OSFW – Europe & the rest

With the week closing up on me, I’m somewhat squeezed for time.  I doubt I’ll have the ability to make another post in the weekend but you never know, we’ll just assume that I won’t though and as such I’ll try and put a final minor selection of OS cars on here that fill the remaining areas not catered for in the American, Australian or Japanese posts.

This first one, is a little bitter sweet for me.  I’ve never liked the Vauxhall Chevette aesthetically, it does absolutely nothing for me.  A friend of my mother’s used to have one and I always found it horrid.  As such I never really had much to do with them.  Then… I came across this car;

1980 Vauxhall Chevette Wagon

I still have trouble liking the nose of the car but goddamn, it’s just such a freakin’ sweet ride.  If you could ever do a Chevette the right way.  This is it and not only does it look the part externally it’s been modified purposefully also.

It belongs to OS user ‘Mikuni’ who is almost as attractive as the car.  Almost.  He has that same face issue though… not quite right.  You can read about it here;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5705

Moving from Britain (not really Britain, being the Chevette was a GM Global platform car, but we’ll ignore that for the time being) onto European nations;

Alfa Romeo

1988 Alfa Romeo 33 1.7QV

It’s an Alfa Romeo, that’s pretty much all that needs to be said.

OK… Maybe not.  I love Alfa’s, most Alfa’s.  I was sorely tempted to buy my own at one point but timing with owning other cars meant it never really worked out.  I’ve included this car in the “other” line-up for a few reasons, one of which is that it helps show the diversity of the cars on OS and the other is that it’s a fantastic car that has been tastefully modified and looks so, so sweet.

You can read more about Thousand Dollar Supercar’s 33 here;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=10533

Volkswagen

1970 Volkswagen Type3

Love it.  Check that out.  What’s to not like?  I could say stuff about it, but to be honest I don’t think anything needs to be said, the pictures on the thread will more than speak for themselves.

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=10565

Mercedes Benz

1964 Mercedes Benz W111

Still in project phase, this MB is most likely (tough call being there’s so many sweet rides on OS) my favourite car on the site. It’s a ’64 Merc with a difference, laid out with bags and with Toyota V8 power.  If just looking at that picture and reading those stats does nothing for you.  Then I suggest to you, that you might be dead.  I hope nobumps can get onto finishing this up in ’09.  It shall be king of the road.  KING, I TELL YOU!

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=7804

Citroen

1960 Citroen ID19

This fine specimen from France, you might have caught a glimpse of previously, if you’re a regular reader of this blog.  It belongs to retro-classics contributor ‘citrophile’ also known as Cam, Spam or CuteyPie.  OK, maybe not the last two.  Regardless of what his name might be, his ID19 is I believe (and he’ll correct me I’m sure, if I’m wrong) fabricated entirely out of 93% Purity of Awesome, the 7% missing is lost in the heating processes.  This car is one of an addition of French automobilia for Cam.  You can check out a small amount about it in this thread;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=14638

I got a chance to enjoy this car in person during a trip North.  I was decidedly excited.  I’ll save you the drama of the photographs this time around though. What I can tell you though is that the interior is perhaps even more awesome than the exterior, hard as that is to believe.

Opel

1970 Opel GT

Although OS user ‘leigh’ isn’t in NZ, rather, he’s across the other side of the planet, in Ireland.  He shares with us a few of his cars.  One is this Opel GT, a fantastic 70′s Sports Car.  We’ve not heard much more about it since it was broken into and damaged, I hope it’s alright and has been mended since.  I included it in the lineup despite it’s lack of being in NZ because other than an Opel Manta A, there’s probably not a cooler Opel in their lineup. (Sorry Brad)

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=14926

Volvo

1985 Volvo 360

As user waimaks is to Subaru’s, ‘durty’ is to Volvo’s.  Addicted.  For good reason though.  Volvo’s are often overlooked in these parts and so can often be had for fairly decent sums of money, if memory serves me correctly, I believe I harrased him into the purchase of one of his first Volvo’s a mighty white beast that was on trademe.co.nz for very little money.  From there he’s had several more including the one above and perhaps the most special at this point in time a more modern 480.  However, that’s not the focus here.. this one is;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=13394

Fiat (and Lancia)

1981 Fiat 131R

This is another mid project car, it belongs to user “Testament” who has a stable consisting of another Fiat (a 124 Coupe) as well as a Lancia Delta.  The 131R has such potential that I couldn’t not use it for the Fiat option, despite his 124 Coupe and the other Fiat’s on the board being in more complete condition.  You can see where it’s going and the progress he’s made with it here;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=12525

And if you’re so inclined, you can take a better peek at his 124 Coupe and Lancia Delta HF Turbo in this thread;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=10624

Triumph

Triumphant, x2!

The white Triumph on the left used to belong to user “Snoozin” and was sold very recently, but I thought it had to be shared again partially because I was given the pleasure of driving it around whilst I visited him and other OS members in the North Island last year and I have fond memories of it.   I’ve always like the Triumph MkII, I had to opporunity to buy a minty fresh one in the same shade as the second one in the above photo, which belongs to user “Flange”, sadly what the guy was asking was outside my reach at the time.  Interestingly though, they’ve got decidedly cheaper since then.  Probably one of the cheapest classics you can buy and they’re relaible enough and share a 4×114.3 PCD with many Japanese cars, as you can see by the use of wide JDM alloys on both the cars in the photograph.

Snoozin’s old Triumph;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=13925

Flange’s Triumph;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8740

Jaguar

1978 Jaguar XJS V12

Flange, owner of the above mentioned Triumph, is somewhat of a hoarder.  He owns or has owned some severely awesome cars, this Jaguar inclusive.  It takes a brave man, or a stupid man, to mess around with the V12 in a Jaguar.  Flange is probably both these things.  He’s a magical character though, akin to perhaps a Gnome with a Magicians hat, or maybe an Elf whose let himself go.  Wait… that’s not talking about the car.  Having attempted to attend a previous trackday in this Jag, all did not fare well and it was back to the remedy and modification work instead, however being Joe/Flange takes on so many projects and cars, they all take a back seat at some stage.  Though when it comes time for this Jaguar to return to the road, I wouldn’t want to get in it’s way.  It’ll probably have to syphon your fuel directly from your tank as it’s driving, just to not run out.   Read about it here;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=10671

Commer

1972 Commer 2500

Hah! Look at it.  It’s a Commer, baby!  Another project/belonging of user ‘macabre’ also known as “Tank” he’s had his Lancer EX with 4G63 motivation included in overseas publications, but for me, the Commer is where it’s at.  I’d love to see him put some ridiculously fast or powerful engine in it.. perhaps the 4G63 out of his Lancer?  That would be amazing.  Regardless, this Commer van is sweet in what is essentially factory format with a fitting paint-job.

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11058

…and last of the selections for today

Ford

We’ll have two in here, the first one belongs to a young lad who I know will be reading this.. ‘sup Josh?

I couldn’t do a feature on OS Fords and not include either of these cars but Josh’s car like some of those mentioned previous, speaks for itself.

1964 Ford Cortina MkI Estate

You have to call it an Estate, it’s British.. makes it sound classy, that is until you see the look of the car.  Though many might not believe so, to me it’s perfect.  It’s looks just as it should, it’s an old car, it’s been used the majority of it’s life and it’s body tells the tale of lots of time in the sun, but of being well maintaind and well looked after despite the fading.   Reading about Josh’s Cortina can be done here;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=13897

..if you like this Ford though, you could be interested in another of his projects, namely a MkI Escort making use of Nissan running gear by way of an S12 Silvia and powerplant in the manner of a CA18DET, still in the fabrication phase, it’s definately something to keep a look out for and once it’s done I guarantee you, I’ll have it on retro-classics.  So although it might not be right away, keep checking back.  I’ll have other cool things up in the meantime.

Now…  if you wanted a saga.  Get Rich to This;

1967 Ford Cortina MkII

The first thing you’ll notice about it, is the ribbon.  What you can’t see or couldn’t know from this though, is the drama that unfolded trying to get this ‘tina from where it was, ready for his wedding in a very short span of time, all whilst trying to attend university as well as organise a myriad of other tasks to do with the wedding and to do with the oldschool.co.nz website.  Thankfully forum administrator Gaz, has the multi-tasking skills of an Octopus and was able to complete the task, albeit with only milliseconds to spare.  I’m sure he’d want to extend his thanks to those other forum users and non-forum users that helped him reach his goal too though, such is the humbleness of the man.  You can get a brief look at the drama related to the car itself here;

http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5608

For the rest of the drama’s and some that aren’t included in the thread itself you’ll have to wander about the OS forums, as there’s a whole pile of stuff scattered about, such was the hectic nature of it all.

Summary, big ups to Gaz for his dedication and commitment.

-Michael