GT Cars of the 70's and their modern equivalents.

[Stick Legs]

Thinking too much the other day I was struck by the fact that many of the great GT cars of the 70's have no real direct modern equivalent.

70's GT cars are my favourite genre of motors, so what's the modern 2020 'International Man of Mystery' (TM) going to swan about in?

Jensen Interceptor
Jaguar XJ-S
Aston Martin V8
BMW 635CSi
Mercedes Benz 450SLC
Mercedes Benz 560SEC

I initially thought fast saloons... But they have always existed.

Then the appalling thought came to me, it's SUV's isn't it.
The modern equivalent of the GT car is the SUV.

BMW635CSi = BMW X5 M50d ( I know there is a new 6 Series but it's more saloon than GT now)
Jaguar XJ-S = Velar / F-Pace
Jensen Interceptor = Range Rover Sport SVR
AMV8 = FFRR Supercharged
MB 450SLC = GL Class AMG
MB 560SEC = G-Wagen G63

Am I wrong?

Will these be the next generation of can fan's cheap classic waft mobile, their entry into super-cheap-super-car territory like it was for my generation?

Edited by Stick Legs on Saturday 19th September 11:29

[Dapster]

Stick Legs said:

Mercedes Benz 560SEC

Mercedes will actually sell you a like for like 2020 S63 AMG Class coupe for £140k



I have a '91 Mercedes price list and can tell you that a new 560 with a few toys would have set you back over £70k. Adjusted for inflation, that's £160k.

[Scrump]

I think most of your list have a direct modern equivalent.

BMW635CSi = BMW 840i coupe
Jaguar XJ-S = maybe one of the front engined GT Ferrari
Jensen Interceptor = Bentley Continental GT (not a direct relation but it fits in somewhere here)
AMV8 = AM DB11 or Vantage
MB 450SLC = MB SL500
MB 560SEC = MB S560 coupe

[Stick Legs]

Maybe I worded it badly. On further reflection I think I mean sociologically.

The GT car in the 70's implied a lifestyle. A signaller of affluence. I was thinking that the Luxury SUV does that now.

As you say, the BMW 8 series, Mercedes CL & CLK and suchlike do keep the GT car flame alive.
Ford and Vauxhall / Opel have a small SUV not a small Coupe in their ranges.

[4rephill]

Stick Legs said:

Thinking too much the other day I was struck by the fact that many of the great GT cars of the 70's have no real direct modern equivalent.

70's GT cars are my favourite genre of motors, so what's the modern 2020 'International Man of Mystery' (TM) going to swan about in?

Jensen Interceptor
Jaguar XJ-S
Aston Martin V8
BMW 635CSi
Mercedes Benz 450SLC
Mercedes Benz 560SEC

I initially thought fast saloons... But they have always existed.

Then the appalling thought came to me, it's SUV's isn't it.
The modern equivalent of the GT car is the SUV.

BMW635CSi = BMW X5 M50d ( I know there is a new 6 Series but it's more saloon than GT now)
Jaguar XJ-S = Velar / F-Pace
Jensen Interceptor = Range Rover Sport SVR
AMV8 = FFRR Supercharged
MB 450SLC = GL Class AMG
MB 560SEC = G-Wagen G63

Am I wrong?

Will these be the next generation of can fan's cheap classic waft mobile, their entry into super-cheap-super-car territory like it was for my generation?

Edited by Stick Legs on Saturday 19th September 11:29

Completely wrong!

You've deliberately ignored all of the actual relevant modern equivalents, coming up with nonsensical arguments (such as: "I know there is a new 6 Series but it's more saloon than GT now"), to help justify your idea that the modern equivalents are 4x4 SUV's.

The original 6 series was based on the E12 5 series floor pan - a 4 door saloon, and the revised version was based on the 7 series floor pan/mechanicals - Another 4 door saloon (that's slightly over simplified, but basically the situation).

Even with the M635 csi, there were no major chassis modifications made to the car, just engine, drive-train, suspension, brake and gearbox differences, all of which could have been done to the 7 series had BMW seen a market for an M735i at the time.

I would say a far better list of modern day equivalents would be:

BMW635CSi = BMW 650i
Jaguar XJ-S = Jaguar F Type 3.0/5.0
Jensen Interceptor = JIA Interceptor R
AMV8 = Aston Marin Vantage
MB 450SLC = 2020 Mercedes SLC
MB 560SEC = 2020 Mercedes S Class coupe S63

And not on your list:

BMW M635 csi - BMW M8

[Stick Legs]

Or try being polite in a thread that was just a bit of fun?

[vpr]

Trouble is, today none or the equivalents are special.
Same with super cars.

When I was a nipper, if I saw an Aston V8, Jensen or Ferrari etc it was a sight to behold, a very rare sight indeed. That’s what made them iconic.

Today’s super cars etc are 2 a penny. Can guarantee if I went into just my local town this eve they’d be everywhere

[mhurley]

4rephill said:

Completely wrong!

You've deliberately ignored all of the actual relevant modern equivalents, coming up with nonsensical arguments (such as: "I know there is a new 6 Series but it's more saloon than GT now"), to help justify your idea that the modern equivalents are 4x4 SUV's.

The original 6 series was based on the E12 5 series floor pan - a 4 door saloon, and the revised version was based on the 7 series floor pan/mechanicals - Another 4 door saloon (that's slightly over simplified, but basically the situation).

Even with the M635 csi, there were no major chassis modifications made to the car, just engine, drive-train, suspension, brake and gearbox differences, all of which could have been done to the 7 series had BMW seen a market for an M735i at the time.

I would say a far better list of modern day equivalents would be:

BMW635CSi = BMW 650i
Jaguar XJ-S = Jaguar F Type 3.0/5.0
Jensen Interceptor = JIA Interceptor R
AMV8 = Aston Marin Vantage
MB 450SLC = 2020 Mercedes SLC
MB 560SEC = 2020 Mercedes S Class coupe S63

And not on your list:

BMW M635 csi - BMW M8

The AMV8 equivalent would surely be a DB11. The Vantage is a 2 seater

[Stick Legs]

mhurley said:

The AMV8 equivalent would surely be a DB11. The Vantage is a 2 seater

But again look at the space in the DB11.
The old 70's V8 Astons were all proper GT cars, more akin to the Bentley Continental, than to the DB7,9,11 range.
They are 'sports' cars rather than GT cars.

[mhurley]

Stick Legs said:

But again look at the space in the DB11.
The old 70's V8 Astons were all proper GT cars, more akin to the Bentley Continental, than to the DB7,9,11 range.
They are 'sports' cars rather than GT cars.

Vantage - 2 seater - no equivalent in the 1970s
DB11 - AM V8
DBSS - V8 Vantage

[300bhp/ton]

vpr said:

Trouble is, today none or the equivalents are special.
Same with super cars.

When I was a nipper, if I saw an Aston V8, Jensen or Ferrari etc it was a sight to behold, a very rare sight indeed. That’s what made them iconic.

Today’s super cars etc are 2 a penny. Can guarantee if I went into just my local town this eve they’d be everywhere

2 a penny. You must live in a very affluent area or its BS.

Pretty sure if you were in the right places in the 70s, then supercars, or GT cars as per the op were also not totally rare either.

[Dr Jekyll]

300bhp/ton said:

vpr said:

Trouble is, today none or the equivalents are special.
Same with super cars.

When I was a nipper, if I saw an Aston V8, Jensen or Ferrari etc it was a sight to behold, a very rare sight indeed. That’s what made them iconic.

Today’s super cars etc are 2 a penny. Can guarantee if I went into just my local town this eve they’d be everywhere

2 a penny. You must live in a very affluent area or its BS.

Pretty sure if you were in the right places in the 70s, then supercars, or GT cars as per the op were also not totally rare either.

I remember that in the 70s seeing an Aston Martin was an event, the first time I saw a Lamborghini on the road was in the early 80s. Nowadays in a far from affluent area Astons are a daily sight and Lamborghinis seen about once a week.

[TarquinMX5]

Dr Jekyll said:

300bhp/ton said:

vpr said:

Trouble is, today none or the equivalents are special.
Same with super cars.

When I was a nipper, if I saw an Aston V8, Jensen or Ferrari etc it was a sight to behold, a very rare sight indeed. That’s what made them iconic.

Today’s super cars etc are 2 a penny. Can guarantee if I went into just my local town this eve they’d be everywhere

2 a penny. You must live in a very affluent area or its BS.

Pretty sure if you were in the right places in the 70s, then supercars, or GT cars as per the op were also not totally rare either.

I remember that in the 70s seeing an Aston Martin was an event, the first time I saw a Lamborghini on the road was in the early 80s. Nowadays in a far from affluent area Astons are a daily sight and Lamborghinis seen about once a week.

Of course they're virtually two-a-penny nowadays, just look at current/recent production figures.

I don't have them to hand but Aston sold more cars in one year in the UK, say, 2016, than they sold in, for arguments sake, c30 years up to 1985.

Bentley is the same, there are more than 600 Continentals alone on Autotrader at the moment; there wouldn't be anything like that number of Bentleys advertised at any one time in the mid-70s.

Jensens were a rare sight, I recall having my hair cut as a schoolboy and sitting in the chair just looking at a new primrose yellow convertible parked outside, didn't see one again for ages. Modern Bentley Continentals now, certainly not unusual. I did see a 1960's Continental parked up the other day, now that's a rare car and a decent old-style 'GT', hence the name originally.

The Wraith is a modern 'GT' type of car, in the meaning of Grand Tourer, rather than sports car.

[vpr]

300bhp/ton said:

vpr said:

Trouble is, today none or the equivalents are special.
Same with super cars.

When I was a nipper, if I saw an Aston V8, Jensen or Ferrari etc it was a sight to behold, a very rare sight indeed. That’s what made them iconic.

Today’s super cars etc are 2 a penny. Can guarantee if I went into just my local town this eve they’d be everywhere

2 a penny. You must live in a very affluent area or its BS.

Pretty sure if you were in the right places in the 70s, then supercars, or GT cars as per the op were also not totally rare either.

How rude. Not BS thanks.

I think you must be mistaken, unless off course the “right places” you mean HR Owens showroom or perhaps you’re only 12 years old?

[lowdrag]

Based on their position in their different classes and prices, one comparison came straight to mind. The Triumph GT6 and the Toyota GT86. Am I right or wrong? dunno, but that's what immediately hit me. I owned an M6 in the day and I couldn't think of any modern car that could handle so badly in the wet.

Edited by lowdrag on Friday 25th September 09:56

[TarquinMX5]

SUVs, for an International Man Of Mystery? No, I don't think so.

All of the cars in the OP's original list are 2-doors; even 2-door early Rangies aren't on that list, so there's a justification for ruling out SUVs.

It needs to be something 2-door, 2+2 or almost 4-seat, big-engined and not seen on every street corner, which narrows it down somewhat. Definitely not a modern SLC, that's nothing like the original. SL is closer but it's only 2-seats, although more of a wafter than a true sports.

MB S-class coupé, Maserati, 8-series, possibly DB11(but much more common than the old V8), Wraith; struggling to think of any more at the moment.