Collection Day - Warning! Beige & Brown Talbot contained within

[hairnet]

That's a Ghibli, Quattroportes are bigger.

And diesel hence ownd

[NorfolkNWeigh]

At the risk of going against the flow, back in the day, these always seemed a bit cheaply made and inferior to a Cavalier 2 (which is what I bought).

The gear change seemed to resonate through the floor, sort of clonky in a way that the Cav never did & I remember the electric windows looking like they'd been added in the show room with external motor packs where the keep fit handles had been originally.

However that was thirty years ago & I can't remember the last time I saw either a Solara or a Cav 2 - so well done Sir!

From memory the Alpine and Solara, certainly in the twilight years of their production , offered Cavalier/Sierra space and equipment for Escort/Astra money . Company user choosers would have had a choice of a 1.3 L Escort with a 4 speed box and keep fit windows or a luxury chariot like this one with 5 gears and Maserati baiting performance.

[doubleyeller]

From memory the Alpine and Solara, certainly in the twilight years of their production , offered Cavalier/Sierra space and equipment for Escort/Astra money . Company user choosers would have had a choice of a 1.3 L Escort with a 4 speed box and keep fit windows or a luxury chariot like this one with 5 gears and Maserati baiting performance.

 

Talbot, in my view, were always in the right place at the wrong time. The Alpine was truly innovative for it's time - a real alternative to the Cortina. Would the ultra-conservative fleet buyers of the time have gone for something as daring as a hatchback? Well they didn't even like the Sierra when that launched, so probably not! And the Solara offered nothing likely to tempt buyers into a relatively unknown brand.The Tagora speaks for itself, the Horizon and Samba are both merely foot-notes in history. But the Peugeot 309 is a Talbot design - a shame the marquee was exterminated before it's best effort was launched!

[dollywobbler]

There were quality issues, but that was true of most manufacturers at the time. My views of these cars were utterly transformed by that shambolic Alpine LS that SambaS brought to a Welsh Shitefest. It looked absolutely terrible, but was seriously nice to drive! It had that marvellous blend of ride and handling that the French are so good at. I'm sure it would have ended in terminal understeer if I was really pushing on but on public roads, I prefer merely to drive briskly - and it was perfect for that.

 

I am so envious Mr K. That car seems an absolute delight.

[Felly Magic]

So glad this has gone to another shiter, it is the utterly perfect forum car

[Skizzer]

Solara with no tappet rattle?

Maserati diesel?

 

My brain has melted.

 

 

I too am very glad this has gone to a good home elsewhere in the family. I also hadn't realised what a lovely shade of metallic brown the nether half of this is.