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South African Muscle Cars

Started by Grant V, 21 September 2007, 08:14 AM

Grant V

I found quite a comprehensive site about South African muscle cars, including Holdens, Valiants etc.

My father was approached by Chrysler in the early 70's to try out the Valiant charger for racing and I remember the test session quite clearly at Kyalami when I was probably only 5 years old. It's one of those obscure clear memories....Anyway, turned out that the Charger was no racing car. Funny that! Probably handled like blancmange.

http://images.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://www.africanmusclecars.com/canam_v8.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.africanmusclecars.com/ChevFirenzaCanAm.html&h=307&w=390&sz=31&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=B31PxK6NSqyvmM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3DChev%2BFirenza%2BCanAm%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
"You've bought another bloody car?!? We should have you committed!" he shrieked, storming out of the room

s class

And when I was young I had the opportunity to get all the go faster bits from a XR3 perana, but no bucks.  How I wish I had those bits now for my XR3.


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

alabbasi

That has some of my favorite UK cars but with monster engines. Love the Granada and Capri V8's and the 2 liter escort.
How cool! I wonder of many of those cars are still around.
With best regards

Al
Dallas, TX USA.

John Hubertz

Yep...  vintage muscle was interesting.

But you know, that is what is so appealing about the 116 - during an era of frightful build quality worldwide (I had a several English Ford Capri (sold as Mercury here) and you couldn't keep the steering rack in the damn things - not to mention the Volkswagens and even toyotas with rust at all critical points due to welds not being properly sealed), marginal handling, terrible performance unless applied by brute force/cubic inches etc etc, the Benz consistently was a true driver's car.

If you really want to appreciate the 116, I suggest the following:

Drive a full-size sedan of any other brand of the same year

Drive a performance car - I suggest a 911, as it was the best

Drive a luxury vehicle - I suppose in Europe that would be a Jag or a big Opel?  Here it would be a cad or lincoln

Then get out, and walk about 20 feet, and turn and look really carefully at the car you drove, preferably with the 116 parked next to it.

Appearance, fit and finish, driveability and handling - those are the things that set our cars apart.  You really cannot appreciate the impact of the 116 until you realize what state of the art was in the 70s.



John Hubertz
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
(Hunter S. Thompson) 

1977 450SEL (Max Headroom)
[img width=68 height=73][url="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg"]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg[/url][/img]

Danny Berry

If any SA blokes have a spare Alfa GTV6 3.0 going spare, I'd gladly take it off their hands!
The silly Vauxhall Viva (Chevy Can-Am) V8 would be a giggle over here too!

Grant V

Danny, there's one for sale at a classic car dealer in Johannesburg: www.hamptons.co.za. Cheap if your paying in Pounds - a mere GBP5 700.
"You've bought another bloody car?!? We should have you committed!" he shrieked, storming out of the room

s class

Danny I colleague of mine has a low-miles GTV3.0 that he is considering selling.  Its not for sale yet, he's mulling it over.


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL