Cars you didn't know existed...
Discussion
Loose_Cannon said:
Funny thread this, one which I've avoided so far because if anything it's just a reminder I'm getting older than I want to be!
I keep imagining crusties like me shaking their heads at the screen because some relative sprog is scratching his head over a 70s kit car, meanwhile said sprog will be utterly dumbstruck why people my age can't identify a 2019 Hyundai.
Anyhow, this is my first contribution. Be gentle and pardon me if its mentioned 15 pages back or something. I had no idea this exsited, and can't honestly explain why it does especially at £45 grand used. The 2017 Infiniti QX80, a car which makes the Saangyong Musso look passable;
Great cars. Upmarket Nissan Armada.I keep imagining crusties like me shaking their heads at the screen because some relative sprog is scratching his head over a 70s kit car, meanwhile said sprog will be utterly dumbstruck why people my age can't identify a 2019 Hyundai.
Anyhow, this is my first contribution. Be gentle and pardon me if its mentioned 15 pages back or something. I had no idea this exsited, and can't honestly explain why it does especially at £45 grand used. The 2017 Infiniti QX80, a car which makes the Saangyong Musso look passable;
Not sure if this has been mentioned previously, more a one off (thank God)
https://carnewschina.com/2014/08/04/meet-the-audi-...
https://carnewschina.com/2014/08/04/meet-the-audi-...
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20/the-elkhar...
Alfa TZ3 Stradale Zagato. Found this when looking at Alfa SZ's. Never seen heard of it before,
Alfa TZ3 Stradale Zagato. Found this when looking at Alfa SZ's. Never seen heard of it before,
ZiggyNiva said:
https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20/the-elkhar...
Alfa TZ3 Stradale Zagato. Found this when looking at Alfa SZ's. Never seen heard of it before,
Back end looks like a Bristol fighterAlfa TZ3 Stradale Zagato. Found this when looking at Alfa SZ's. Never seen heard of it before,
Dapster said:
Meridius said:
...like the Audi 100 Coupe,... it would seem Porsche used a few of them as 928 testbed where they were wider with a different floor and front-engined V8 RWD layout.
Proper Frankenstein's monster of a car. Built in 1974, Porsche shoe horned the V8 into the 100S shell, and had to widen the arches front and rear. The rear edge of the bonnet had to be lifted clear of the back of the engine too - you can just make out the extensions on the hinge on the top photo.
If Audi had made a successful RWD out of that 100 Coupe, could have changed their future lineup as the Audi Quattro was the successor... RWD 5 cylinder turbo anyone?
BigRusko said:
Not sure if this has been mentioned previously, more a one off (thank God)
https://carnewschina.com/2014/08/04/meet-the-audi-...
Whilst that was a one off, this was something you could actually buyhttps://carnewschina.com/2014/08/04/meet-the-audi-...
The Hongqi CA1021. It was in a link at the bottom of the page you linked
Hugh Jarse said:
Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3 Pininfarina Coupe. Decent write up on the history here: https://drive-my.com/en/test-drive/item/1769-merce...BigRusko said:
Not sure if this has been mentioned previously, more a one off (thank God)
https://carnewschina.com/2014/08/04/meet-the-audi-...
I saw something similar, albeit with a Mercedes instead of an Audi, last time I went to the banger races, it looked like they'd just taken the boot and rear window from one of those C-class coupes and made it into a parade vehicle https://carnewschina.com/2014/08/04/meet-the-audi-...
Dapster said:
Meridius said:
...like the Audi 100 Coupe,... it would seem Porsche used a few of them as 928 testbed where they were wider with a different floor and front-engined V8 RWD layout.
Proper Frankenstein's monster of a car. Built in 1974, Porsche shoe horned the V8 into the 100S shell, and had to widen the arches front and rear. The rear edge of the bonnet had to be lifted clear of the back of the engine too - you can just make out the extensions on the hinge on the top photo.
Has anyone else got any interesting test mules.
So, you probably know about the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 raced by AMG, a.k.a. the Rote Sau:
But did you know it had a second career?
When AMG retired this car, they sold it to Matra, who were looking for a fast, large vehicle to test landing gear components and/or tires for jet fighters. Apparently, no other vehicle was able to get up to the takeoff speed of a jet.
They stretched the car, and installed the test systems in the back. The bin just ahead of the rear axle contains an aircraft wheel and tyre, plus a suspension system to press the tire onto the track at varying pressure.
At the end of its useful life, the car was scrapped around 1991.
But did you know it had a second career?
When AMG retired this car, they sold it to Matra, who were looking for a fast, large vehicle to test landing gear components and/or tires for jet fighters. Apparently, no other vehicle was able to get up to the takeoff speed of a jet.
They stretched the car, and installed the test systems in the back. The bin just ahead of the rear axle contains an aircraft wheel and tyre, plus a suspension system to press the tire onto the track at varying pressure.
At the end of its useful life, the car was scrapped around 1991.
Hobbes003 said:
So, you probably know about the Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3 raced by AMG, a.k.a. the Rote Sau:
That is awesome - great find.There's a Rote Sau recreation for sale in Spain if anyone's interested... https://www.autoscout24.nl/aanbod/mercedes-benz-30...
Matt Cup said:
This is proper cool, the rear end has the look of an Alfa GTV.
Has anyone else got any interesting test mules.
Porsche mule to test a watercooled V8 front engined application from the early 90's. Note the super wide rear arches. Seen here in the Porsche MuseumHas anyone else got any interesting test mules.
Spring 1972 and an Opel Manta is pulling a Beetle up an Alpine pass....
Or is it....???
It's Porsche testing the 924 running gear
Maestro Van used as a Freelander pre production mule
Unassuming Metro Van used for the mid engine 6R4 development
944 Cab used as the Boxster mule
In order to speed up the development of the CLK GTR for the FIA GT Championship in 1997, Mercedes used a McLaren F1 mule onto which it attached the prototype CLK bodywork and their own LS600 6.0 V12 in place of the BMW V12. Mercedes didn't have a long relationship with McLaren at the time, so had to purchase chassis #11 from Larbre Compétition. The head start the McLaren gave Mercedes allowed it to get the CLK running within 5 months of conception.
F1 chassis #11 running the Mercedes bodywork
Here are a few more images of it testing at Jarama including the final one after Bernd Schneider put it in the wall. You can just see the "..enz" of Mercedes Benz on the left of the image on the backdrop.
Three years after the events at Jarama, the car emerged on the auction floor of RM Sotheby’s. The car had received a full restoration including a new BMW S70/2 V12, correct bodywork and its original Franck Muller Watch orange/black livery
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/w88jdj3/
Edited by Dapster on Friday 27th March 16:24
Matt Cup said:
This is proper cool, the rear end has the look of an Alfa GTV.
Has anyone else got any interesting test mules.
Ultimas were used as test cars for the McLaren F1 https://www.ultimasports.co.uk/History/McLarenHas anyone else got any interesting test mules.
TVR Cerberas were used as test cars for the Mercedes McLaren SLR, the big nose bonnet on the TVR turned into the F1 nosecone bonnet on the SLR https://www.tvrblog.com/tvr-cerbera-mercedes-slr-p...
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