The '76 brochure talks about the newly branded "Dura-Built" engine, with its iron-coated aluminum pistons, new hydraulic lifters and new oil returns in the engine. They mention the piston treatment should reduce bore scuffing. Also some other changes under the hood. Still the same aluminum block 2300 but now with a 5/50 warranty. By '76 maybe they finally got it right.
I mentioned this in another thread, I think. A good friend had a 77 Vega hatchback in light baby blue, black interior, base model with 4 sp. It went well over 120k before it had any issues. He replaced the head gasket (with my help) around that mileage and it had just started to use a qt/oil between oil changes. It was running fine when he sold it with + miles on it. No rust issues, good solid car.
This color:
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As was typical of GM back then especially, by the time a vehicle had been in production 5 years or so they finally got it right. I think a '76 or '77 Vega would probably have been an OK car. The GT wagon would have appealed to me, with that white vinyl custom interior.
That Anglia (I don't think it's even a 1200) looks like its not going to beat the Chevrolet or the Thunderbird away from the lights - unless it has the Harry Potter option pack....
I didn't mean it too negatively - GM can definitely do things right, but sometimes has bad timing.
Cars that qualify might be Corvair, Fiero, Vega, I've heard the later run X-cars weren't bad, I've heard the final F-body cars were worlds better than prior models, maybe Allante, just off the top of my head.
Speaking of Fiero, I saw a silver Fiero sitting out front of the local Barnes & Noble yesterday. Not a common sighting anymore, especially for late winter.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I didn't mean it too negatively - GM can definitely do things right, but sometimes has bad timing.
Cars that qualify might be Corvair, Fiero, Vega, I've heard the later run X-cars weren't bad, I've heard the final F-body cars were worlds better than prior models, maybe Allante, just off the top of my head.
GM made the best engines in the world in the 50s, their V8s were the best. But the Northstar in my Pop's 1990s Deville popped its freeze plugs and ruined it at only 77K miles. This car had never been out of FL No satisfaction from either dealer or GM. I doubt I'll ever forgive them for that.
Yup, it's an AC Ace-Bristol with the 2.4 litre Bristol six derived from a prewar BMW design. From that angle it's almost impossible to tell from the Shelby Cobra that was was derived from it. The Cobra had different fender edges and relocated the gas cap tp the center.
Looks like the 1959 AC Ace Bristol 2.2 listed for sale here. Seller claims that it is the only example to leave the Thames Ditton factory with the 2.2-litre Type 110 engine. Beautiful car. £350,000
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
I'd far rather have that AC Ace than a Cobra - much more manageable in the real world
AC didn't just build sports cars and disabled cars here - this is an AC diesel rail car from around 1960 running on a rural branch near Cirencester in Gloucestershire - but they were more often found in Scotland I gather
They built about six of this model which carried about 40 people but they were not a success due to competition from buses.
In Newhartville looks like a 65 Galaxie on the road heading towards the camera, with a blue and white 62 Galaxie convertible pulling onto the road behind it. Maybe a 51 Ford behind the Rambler, In the background, facing away from the camera, a red and white VW microbus, maybe a 64 Impala on the road behind it.
My dad was a big fan of "Newhart", when I think of the TV theme, I also think of this:
I'd far rather have that AC Ace than a Cobra - much more manageable in the real world
I get why you might prefer the Ace-Bristol. The big-block (427CID) Cobras could be over-powered front-heavy handful so IMO much less desirable than either it's small-block brethren or an AC-Bristol
OTOH the original Shelby/AC Cobra with the small block V8s (289 or 260CID) had good weight distribution and nimble handling which is why they scored so many race wins. I'm sure they are quite manageable in real world driving. The editors of Road and Track recently dubbed the small block Cobra the greatest sports car of all time.
2 econoline vans. And a really cool JEEP pick up. Looks like 3 beetles are the only furrin cars, but not sure what the dark one coming out of the side street to the right is. Looks smaller.
A 60 Chrysler approaching just below that jeep truck and another Chrysler - this time a 61 - approaching just beyond that cross traffic on the left Behind the 60 Ford - parked on the right - is a light coloured Rambler Also Rambler American to right of that Jeep
Its hard to see what this emerging car is at that distance but there is a 61 Dodge parked at the head of that line
Behind the 51 Chevy at lower right looks like a 62 Chevy, and a 59 Caddy behind it.
The "emerging" car magnette points out looks foreign to me, maybe a Renault 8/10 or a Simca?
Also at left in the background, just past the cross street where a 61/62 Chrysler is waiting for a light, something small behind the Chrysler, maybe MGA.
Fin, I think you are right, its a Renault R8 - I just couldn't see it ....
Looking at the car behind the Chrysler I think it has a light on, and it looks like a darker and larger vehicle - I had it as a wagon because of the way it obscures the Cadillac following it
Fin, I think you are right, its a Renault R8 - I just couldn't see it ....
Looking at the car behind the Chrysler I think it has a light on, and it looks like a darker and larger vehicle - I had it as a wagon because of the way it obscures the Cadillac following it
I think the blue and white car near the Celica is an early Subaru (Leone), maybe called DL or GL for the USDM. Big white Ford wagon in front of the Celica.
Comments
Would have been a good place to buy real estate then, that's a tony area now, I believe.
This color:
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Cars that qualify might be Corvair, Fiero, Vega, I've heard the later run X-cars weren't bad, I've heard the final F-body cars were worlds better than prior models, maybe Allante, just off the top of my head.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I doubt I'll ever forgive them for that.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
AC didn't just build sports cars and disabled cars here - this is an AC diesel rail car from around 1960 running on a rural branch near Cirencester in Gloucestershire - but they were more often found in Scotland I gather
They built about six of this model which carried about 40 people but they were not a success due to competition from buses.
59 Rambler sedan at the Texaco sign
My dad was a big fan of "Newhart", when I think of the TV theme, I also think of this:
I'd far rather have that AC Ace than a Cobra - much more manageable in the real world
I get why you might prefer the Ace-Bristol. The big-block (427CID) Cobras could be over-powered front-heavy handful so IMO much less desirable than either it's small-block brethren or an AC-Bristol
OTOH the original Shelby/AC Cobra with the small block V8s (289 or 260CID) had good weight distribution and nimble handling which is why they scored so many race wins.
I'm sure they are quite manageable in real world driving. The editors of Road and Track recently dubbed the small block Cobra the greatest sports car of all time.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a35002019/greatest-sports-car-of-all-time/
https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a35048685/1965-shelby-cobra-289-first-drive-review/
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Bottom right - 1951 Chevrolet.
Behind the 60 Ford - parked on the right - is a light coloured Rambler
Also Rambler American to right of that Jeep
Its hard to see what this emerging car is at that distance but there is a 61 Dodge parked at the head of that line
The "emerging" car magnette points out looks foreign to me, maybe a Renault 8/10 or a Simca?
Also at left in the background, just past the cross street where a 61/62 Chrysler is waiting for a light, something small behind the Chrysler, maybe MGA.
Looking at the car behind the Chrysler I think it has a light on, and it looks like a darker and larger vehicle - I had it as a wagon because of the way it obscures the Cadillac following it
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
I'm at the limit of my screen now - anything further we will need the Hubble
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Classic blue Volvo 145 wagon, next to a yellow gen 1 Celica.
Next to celica the blue with white roof car looks like a Mazda. And a red pinto nose up to a white Dodge panel van.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
White Mustang ('67?)
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2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6