BTW- on the Saab, don't ya love the airplane-inspired steering wheel?
The hub is the fuselage The spokes are the wings The rim is the spinning prop tips.
If Saab could bring an entry-level 92/93/95/96 inspired car to market (using the Astra chassis :confuse: ) for $23k, I think they could give the MINI a run for its 60's vintage rally-esque money.
Yep, very rare and valuable, only ten were turned out in 1967. They were known as "N.A.R.T Spiders" because Luigi Chinetti Sr. who owned Ferrari's North American import rights commissioned then and raced a couple of them under the banner of his North American Racing Team, Denise McCluggage and Pinky Rollo scored a class win at Sebring in '67 with the NART Spider when I was there.
A number of 275 GTB coupes were converted to Spiders but they are not considered true NART Spiders. The PF 275 GTS was a different car as discussed a few posts back.
They were "Special" because they were considered a separate "compact" line of Buick. Instead of the usual 123" and 126" wheelbases, the Special had wheelbases of 112" and 115".
Nope not an aftermarket job, apparently the notchback roof was added to a small number of Interceptor convertibles before they were sold. I don't know by whom but if Magnette comes by he might know.
I dunno what was so "special" about them but that's what they called 'em.
Probably just a recycle of a previous name. That's what Buick called their entry level model up through 1958. For 1959, Buick threw out all of its traditional names, and what had been the Special was renamed LeSabre.
Looking back, it seems like a silly name, but in the real old days, they didn't always put that much thought into model names. They'd just call them stuff like Special, Super, DeLuxe, Custom, etc. I guess doing that probably put more emphasis on the identity of the brand as a whole, rather than individual model or series.
My first car was a 1968 Buick Special Deluxe station wagon. The Special Deluxe was once the middle tier of the Buick senior compact lineup that went Special-Special Deluxe-Skylark.
In 1964, the Buick Special became an "intermediate-sized" car.
By 1968, the Special Deluxe was the base car. Two-door Special Deluxes were on a 112" wheelbase whereas wagons and sedans were on a 116" wheelbase. The glass-domed Sportwagon was on a 121" wheelbase.
Sorry Stickguy but Gbrozen is also correct about S-P-Y-D-E-R vs. S-P-I-D-E-R.
Alfa, Ferrari and Fiat use the same spelling as the eight-legged Arachnid. Spyder with a Y is used by Maserati and Lamborghini (and Porsche on their current "RS Spyder" LMP-2 race car.)
Thank you very much. The 10" Minilite Magnesium Alloy Wheel was the wheel that really began the whole alloy wheel trend and the reason alloys are sometimes called "mag wheels". Cooper owners in search of better performance and or looks flocked to them in huge numbers and generated a number of imitators including some blatant copies.
Been away a few days, but as far as I'm aware, the notchback Jensen Interceptor was a regular offering, for the last year or so that the car was available. I'll look it up when I get a chance, at home.
You're slipping Mag, that motor has no connection whatever w Rootes Group. I'm surprised no one has gotten it yet, it's a well known and highly regarded unit.
Well, I've looked up the Interceptor, and the notchback was a short-lived offering in 1975/6, by the factory, following on from the convertible, which had only gone on offer in 74. They went bust in 76, so not many notchbacks were actually made.
Comments
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I once saw one of these with Yukon plates in WA state.
:confuse:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
How better to do Stig Blomquist impersonations :confuse:
The hub is the fuselage
The spokes are the wings
The rim is the spinning prop tips.
If Saab could bring an entry-level 92/93/95/96 inspired car to market (using the Astra chassis :confuse: ) for $23k, I think they could give the MINI a run for its 60's vintage rally-esque money.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I dunno what was so "special" about them but that's what they called 'em.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
A number of 275 GTB coupes were converted to Spiders but they are not considered true NART Spiders. The PF 275 GTS was a different car as discussed a few posts back.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Is that an aftermarket chop job?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Probably just a recycle of a previous name. That's what Buick called their entry level model up through 1958. For 1959, Buick threw out all of its traditional names, and what had been the Special was renamed LeSabre.
Looking back, it seems like a silly name, but in the real old days, they didn't always put that much thought into model names. They'd just call them stuff like Special, Super, DeLuxe, Custom, etc. I guess doing that probably put more emphasis on the identity of the brand as a whole, rather than individual model or series.
In 1964, the Buick Special became an "intermediate-sized" car.
By 1968, the Special Deluxe was the base car. Two-door Special Deluxes were on a 112" wheelbase whereas wagons and sedans were on a 116" wheelbase. The glass-domed Sportwagon was on a 121" wheelbase.
Buick Special.
I think the those are a '67 ish 'Cuda and a '62-ish Olds, Pontiac or Buick 4-door h/t
behind the 275/NART.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Other than that, an Alfa spyder next to it, one across from it (but probably earlier), a Ferrari (Mondial?), and a Volvo P1800
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Across as mentioned is an Alfa, a Ferrari (308 GT4 ca. 1975) and the Volvo.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Sorry Stickguy but Gbrozen is also correct about S-P-Y-D-E-R vs. S-P-I-D-E-R.
Alfa, Ferrari and Fiat use the same spelling as the eight-legged Arachnid. Spyder with a Y is used by Maserati and Lamborghini (and Porsche on their current "RS Spyder" LMP-2 race car.)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Early '60s?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Genuine Minilites are still made for new and old Minis as well as a lot of other cars.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I'm sure they were 10" for weight purposes.
I recall the original 14" BBS wheels on the Miata were under 10 lbs. Incredible, really.
Can't imagine what a set of DUBS weighs nowadays.
Yep.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93