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The Atomic Breadvan . . .
. . . BMW's e36/8 M Coupe. S54-powered only.
Talk about a car nobody gets. Allegedly first cobbled-together as an after-school engineering exercise (ala MBz 6.3), this thing is universally panned for its uhhh . . . off-beat looks. Originally built with the 240 HP S52 in the US (or the more spirited 321 HP S50B20 in Europe), the ultimate S54 315-325 HP version is/was the quickest BMW ever sold --- zero-to-60 MPH = 4.3 sec. Redlines at 7600, curiously 400 RPM less than the identically-powered contemporary M3.
OK, besides looking like one of Shaq's high-tops ---- and about as big --- this little missile is famous for tearing out its rear floor . . . due to its carry-over e30 rear suspension structure failing to cope with double the power it was ever designed for. After-school, huh? Prolly detention.
Any M Coupe is a relatively rare car, just over 6300 built over 5 years. But only 1139 S54s were produced, 690 for the US.
I vividly recall my first test-drive in an M Coupe . . . one that started-out with me and a Sales Guy calmly sauntering down a quiet side-street, but then rapidly degenerated into a stupid adolescent speed-fest, with me at one point rocketing past the Newport Beach Golf Course, dissuading a distinguished-looking Republican foursome from crossing Irvine Blvd --- by hurtling sideways through the cross-walk. I think I must've been in 3rd, around, mmmm 6000?, when I saw them, lifted, felt the car give a twitch (juuuuust a bit) then caught it, just as we went cannon-balling by. And things went downhill from there. Sales Guy said he had no idea the car could do stuff like that. (Me, neither.) After hammer-turning back into the Dealership, I quietly dropped-off the car, then took off before the cops got there. Then changed my pants. And my address.
And that was the insipid little 240-horser.
An S54 car? OK, lemme see. Take out one sniveling 200 lb Sales Guy and add 80 HP? Holy $h!t. Be like trying to slice bread with a tomahawk. Not exactly the auto-crossers choice, but, at 3100 lbs, let's just call it comfortably over-powered, shall we? ('Course, you can always super-charge it. While you're on parole.) So, when bull-riding and cage-fighting get too tame for ya . . .
Typically expensive, usually conservatively-colored, surprisingly small outside, very close inside. Feels like a fighter-plane. Try to find one without the sunroof (saves headroom and weight), in green or white. Or that awful Phoenix Yellow.
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Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC 5.0
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CurtEgerer
. . . Have we discussed the M-B 450SL? . . . This version of the SL is an icon amongst many and very popular and well-known amongst the general public . . .
Jeez, Curt . . . .
First you un-load the ur-Quat . . . now you're babbling about German T-birds?
Everything ok at home?
The SL is an, um . . . interesting choice. M-B built zillions of 'em and most of 'em are too tough (or little-used) to die, so . . .
On the other hand, there is the 450 SLC 5.0. A Rally car, if you can believe it. Bigger motor, alloy panels, etc --- I thought they were Europe-only. 1400-1500 units built? Pretty obscure, and kind of a boat, but --- who knows?. Here's one . . .
http://www.californiaclassix.com/arc...yslc_c145.html
Rick Kreiskott
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The BMW E9s are beautiful and they WHOOOPED the butts off Porsches in the mid 1970s!
" CARS TO BUY NOW?" Someone said BMW (E9) 2800CS-3.0CS...
YEP!
I was not paying attention to BMWs in the 1970s-2,000s... Because I bought a new 1971 BMW 2002 and it was a total pile of SH!T... But recently I have changed my opinion not about the 02s but the E9s are beautiful and can be made very fast! (Ask Porsche at Lemans)...
They are like potato chips )and Porsches) you cant have just one... Thats why I have 3!
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And Speaking of BaT . . .
. . . coulda/woulda/shoulda . . .
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-acura-integra-5/
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LongRanger
. . . Type R.
1997 to 2001
I know, I know . . . another FWD PoS, right?
No.
Seems like Honda, after expending no small amount of energy (and credibility) putting together their great-but-so-what NSX, decided to build something that everybody could actually afford. After NSX's weak reception, Honda was determined to get their next special car right, so . . . they kinda went nuts. Some features of the US-market (DC2) Type R include . . .
1) revised and strengthened uni-body --- including the rear wheel housing, rear pillar upper garter, rear roof rail upper, rear wheel arch extension, rear lower arm bracket, and rear damper gusset, aluminum strut tower bar . . . added just over 60 lbs.
2) comprehensive weight reduction --- including reduced sound insulation, 10% thinner windshield, lighter wheels, A/C and rear wiper delete ('97 only) . . . took off just under 100 lbs.
3) hand-built motors --- custom porting and polishing
4) Recaro seats and special upholstery
5) Helical limited-slip differential
Early cars ('97) were yellow only, while later ones were white or black.
Like a lot of 'affordable' Japanese cars, these things were bought, used, then disposed of almost as fast as Honda could lose money building them. Formidable cars, though --- zero-60 = 6.8 sec, 1/4 mi = 14.8 sec @93 MPH, 195 HP @8600 RPM all from a 1.8L 4-cylinder. Vehicle has double A-arm suspension, front and back --- pretty snappy spec, even today. Because of the need to meet homologation requirements for FIA certification for N-series and World Cup racing, most of the parts and assembly were done in small volumes by various outside specialty shops . . . so these cars are pretty much hand-built. Not the kind of car I'd wanna have to restore. Bon-zai . . .
................