What kind of car is this?

[Mandelon]

I passed it today in San Diego. It was so low.
I've never seen anything like it. It was on the freeway. Was not electric.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/24moldpics_009-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/24moldpics_010-med.jpg :confused:

[HCS]

VW.

[miller19j]

It looks like some sort of British motorcar from the sixties. The front looks like a GTP car. But to be honest I have no idea>

[Mandelon]

HARDCORE-SKI:
VW. Didn't sound like a bug kit...And those air cooled engines kinda like access to some air......

[miller19j]

Mandelon:
HARDCORE-SKI:
VW. Didn't sound like a bug kit...And those air cooled engines kinda like access to some air...... Look at the back suspension. I don’t think it is an bug. I think it is some sort of British exotic.

[Duck]

How about a Lotus? The badge on the rear familiar
to anyone?

[edgey1]

It's a Lotus. Verrry British.

[GlastronGuy]

The front looks like a Lotus.

[Trash]

I'm pretty sure its a Lotus. I've seen them race at the Chrysler Classic Speed Festivals here in San Diego.

[spectras only]

I'm not sure if the car in the picture is an original or a kit.However it is the
lotus 23 model that was built between 1962-66 with a dohc 1098 cc = 100HP@7500 rpm . 4 speed close ratio vw based transaxle. 880 pounds total weight.The car sports the Goldleaf Team Lotus colours .|||The best version was the 23 B 1594 cc lotus ford twin cam with hewland 5 speed gearbox.
[ March 27, 2003, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: spectras only ]

[HOSS]

Looks like a red and white piece of shit to me.

[spectras only]

Mandelon, the
lotus Europa [ I almost bought one new in 1972]is lower than the 23 .We have a guy here that has one with a chev 4.3 in it.Scary fast eek!

[DaveA]

spectras only:
Mandelon, the
lotus Europa [ I almost bought one new in 1972]is lower than the 23 .We have a guy here that has one with a chev 4.3 in it.Scary fast eek! Holy Smokes! A 4.3 in a Europa??? I had a TwinCam John Player Spl for a few years, and that thing was quick

[THATJEFFGUY]

You're right...its a Lotus Model 23. Even though they look like a little piece of shit, the originals are worth between 60,000-80,000.

[Tim_T]

shaguar!

[spectras only]

Hey Hoss ,two of my buddies have Lotus super sevens .One is an original [1968],the other one is a Caterham with the 2000 DOHC toyota engine ,[150HP/800 pound car]that would give you more thrill on a winding road :p than my Challenger 340 did back in the seventies ,hehe.

[DogHouse]

HOSS:
Looks like a red and white piece of shit to me. Trolling for some action on a slow night?
:rolleyes:

[DaveA]

DaveA:
spectras only:
Mandelon, the
lotus Europa [ I almost bought one new in 1972]is lower than the 23 .We have a guy here that has one with a chev 4.3 in it.Scary fast eek! Holy Smokes! A 4.3 in a Europa??? I had a TwinCam John Player Spl for a few years, and that thing was quick The Europa TC was only 47" tall- it was cool to drive under parked tractor trailers and chained-off areas and parking lots that kept other cruisers out. You leaned way back in the seat, almost semi-reclined.
The funny thing (and you may recall this Spectras only) is that it was originally designed as a kit racer (the model 47) and when they tried to mass produce it, the reliability wasn't much better than a typical kit car in some cases. There were parts on that thing from Ford, Renault, Jaguar, MG, and of course, the Prince of Darkness, Lucas Electrical systems. But it was a real chick magnet back in the Seventies- tho my wife (then girlfriend) really didn't care much for it because it was typical English (work on it for 3 days, and get to drive it for 3 hours).

[midmagic]

It's not a Suburban!

[smalls]

It is four lug in front and five lug inthe rear,,,, Must have two different spare tires ????????????

[spectras only]

DaveA, the first europa I saw was back in sometime 1966-7 with the renault engine.I was underneath my buddy's 1928 Fiat Balilla [hello Fiat48 :D ] roadster to fix something when suddenly heard the scream of the engine of that car from the distance.I couldn't get out fast enough to see the car in full view until later at a race track. I used to have a 63 Alpine III ]hardtop/soft top] twin zeniths model with header and 4 speed with O/D .Lots of fun ,but always dreamed of having a tiger instead. I have a 96 mustang GT conv now ,but looking forward to see the aston martinish 04 stang wink ,preferably with S/C :D .

[Kilrtoy]

A DEATH TRAP

[Mandelon]

spectras only:
I'm not sure if the car in the picture is an original or a kit.However it is the
lotus 23 model that was built between 1962-66 with a dohc 1098 cc = 100HP@7500 rpm . 4 speed close ratio vw based transaxle. 880 pounds total weight.The car sports the Goldleaf Team Lotus colours .|||The best version was the 23 B 1594 cc lotus ford twin cam with hewland 5 speed gearbox. Yes, boys and girls....here is a man who knows his cars...... :cool: Thanks!

[HavasuDreamin']

I'd hate to get hit by the Dodge Ram in front of it. eek! Looks like a death trap to me. :o

[Seadog]

Actually that is a six lug rear wheels, if I remember right. During my SCCA days, I saw a few of those. My dream car was the DeTomasa Pantera with the 351C and ZF tranny.

[Kim Hanson]

HOSS:
Looks like a red and white piece of shit to me. Too,funny.......( . )( . ).... :D

[MJ19]

midmagic:
It's not a Suburban! LOL....looks like a messy accident (aka death trap) to me :rolleyes:

[gnarley]

Definitly a Lotus & a Type 23 at that! I 've been a round a few working on vintage race cars & a former Jaguar/British Leyland mechanic, They are a blast to drive!
Engine: Lotus Twin Cam 1498cc
Gearbox: Renault or VW 4speed
Chassis: Multitubular Space Frame
Front Suspension: Double Wishbones and Coil Spring / Damper Units.
Rear Suspension: reversed lower wishbones, unsplined halfshafts providing traverse location, twin radius rods, and Coil Spring / Damper Units.
Wheelbase: 7 ft. 6 in.
Front Track: 4 ft. 3.5 in.
Rear Track: 4 ft. 2 in.
Length: 11 ft. 7 in.
Width: 4 ft. 9 in.
Weight: 790 lbs.

[Cole]

Gnarley..have you ever worked on E-TYPEs..i have a 68 jag that needs some head work!!
There is also a 65 E-TYPE that i can pick up...i was thinking for vintage racing...however needs some serious work!!!!

[MJ19]

gnarley:
Weight: 790 lbs. Like I said...death trap...give me a suburban any day :p wink :D

[Wet Dream]

Gotta be British, its a right hand drive.

[spectras only]

Hey Gnarly , I quote 800 pounds with the spare tire :p included. Since you're a limey car buff ,I let you know when we have the 1929 Austin 7 supercharged Brooklyn racer finished :D .

[gnarley]

Cole:
Gnarley..have you ever worked on E-TYPEs..i have a 68 jag that needs some head work!!
There is also a 65 E-TYPE that i can pick up...i was thinking for vintage racing...however needs some serious work!!!! I've worked on MANY, MANY E's C's, D's & 12 cylinders to! I know them in my sleep. What is it 3.8, should be a 4.2 & probably a dual carb setup since the 3 carbs are harder to find. If it runs listen closely at idle for a tappet like noise, the heads are notorious for cam follower buckets coming loose in the head on the exh side & should be outfitted with a hold down kit if not already installed.
Just remember Lucas is the prince of darkness

[OC-PARTYCAT]

look at the plate( I love my 23) :) That girl or guy driving it looks like me when I get into the car after my wifes been drivin...seat all the way up and steering wheel in the chest
[ March 28, 2003, 10:12 AM: Message edited by: OC-PARTYCAT ]

[spectras only]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gnarley:remember Lucas is the prince of darkness Gnarley , I feel your pain :D .However my 1947 Norton starts up first kick with it's original Lucas magdyno :p , and my 1958 Matchless no different with the lucas coil ignition.However I had to cover the distributor on my 1972 Mini Cooper S with a plastic bag from water splashing in it when it rained.My friend has a 87 Jaguar 12 cyl sjc [cabrio with the removable hardtop]and it has tons of problem due to engineering .Like putting the computer in the trunk where condensation occurs and wreaks havoc with the variable potentiometer that's calibrating it.Hopefully the new jags [designed by ford :p :p :p ]addressed these issues.He's car is beatiful and like new ,but I wouldn't want it if he would give it to me for free :D .
[ March 28, 2003, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: spectras only ]

[gnarley]

spectras only:
Hey Gnarly , I quote 800 pounds with the spare tire :p included. Since you're a limey car buff ,I let you know when we have the 1929 Austin 7 supercharged Brooklyn racer finished :D . Who has the spare in it when racing? I guess I am a bit of a brit buff also. When I was 14 I was driving our Austin America without my parents knowing until I got my license & my own car & sister had an Austin 1100. That little Austin 7 should be really nice & RARE, how many were built with S/C’s? Is it going to be shown?
You know why the brit's drink warm beer???
Lucas built the fridges :D
But a warning to travelers who know anything about Lucas. They no longer build electrics for cars, they now build the electrics for the British Air Bus planes eek! I don't want to fly on one knowing that.
Don't get me started on the 80's Jag's, the newer Ford Jag's are way better in quality, something was lost in the transfer in ownership & that one of a kind hand built quality is gone. I've worked on more S type's electrical/tune up than I care to remember, not to mention other wonderful problems.
[ March 28, 2003, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: gnarley ]

[spectras only]

I think there's only 12 left in the world and it's a blue book car with racing history. My friend wants to race it in the vintage class here at mission raceway ,where you see awesome cars from all over the country and the ole USA .The problem is to find cars in his class since the small displacement [700cc class].I'll post pictures when it's done.It has a polished alumin[i]um wink S/C .It's been a 3 year project so far to make the car 100% authentic. Since you are interested in old iron, I'm wondering if you've heard of the streamliners of the now check republic.Another buddy of mine collects oddball cars like citroens ,messershmidts and the like,but one that truly stands out is a 1939 Tatra 87 .There were only 300 made between 1933 and 1948 .These cars were designed way before the Tucker was even a thought wink .When we drive this car around here ,it almost causing accidents because of the young asian drivers with their cars rubbernecking :D .These cars came with an aircooled rear engined "OHC V-8" engine , central lubricating system and three headlights ,one in the middle like the tucker . BTW Hans Ledvinka [Tatra designer] was the engineer behind vw beetle and the 356 porsche ,but it was Ferdinand and son who succeeded.
[ March 28, 2003, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: spectras only ]

[gnarley]

I know a little about the European streamliners. I helped restore a Black 1937 Talbot Lago T150 SS that was found on the beach at Normandy burned to the ground. It also is 1 of only a few in the world. It won the Moet Chandon Champagne award at Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance back around 1984? I forget what year for sure but boy did we drink the Champagne on the greens after that!

[Hermosa]

it's a Lotus, but looks like an old Bradly GT.

[ROZ]

Lotus 23