Help ID-ing 70s sports car

[Mark Wibble]

I saw a car over the weekend and it's really bugging me- I'm sure I've seen it in a magazine (Octane or something) but just can't remember what it is. I'm hoping someone can identify it from a description, because I don't think there are many quite so angular! I'm sure there are hardly any around what-ever it is- might even be a one-off. Not that there won't be replicas of it somewhere.

Anyway- the car itself is just a narrow-nosed, flat wedge. And there isn't a single line that isn't completely straight. In principle it looks similar to a Porsche 917 or the old Lolas; but obviously as I said all the lines are straight. Exposed gearbox and everything at the rear, with crappy bolt-on rear lights as if from a metro or something. The headlights are housed behind a piece of perspex in a narrow up-side down triangle shape with the tip cut off (i.e. a very narrow trapezoid).

Bit of a vague description I know!!! If I see a photo I'll be able to recognise it instantly. Already browsed pages upon pages of Google images for "wedge sports car" and similar. So if anyone can save my sanity (and job if I keep browsing!) I'd appreciate it. :-)

[Chipchap]

Sounds just like an Eagle. A kit car using VW mechanicals. Could only find one poor image so far.

[E31Shrew]

Clan Crusader?

[Strawman]

Isn't that a Nova ?

[BOR]

Could be an Aston Martin Bulldog. One-off, but road registered IIRC.

[Chipchap]

Strawman said:

Isn't that a Nova ?

In South Africa they were called Eagles but who knows what they were called elsewhere.


A

[Strawman]

Chipchap said:

Strawman said:

Isn't that a Nova ?

In South Africa they were called Eagles but who knows what they were called elsewhere.


A

Ah ok, in the UK Nova (or Sterling, Eureka Kit Car)

Obviously not one of them anyway, the exposed gearbox etc. in the OP suggests a kit car of some form though.

[Chris71]

Chipchap said:

In South Africa they were called Eagles but who knows what they were called elsewhere.

A

Different companies or models I believe. Fairly sure we had both the Nova and the Eagle over here.

[Don1]

BOR said:

Could be an Aston Martin Bulldog. One-off, but road registered IIRC.

Sounds good to me.

[dylan0451]

Don1 said:

Sounds good to me.

jesus, i hope it sounds better than it looks

[Don1]

Yes, really does has a face for radio, doesn't it?

[Graham E]

i want that bulldog. 600 horse, according to memories of top trumps from 1988.
Anyways, it's an aston, and all astons are uber cool =)

[snotrag]

Marcos Mantis?

[dudleybloke]

one of sbarro's creations?

[shouldbworking]

did we get anything close yet?

AC3000 ME? (long shot I know)
Marcos Mantis?

[Graham E]

That mantis looks wk and cool in equal amounts. The design is so silly, it has to be cool.

[marcosgt]

Damn someone beat me to it - Got to be the Marcos Mantis XP hasn't it?

Amazingly practical for a roadgoing Le Mans Prototype with all that perspex.

Awesome car, even with its roadgoing Buick engine - There was talk of a replica once upon a time, but all the moulds were destroyed long ago (although the owners probably have some now since the car was restored last year).

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 4th May 19:10

[Graham E]

Practical? Imagine reversing that thing! You could take out 3 bus queues with the front overhang whilst squeezing into your space. Also, you'd never get in or out of a car park, over a speed bump, or down the M62 between the M^ and Manchester without bouncing the front end off the deck. IMO that only makes it even cooler. =)

[marcosgt]

You'd be very surprised!

It was day to day transport in LA once upon a time (even had an 8-track fitted to help drown out the noise )

Of course, they didn't have speed bumps then

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 4th May 19:21

[Graham E]

You've got one of those things?

Come up north for a run out in the peak district will you? I'll follow and take photos / drool =)