What 70's-80's RWD Homologation Special ?

[ian2144]

At some point in the future, I will have to part with my Caterham as I'm not getting any younger. My thoughts have turned to the Homlogation Special rear wheel drive rally weapons from the 70's -80's.
My Caterham has almost 400 bhp per Ton So I'm still looking for somthing with a bit of poke. so what ever it is, it would need to be tuned a bit ?

My first thought was an Escort Mk1 or Mk2 RS 2000 but getting a bit silly on the money front.

Other contenders :- Sunbeam Ti or Lotus, Chevette HS / HSR, Droop snoot Firenza or Magnum, Viva GT, Opel Kadett Rallye or GT/E

I did have a brief encounter with a Kadett GT/E back in the early 90's. It's dog leg Getrag G/box was allways a bit of a pain.... From memory it was one of a dozen or so that were converted to right hand drive by Tony Fall.

Your Tuppence worth please.

[rallycross]

I'd take a trip over to Italy and find a good 131 Sport, preferably the rare 131 volumetrico supercharged version.

One made its way over here and sold quickly, there are none left in the UK due to rot.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Abarth-131-Volumetr...

[ian2144]

rallycross said:

I'd take a trip over to Italy and find a good 131 Sport, preferably the rare 131 volumetrico supercharged version.

One made its way over here and sold quickly, there are none left in the UK due to rot.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Abarth-131-Volumetr...

Very nice......Not sure if I could live with Left hand drive.

[Flying Phil]

Well you could go for the "Group B" rally cars - Audi quattro, Peugeot T16, Metro 6R4 etc. but they are mega rare and much much money..... Or do as I did, having looked at the Alfa Romeo 6C (2.5 litre longitudinal mid mount 12 Valve V6)




then build your own version....(3 litre transverse mid mount 24 Valve V6)

[aeropilot]

ian2144 said:

My first thought was an Escort Mk1 or Mk2 RS 2000 but getting a bit silly on the money front.

Other contenders :- Sunbeam Ti or Lotus, Chevette HS / HSR, Droop snoot Firenza or Magnum, Viva GT, Opel Kadett Rallye or GT/E

I have owned 3 x RS2000's, a Mexico, a Twin Cam, a Sunbeam Ti and a Sunbeam-Lotus in my time, had extensive drives in RS1600, Droop Snoot Firenza & HS Chevette as well.

Best bang for buck will be the Sunbeam-Lotus without a doubt.

Values starting to climb for a good one these days, but there are some right iffy cars that are being attempted to be sold for very good money.
Join the owners club first if you choose to go in that direction. Parts can be problematical though these days. No probs with engine bits (not cheap though), just everything else is an issue
Sunbeam Ti won't give you the performance you want I suspect, even though my old one had a full Group A engine and was a hoot as a road car. Ti's are rare as rocking horse manure these days though.

Escorts are top money because of parts availability and desire from the historic rally boys. Still my preference though

HS Chevette - nice, but engine parts are a nightmare to get hold of. Joing Droop Snoot Group is a must with these or the Firenza.



Dolly Sprint is an option...?

Or TR8...?

[onemorelap]

Dont know if you mean 70's to 80's or inclusive of the 80's also?

Z Datsun from the 70's?

Manta or Sierra Cosworth from the 80's??
Rarer choice but the Celica from the early 80's?

[Jezza30]

Rover Sd1 Vitesse twin plenum?????

[Yertis]

With a name like 'Ian2144' there can only be one choice surely, and it isn't RWD.

[ian2144]

The Alfa looks very smart. As for quattro's done that had both ur 10 and 20 valve versions and still a paid up member of the QOC. As for the other Group B stuff beyond budget I would think.

A TR V8 rally style, with big minilites could float my boat. SD1 and Sierra Cosworth to big. Also has to be a turn key motor, my day of crawling around under a car have long since past.

[aeropilot]

ian2144 said:

A TR V8 rally style, with big minilites could float my boat.

TR7 V8 is a good option, parts are readily available from BL Heritage places for the normal TR stuff, and Rover V8 speed bits etc are no problems getting hold of, conversions of a 4 pot TR7 isn't too big of an issue, and plenty around already done. A big-arched TR7 with a 300hp Rover V8 makes for nice noises and enough go to be very entertaining with that short wheelbase

[Alex]

I had a 131 Sport. Not fast by today's standards, but provided plenty of oversteer and had a superb gearchange.

[TurboBlue]

Plenty of Porsche 911 used as rally cars in that period. More left field would be Fiat 124 but that will be lhd.

[cptsideways]

Starion Turbo's & Celica Supra spring to mind or a GroupA Supra, not that I have ever seen the latter one in the flesh.

[ian2144]

cptsideways said:

Starion Turbo's & Celica Supra spring to mind or a GroupA Supra, not that I have ever seen the latter one in the flesh.

Allways had a soft spot for the Starion, after seing Pentti Airikkola on the RAC.

[Mark A S]

Unless you go for a 500bhp Cossie of some sort, you are not going to get near the performance of your Caterham

I fear most of what you have listed will feel Very different to what you are used to, but, I agree with aeropilot, the Lotus Sunbeam will be your best bang for buck road car, so long as you can find a good one.
A 200bhp conversion is still nice on the road, along with a quick rack, set of Bilteins, drop it at the back 1”, LSD, and some modern rubber, and your be smiling out the side windows all day long
TR8, good fun, but, a bit agricultural in a decent road spec.

However, a Mk 1 or 2 Escort with 300bhp and all the right running gear and suspension will make you look like the Joker on Nitrous!

P.S. The lotus has a ZF 5 speed dog leg G box, its great once you get used to it.

[cptsideways]

A friend has a Lotus sunbeam project that might be for sale

[Monza Phil]

HS or HSR Chevette, HP Firenza or something Manta 400 ish....

The Getrag box does take getting used to, especially if you don't use it as your only car... I've not accidentally reversed into anything.. yet.

[ian2144]

cptsideways said:

A friend has a Lotus sunbeam project that might be for sale

Thanks for that, I think I will attempt another summer with the Caterham before I jump ship.

[PDenyer]

911 , battered mine all over the place , plenty track days inc 4 at Spa , just general servicing , never let me down....


Mine

[ian2144]

[quote=PDenyer]911 , battered mine all over the place , plenty track days inc 4 at Spa , just general servicing , never let me down....

911's love them, but from a distance, I did the money pit thing with one of my ur quattro's, don't want to end up in the same boat.