The Fiat has an impressive 220 bhp and 228 lbs-ft of grunt, a great base for a cheap and very quick car. The BMW is a leftfield choice for your tastes, but you get 286 bhp and 295 lbs-ft to play with as a starting point. Great sleeper?
From the list Bamford put up, my choice would be the Fiat. I don't normally read Autocar, so thanks for drawing my attention to it Bamford, I might just bag a copy.
I was once driven from Monaco to Paris in an 6-litre (XJ40) XJ12. We'd cancelled a flight from Nice just so we could have a run in the car. It was an almost surreal experience. The XJ40 was a big, solid thing in which you really didn't feel the speeds you were doing (150 felt positively civilised). Fitted with the V12, it was also whisper quiet.
The only indication that the car was savagely quick (which it was, by any standards) was the speedo shooting round the dial and a feeling akin to being sucked back into the seat by a giant, silent vacuum and held there. Most cars this quick give you a real shove when accelarating hard and make a lot of noise doing it but not the big Jag. It could generate quite astounding forces without an inkling it was even lifting a finger.
One of the truly great engines, in a truly great car (albeit not as handsome as the series 3). I've not been in one but I very much doubt the latest, blown 4.2 V8 would have anything like the same character, and that's a real shame.
Don't care how you do it Jaguar, glue two Duratec's together at the crank a la VW if you like but please, give us all another 12 before the petrol runs out.
_________________________ "Forward", he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died. And the General sat, and the lines on the map moved from side to side.
Boig, youd like my 1977 XJ12 C. It has that engine (albeit the previous Pre-HE 290BHP 5343cc one rather than the 5994cc 318BHP version you went across the continent in).
Its 30 years old but is wonderful to drive. Very smooth, quiet & surprisingly fast!
It hasnt got the May Fireball heads and is only 3 speed so fuel "economy" is interesting, but it was a car ahead of its time.
I saw one last week (Not in the UK) in perfect condition next to its owner's huge Fairline gin palace. The E-type at the marina looks fabulous. I have a photo of it & would post it here if i could.
This was my favourite spec too. Series 3 V12, 1973 (it had Antique Historic Car license plates with the year at the top) and was dark red with black leather. It was automatic and convertible.
I know the roadsters are the most sought-after, but the coupes are far better value if someone wants to get hold of one of the best looking cars ever, imo. Purists oprefer the MK1, MK1 and a half and MK 2, but the V12 is the one for me, MK3.
Celica GT-4 would probably be my choice there. It's the one that's most likely to still be working for starters. It's got realy rally pedigree too. I used to have a poster of Carlos Sainz car on my wall as a teenager. He won the WRC in a Celica GT-4 in 1990 and 92.
Downside is drab interior (which you won't really car about when driving it quickly) and I while I haven't driven a GT-4, the Beams engined FWD celica I have driven had steering that seemed a little numb.
Boig, youd like my 1977 XJ12 C. It has that engine (albeit the previous Pre-HE 290BHP 5343cc one rather than the 5994cc 318BHP version you went across the continent in).
Yes, I would. Are you keeping the vinyl roof?
_________________________ "Forward", he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died. And the General sat, and the lines on the map moved from side to side.
Boig, youd like my 1977 XJ12 C. It has that engine (albeit the previous Pre-HE 290BHP 5343cc one rather than the 5994cc 318BHP version you went across the continent in).
It's great what you can get for so little money. The Calibra is all but forgotten about, I haven't seen a turbo model for years. Likewise the Rover 220 Turbo (apparently that torque-steered for England, never drove one though). I can't imagine there being many Alfa 164s around these days either, lovely engine though and Pininfarina styling. The BMW 540i is a great car, so much for so little, though I would say that as I own an E39 540i. Big car but reasonably agile and really quite quick, plus you have luxurious surroundings. You'd be looking at an E34 model though at this price. I've also owned a ST185 Celica GT4. I have to say it was a great car. It went really well, stuck to the road like glue and was totally reliable (had it 2 years). A very well built car and probably one of the safer (as in least problematic) options in the list. I do miss it occasionally. The Fiat Coupe Turbo is a great car. Very fast, I was surprised when I drove one years ago, and what a great design. It was on my shortlist when I bought the Celica but I worried (maybe unnecessarily?) about reliability and costs...... I have to say though that £1500 is maybe slighly optimistic for a half decent, useable GT4 or Fiat Coupe Turbo....., more like £2000 upwards.
Fantastic....and so rare. I'll keep and eye out round ol' London town, if I see one it'll probably be yours so I'll be sure to wave hello.
_________________________ "Forward", he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died. And the General sat, and the lines on the map moved from side to side.
Originally posted by FatMat: It's great what you can get for so little money.
Its running it that may prove to be the stumbing block - yes you can pick up these cars and one of Palmy's Jags for a song, but as a mate of mine in the trade once said, its ok buying iy but can you afford 12 plugs, massively expensive tyres, etc?
I know that I could buy one but as to running it, no, my budget wouldn't stretch.
When they've done articles on buying older, large-engined cars on the TV they've very rairly mentioned the running costs - if you intend to use one as day to day transport then have some money saved for the inevitable bills!
I supect Bigbn may disagree with me - but I think he tends to buy, run for a bit and then get rid, in which case it may work, but if you intend to keep it for a few years then I'm not so sure it adds up.
carlton 3000 gsi 24v or even better, senator 24v are both flying machines, entertaining handlers and available for pennies....IF you can find one in good nick....presently looking at a 89 730 bmw with fsh, one owner, 197k miles in super nick....for 350 quid...cheap winter wheels.....aaarghh...dont get me started.....
