Popular Post smoggy Posted May 31, 2024 Popular Post Posted May 31, 2024 The chap I bought the Alfa off (the same one who owns the Rover 800) brought his new purchase to work... It's been nut and bolt restored and is absolutely wonderful. 4.4l aluminium block V8 and factory aircon. Peter C, dollywobbler, garethj and 47 others 50
smoggy Posted May 31, 2024 Author Posted May 31, 2024 Think it's been here since at least 2016. That's when the last owner started the resto which took a couple of years. Its had a colour change from yellow I think. There's another one kicking around in the UK and both were imported from the same area in Oz. Apparently there's an old photo with both cars in it from the 70s kicking around. Took it for a drive and it's just beautiful to waft in and quite eager to kick down one of the three speed gears when suitably provoked. Matty and mk2_craig 2
sierraman Posted May 31, 2024 Posted May 31, 2024 There was one Force 7 that was brought over by BL. Gone back home I believe now though.
danthecapriman Posted May 31, 2024 Posted May 31, 2024 That is stunning! Bloody Ozzy’s they got the better country, the better weather and better cars!😄 warren t claim and Matty 2
Datsuncog Posted May 31, 2024 Posted May 31, 2024 Wonderful to see - looks bloody lush. Still some out there, if anyone fancies trying to one-up Señor Bollox and his Simca... mk2_craig, Shep Shepherd, garethj and 4 others 5 2
Matty Posted May 31, 2024 Posted May 31, 2024 On 31/05/2024 at 18:34, smoggy said: The chap I bought the Alfa off (the same one who owns the Rover 800) brought his new purchase to work... It's been nut and bolt restored and is absolutely wonderful. 4.4l aluminium block V8 and factory aircon. Expand As a serial BL licker (copyrite @grogee) when you think how many fingers in pies they had, how did they manage to fuck it up so badly? smoggy and grogee 2
smoggy Posted May 31, 2024 Author Posted May 31, 2024 On 31/05/2024 at 21:51, Matty said: As a serial BL licker (copyrite @grogee) when you think how many fingers in pies they had, how did they manage to fuck it up so badly? Expand In typical BL fashion they designed and almost manufactured the best car in that part of the world. Rave reviews, laden with genuinely cutting edge tech, 'it's god bladdy climate control Sheila' but it was too long and wide for the factory production line, then there was a fuel crisis, hyper inflation, strikes and quality issues and it was withdrawn from sale after 2 years. Sounds a bit familiar doesn't it? Also although it looks quite conservative these days it was pretty out there for an Aussie motor in the early 70s design-wise. Craig is a Kiwi and remembers them being deeply uncool when he was young. I absolutely love it though I must admit. He's spent the Alfa money (and another good chunk) pretty well. May be flogging one of his Rover 800s and I'll let you chaps know if he is. Got some cool stuff. Matty and Richard_FM 2
Richard_FM Posted May 31, 2024 Posted May 31, 2024 On 31/05/2024 at 22:00, smoggy said: In typical BL fashion they designed and almost manufactured the best car in that part of the world. Rave reviews, laden with genuinely cutting edge tech, 'it's god bladdy climate control Sheila' but it was too long and wide for the factory production line, then there was a fuel crisis, hyper inflation, strikes and quality issues and it was withdrawn from sale after 2 years. Sounds a bit familiar doesn't it? Also although it looks quite conservative these days it was pretty out there for an Aussie motor in the early 70s design-wise. Craig is a Kiwi and remembers them being deeply uncool when he was young. I absolutely love it though I must admit. He's spent the Alfa money (and another good chunk) pretty well. May be flogging one of his Rover 800s and I'll let you chaps know if he is. Got some cool stuff. Expand From what I've heard Leyland Australia late launching the P76, eventually emerging just as smaller cars were becoming more popular in Australia & having to compete with the established American based cars from Ford, Chrysler & Holden.
vulgalour Posted June 1, 2024 Posted June 1, 2024 On 31/05/2024 at 18:34, smoggy said: Expand Initially I thought that was the most convoluted gearchange pattern, then noticed it's an automatic. Semi-C, catsinthewelder, barefoot and 1 other 1 3
sierraman Posted June 1, 2024 Posted June 1, 2024 On 31/05/2024 at 21:51, Matty said: As a serial BL licker (copyrite @grogee) when you think how many fingers in pies they had, how did they manage to fuck it up so badly? Expand I think that was the problem. Trying to do everything with mediocrity instead of rationalising things and focusing on one profitable line, wasting money on pointless projects, bankrolling people like Issigonis way after he’d fulfilled any use, selling products that directly competed with each other, The list goes on… Richard_FM and Matty 1 1
Matty Posted June 1, 2024 Posted June 1, 2024 On 01/06/2024 at 15:01, sierraman said: I think that was the problem. Trying to do everything with mediocrity instead of rationalising things and focusing on one profitable line, wasting money on pointless projects, bankrolling people like Issigonis way after he’d fulfilled any use, selling products that directly competed with each other, The list goes on… Expand I know pal, I've read the books. Enough to make you cry really. All the good engineering and manufacturing we did, fucked by complacency.
Rocket88 Posted June 1, 2024 Posted June 1, 2024 On 01/06/2024 at 15:01, sierraman said: bankrolling people like Issigonis Expand He should have been shown the door after the Morris Minor…. The debacle that was the Mini pretty much signalled the end for BL sierraman and Richard_FM 1 1
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