RE: Pic Of The Week: Top 5 Driver's Cars 'Ever'
Discussion
pmsl at chitty chitty bang bang best PH laugh Ive had for ages well done that man!
Original Elan sprint, yes a sublime drivers car; Lotus, like Alfa have been making mechanics out of drivers for decades and are still at it!! (incoming.....)
I do think the 911 changed the sports car world for ever and is probably the most influential and also consistantly at the forefront of real world, useable sports car performance for the last 40 years; imagine trying to use a (gorgeous)246 Dino as a daily driver, or an original twincam Elan (8 hour water pump seal job at 20,000 sir?)
Original Elan sprint, yes a sublime drivers car; Lotus, like Alfa have been making mechanics out of drivers for decades and are still at it!! (incoming.....)
I do think the 911 changed the sports car world for ever and is probably the most influential and also consistantly at the forefront of real world, useable sports car performance for the last 40 years; imagine trying to use a (gorgeous)246 Dino as a daily driver, or an original twincam Elan (8 hour water pump seal job at 20,000 sir?)
Elan doesnt surprise me at all - wonderful car.
As for the 8C - I guess there looking at things relatively - it will have been (i am assuming) the height of performance when it was contemporary.
And I bet even now, something like that must be absolutely epic to drive and incredibly involving.
As for the 8C - I guess there looking at things relatively - it will have been (i am assuming) the height of performance when it was contemporary.
And I bet even now, something like that must be absolutely epic to drive and incredibly involving.
hesnotthemessiah said:
Nice bunch of cars. Good choices. 
As above though, not sure about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But then that just highlights my lack of all-round knowledge where cars are concerned.
I wonder when we will get the inevitable PH reply.....where's the MX5 or Cerb?
Try driving a pre-1930 sports car and you might get it... Seriously, nothing else compares.As above though, not sure about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But then that just highlights my lack of all-round knowledge where cars are concerned.
I wonder when we will get the inevitable PH reply.....where's the MX5 or Cerb?
of those cars I've only ever driven the rs and I have to say they got it spot on. the most rewarding car to drive, ever. I have never had so much fun driving a car on public roads. so much more involving than any modern car. If I could pick any car to drive for the sake of driving, it would be an rs.
Well, this brings back memories for me. Enlarged the picture and looked at the reg on the winner. GIA 6. A car that brought me the most enourmous fun and satisfaction. One of the very first lightweights in the UK it was originally owned by Belfast Porsche dealer Isaac Agnew and used for a couple of events by their Sales Manager Reggie McSpadden. It was then bought by my good friend Ronnie McCartney and the first event we did was the 1974 Circuit of Ireland in which we finished 2nd overall. Ronnie loved driving sideways and the Esler Crawford picture shows him on his trademark opposite lock on a slippery T junction. 
Immediately before that event we had taken the car to the Firestone European Championship rally in Spain without service crew or any assistance. Two roof racks carried the spare tyres to Spain and during the event Billy Coleman's crew carried them for us. Unfortunately a driveshaft broke when lying third and that put us out. It went to Autofarm to get fixed and I drive it back to Northern Ireland for the Circuit. The Carlisle-Stranraer road was much more challenging in the seventies than now and a deviation through New Galloway made it even better in this stunning car, especially at 25 years old. We did many other events in the car with numerous wins.
Ronnie and I actually have another claim to fame where 2.7 RS Porsches are concerned. In March 1973, one year before aquiring GIA6, Ronnie purchased the first RS Touring to come into Ireland, a purple car GIA 444, and we were the first crew in the world to compete in a rally in one of these cars in a small Omagh Motor Club road rally prior to that year's Circuit of Ireland.
Since those halcycon days I have been lucky to co-drive in many Porsches, often with Ronnie's brother Dessie in his 3 litre example, the most recent event with him being on the Killarney Lakes Rally a couple of years ago. In the seventies Dessie also had a 2.7RS lightweight, a beautiful lemon car which is now owned by Richard Jackson. Dessie and I once did a Championship road rally in the car in the lanes of Co Down. Nothing, not even the best Escorts, got near us.
In slightly older Porsches, generally the 1965 short wheelbase 911S, I have had good results too, winning the Killarney Historic in 2003 with Steve Perez of VK fame and on this year's Historic Ulster Rally finished 5th Historic with Rikki Proffitt in his stunning red example. Wonderful, wonderful cars.
Immediately before that event we had taken the car to the Firestone European Championship rally in Spain without service crew or any assistance. Two roof racks carried the spare tyres to Spain and during the event Billy Coleman's crew carried them for us. Unfortunately a driveshaft broke when lying third and that put us out. It went to Autofarm to get fixed and I drive it back to Northern Ireland for the Circuit. The Carlisle-Stranraer road was much more challenging in the seventies than now and a deviation through New Galloway made it even better in this stunning car, especially at 25 years old. We did many other events in the car with numerous wins.
Ronnie and I actually have another claim to fame where 2.7 RS Porsches are concerned. In March 1973, one year before aquiring GIA6, Ronnie purchased the first RS Touring to come into Ireland, a purple car GIA 444, and we were the first crew in the world to compete in a rally in one of these cars in a small Omagh Motor Club road rally prior to that year's Circuit of Ireland.
Since those halcycon days I have been lucky to co-drive in many Porsches, often with Ronnie's brother Dessie in his 3 litre example, the most recent event with him being on the Killarney Lakes Rally a couple of years ago. In the seventies Dessie also had a 2.7RS lightweight, a beautiful lemon car which is now owned by Richard Jackson. Dessie and I once did a Championship road rally in the car in the lanes of Co Down. Nothing, not even the best Escorts, got near us.
In slightly older Porsches, generally the 1965 short wheelbase 911S, I have had good results too, winning the Killarney Historic in 2003 with Steve Perez of VK fame and on this year's Historic Ulster Rally finished 5th Historic with Rikki Proffitt in his stunning red example. Wonderful, wonderful cars.
I have received my copy of the magazine today. The E30 M3 doesn`t even make the top 25 which was a real surprise given how much has been written about it over the years.
As good as an Alfa 8C is, how many of the people who influenced this survey have actually driven one to be able to form a judgement that it is the 4th best drivers car ever produced?
As good as an Alfa 8C is, how many of the people who influenced this survey have actually driven one to be able to form a judgement that it is the 4th best drivers car ever produced?
Lead said:
As good as an Alfa 8C is, how many of the people who influenced this survey have actually driven one to be able to form a judgement that it is the 4th best drivers car ever produced?
A reasonable question, I don't know the answer. Is it more or fewer than the number of PHers who don't think it is the 4th best?Oddball RS said:
Hmmm nice group, i think for moving the driving experience on the most in a single step though it has to be the mini.
I think you might be right. Hang that I think the mag would be right if the title were changed to 'top ten cars ever' as decided by your mother in law.Honestly, with the possible exception of the elan, its a group of cars anyones mother would pick out even if she'd never driven them.
perscott said:
Well, this brings back memories for me. Enlarged the picture and looked at the reg on the winner. GIA 6. A car that brought me the most enourmous fun and satisfaction. One of the very first lightweights in the UK it was originally owned by Belfast Porsche dealer Isaac Agnew and used for a couple of events by their Sales Manager Reggie McSpadden. It was then bought by my good friend Ronnie McCartney and the first event we did was the 1974 Circuit of Ireland in which we finished 2nd overall. Ronnie loved driving sideways and the Esler Crawford picture shows him on his trademark opposite lock on a slippery T junction.
Immediately before that event we had taken the car to the Firestone European Championship rally in Spain without service crew or any assistance. Two roof racks carried the spare tyres to Spain and during the event Billy Coleman's crew carried them for us. Unfortunately a driveshaft broke when lying third and that put us out. It went to Autofarm to get fixed and I drive it back to Northern Ireland for the Circuit. The Carlisle-Stranraer road was much more challenging in the seventies than now and a deviation through New Galloway made it even better in this stunning car, especially at 25 years old. We did many other events in the car with numerous wins.
Ronnie and I actually have another claim to fame where 2.7 RS Porsches are concerned. In March 1973, one year before aquiring GIA6, Ronnie purchased the first RS Touring to come into Ireland, a purple car GIA 444, and we were the first crew in the world to compete in a rally in one of these cars in a small Omagh Motor Club road rally prior to that year's Circuit of Ireland.
Since those halcycon days I have been lucky to co-drive in many Porsches, often with Ronnie's brother Dessie in his 3 litre example, the most recent event with him being on the Killarney Lakes Rally a couple of years ago. In the seventies Dessie also had a 2.7RS lightweight, a beautiful lemon car which is now owned by Richard Jackson. Dessie and I once did a Championship road rally in the car in the lanes of Co Down. Nothing, not even the best Escorts, got near us.
In slightly older Porsches, generally the 1965 short wheelbase 911S, I have had good results too, winning the Killarney Historic in 2003 with Steve Perez of VK fame and on this year's Historic Ulster Rally finished 5th Historic with Rikki Proffitt in his stunning red example. Wonderful, wonderful cars.
Immediately before that event we had taken the car to the Firestone European Championship rally in Spain without service crew or any assistance. Two roof racks carried the spare tyres to Spain and during the event Billy Coleman's crew carried them for us. Unfortunately a driveshaft broke when lying third and that put us out. It went to Autofarm to get fixed and I drive it back to Northern Ireland for the Circuit. The Carlisle-Stranraer road was much more challenging in the seventies than now and a deviation through New Galloway made it even better in this stunning car, especially at 25 years old. We did many other events in the car with numerous wins.
Ronnie and I actually have another claim to fame where 2.7 RS Porsches are concerned. In March 1973, one year before aquiring GIA6, Ronnie purchased the first RS Touring to come into Ireland, a purple car GIA 444, and we were the first crew in the world to compete in a rally in one of these cars in a small Omagh Motor Club road rally prior to that year's Circuit of Ireland.
Since those halcycon days I have been lucky to co-drive in many Porsches, often with Ronnie's brother Dessie in his 3 litre example, the most recent event with him being on the Killarney Lakes Rally a couple of years ago. In the seventies Dessie also had a 2.7RS lightweight, a beautiful lemon car which is now owned by Richard Jackson. Dessie and I once did a Championship road rally in the car in the lanes of Co Down. Nothing, not even the best Escorts, got near us.
In slightly older Porsches, generally the 1965 short wheelbase 911S, I have had good results too, winning the Killarney Historic in 2003 with Steve Perez of VK fame and on this year's Historic Ulster Rally finished 5th Historic with Rikki Proffitt in his stunning red example. Wonderful, wonderful cars.
Mark Hales seemed to like the 8C in Into The Red so perhaps it deserves a mention. It's not that slow and besides they've most likely defined driver's cars as more about feel than speed otherwise the big mac would be the oldest car in the top 5. Still, I'm surprised to find the 8C (and the F1 and the Mini) in the top 5 above a 250 GTO though. I'll have to read the article to get a full picture of course.
cliogen said:
I agree that the Lotus elan and particularly the 'sprint' was one of my very favourite possessions until the 1st baby arrived.
I exchanged it for a 3 litre ford capri and absolutely hated it after the superb performance of the sprint. It seemed like it could only go in a straight line compared to the sprint.
Tony
Yep the sprint was a great car, mine was a fixed head, you could jump out of a traffic queue and zap back in 10 cars up stream before anyone could blink. Went onto a Europa special JPS black with gold pipeing last 50 chassis on a 'N' plate, this was also the later big valve engine but had the 5 speed box, what a great mid engine car that was, loads of fun and breakdowns...I exchanged it for a 3 litre ford capri and absolutely hated it after the superb performance of the sprint. It seemed like it could only go in a straight line compared to the sprint.
Tony
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