Shite Road Test Scans - Austin Ambassador HLS - Rover 2000 SD1 & Saab 900 GLS 1982

[garethj]

Pretty sure he’s still at Connaught

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I reckon this is him:

 

http://www.connaughtengineering.com/index.html

[garethj]

Can’t see much on that page, but the little red racer on this page: http://www.connaughtengineering.com/FJHRA.html I think belongs to his daughter. I remember seeing it in the Tatra GB workshop, he pulled one of the exhaust tips off to put on my 613. It’s got a 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine

 

The Connaught V10 petrol engine was done by subcontract designers in India if I remember right.

 

This may now be drifting off topic....

[dollywobbler]

Tim is a top bloke alright. I used to live in the next village to him. Once saw him driving around Daventry in his Wankel-powered NSU Spider and another time, raced him across the back lanes in my 2CV wondering why I couldn't lose him in his Trabant Tramp. It was a late one with a Polo engine...

 

I was very much displeased when his antics stopped featuring in Practical Classics.

[trigger]

Seeing skattrd's estate thread has just reminded me of another road test scan I thought I'd share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tayne]

I haven't read it but I reckon the Saab 95 should win just for those tail fins.

[rml2345]

Head says Renault 12 but heart says GS. So I'd have bought a Marina estate...

[Split_Pin]

Nice one Trigger, great read.

 

Don't think they've looked at the layout of the Renault engine properly though, its ahead of the gearbox, opposite way round to the 16.

[skattrd]

Thanks for posting these Trigger, I'd forgotten about the Renault 12

[trigger]

As there's some early R5 interest today I thought I'd share this test from CAR magazine 1973.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ProgRocker]

I think I would have the Civic out of those 4, R5 2nd favourite.

[Spiny Norman]

I've had a Mk1 R5 and they're pretty ace wee cars but I'd love a shot in an Ami, so that would be my choice out of that lot, with the R5 & Honda joint second.

[trigger]

It's been a while but here another riveting instalment for you all to enjoy whilst sat on the toilet, does it get much more shite than this?..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trigger]

This new forum format seems to work better with my scans, if you click on the picture it opens to a nice readable size. I'll have to update the other one's I've posted.

[Partridge]

Reminds me-your Micra thing-must send it!

[trigger]

I have shit loads of these as you know, if there's any requests let me know and I'll see what i can do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Thanks Trigger, this took me back to a 'VIP Protection' driving course I did in 1988. It was at Crewe and I was looking forward to abusing Turbo R s on an airfield, but in those days they had a Y reg 528i and an A reg 3500SE to play in, the disappointment didn't last long . Hours of fun was had and those roll angles were far greater after 4/5 years and 70,000 miles, the instructors reckoned that the 528 was about as quick as a Turbo R but that the brakes were more akin to the SD1, ie fade to nothing in about 5 minutes.

 

I seem to remember a later Giant Test with a Vitesse,535 and CX Gti Turbo if you've got that or the Granada ,Tagora,604(?) one from 82ish that'd be great.

[trigger]

Cheers I have already uploaded the Tagora test on the previous page but here's the other one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Wow! That's what I call a request service. I'll have to have a proper look through the thread when I'm not stealing Heathrow's pathetic wifi waiting in T 5 car park.

I love this test for the rain in the photographs more than anything, can't imagine any magazine doing a group test in those conditions now.

[jbz2079]

I did see Clarkson doing a test of a new BMW in the rain a few weeks ago.

120mph in the pissing rain WCPGW?

[scruff]

VERDICT: V8 Rovers are the bollox.

 

Where did it all go wrong, etc

 

Great stuff Trig, makes me want to dig some old copies of Car out.

[Sudsprint]

Trigger

 

I'm sure in 1973 Autocar or Motor did a huge 2L saloons car test lining up everything (100LS/VX490/504/DS/144/Wolseley etc etc) all lined up across the front of a country house -  and all in glorous colour.

 

No chance you have that?

[trigger]

Sadly not by the looks of it, I will leave you with this though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just read through the whole thread, great stuff!

That Tagora Giant Test isn't the one I remember,so was good to read a 'new' one. The one I think I remember( or imagined ) was an SX vs Ghia X and something else using the PRV V6, I remember that much because the Tagora was loads faster than the Volvo/ 604/30tx or whatever, the Granny was registered CAR 1 , I think.

When I googled it the first thing that came up was some bloke called Triggers Flickr site,where amongst 100's of other ways of killing the rest of my day was a Ghia x vs 604 vs 260 test that at first I thought was it,but wrong colour Granny and not CAR1.

Back to Daves retro road tests or whatever on Flickr!

[trigger]

When I googled it the first thing that came up was some bloke called Triggers Flickr site,

 

I wonder who that could be?.

[r.welfare]

You're thinking of a What Car test NorfolkNWeigh, but I can't remember the issue. Pretty sure it was Granada vs Tagora vs 760.

 

Good work on the Vitesse vs 528i test Trig, great nostalgia for me as I remember that issue of CAR (August 1983) was the first I ever bought at the tender age of six.

[Bfg]

Does anyone have a copy of CAR magazine from May 1973 available to scan a couple of pages and forward them to me.. please    ..I really don't want yet another magazine kicking around the house, but I'd be interested to read the article on the Ami Super. "Fastest car you can buy for under £1000" ..then

[trigger]

Sorry Bfg, i'm a bit late to the party here but i sold ll my magazine snow so i can't help anymore.

 

I was hoping to post some Rancho content but i don't have any so you better have this Vauxhall brochure from 1983 instead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shep Shepherd]

That Cavalier SRi looks absolutely ace

[sierraman]

Really like those pre facelift cavalier Sri.