The ultimate Q-Cars?

[Ribol]

For me a Q car is one that surprises me when it disappears up the road or when I drive it. Cars like the Lotus Carlton can be spotted from any angle as being more than the rep version. The Vantage version of an Aston is no more a Q car than an Aston is.

[900T-R]

281 bhp, 348 lbs/ft, 1,200 kgs. By virtue of the latter statistic, rally-bred suspension with some choice tweaks, and Toyo Trampio semi-racing rubber (not only road legal, but also wearing a full rain tread pattern, they're my only tyres for this car!), it goes round corners rather quickly, too. Also note the lack of Aero side-skirts and spoilers, and the fact that she's a five-door version rather than the three-door coupé. No badges except the saab roundel on the bonnet, either.

Going for 300 bhp and <1,200 kg...

[yertis]

> 280bhp
< 6 seconds 0-60
> 160mph



Probably not "the ultimate" but sprung a few surprises in its time

>> Edited by yertis on Thursday 1st December 12:10

[Ribol]

900T-R said:

note the lack of Aero side-skirts and spoilers, and the fact that she's a five-door version rather than the three-door coupé. No badges except the saab roundel on the bonnet, either. Going for 300 bhp and <1,200 kg...

Perfect example of a Q car

[Matt_FP]

900T-R said:

DB/Stig found it rather good fun as well!

Matt

[jamieboy]

How about a Volvo 440 Turbo? Horrible to look at, nasty to drive, but much, much quicker than people expect. Note - that's quicker, not quick.

L100NYY said:

Lancia Thema 8.32, Ferrari 3.2 V8 engine...0-60mph in 5.2 secs iirc?

I really like these, but I'm pretty sure it was based on the 3.0 litre from the 308 - I think 8.32 was 8 cylinders 32 valves.

0-60 in 5.2 sounds too quick - over a second quicker than the 308 - but I'll let justayellowbadge correct one or the other of us.

[alexkp]

I seem to recall the 8.32 was around 6.5 secs - still pretty quick in that day.

[superdavros]

L100NYY said:

Most suprising q-car, 2.016v engine - was the first production car to feature a 16v lump. :anorak:

and alloy wheels.... and possibly a vinyl roof.
The Parka is on!

[rsvmilly]

I remember reading an article about an Uno Turbo which had water injection. It had been de-badged to look like an Uno 45. That was a 'Q' car

[JonRB]

rsvmilly said:

I remember reading an article about an Uno Turbo which had water injection. It had been de-badged to look like an Uno 45. That was a 'Q' car

It wasn't an Uno (or possible Punto) with a Ferrari engine in it (allegedly), was it?

[rsvmilly]

That imortal one on Ebay? I could hardly tell it and a Ferarri apart

[900T-R]

Which reminded me about this:

www.2cv.nl/publicaties/v8/index.html

Yes, it's a 1962 Citroën 2cv with a 5.7 litre Oldsmobile V8... Of course, the chassis needed to be purpose-built, but from the outside, you needed to look very closely to spot the slightly wider wheels and tyres (yes, they were wearing the OE hubcaps, and yes, the rears did fit behind the spats...). 0-62 was quoted as 4.5 secs IIRC...

JonRB said:

anonymous said: [redacted] Pity, as I was going to nominate a Skoda Estelle with a TVR-tuned Rover V8 where the rear seats should be. I think that would be a hoot and possibly the ultimate Q-car. Having said that, unless you virtually rebuilt it with a triangulated spaceframe or something, it would probably have the torsional stiffness of wet lettuce and would therefore handle about as well. Still, it would be worth doing just for sheer traffic light Grand Prix amusement if nothing else. Same goes for any other humble car that has been seriously re-engined, such as the famous Reliant Kitten drag car or any of the Rover V8-engined Morris Minors. >> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 1st December 11:47

>> Edited by 900T-R on Thursday 1st December 12:58

[JonRB]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Indeed you would, and probably a dog or an uncle to help you out or something.

[jd]

i dont really think a jag s tyre R is a Q car, thats what i would expect to be fast

i would say good Q cars, something liek a shitreon BX gti, surprisingly quick those

homebrew sleepers are the best though

thiers a ratty red cav with an LET turbo engine in it which is good

ive seen a stock corsa with a 2 litre XE on throttle bodies, that does a 13 second 1/4 (even has a sticker on the fuel cap saying diesel fuel only, Hire car styleee!)

a well tuned polo G40, as no one know what they are, and they are remarkably quick

[vixpy1]

Subaru Legacy GTB

[JonRB]

900T-R said:

www.2cv.nl/publicaties/v8/index.html Yes, it's a 1962 Citroën 2cv with a 5.7 litre Oldsmobile V8... Of course, the chassis needed to be purpose-built, but from the outside, you needed to look very closely to spot the slightly wider wheels and tyres (yes, they were wearing the OE hubcaps, and yes, the rears did fit behind the spats...). 0-62 was quoted as 4.5 secs IIRC...

I can't understand the text (Dutch?), but certainly sounds fun and you're right, looks fairly standard on the outside. Bravo! I'll have one of those please. What a laugh.

[superlightr]

I used to own a Nissan sunny zx - no bells or whisles but fast. 1.8 16v Looks nothing but has a nice turn of speed and handled well. Thats a q car.

[rsvmilly]

vixpy1 said:

Subaru Legacy GTB

It will be when you've finished with it. That's so long as the engine doesn't go the same way as Mr E's.

[vixpy1]

rsvmilly said:

vixpy1 said: Subaru Legacy GTB It will be when you've finished with it. That's so long as the engine doesn't go the same way as Mr E's.

The amount of money under the bonnet.. That really does not bear thinking about!

[900T-R]

JonRB said:

I can't understand the text (Dutch?)

Yes, sorry about that, it was the only source I could find.

The article basically says that it's built on a custom powdercoated chassis out of 2 mm gauge steel with Opel Commodore front suspension, a narrowed Ford rear axle w/85% locking diff, Jaguar rear suspension, a Ford Granada radiator and rear wheels consisting of widened Citroën rims with the inner portion that fits the hub and is concealed by the OE 2cv hubcaps, from a Chevy. Damping is by adjustable Koni's all round. Braking is with vented Opel discs at the front and solid Volvo discs on the rear, and the steering column is from an Opel. The handbrake system consists of a brake disc on the driveshaft, actuated by a Mini lever. The heater is from a Mini, too. The fuel tank is home made from stainless steel and the car has a steel roll cage. Tyre sizes are 145/15 front, and 215/60/15 rear.

It also says that over the course of three years, the guy that built it went through 40,000 Dutch guilders (£13K ish) and six girlfriends!

>> Edited by 900T-R on Thursday 1st December 13:31