The 458 is crazy good, absolutely fantastic to hoon, but lovely and comfortable when cruising (which keeps the wife happy, again!), so it really does do it all. I'm also quite pleased the 488 us uglier and turbo'd, as I have no temptation to upgrade. I've had this car three years now and hope to keep it at least another three (when the service plan runs out!). It's probably not a long term "keep forever" car though ... not sure any modern car is with all the technology, will they really be able to service and repair a 458 in 40 years? Not a problem with the Escort!Originally Posted by snowman
(I just wish it said McLaren on the badge, as the Ferrari image isn't one I especially enjoy ... the current McLarens just don't do it for me though, in terms of design, driving experience, or sound.)
All very true - I've got a '69 Marcos and it's pretty much nuts and bolts (although it's currently resting again)
I drove a McLaren MP4/12C the day I drove the 458 and it wasn't a patch on the Ferrari in any respect. It just felt like a 'fast car', whereas the Ferrari felt remarkable, the response to every input seemed instantaneous!
M
Wow, what a collection. That is simply perfect. You have every single base covered. Congratulations! Beautiful Integrale in a rare colour.
I do like a Scalextric car. You have some very nice ones, they look so realistic.
There are a few in the uk but they were only ever imported so all came LHD. A couple have been switched to RHD but are worth less money if they aren't original.
My favourite TVR will always be the cerbera:-)
Great selection of cars, all great but that Integrale.......Out of interest do you still have the Mini?
Last edited by moe100; 19th January 2017 at 21:29.
Yes still have the Mini.
wow the Mexico mk2 takes me back...I had a signal yellow one with black vinyl roof....became a 2 litre, of course.prior to that I owned a MK1 RS2000 that is now owned by one of the guys on my shift...full rebuild to concours in pro.
later had an RS2000 mk2 custom with all the trick bits, 2.1 litre, twin 45 dcoe, mallory dual ignition and sachs suspension
one of the best cars I ever owned.
And the Integrale looks fantastic- is there a better looking tin top than one of those in "tarmac"trim?
choice.
Some great cars there,I've always wanted a Lamborghini,maybe one day,love the lancia and 458
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Great photography too!
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Fine taste in cars sir. Out of all of them, what is/was your favourite and why?
Tough question, I think the Mexico just shades it, for the reasons outlined above. The 458 and Challenge Stradale are close in joint second
Wow! Nice collection of cars!
OP - great selection there. Always wanted to try an Integrale but they're getting out of reach now, much like the UR Quattros.
What was the Griffith like to own and drive? I've hankered after one of these too, and prices haven't gone beyond sensible just yet...!
It was great, I had mine a couple of years and no problems with it at all. The Rover V8 is quite lazy (not in a bad way!) in character, more low down torque than top end power like the speed six, but a lot of fun if you drive it to suit that character. Like any TVR they're not the most high quality thing in terms of finish, but the interior was still quite a nice place to be, if loud!
Thanks!
I had an experience of the Rover V8 when I owned an MG BGT V8 over a decade ago. It's one of my favourite engines :)
A bit more power in the TVR though!
Couple more pics of the Griff - the interior one is before I replaced the dash panels with "turned" aluminium type ones, which made a nice difference I think, can't find any pictures of that though.
None of them are exactly shabby, but the Escort and Integrale are the pick of the bunch for me.
458 all day long!(and night)
How do you find the RS4?
I looked at these a few years ago, but opted for a VW R36 instead as it seemed slightly bigger and didnt have quite so many expensive parts to go wrong being N/A.
As above really - it's not a huge estate, but we didn't want that (I looked at the RS6 - great engine, but huge car, too big for many parking spaces!). What do you mean by N/A? The RS4 is naturally aspirated, if it's that.
Some some lovely cars there and the photos are excellent.
As an aside, I'm in awe as to your photos of the iridescent/dichromatic paint on your TVR. I had the same on a Cerbera but I couldn't photograph it anywhere near as you've done here:
R
PS: n/a - not available
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Seems we've had a few the same, after these 3 that's where it ends unfortunately!
N/A = Normally Aspirated.
some absolute beauty's but i have to admit that escort 'does it for me' it's stunning, i assume it's a mexico?? also loved the rs2000
I love how a old escort gets most of the compliments! Reminds of an article in evo magizine years ago and the line 'what is it about a old escort that makes men go dewy eyed' I have a mk1 with a 2.1 all steel n/a cosworth engine running on throttle bodies and I love it. Can't beat the noise of a highly tuned 4 pot with open trumpets at 8.5k!
Pic(k)s please...
You're living the dream automotively.
The Mark II Escort draws my eye too - I spent a lot of time booting one around the rally schools in Ireland. Never forget the instructor shouting at me to go faster even though I had my right foot buried in the bulkhead while I was sweating profusely on opposite lock.
This s is a picture of when I first got the car. Pretty basic spec then standard 4 speed gearbox, standard axle open diff, Ron Harris built mild cross flow on twin 40's webbers dyno' at 120bhp
Cross flow engine
Then I added the 7x13 wheels to give it what was different look then.. ( dam that company that makes replicas of these wheels now!)
Then the build started. Had Ron Harris build a 2.1 n/a cosworth engine running on twin 48 webbers dyno' at 220bhp
This is the car now full spec is Wayne Mitchell built 2.1 n/a cosworth with 202 block bored to 93mm, deck surfaced, alloy sump with extra baffles, steel crank, steel rods with arp bolts, 93mm forged Pistons, arp head studs, steel 9 bolt flywheel, arp race clutch with sprint cover, cometic wrc multi shim head gasket, cylinder head ported to 27mm inlet 25mm exhaust, bronze valve guides cut flush to maximise flow, standard valve sizes but wasted stem inlet valves sodium filled exhaust valves, isky valve springs, solid lifter conversion, bd profile cams with strengthened vernier pulleys, port matched inlet manifold with tapered jenvey throttle bodies and full fuel injection, Ecu controlled ignition and fuelling, Tony law 4-2-1 manifold going into a 2.5 inch twin box system. Tran x straight cut gearbox with 2.48 first gear, quick shift gear linkage, single piece prop, quaife atb lsd diff, 4.1 crown wheel and pinion, quaife en30 steel half shafts, wilwood 4 pot front brakes, bias pedel box with hydraulic clutch, electric line lock, quick steering rack 2.4 turns, alloy rad with electric fan, stack pro logic oil temp,pressure,water temp and rev gauges. Car makes a true 240bhp and 170 lb with a throttle response that is brutal. Revs to 8.5k and over 5k it is truly dangerous if your not used to it and rear wheel drive cars from a before traction control era. But from the outside it just looks like a tidy escort with 7x13 rs four spokes :-)
Yes ,I bet it's not that easy to keep on the road
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Loving the escorts and the integrales. And the mini.
Think I've got a thing for old rally cars
Like you I was looking for a car for taking the family and dogs out and wanted something that was still fun when I am on my own. I also wanted AWD after having a very nasty situation in my previous Mercedes. It was to be my main car as I started using my Integrale for general duties and the mileage was starting to clock up.
When I looked at both, I wasn't sure if the RS4 was big enough and I was sure it was bi-turbo? Ironic if I got this wrong as the main reason I picked the R36 was that it was a simple big lump of an engine with no turbo.
Lovely cars OP and nice to hear some honest owners feedback on all of them.
Ditchvisitor is the photo of your Integrale taken in Tunbridge Wells, I think I may have test driven that car years ago.
4.2 litre V8, revs to over 8k and makes a lovely noise. Not brilliant for fuel economy! The replacement will be small capacity twin turbo as is the way of the world, so this is the last of the line in that respect, a bit like the 458.
I wanted to add - the RS4 gets some criticism for not having much torque low down - for me this is actually a good thing. In comfort mode, gearbox in auto, the car will cruise about very smoothly, quietly and comfortably, perfect for town, and great for my wife also who isn't a driving geek. But put it in sport mode and use the superb dual clutch gearbox to access all the revs, and the car has a different character completely
Is that a 550 or a 575 featuring in there? If a manual car that's no longer with you it might be another case of sellers remorse given recent price hikes. I'm searching out a 599 HGTE at present and appear to have missed the boat.
Lovely collection.
G
575, not manual. It's worth a fair bit more now than when I sold it, but no remorse on this one - far too much of a relaxed GT car for my taste. When I'm 60 it will be perfect!
Amazing collection pal, hat off to you sir
I had a Graphite Grey Rallye for a while, was awfully slow and parts were mega expensive, the Integrale was way better, really wish I hadn't sold it now!
I don't know how you keep the rust at bay.
Ours has 135k miles on the clock, is used every week day for commuting, is onto it's third rear sub frame, and has had lots of body panels replaced (although the roof is original).
Ours doesn't get used nearly as much as that, and never on wet salty roads. It will still rust (it's had at least one set of sills before we had it), but it seems quite solid at the moment thankfully.
My apologies, I completely mis-read it. Ooops.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Amazing machinery there. 360 CS probably my fave, the sound they make is just right!
Starting to sound like Trigger's broom!I don't know how you keep the rust at bay.
Ours has 135k miles on the clock, is used every week day for commuting, is onto it's third rear sub frame, and has had lots of body panels replaced (although the roof is original).
I've been enjoying my time in the garage with my 458 over the past few weeks, doing the winter cleanup and applying a couple more layers of sealant. Really pleased with the results - I had paint protection film installed a couple of years ago (somewhat reluctantly as I really enjoy looking after my cars and their paint, but unfortunately a long term back injury is beginning to limit the time I can spend bent over with a polisher), and it's still basically perfect as far as I can tell, almost two years on. There are a couple of small stone chips, but nothing bad enough to warrant replacing the film in those areas yet. The best thing for me about it is the "self healing" aspect - I'm careful with my washing methods, but not over the top paranoid, so I don't doubt that I'd be creating a small amount of swirling on paint. On PPF it's just gone after a few hours in the sun, and it's back to the perfect paint finish "locked in" under the film.
(I am using the car during the winter, as I can't bear the thought of it being locked away for months, but only on dry days when road salt is a non-issue.)
The 458 is just perfect With the Tan leather and darker red finish.Yummy.
That is simply gorgeous
What a car.. lovely interior color.good choice
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The finish on the paint looks amazing, never knew PPF could look so good (or perhaps I’ve never looked at the real premium stuff).
If you ever want a passenger, just shout!
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That looks so nice - a lovely motor
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