View more

Awesome designs and story. BUT it was not the only mid-engined car to preceed the C8 : Pontiac did it with the Fiero ! Yes, the unloved - to this date - "commuter car" at it's start because the famous saying at GM, "There's only one sports car at GM, the Corvette". It's now well known that the brave Pontiac guys had a proper Sports car in their mind from the very start but had to dig in the parts bins in order to put the car in the market ASAP, being under huge pressure from the bean counters at the Detroit H.O. And when they upgraded the car for 1988, making it at last a true Sports Car, the cry babies at Corvette had it scrapped on the spot. Remember that then, the Corvette was a slow, lackluster POS. Ironicaly, the C8 uses many of the Fiero production processes and materials 34 years later ! 😖 ... View more

Yep, I do own my precious 1988 Fiero GT, for the last 30 years. Previously, I owned 2 2M4 basic models to commute, which it was it's purpose, definitely NOT a sports car as too many thought. But, in 1987, when I read about the major improvements the Pontiac guys did, I HAD to have one. After 5 years of searching and seeing so many POS, I found a pristine one with 27k km, about 12k miles. BTW, the French 3 lug nuts go back to post-war 11 recovery. Those were tough years. But they needed cars. And the gas was very expensive. They had to scrim nuts and bolts, steel was a rarety. That's why Citroën came up with the legendary 2CV. Cheap to build, simple to maintain and tough as a nail. Yes, slow as a snail ! As for Autocrossing a VEGA (!!) you were an adventurous driver ! 😳 Made good timings ? ... View more

Cause at the time, European and Japanese cars were lightweiths by design. Only heavy American or German big cars had 5 lugnuts. ... View more

The actual race cars add ons were tweaked and had not much in common with the street cars. Even the materials used were very different. And we all know that the rules were very "slack" at he time. As long a tthe race cars looked somewhat like thestreet cars, it was OKed. ... View more

I'm probably of your age too and I share your thoughts about that horrific birdy. Yes, "t was butt ugly then and it's still butt ugly." 👍 ... View more

But it was not a public nicknamr but originated from Alfa as an internal code name as this was a new model to be introduced at Expo 67. And yes, it's a lovely car. Small V8 and all. From a different universe than the monstruous Plymouth horror. But it's only me, right ? ... View more

Fully agreed. I've had it with auction results on (awesome) cars that only the very well heeled lawyers or dentists can afford and show at Emilia Island, brought in "by their good people" in covered trailers. Not to be ever driven - "Are you nuts ?" 😳 . We, actual gearheads love those stories on cars we heard about but never had a chance to see or, like here, their histories. ... View more

Yeah, the dreaded Prince of Darkness. I remember the famous Peter Egan restoring a Lotus Elan for at least two years, all nuts and bolts out, and taking the road christening the fresh restored car, with his wife Barb to visit friends, not that far away. When they arrived, a lil' puff of smoke came from the underdash, no more lights nor wipers in a rainstorm. Nightime. Never heard about it after. ... View more

Brit in line sixes have a unique sound. A neighbor has a 1975 TR6 and another has his beloved Austin-Healy 3000. I can clearly hear them from a block away. Sweet unique sounds. So different from my cherished 1988 Fiero GT. EVERY summer Sunday, we gather at our local pâtisserie for coffee and chat. ... View more

I don't know the US sales fugures for the Honda Element but here in Québec, Canada, they were selling like cup cakes. They were very popular with hipsters ans small businesses as delivery vehicles. My clothing & custom furnishing designer niece still has hers and would'nt want anything else. They are very popular on the used market. I drove it once and this "thing" is actually fun to drive ! ... View more

Seriously, you took an ugly Triumph duckling to a frigging ugly **bleep** ! Sorry mate, but it's the ugly truth ! ... View more

McQueen became the hero of mine when I was +/- 10 years old from a TV series where he was a bounty hunter sporting a Winchester short gun. The manly image this guy projected was something to become for me. Sweet memories. ... View more