While reading AUWM's article, it struck me that BMC decided to make a more powerful, less nimble version of the MG just at the same time the Rootes group was turning the MGB's antagonist, the Sunbeam Alpine, into the (much) more powerful, less nimble Tiger. It's a little surprising when you think of what a commercial flop the Tiger was. If Rootes had trouble selling a nose-heavy version of the Alpine with twice the power of the four-cylinder version, why on earth did BMC think they could make money off a nose-heavy version of the MGB that wasn't that much faster than the original version?
Having said that, I still totally want an MGCGT with the Downton engine modifications.
Having said that, I still totally want an MGCGT with the Downton engine modifications.
I'll have to go with the Saturn. Besides the problems with the cars and their marketing (which have been explained pretty well by previous commenters) the whole idea was silly-- GM created a whole new brand with the specific intention of taking on the imports when EVERY brand should have been taking on the imports.
As an aside, GM didn't just blow it at competing with funny little Japanese cars. When Cadillac wanted to take on the Mercedes 450SEL, what did they build? A slightly stretched Chevy Nova with a silly grille. Despite the fact that the Mercedes was ten times the car the Seville was, Cadillac sold tons of them. In retrospect, as Ate Up With Motor pointed out, ([ateupwithmotor.com] this wasn't necessarily a good thing; Caddy's Seville-fed expansion led to a long, slow decline in quality and prestige.
As an aside, GM didn't just blow it at competing with funny little Japanese cars. When Cadillac wanted to take on the Mercedes 450SEL, what did they build? A slightly stretched Chevy Nova with a silly grille. Despite the fact that the Mercedes was ten times the car the Seville was, Cadillac sold tons of them. In retrospect, as Ate Up With Motor pointed out, ([ateupwithmotor.com] this wasn't necessarily a good thing; Caddy's Seville-fed expansion led to a long, slow decline in quality and prestige.
So am I the only one who noticed the Renault Caravelle in the vintage footage at about 1:08?
@ZomBeeRacer: I love it too, but I'd pop those dog-dish hubcaps off. Nothing looks tougher than plain black steelies.
@skitter: A friend of mine has one of those. There are only two exhaust ports, which gives it a really cool sound. And if you need an endorsement of the Lambda's sophistication, he sometimes drives it to work.
Rootes Group 1390/ 1494/ 1592/ 1725cc.
In aluminum-headed 1592cc guise, it powered the Sunbeam Alpine to several SCCA titles and the Index of Efficiency at Le Mans, where the car averaged 91 MPH and 18 MPG. Six years later, with an extra 1/4" of stroke and a brace of Weber DCOEs, it took the Hillman Hunter to outright victory in the London-Sydney Marathon. And don't forget that it powered the awesomely-named Humber Super Sceptre and the Commer Funwagon camper!
In aluminum-headed 1592cc guise, it powered the Sunbeam Alpine to several SCCA titles and the Index of Efficiency at Le Mans, where the car averaged 91 MPH and 18 MPG. Six years later, with an extra 1/4" of stroke and a brace of Weber DCOEs, it took the Hillman Hunter to outright victory in the London-Sydney Marathon. And don't forget that it powered the awesomely-named Humber Super Sceptre and the Commer Funwagon camper!
@AlThums: Make that THE first DOHC 4-valve-per-cylinder engine. A privateer racer in America blew one up, and since Peugeot was busy building munitions for WWI, he brought it to Miller. Miller improved it with his own pistons and carbs, and the rest is history. Awesome history.
Is that a Cone of Shame attached to the Beretta's roof?
@pauljones: At the last Thunderhill race, I got a blue Matchbox DS as a bribe from the same guys who gave Murilee that Mini-Moke!
@rebeldevil: "The guy that brings the beer" is welcome in pretty much every pit at every LeMons race.
@Slave2anMG: Before I became a LeMons judge, I raced a $500 914 at the Thunderhill race in May. If you don't think $500 914s exist, you're not looking in scary enough places. It also helps to tell people you're looking for a "parts car" instead of a "project." When we started on the EASY 908, we found that one of the frame rails was made from chicken wire and Bondo.
Just make sure your tetanus shots are up to date, and try and find some carburetors off a bus so that you don't have to deal with the fuel injection system.
Just make sure your tetanus shots are up to date, and try and find some carburetors off a bus so that you don't have to deal with the fuel injection system.
@$kaycog: "Classic and Sports Car" magazine did an article about that car recently, pointing out just how many cars you can find the Testudo's influence in. Besides the Miura, the Porsche 928 has a lot of Testudo in it.
@tonyola: Given Louis Renault's enthusiasm for the Vichy regime, I'd have no problem calling his cars "ass-engine collaborationist slot cars." I do love the R8 Gordini, though...
@tonyola: I'd prefer the 430ci MEL, but I think you're on the right track.
@gman1023: I spent last weekend with my family in Redding, about an hour north of Thunderhill. It was a hundred and eight degrees on Sunday. When I'm at Thunderhill in a few weeks, I plan on spending as much time as possible in the air-conditioned splendor of the control tower.
"95 degree temperature and 100% humidity have a way of making the LeMons Penalty Box an exhausting job."
I bet you're really looking forward to Thunderhill in August...
I bet you're really looking forward to Thunderhill in August...
In general, I'm not a huge fan of Japanese cars. Reliability is boring, after all. But damn, I loves me some Prince Skyline 2000GT.
@MikeTheRipper12: ESPECIALLY dragoners.
@ZomBeeRacer: For instance, if you see someone who willingly deals with Lucas electrics on a regular basis.
@Murilee Martin: I've always thought it would be a good idea (well, a "good idea" by LeMons standards) to find a trashed 190E 2.6 and drop in the 3-liter motor from a junkyard 300E. The 190E may lack the sporting pretensions of its rival the E30, but it's actually got a more sophisticated suspension.
