RE: Bitter SC: Spotted

[pycraft]

In the background of the first picture, you can see next week's Shed.

[soxboy]

Renncamper said:

MCBrowncoat said:

I like the look of these, didn't one feature as a readers car of the week a while back?

Also, it gives us a a fun game - dah dah daaaah dah daaaaaahh it's the guess those rear light clusters game folks!!

Lancia Beta Montecarlo?

And Fiat X1/9 and Lotus Esprit S1

[R400TVR]

Does this earn the prize for worst exhaust pipe? This surely would be far better with one each side, if not two each side.

[mhurley]

R400TVR said:

Does this earn the prize for worst exhaust pipe? This surely would be far better with one each side, if not two each side.

Rover SDI surely would take the prize?

[Plug Life]

It's almost as ugly as a Bristol which is quite a feat.

[Shakermaker]

Black S2K said:

Not entirely - it's still a GM lump.

The far simpler choice would be the Irmscher 3.9 stroker kit, which was an option at the time.

Simpler to do, but not simpler to source. There can't be many of the Irmscher engines going "spare" compared to the number of Chevrolet V8s.

[R400TVR]

mhurley said:

Rover SDI surely would take the prize?

It'd be close! Both need a nice quad system, or in this case, something follows the rear underbody, like a DeTomaso Pantera.

[tog]

Black S2K said:

rodericb said:

Would it be sacrilegious to imagine one of those with a Chev LSX376 in it?

Not entirely - it's still a GM lump.

The far simpler choice would be the Irmscher 3.9 stroker kit, which was an option at the time.

The 3.9 is the one to have, manual if you can find one. It was done by Mantzel through, not Irmscher. Being a long stroke motor it is wonderfully torquey.

There are some around with V8 conversions, but it is far from straightforward. You could more easily fit a Senior 24v engine, but although more powerful it has less torque than the Biter's 3.9. Irmscher did a stroked 4-litre 24v I think, but as mentioned, finding one would be hard.

The SC is a wonderful car. Fast enough, practical, comfy, decent to drive, good looking. I had one as a daily about 12 or so years ago, the only 3.9 RHD manual built. Mine also did away with the factory exhaust and had a Irmscher sports system which sounded great.

[TR4man]

A “normal” Bitter is a rare sight indeed, but apparently they also made a convertible version.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1233613

[biggbn]

A reliable ferrari 400i? All joking aside, I love these, and the 400i for that matter.

[Cold]

I guess if you're wondering what to do with the mechanical bits of that rusty Lotus Carlton on the driveway...

[finlo]

I regularly see a silver one of these complete with a set of extention ladders on the roof!

[Wills2]

The one on the advert needed its exhaust sorting out looks like it's been take off a diesel Granada, a set of slash cut dual exits would look so much better.

[tog]

JPvanRossem said:

At least I can still get tyres (at an extraordinarily poor cost to grip ratio).

Well that's better then when I had my SC; I couldn't find correct rear tyres back then. I don't recall the size now, but I had to run slightly higher profile rears than standard.

[mhurley]

Saw a silver one of these in London a number of years ago

[Agent57]

Thought that badge on the back right said Owen.....

[StuntmanMike]

JPvanRossem said:

A previous owner of my car also had a ragtop and a four-door, all at the same time. New prices in In 1985 were £58k for the convertible (only one or two RHD made), £46k for the saloon and £39k for the coupe.

Cue gratuitous piccies from this evening's rural ambulation.

That looks much better than the featured red German Bristoly looking thing.

How was the ownership of it?

[biggbn]

StuntmanMike said:

That looks much better than the featured red German Bristoly looking thing.

How was the ownership of it?

Same car surely?

[A1VDY]

Oakman said:

MCBrowncoat said:

I like the look of these, didn't one feature as a readers car of the week a while back?

Also, it gives us a a fun game - dah dah daaaah dah daaaaaahh it's the guess those rear light clusters game folks!!

BL Austin Princess

Correct. Bitter used an abundance of BL bits. They also used Lucas (the Prince of darkness) for lighting.
Exterior door handles were from a mk4 Cortina/Granada.
Expensive for a mutt of a car.

Edited by A1VDY on Wednesday 12th August 20:41

[tog]

JPvanRossem said:

Not sure any BL bits were used. The back lights are Lancia units.

Monte Carlo rear lights, Ferrari Mondial front sidelights (on later cars).

Incidentally, I was photographing a Ferrari 512BB recently and noticed that the headlight pop-up motors appears be the same as the SC. It's a while since I sold my SC so I've not checked, but I did spend some fruitless time trying to source a new motor so was pretty sure I recognised it when I saw one on the 512.