Couldn't resist. Daihatsu Charade...Detomaso
Discussion
In a moment of madness I purchased a Daihatsu Charade a couple of days ago - a JDM Detomaso version, getting it back to Christchurch (NZ) was a bit of a mission.
The turbocharged GTti version was replaced by a more conventional GTi with an SOHC 16-valve 1.6 L engine. In the Japanese domestic market this version was named in honor of Italian ex-racing driver Alessandro deTomaso (the previous owner of Innocenti, who had worked closely with Daihatsu), including a racing-derived camshaft, and was capable of 124 PS JIS (91 kW) in the Japanese market.
1996, no rust (as NZ), 230,000k, 600 pounds - but it was 1000k away, with a ferry journey in the middle.
8am flight from Christchurch to Auckland, (9.15 arrival) - hours drive in a hire car to find it right out in the sticks. Take hire car and Detomaso back to Auckland (with stop to investigate boiling issue) - and finally setting off at 1.30 for the ferry in Wellington over 400 miles away. (went up with business partner).
The right hand front shock is completely b
ksed, which makes for interesting cornering - but apart from that the car is great fun to drive. An auto, much better for us old farts, is handy as most of the drive is single carriageway with plenty of corners.
Car boiled on the famous "desert road", but didn't take much water - looks like the electric fan doesn't work.
Anyway, had a cabin on the ferry, boarded at midnight, landed on the South Island at 6am, gentle 200 mile drive back to Christchurch.
0-60 in 7.9 secs, 43 to the gallon.
Joins a Honda Prelude INX - another JDM model - different front end with fixed headlights rather than pop ups on rest of the range.
With fixed shock will probably be a daily driver. I must be mad.
The turbocharged GTti version was replaced by a more conventional GTi with an SOHC 16-valve 1.6 L engine. In the Japanese domestic market this version was named in honor of Italian ex-racing driver Alessandro deTomaso (the previous owner of Innocenti, who had worked closely with Daihatsu), including a racing-derived camshaft, and was capable of 124 PS JIS (91 kW) in the Japanese market.
1996, no rust (as NZ), 230,000k, 600 pounds - but it was 1000k away, with a ferry journey in the middle.
8am flight from Christchurch to Auckland, (9.15 arrival) - hours drive in a hire car to find it right out in the sticks. Take hire car and Detomaso back to Auckland (with stop to investigate boiling issue) - and finally setting off at 1.30 for the ferry in Wellington over 400 miles away. (went up with business partner).
The right hand front shock is completely b
ksed, which makes for interesting cornering - but apart from that the car is great fun to drive. An auto, much better for us old farts, is handy as most of the drive is single carriageway with plenty of corners.Car boiled on the famous "desert road", but didn't take much water - looks like the electric fan doesn't work.
Anyway, had a cabin on the ferry, boarded at midnight, landed on the South Island at 6am, gentle 200 mile drive back to Christchurch.
0-60 in 7.9 secs, 43 to the gallon.
Joins a Honda Prelude INX - another JDM model - different front end with fixed headlights rather than pop ups on rest of the range.
With fixed shock will probably be a daily driver. I must be mad.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff