dallashistory

Sorry for the confusion Clyde.

Sunbeam had a whole line of cars including a two-seater sports car called the Alpine. The Alpine name goes back to the 1950s. The car Grace Kelly drove in "To Catch a Thief" was an Alpine.
A Sunbeam Alpine.
In the 1960s Sunbeam shoehorned a small block Ford V8 into an Alpine and called it the Tiger.
A Sunbeam Alpine and the Sunbeam Tiger use the same platform with few outward differences.

I didn't use the name Sunbeam Tiger because it sounds like some sort of kitchen appliance.

There was a French auto builder named Alpine that produced the Renault-powered A110, one of the best and most successful rally cars of the mid-20th century.

Hope that clears things up some.

Mike

I'm sure you're talking about some long past event!

Oh for sure. I doubt I could even get into a SUNBEAM Alpine Tiger now and if I could no way in heck I ever get out.

You know, we have strict forum rules concerning PUI.

Bad boys, bad boys
Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do
When they come for you

Ronnie wrote:Sorry for the confusion Clyde.

Sunbeam had a whole line of cars including a two-seater sports car called the Alpine. The Alpine name goes back to the 1950s. The car Grace Kelly drove in "To Catch a Thief" was an Alpine.
A Sunbeam Alpine.
In the 1960s Sunbeam shoehorned a small block Ford V8 into an Alpine and called it the Tiger.
A Sunbeam Alpine and the Sunbeam Tiger use the same platform with few outward differences.

I didn't use the name Sunbeam Tiger because it sounds like some sort of kitchen appliance.

There was a French auto builder named Alpine that produced the Renault-powered A110, one of the best and most successful rally cars of the mid-20th century.

Hope that clears things up some.

I recall seeing the Tiger at the Fair, side-by-side with the Alpine, and the only obvious difference was the badge. Until you opened the hood....

I know about the French Alpine, different critter entirely

I've driven Alpines a couple of times, but never a Tiger. I'm told that the Tiger was a bear to work on because of very tight quarters in the engine bay (certainly LOOKS tight) and that it was pretty nose-heavy and took careful handling.

Clyde

I'm told that the Tiger was a bear to work on because of very tight quarters in the engine bay (certainly LOOKS tight)

It may have been a little tight under the hood but that goes with the territory. When you're young you never ask "Is it easy to work on?" when you buy a car.
When you're young that is.

and that it was pretty nose-heavy and took careful handling

.


I got into this with someone on the old Dallas history board. Any performance car should be carefully driven and while the Tiger wasn't as balanced as the Cobra it wasn't all that hard to handle. It had no power assisted brakes or steering and required a modicum of strength and vigilance to drive but all real sports cars do. That was fun for me of owning a sports car.
To paraphrase Jimmy Dugan, It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't anyone could do it.

Well, if you want a need for understanding your car and a requirement for being REAL careful, try a 356-series Porsche or one of the original 300-SLs with a single pivot swing axle IRS. They would swap ends with very little warning.

By all historical accounts, the mid-engine Auto union racers of the 1930s were VERY hard to handle and very few could develop the required skills (Adam might be a potential - teh guys who did well in the big Auto Unions mostly came out of motorcycle racing instead of driving race cars).

i know about not caring about how hard it is to work on when you are young. Uncle taught me better...

So many nifty vehicles out there, so little time and money.

What would you guys think about trying to restore one of these?

http://www.francethisway.com/top10lists ... iccars.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P107

http://ww2armor.jexiste.fr/FrenchTanks/ ... tracks.htm

http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/fran ... Other.html

http://www.hubertcance.com/links.php?22789

DP-2

Amphibious tank prototype, 1930. The prototype sank on it's maiden voyage.

Oops.

Speaking of tank restorations, check out this recovery of a Soviet-built T34/76A tank. It was captured by the Germans, remarked and used by them, then delibrately ran into the lake when the Russians overran them.

It sat there for 50 years before being recovered; if you read the captions of the pictures at the bottom, they claimed to be able to start the diesel engine with just a little servicing!

http://www.12mbdragoons.com/panzer/

survivingworldsteam wrote:

DP-2

Amphibious tank prototype, 1930. The prototype sank on it's maiden voyage.

Oops.

Speaking of tank restorations, check out this recovery of a Soviet-built T34/76A tank. It was captured by the Germans, remarked and used by them, then delibrately ran into the lake when the Russians overran them.

It sat there for 50 years before being recovered; if you read the captions of the pictures at the bottom, they claimed to be able to start the diesel engine with just a little servicing!

http://www.12mbdragoons.com/panzer/

Oh, make mine the Citroen DS; althought keeping that suspension working must have been as much fun as a Jaguar.

Adam... Thanks for posting those links to the pics.

We got to see just about everything the French Army had in their arsenal during the three Bastille Day Parades that we got to experience.

Your half track pictures caused me to look through some of our photos, and I found this one of the tracked artillery driving down the Champs-Élysées. They paraded everything... including a half block long wheeled and folding pontoon bridge. (I can't find, but I needed a wide angle lens for that one!)

Our apartment was only two blocks from the action... it was certainly an experience to see these 'bad boys' cruising down the street. They played hell on the cobblestone streets when they turned.

click to enlarge

Clyde

Well, if you want a need for understanding your car and a requirement for being REAL careful, try a 356-series Porsche

I've logged a lot of miles in a 356 bathtub and it handled just like you'd expect a car with it engine practically hanging on the rear bumper to handle. It could be hairy at times but that's my point. The hairy part is the fun part (in so many applications in life).
If the car is too much car then drive another car.
My opinion is that the 356 was underpowered and overrated.
For my money the 550 was the first Porsche worthy of the name.

the mid-engine Auto union racers of the 1930s were VERY hard to handle

Apples and oranges. The Auto Unions were purpose-built race cars with little in common with ordinary automobiles.

Adam
Ever drive a Citroen? Talk about a weird experience. They road very smooth...too smooth, and what's up with those foot pedals?

For me the only Citroen cars worth restoring would be the Traction Avant and the 2CV (not picture).
Nothing about the others appeal to me, not even the SM with its buzzy Maserati engine.

Well, I learned to drive in a '56 Plymouth with a 2 speed Powerflite push button automatic. Then Dad got a VW bug, 1960 model. Four speed stick, and I learned to make that go the way it was supposed to. If you pushed the old original Beetles, with the rear weight bias and the true swing axles, it could get interesting. Just like a Porsche except with a higher center of gravity.

I don't know that the 356s were over-rated, given what a knowledgeable driver could do with one, but they could unquestionably have used more power, at least in most of the models. I do think that some of the Porsche reputation for performance came from the number of people who got over their heads by not understanding the handling - they THOUGHT they were driving real fast, when they weren't, not really.

If I had a huge amount of money, I might like a DS, preferably the DS-21 Pallas, i think. But it would have to have the hydraulic system gone though by somebody who understands that sort of thing and every line and fitting replaced with modern lines and fittings and gaskets. They are pretty neat, and fast. Have it painted a brown to match the shape and make a true "road roach" (which is what we called them when i was in GErmany - but they were respected as fast and comfortable highway cruisers).

The Traction Avants, yeah I'd like one of those. Need to be one of the late six cylinder models though, to gain adequate performance. 2CVs and Fiat Topolinos and such = no thanks.

Quote:
"Adam. Ever drive a Citroen? Talk about a weird experience."

Yeah, back in 1960 in Austin, Texas. Fellow student had one, or rather his mom did that we used to "borrow" to go drinking. I was the designated driver, because I could usually hold my liquor (I only hit that one telephone pole when I was a senior). I thought it looked neat. Can't specifically remember that much about how it drove. [There have been so many cars in my life, or maybe my judgment was clouded by the quantity of beer we were drinking.]

A local club of Citroen owners have an annual rally or get together up near my house in Massachusetts in the fall, I think. They have all the classic shapes. Nothing like seeing a dozen of them parked outside a restaurant (or stopped for repairs alongside the road).

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ci ... tnG=Google
+Search

Quote:
"Pierre-Jules Boulanger's early 1930s design brief – said by some to be astonishingly radical for the time – was for a low-priced, rugged "umbrella on four wheels" that would enable two peasants to drive 100 kg (220 lb) of farm goods to market at 60 km/h (37 mph), in clogs and across muddy unpaved roads if necessary. France at that time had a very large rural population, who had not yet adopted the automobile, due to its cost. The car would use no more than 3 litres of gasoline to travel 100 km. Most famously, it would be able to drive across a ploughed field without breaking the eggs it was carrying. Boulanger later also had the roof raised to allow him to drive while wearing a hat."

Sharon Marsalis wrote:I don't have a clue what you guys are talking about

However I love James' story of his Blue Goose. Remember our long rambling thread (now gone, I think) where I told Ronnie that we name our cars? I am glad to be reminded that in this world of mechanics, science and technology the human element of love and commitment is still there---love the Blue Goose story!

Thanks, Sharon; I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Since we got it back, I have found out the coolant leak was nothing more than the two hoses that connect the heater core to the heater bypass on the engine. Loosening and re-tightening the clamps fixed the leak, total cost, $0.00.

When we added it to our insurance, we were "horrified" to find out that it raised our rates ... by $0.40 a month.

Had two new tires on the front; the front tires were nearly bald and looked like racing slicks. After that, I took it to another place to have it inspected. Their mechanic put it up on the rack, and found the exhaust leak was a crack in the pipe between the two catalyic converters. Apparently, they got too rough with the exhaust system while replacing the motor, and nearly broke the pipe in two. Only a tiny sliver of metal was holding it together; he went ahead and welded it back together. They also had the rollers and tailpipe probe needed to test post-1996 cars (with newer cars, they just plug into the car's computer to run the test.) It passed with flying colors; total cost, about $80.00.

In my drives back and forth to work, I noticed the cruise control didn't work (yes it does, says my wife.) Then, my wife and son told me last Sunday night the horn doesn't work (yes it does, I say.)

It doesn't, so I pull the owner's manual out, and see that it is on the same fuse as the cigerette lighter. I drop the fuse box, grab the fuse and it nearly burns my fingers! Turns out when we got the car back and I was cleaning up the inside, I noticed the wire to the cigerette lighter was hanging loose. I plugged it in and forgot about it; big mistake as it turns out there is a short (my wife says a penny) in it. I pulled the wire, and both the cruise control and horn work again. I thank God it didn't start a fire.

I fixed a few squeaks by wrapping electrical tape around the striker plates (the bolts on the body that the door and tailgate lock onto.) I'm going to take it back to City Motor Supply on Thursday, and see if they can turn the idle up a little bit. It idles so slow that the oil light flickers (oil pump not turning fast enough to make enough pressure), and turning the wheel stalls the engine out (power steering pump.) It is my understanding on newer cars you can't just turn an idle screw; you have to program the computer instead.

That only leaves the A/C; I read that it may have the new system already installed instead of Freon-12. I also need to have the transmission fluid and filter and the gasoline filter changed; all three are original from the factory, I believe.

Here's the Blue Goose at home, in better shape than it was before the hurricane:



If all goes according to plan, we will buy one of those cargo ("xcargo") carriers to put on the luggage rack, and use it for road trips. There is plenty of room for all six of us, and the luggage will stay dry in the carrier. And it burns less gas than the trucks do.

http://tinyurl.com/dndnd8

Lovely ... and especially when in turquoise

http://www.dallasclassicchevy.com/

My first (very simple) posting here ~ hope that's okay

Cedar wrote:http://tinyurl.com/dndnd8

Lovely ... and especially when in turquoise

http://www.dallasclassicchevy.com/

My first (very simple) posting here ~ hope that's okay

Holly;

Welcome!!! Ya did good!

My older son is following in my footsteps in his love for 1950s cars; has a model of a red '57 Belair on a shelf in his room.

This video goes back a few years, but I just discovered it on Facebook and thought I might share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mppMPqfe1FY

Seems that I'll soon be getting a new baby sister ~ she's a 1963 Chevrolet Impala ... all done up in red, just like our big sis, Peggy Sue (1957 Chevy Belaire). It will be great being a middle child, finally ... I think (but I'm not sure that Dad will trust me -- or Mom -- enough to fill 'er up, much less to drive the baby )

These antique-car folks need to take a hint from old-house lovers ... who manage somehow actually to live in their prizes

survivingworldsteam wrote:

Cedar wrote:http://tinyurl.com/dndnd8

Lovely ... and especially when in turquoise

http://www.dallasclassicchevy.com/

My first (very simple) posting here ~ hope that's okay

Holly;

Welcome!!! Ya did good!

My older son is following in my footsteps in his love for 1950s cars; has a model of a red '57 Belair on a shelf in his room.

James, I may not have shared here before that my dad is very much into old cars ~ and welcomes the input and company of like enthusiasts. Here is his 'Peggy Sue' ~ though on road-route rather than at pause with her hood opened and such.

Cedar wrote:

survivingworldsteam wrote:

Cedar wrote:http://tinyurl.com/dndnd8

Lovely ... and especially when in turquoise

http://www.dallasclassicchevy.com/

My first (very simple) posting here ~ hope that's okay

Holly;

Welcome!!! Ya did good!

My older son is following in my footsteps in his love for 1950s cars; has a model of a red '57 Belair on a shelf in his room.

James, I may not have shared here before that my dad is very much into old cars ~ and welcomes the input and company of like enthusiasts. Here is his 'Peggy Sue' ~ though on road-route rather than at pause with her hood opened and such.

Wow, my son would love to see that in person, and so would I.

A red '57 Chevy. Hard to beat that!

Dad cruises with the Dallas Area Classic Chevys and enters 'Peggie Sue' in some shows. Will pass the word along should I hear that there's an upcoming event! Dad would love to tell you and your family all about this ol' Chevy girl; maybe even take your son for a ride

BEAUTIFUL CAR Love the wheels The chrome exhaust tips are a nice touch