Autoshite Grand Tourers

[BavarianRetro]

All bar the last of those are actually late 80s - post 1988 models, but I only got this far in the thread because I couldn't believe nobody had suggested  the E24.

 

This 1989 Macau Blue Motorsport Editon has done several four figure round trips (Goodwood twice, far South of ..............Ireland) in supreme comfort and reliability.

 

[brownnova]

For me it has to be...

 

 

 

Even better* in AS colour scheme and US reflector/impact bumper spec....

 

 

Although one of these would do nicely too...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JeeExEll]

 

[garethj]

..in fact five years earlier still - I very nearly bought the defunct kit car company. ! 

( jprwildcat )

 

Wish you had done, we could have had endless, depressing chats about the future of the kit car industry.

 

To put how sensational this must have seemed when it was launched into perspective.

You could still buy a brand new Morris Minor or Oxford from BL, when this high speed V8, all independent suspended , luxury grand tourer was announced.

When you say independent suspension on a Range Rover, do you mean the back was independent from the front?  Because even the Morris Oxford had that.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Yeah, maybe I'm confusing soft riding coils with IRS .

Although my Dad once had an A60 whose suspension became independent. One of the back springs snapped, luckily he had a spare in the boot and swapped it at the side of the road- on Christmas Day with the family ( 6 of us including Grandma , wonder why it broke?) passing tools etc.

[tonedepear]

[Bfg]

All bar the last of those are actually late 80s - post 1988 models, but I only got this far in the thread because I couldn't believe nobody had suggested  the E24.

 

This 1989 Macau Blue Motorsport Editon has done several four figure round trips (Goodwood twice, far South of ..............Ireland) in supreme comfort and reliability.

 

7653f3cdcad170ee0b92b2ed64fa9b54_zps142d6730.JPG

 

If the criteria is only that it's done four figure round trips then I'll put forward my Falcon S, which I went down to Munich in for their Oktoberfest ..and while in the locality popped across the Alpine border for a spaghetti, cappuccino coffee & an Italian ice cream..   The following (or was it preceding) year I drove down to Portugal for the 2cv world meeting.  Yes this car was built on 602cc shitreon A-series chassis.     

 

 

I'd lay a bet that it was more economical than any other car suggested in this topic (even the bond bug !)  and with shitreon suspension was probably as comfortable as any. !   Big engines are not essential for a GT.  Even the humble Moggy Minor has driven the length of the African continent, and 2cv driver's regularly go crazy places !

 

In fact any of the A-series cars are probably the best all round GT's eva !  They might   lack a little of the style of an Aston., but then they don't need a computer nor well equipped garage to fix em !

[Bfg]

.

or again ..

 

which I drove down to Slovenia and back in, sleeping in the car car en-route.

 

 

NB. the photos are not of my car (which I sold five years ago) but is almost the same. Mine was very much more shiny though as I used to do wedding hire in her. 

 

..what modern could match such a lovely v8 burble, even when ticking over at 300rpm..

 

Again a sublimely comfortable GT

[Faker]

All bar the last of those are actually late 80s - post 1988 models, but I only got this far in the thread because I couldn't believe nobody had suggested  the E24.

 

This 1989 Macau Blue Motorsport Editon has done several four figure round trips (Goodwood twice, far South of ..............Ireland) in supreme comfort and reliability.

 

7653f3cdcad170ee0b92b2ed64fa9b54_zps142d6730.JPG

You are totally correct, how about a couple of photos of actual late 70's 635's!

[Uncle Jimmy]

Too many bloody sports cars here, this-

[DVee8]

As BFG brought this up then,photo whore but why not. This one is mine.

 

 

 

 

[11001010]

[Bfg]

^ Is that (upper picture) a merc ? never seen one like that, or else the photo is fooling me. 

[11001010]

^ Is that (upper picture) a merc ? never seen one like that, or else the photo is fooling me. 

It is, but I can't recall much about it...

[11001010]

[0ldCh0d]

Adding to this, My Mercedes CLK 430. 

[forddeliveryboy]

 

In fact any of the A-series cars are probably the best all round GT's eva !  They might   lack a little of the style of an Aston., but then they don't need a computer nor well equipped garage to fix em !

 

That's a very interesting point, some of my Grandest Tours have been made A-series style, in great comfort and with a fine soundtrack. Pedal one for just a few miles and you're left thinking, "what a racket!" but unlike so many other smaller engines (and some big'uns) which bore their sound further into your head the longer you're sitting behind them, a good 602 grows quieter as the miles pile on. It's a boxer thing, and must be, in part, related to the frequency of the sound.

 

If only fuel injection and turbocharging had come along twenty years previously. I think a super/turbo charged CItroen flat four and even the little flat twin would then rank in more people's all-time-greats.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Not cheap, not shit , so sue me.

The 70's rocked for GTs

[NorfolkNWeigh]

[LessThanEqual]

 

With the V6 of course.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Adding to this, My Mercedes CLK 430.

Never considered the CLK, good shout. Could imagine cruising into the south of France in this, before dissolving in a mountain of rust on the seafront....

 

 

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282291795866

 

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[Bfg]

IMG_0258.PNG

 

'Bullshit too' is quite an appropriate registration number ! 

[richardmorris]

The problem with the 2cv as a grand tourer is that you do need to actually drive it if you want to make decent progress. It can get tiring hour after hour. My w124 coupe of the other hand is truly effortless and relaxing.

[forddeliveryboy]

A good A-series is also effortless and relaxing, just slower and different from a six cylinder Mercedes. You feel less detached and generally happier in an old Citroën than an old Mercedes, even though the Mercedes engineering is also good. 

 

The more I consider the idea of a Grand Tour of Europe, the more I prefer the idea of an early 90s Jag rather than an SM. Less showy, nicer carpet, less nickable.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

As much as I hate the memory of the thing. The best grand tourer I've ever had was a Grand Espace 2.2 Dci , it hoovered up the Autoroute with the cruise control set at 90, serenely whooshing past the plebs and in France those plebs actually seemed to grudgingly admire it and made way. I should imagine they do the same for big Citroens or other upper class Frog merde. Whereas anything remotely upmarket and British or German just encourages them to either block or race it. I once nearly wiped out a Renault 9 full of Frenchmen when it's driver changed lanes about 30 feet in front of me as I was bearing down at about 140 in an XJ40, when I swerved around him , he then tried to pull in front again. I bet if that was a V6 Saffrane or 605 even on English plates he'd never have been so disrespectful .

[richardmorris]

A good A-series is also effortless and relaxing, just slower and different from a six cylinder Mercedes. You feel less detached and generally happier in an old Citroën than an old Mercedes, even though the Mercedes engineering is also good. 

 

The more I consider the idea of a Grand Tour of Europe, the more I prefer the idea of an early 90s Jag rather than an SM. Less showy, nicer carpet, less nickable.

It is not effortless driving a 2cv at 70mph for six hours I am afraid. And as such it is not a GT car.

There's nothing wrong with a 2cv to drive it a long way, and I have and do. But it's a lot more physical to drive than a large engined auto.

[Braddon81]

How about a Renault 17 Gordini to speedily eat those miles away? One could easily occupy a corner of my dream garage.

[forddeliveryboy]

It is not effortless driving a 2cv at 70mph for six hours I am afraid. And as such it is not a GT car.

There's nothing wrong with a 2cv to drive it a long way, and I have and do. But it's a lot more physical to drive than a large engined auto.

 

Where did I mention a constant 70mph and what's all this physicality required to drive a 2cv unless parking in a small space with cheapo tyres, worn steering and other nasties? Is your clutch cable made of salami, the chassis of dubious provenance, iffy brakes and a gearlever tube lubricated with oil? I is mystified, and massively enjoy driving both. The little Cits should be so light to operate, if pre-1986 and in good order. And even some of the last ones aren't that bad.

 

Neither car is a Grand Tourer. A Cit A-series is an oddity. A 124 is a humdrum saloon car/taxi made to high standards. Compared with a CX it's like an earnest, well-educated but hamfisted, angst-ridden teenage boy on his first date.

 

A Citroën SM is a GT.

[Felly Magic]

What about Harry Metcalfe's XJ12C? 5 speed manual, no vinyl lid, crude, crass and a bit fucked, but it goes like a stabbed rat and could well be actually for sale

[mercrocker]

I think Norfolk's just won the thread with that SLC.   Effortless, pretty, airy, cosmopolitan, roomy, comfortable, and still largely undesirable (not to me) shite,   Every box ticked.