Just collected my latest purchase ...

[Gary71]

Renault 5 Gordini turbo

Or to expand on that Turbo 2?

[Lightweight_911]

.

The earlier/purer Turbo 1 has always appealed but not the Turbo 2 ...

.

[Gary71]

There you go then

[Lightweight_911]

.

The Turbo 1 has one of my favourite interiors:

[Ollie]

[Lightweight_911]

Lotus Elite with Climax engine.

– one of these had been on my 'list' for longer than any other car – probably ~30+ years – but had always eluded me.

At any given time there only seem to be 1 or 2 cars on the market in the UK &, although there are usually a few more cars for sale in Europe (mainly Germany), prices are typically higher than here.

Unfortunately (for me) prices have always kept them out of reach ...

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[jb]

Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3S Zagato
https://www.classic-chrome.net/used/car ... zagato-126

[Lightweight_911]

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I'm not a big fan of the Zagato Fulvias Jason - much prefer my 1.3 HF ...

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[KS]

Simca Abarth... You know you'd love it.

[Ollie]

OSCA?

[Lightweight_911]

Simca Abarth... You know you'd love it.

I'd sell everything for that ...

[Lightweight_911]

.

My main inspiration for starting this thread was to try to generate some additional 'traffic' to the forum (at what is always a quiet time of the year) with hopefully the knock-on effect that some will start posting on their own cars/projects/restorations.

So, to solve the mystery ...

After coming close on numerous occasions & test driving several over the years (from over-restored 'concours queens' to stripped-out ex racers) I've finally bought an Elite !!

Why an Elite ?

Firstly the shape - in addition to looking great from any angle it had a drag coefficient that most cars still can't match (& very few road cars have ever beaten).

It was 'light years' ahead of virtually any other road car that was around in the late '50s/early '60s with so many advanced features for the time - fibreglass monocoque construction, all-aluminium SOHC engine, F2 independent front & rear suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, etc.

There are parallels to the 2.7RS too - built in limited numbers (approx 1040), owned/driven by many of the top racing drivers of the time, race pedigree (won its class at Le mans 6 times), etc.


I know it won't appeal to many on here but I'll start a separate thread on 'my' car in the Member's Others Gallery section for anyone who may be interested - I haven't taken any pictures of the car yet but here's a taster taken a couple of years ago:





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[jb]

It was the obvious answer really and just fabulous.

[911hillclimber]

I said it first, so do I get a prize?

No, we have to guess for ages yet.

Lotus Elite with Climax engine.

Good choice I think.
Saw one few years ago at the Oulton RS day and it was superb.
Paul Matty had/has a very special one, a personal car that sleeps nowadays.

Has all the right credentials
Light
Skinny tyres
Lotus engineering
Sweet gearbox
Supple ride

Best of all, looks beautiful.
Hope you start your thread soon.

[BILLY BEAN]

One of my favourite cars Andy. Looking forward to seeing more.