Fast and forgotten

[Snipes]

 

[Snipes]

Rovers and Hondas from the early '90s with the D16A7 or D16A9.

Non-VTEC 1.6 twincam good for 130bhp standard, in very light, good handling cars (especially the Civic).

Available in GTi spec R8s, and Civics and Concertos in 1.6i-16 spec.

The Concerto is the dark horse of the range as it's the leather seated, air conditioned fully specced model - more spec than a fully sorted R8, but being a Honda, probably with stiffer suspension!

I know it's all a bit "retro rides" but I wonder if an MG 190 V6 could be swapped into a Concerto? I thinking the basic architecture isn't so different from a Domino/HH-R?

I think I'd quite like a sooped-up Concerto.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Safrane Biturbo, not sure I have ever saw one right enough.

I love these , in 1994 one of these came past me on the A10, going so much faster than my 100mph that it literally left my Rover 827 rocking in its wake. It was black with black Windows and about 4 whippy aerials on the roof and back wings. It remains the only one I've ever seen..

 

Whilst looking for a picture ,I came across this;

 

And yes those are Bugatti EB110 rims, it was developed , like the Safranne, by Hartge and was only fwd. A shame it never went into production.

[Snipes]

These must have been a bit handy in their day?

[lesapandre]

Starion_Conquest.jpg

 

Earlier models had 177 hp. Widebodied models only 153 hp.

 

But a handsome beast nonetheless.

Quick and light - very nice I had a couple when they were banger priced. Mile munchers - I took mine to France and back. I spun one once on a roundabout too. Cheap as chips they were 20ish years ago. One of only about 5 cars I wished I still had.

[vaughant]

Being back some great memories!!!

I was lucky enough to be around when a lot of these cars were accessible for not much money.

 

I had an Uno turbo, what a great performer, handling not great but engine and brakes spot on!!!

 

Gearboxes were a known weakness especially the "linkage under the car" models, later ones went through the car and we're a lot better (mine had this as it was a converted Uno 45).

 

Rs Turbos could be a real tool with a few mods but the Cossie was another world for me, mental fun back in 1999 for well under £4k, more like £40k now.

 

Loved the R5's but they were seriously unreliable when even slightly modded,well home modded anyway!!!

 

Slightly different but my mate had a Carlton GSi 3.0 24v and it was of course a beast.

He was driving it home from Cardiff one day and when he got to Margam windsock he noticed he was doing 140. Deciding there was far more left in the old girl, he floored it and saw 149 on the Digi dash but at that point, the road levelled and started winding by Port Talbot. Determined, he nailed it again along the long straight and again topped at 149.

As you get towards Swansea over the "new" bridge there's a long drop down, he nailed it again and topped it at 150!!! YESSSSSS!!! Then a few seconds later this was followed by a bang and a loss of power. Oooops.

 

Due to speed he managed to coax it off the M4 and coast it down to junction 43.

 

Unfortunately* whilst left overnight it must** have been towed away and burnt out on Kilvey hill never to be seen again.

 

They were a thief magnet after all.

[andy18s]

These must have been a bit handy in their day?

Not enough power to be that much fun,apart from the Turbo Technics or Minker versions

[andy18s]

41e990ab-acb8-4a23-8c53-474ebfacdab9.jpg

44989844_905563332971354_3914950505205334016_n.jpg

Last proper looking BMW in my eyes....

[garethj]

Junkman, was that Corvette the one that had a solenoid in the gear selector so that when you changed from first to second it shunted the lever across to fourth? Lack of torque obviously wasn’t an issue.

 

If you were hoofing it along then it allowed the normal change from first to second but at light throttle loads it gave a nod to fuel economy and pushed you into fourth gear.

 

That’s for the kind of people who change their own gears so may not apply to the one you had.

[lanciamatt]

Lancia thema turbos are rapid, especially S3 205bhp standard. Fiat cromas were even rarer. What about fiat strada 130 abarth. Don't see them about

[lanciamatt]

I liked the parkers guide description for mk1 fiat uno. Good if cared for, bad ones have rust,poor brakes, oil leaks and demonic electrics

[rusty998]

Lovely French 1.4 turbo that could get up the road with much force!

I had a 1987 D reg one with a bleed valve and a large stainless steel exhaust for the blurble,

The front seats were so very comfortable and rocked backwards with a pull of the lever

[stonedagain]

80's Nissan cherry turbo.

[Guest Conan]

Another one. AE92 Corolla GTi.

 

 

They would be a Hatchback where you guys are. FX16 in America.

 

These are basically the same as my car when it was new except it had Twin Cam fuel injected 4A-GE engine producing 130 horsepower. It also has 4 wheel disc brakes, strut tower bar, 14 inches alloy and JDM Levin front suspension geometry, bucket seat with cool checkered pattern, long 7 gauges instrument cluster, and leather wrapped steering wheel. Oh and GT TWINCAM Badge.

 

Only the cool kids had them back in the day but now it's just an old Corolla in people's eyes.

 

Allegedly can go 200km/h. But I am skeptical. Make it no less fun though.

[andy18s]

 

Had 1 of those and a 105tc back in the day

Recaro seats meant no one could get in the back though...

Proper little pocket rockets when all the sheep were in Escorts or Fiestas...

Even the small 1500 or 1300 could get a shift on when wound up

[Snipes]

Not enough power to be that much fun,apart from the Turbo Technics or Minker versions

That is a Turbo Technics version (well it has a sticker but y'know).

[Junkman]

Junkman, was that Corvette the one that had a solenoid in the gear selector so that when you changed from first to second it shunted the lever across to fourth? Lack of torque obviously wasn’t an issue.

 

If you were hoofing it along then it allowed the normal change from first to second but at light throttle loads it gave a nod to fuel economy and pushed you into fourth gear.

 

That’s for the kind of people who change their own gears so may not apply to the one you had.

 

It only was available with the 6 speed manual and yes, it had CAGS, but that only operated at light throttle. To illustrate a bit of the spirit, it had this fancy tinted glass that blocked UV and heat. There was a small circle left untinted behind the rear view mirror to enable you to mount your radar detector there.

Speaking of torque, you could take off in fourth, which topped at about 135 mph. 0 - 135 in one gear! Yet, only half of the inlet runners were operative below 3,500 rpm, making it a 30 mpg highway cruiser if you wanted. Only above this, i.e. at about half throttle, the full house kicked in and gave you a kick in the arse the likes of which you only experience in other cars if someone rear ends you at 30 mph. However, this feature could be switched off altogether with a switch on the dashboard, for which you needed an additional key, thus enabling you to lock out half of the power if you e. g. wanted the car being valet parked.

The real nice thing about it was that it was a totally docile cruiser until you unleashed Thor's Hammer.

[Schaefft]

Can confirm, even at 26 years of age, the 3.0 24V still feels like a quick car. And its amazingly comfortable as well, I just love driving it, as rare as that happens atm. Parts availability is poor though.

 

[mrbenn]

^^^ Swoon.....

[sheffcortinacentre]

One of my neighbours has a twin turbo xr4x4 it doesn't hang about.

[alcyonecorporation]

I took out a pony with a Sierra XR4x4. 

It ran across the road and I wrote the car off. 
The impact hurt. 

[Timewaster]

It was a XR 4x4 that put Frank Williams in a wheelchair.

 

You are in good company.

[sofarsogood]

[sofarsogood]

[Bradders59]

The Senator above is the same colour as mine was. Just been hit by a wave of nostalgia.

I had a Chevette HS when I was 19 (in 1979) not so much forgotten, but a lot of people wouldnt have a clue what it was, even when it was new.

Awesome little car though. Especially with twin 48 dellortos, tubular fanimold and electronic ignition, which took the power up to around 180bhp.

[Hertz]

Forgotten in the UK mainly because only 68 idiots bought them new.

 

[Bren]

Can confirm, even at 26 years of age, the 3.0 24V still feels like a quick car. And its amazingly comfortable as well, I just love driving it, as rare as that happens atm. Parts availability is poor though.

 

I believe certain engine parts are nigh on imposdible to get hold of.

 

As for turbo 4x4 sierras my cousin had one that shat its gearbox everywhere.

[Mrcento]

Alfa 155 q4

 

 

Basically a Lancia Delta Integrale saloon.

[sierraman]

Morris Ital can outrun Mercedes Benz.

I could outrun a Mercedes 200D on foot.

[DVee8]

Fiat Coupes 4 and 5 cylinders 16 or 20 valves n/a or turbo.

 

Nissan Almera GTI

 

For Cort. BMW 320si