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SPORTS CARS OF THE 60's

416 messages,  Last post on Jan 24, 2013 at 3:20 PM

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Messages Page 39 of 42

#377 of 416 Re: Studebaker Avanti [uplanderguy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 14, 2008 (9:48 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Sep 14, 2008 9:41 am)
You want barbaric. I'll give you barbaric.
 
How about this?
 
Studebaker threw the entire Packard archives into the trash.
 
Hey this is a great subject but let's not veer from topic, which is "Sports Cars of the 60s"
 
I'm a Host, I'm supposed to set a good example about 'topic drift'.
 
We can continue this discussion here if you'd like!
 
PACKARDS

#379 of 416 Re: Studebaker Avanti [uplanderguy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 14, 2008 (9:54 am)

Replying to: andys120 (Sep 12, 2008 10:43 am)
interesting stuff Bill. Have you read #377 yet? If so, let's meet over at the other topic, or if you wish, you can start one on Studebaker.
 
best
 
MrShiftright
Host

#381 of 416 Re: Studebaker Avanti [uplanderguy] by uplanderguy

Sep 15, 2008 (4:53 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Sep 14, 2008 8:16 am)
Another item about the original Studebaker Avanti that I think bears mentioning in this forum about '60's "Sports Cars"...it set 29 new stock car records at Bonneville under the direction of Andy Granatelli...including the American and National Closed Car Division records of the U.S. Auto Club for the five-and-ten-kilometer and five-and ten-mile standing start; and for the one-, five-, and ten-kilometer and one-, five-, and ten-mile flying start. In Oct. '63, Bill Burke set an E-Supercharged class record (147.36 mph) driving a blown Avanti. At the same time, Studebaker President Sherwood Egbert became the fastest American auto company president in history (Langworth feels he still holds that title) by personally driving an R3 Avanti to 168 mph at Bonneville.
 
Bill P.

#382 of 416 Re: Studebaker Avanti [uplanderguy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 15, 2008 (5:25 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Sep 15, 2008 4:53 pm)
That's a muscle car though not a sports car If Andy had tried to turn at those speeds he'd still be out there.

#383 of 416 E-Type Anniversary. by andys120

Mar 05, 2011 (12:41 pm)

50 years ago this month in March 1961 the Jaguar XK-E/E-type was first revealed at Geneva. It's hard to recall just how completely this daringly styled car blew away the automotive conventions of the era.
 
Here's how it looked the next month at the International Auto Show in NY>
 

 
The E-Type was technically advanced with twin cam heads, 3 carbs, 4wheel disc brakes and IRS. In fact it was so technically advanced that Enzo Ferrari's sales chief told him they'd better get to work on matching it and eventually this resulted in the fabulous racer, the 250 GTO and the road-going 275 GTB which cribbed the entire front end of the Jag.
 
There's no doubt that however advanced the E-Type's design was marginal, cooling systems, electrics and braking systems were maintenance nightmares and you had to pull the engine to change the clutch. However I was fortunate enough to drive a well-maintained '67 Series II (4.2 motor/all syncro trans) and I've never driven a nicer car, in fact I'm not sure there ever could be a car nicer to drive. I also doubt anyone will ever make a regular production sports car more exciting to look at.
 
Happy 50th Anniversary, E-Type Jag!

#384 of 416 Jaguar "Technology" by martian

May 21, 2011 (3:48 pm)

You are certainly correct-the E type was a nice looing car. But it was an engineering nightmare-the braking and cooling systems gave all kinds of troble, and the winshield had an annoying tendency to vibrate (a kluge fix was added-a bicycle-spoke like rod holding the top of the window frame to the dash! Add in unreliable Lucas electrics, and the car was a disaster

#385 of 416 Re: Jaguar "Technology" [martian] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 21, 2011 (4:48 pm)

Replying to: martian (May 21, 2011 3:48 pm)
All automakers should have such disasters.
 
The car's bugs didn't seem to slow down its popularity, sex appeal, current high values or the ambition of restorers, so what's not to like?
 
Besides, modern fixes for all those bugaboos are now abundantly available.
 
Even the 300SL Gullwing (a far better, and way more technically advanced car) couldn't match the impact the E-Type had on the automotive world. I doubt another car will ever equal the shock and awe of it in 1961.
 
It looked *great*, it went *fast*, and the rest is history, yep. I think it was the only car to ever be put in the Museum of Modern Art in NY

#386 of 416 Re: Jaguar "Technology" [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

May 21, 2011 (6:41 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 21, 2011 4:48 pm)
Not to mention, it was a bargain. It wasn't cheap by any means, but in bang for the buck, not much else compared. Milestone car for sure, amazing follow up to the XK120.

Messages Page 39 of 42

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