Car Spotting

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by E.B

The car bit starts at c 9:30 in but as said the B Doubles that run before are all upgrades from that last vid with more big cab Kenworths, Macks, plus Mercs, Freightliners etc. Plus fancier wraps.
Sadly the video of the trucks and cars only quarter screen in a corner of the NASCAR Fans video linked above/ Hope that makes sense.

Serious?

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by E.B

Last years one at Bathurst was a new improved version..... after all the new updated trucks convoyed into town hanging off the back they did the drivers parade and with the GM v Ford theme of the race all the drivers were in every model of corvette from 50's to the latest, Mustang of all sorts and a Cobra . Plus some other hangers on including one of the horrible little Capri soft tops posted here recently an MX5 (Miata) Crossfire and Mercs and even some hot rods. Plenty of variety..

Found a video hosted by an American NASCAR fan who was getting very excited. Ill see if I can find a link if anyone is interested.

Found it: The car bit starts at c 9:30 in but as said the B Doubles that run before are all upgrades from that last vid with more big cab Kenworths, Macks, plus Mercs, Freightliners etc. Plus fancier wraps.

https://youtu.be/_sQNZW4kCDw

EDIT:
Sadly the video of the trucks and cars only quarter screen in a corner of the NASCAR Fans video linked above
But I Found the original full screen version which is better. Doesnt have the close ups of the trucks pre convoy in the assembly area, shown at start on the above link.

Anyway this is a better full screen version of the convoy albeit without the NASCAR fans comments.. In this the cars start at about 6:30 in.
Hope that makes sense.

https://youtu.be/sEkEfESTHXk

I'm a secret Aussie and watch all of those videos periodically. I was fortunate to see the V8s at COTA in 2013 but sadly they didn't ship the transporters. I heard during the ALMS days, Pratt & Miller used to ship their haulers to France for the 24, but I've never been able to find a photo or video. Like my neighbors Peugeot, I love seeing things out of place. P&M's rigs are very conservative but cool, kind of like Penske. And they use Kenworths too.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Yes its a real pleasure to drive. Unreliable they are and certainly when the maintenance schedule has been neglected. Nothing really bad but electric gremlins are there and cooling and ac systems can be an issue. If you find a restored example it will be fine.

Originally Posted by Gerard C

https://www.motorcars-service.com/jaguar-xjs-service/
Female owner: https://www.toplinediagnostics.com
https://britishcarrepair.com/jaguar-...celock=desktop
Modern models oriented but in Atlanta: https://www.freedperformance.com/repair/jaguar/

Man, they are so cool but there is one problem... There is a vehicle sold here for a third of the price, that serves the exact same function, is extremely reliable, but is also extremely uncool: A Buick.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

I'm a secret Aussie and watch all of those videos periodically. I was fortunate to see the V8s at COTA in 2013 but sadly they didn't ship the transporters. I heard during the ALMS days, Pratt & Miller used to ship their haulers to France for the 24, but I've never been able to find a photo or video. Like my neighbors Peugeot, I love seeing things out of place. P&M's rigs are very conservative but cool, kind of like Penske. And they use Kenworths too.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

There is a vehicle sold here for a third of the price, that serves the exact same function, is extremely reliable, but is also extremely uncool: A Buick.

I see! And you wont have the hassle to cope with so called specialists and hard to find parts. Owning and maintening a classic american in France is quite a challenge. Two exceptions, Mustangs and Studebakers but its all about the local club.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

I see! And you wont have the hassle to cope with so called specialists and hard to find parts. Owning and maintening a classic american in France is quite a challenge. Two exceptions, Mustangs and Studebakers but its all about the local club.

Gérard, this seems to apply to so many cars nowadays. About this time last year, my son in Japan called me about his Mini, which he bought brand new about 20 years ago when he was also in Japan. Certain of the cars electrics were failing, and the local Mini dealer told him that BMW no longer sold the electronics unit that was apparently at fault, and could I find one in the UK.

I went into my local dealer, and they confirmed that BMW had stopped supplying the units, even though it is well known in the industry that these units are known to fail do to damp because of where they are situated behind a panel next to the drivers feet inside besides the pedals. The parts guy looked on his computer system, and found that there were none available at any dealer worldwide, but but one dealer in the States was selling refurbished units at about 6 times the old price.

I eventually found one at a recognised breakers recommended by the dealer in the UK, and they dispatched it to Japan for about double the old cost, where it took my son's dealer a month to re-code the unit, which, fingers and toes crossed, is still working. Apparently, car manufacturers are only obliged to produce spares for cars for 10 years after a model is no longer sold.

The alternative would have been to scrap the Mini Cooper S Cabrio, which for some reason my son cherishes at it was his first car bought immediately after he passed his driving test. He was a late driver as prior to that he and my daughter-in-law lived in the centre of London, and, like many city dwellers, there is little point in driving oneself.

[Tel 911S]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Gérard, this seems to apply to so many cars nowadays. About this time last year, my son in Japan called me about his Mini, which he bought brand new about 20 years ago when he was also in Japan. Certain of the cars electrics were failing, and the local Mini dealer told him that BMW no longer sold the electronics unit that was apparently at fault, and could I find one in the UK.

I went into my local dealer, and they confirmed that BMW had stopped supplying the units, even though it is well known in the industry that these units are known to fail do to damp because of where they are situated behind a panel next to the drivers feet inside besides the pedals. The parts guy looked on his computer system, and found that there were none available at any dealer worldwide, but but one dealer in the States was selling refurbished units at about 6 times the old price.

I eventually found one at a recognised breakers recommended by the dealer in the UK, and they dispatched it to Japan for about double the old cost, where it took my son's dealer a month to re-code the unit, which, fingers and toes crossed, is still working. Apparently, car manufacturers are only obliged to produce spares for cars for 10 years after a model is no longer sold.

The alternative would have been to scrap the Mini Cooper S Cabrio, which for some reason my son cherishes at it was his first car bought immediately after he passed his driving test. He was a late driver as prior to that he and my daughter-in-law lived in the centre of London, and, like many city dwellers, there is little point in driving oneself.

The Japanese used to be very keen on the original Mini Coopers .
I remember reading about a someone here who rebuilt a Cooper S with an original works registration number , and sold it to someone there .Apparently they have to have a Japanese registration , so he kept the works number , or bought it back from DVLA, and built another car with that plate .He sold that to Japan and then did the same thing again .
I came to light when 2 Japanese both claimed to have the original works car .
It went to court and there was quite a large conviction for fraud .
But it does make you wonder how many times that has been done with " Famous " cars , and how many people still think they have the original car .

[Gerard C]

I don't remember about the ten years thing about spares supply but may be its more of a commitment rather than an obligation.
A good bloke is struggling to fully repair the braking system of a Porsche 964 because many parts are no more available and few companies have the tooling and know how to fix the ABS blocks. Not mentioning the electronics.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

I see! And you wont have the hassle to cope with so called specialists and hard to find parts. Owning and maintening a classic american in France is quite a challenge. Two exceptions, Mustangs and Studebakers but its all about the local club.

A Buick 3800 V6 is literally a Rover V8 with two cylinders chopped off. They are plentiful, powerful, and simple.

[Gerard C]

The Rover engine (born Buick?) is one of the best ever imo. Rather light and compact, almost bullet proof and easy to tune. One of my race cars has an original V6 Essex and I wish I could trade it with a Rover anyday!

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

The Rover engine (born Buick?) is one of the best ever imo. Rather light and compact, almost bullet proof and easy to tune. One of my race cars has an original V6 Essex and I wish I could trade it with a Rover anyday!

Yes, I do believe that the Rover engine originated in Buick; if only they had done the same thing with the Stag rather than gluing together two 4 pots from the Dolomite!

[broadrun96]

Well it appears a fella had an Exploder but needed a truck truck

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well it appears a fella had an Exploder but needed a truck truck

When the Sportrac was $1500 more. In fairness, Old Forester is my favorite large distillery. Can't go wrong with any bottle of OF, it's impossible.

And if you didn't believe us earlier, if you can get a tag and insurance for a vehicle, and you can, you can drive anything here. You might disagree, but I prefer it this way.

[Gerard C]

Nice scrap dealer mod. Some of our old Utes had a kind of flap at rear of the roof, called "girafon" or when the institution creates the function. https://lautomobileancienne.com/le-girafon/ Used by Renault mainly.

[joeb]

Outside my office today for the crane and random Ferrari over the weekend

[Gerard C]

Was the Ferrari at Take 5 oil change (or car wash)? If yes, you spent your weekend at Charlotte…

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Was the Ferrari at Take 5 oil change (or car wash)? If yes, you spent your weekend at Charlotte…

No just coming around the corner. Ferrari are pretty rare in my local...

[Gerard C]

I dont remember what car you're driving but I find the HUD well studied. Not a GM huh?

[JHamilton]

The crane is cooler and I guarantee more rare than that Ferrari.

[broadrun96]

Left an empty space and some guy pulled up in this weird thing

Smaller than some of the golf carts around here but this one has a motor that works. Honda swapped

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Left an empty space and some guy pulled up in this weird thing .Smaller than some of the golf carts around here but this one has a motor that works. Honda swapped

OMG!!!! An ADO 16. We had five of those in various forms, the best above the MG was a Princess Vanden Plas. I understand the engine swap, 1100 or 1300 the BMC engine was not really a wonder of power. Given the ride height, I wonder if this one retains the Hydrolastic… Dunlops SP Sport are a must!!

[broadrun96]

Sweet not quite a truck

[Gerard C]

El Camino verde or La Cucaracha?

[broadrun96]

Someone brought his Beetle and backed in to the dinner table on the way

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Someone brought his Beetle and backed in to the dinner table on the way

Looks like a second gen 912 with a 3,3 Turbo dinner table… Is your area restricted to green cars only?