“A GUY AT WORK YEARS AGO DID A SIMILAR RESTO JOB, AND FITTED A SMALL BLOCK CHEV V8”
TOUPEE TEASERS
You may well have covered your thoughts/opinions on these Australian delivered models in past issues but doing a bit of research recently and in a bid to find an affordable ‘sporty’ morsel, I have noticed the following at seemingly cheap prices with most giving the opportunity for a bit of a ‘wind in the hair’ driving experience and being eligible for Club regional in Victoria. 1988-1992:
Toyota Supra Turbo targa (manual/auto?)
Nissan 300ZX targa (manual/auto?)
Toyota MR2 targa manual Honda’s CRX targa and possibly Honda Prelude 4WS with sunroof (manual/auto?) Mazda MX5 NA and NB manual
Mazda Eunos 800M and 800M SP and at a slightly higher price point:
Mercedes C32 AMG
CLK32 AMG Mercedes SL500 5spd auto
Really appreciate your thoughts/advice as to whether you feel these are/ will become appreciable classics if you have time to respond... thanks for reading my email!
Regards from Richard Barker St Kilda VIC
ED Nice selection of Japanese metal there, Richard, although that era wasn’t renowned as a high point in Mercedes’ history. The C32 was a good idea on paper that was executed quite poorly. You’ll see earlier C43 AMGs fetching more money than the supercharged six-banger and there’s a reason for that.
FIGHT CLUB
Right on, Glenn! Your ‘Classic Conundrum’ column really struck a chord with me. My mate has a ’50 Chev, and I have a ’57 Customline, both on club plates, and we have noticed a few vehicles not really up to club plate ‘standard’ (I think that’s the word... oh, and I’m not referring to your Sigma, it’s cool). Someone I know through work, is married to a bloke who has three or four cars, and motorbikes, on club plates, among which are a ratty Camry, and a rattier Prelude! As usual, the few are gonna stuff it up for the majority! I’ve included a photo of one example I spotted. It’s been sitting in this spot for a few months. Phil Minns
ED We all had a good chuckle at GT’s Sigma at first and have subsequently been converted. What one person deems clubworthy is clearly a matter of personal opinion. Let’s weed out the obvious rorters though.
ZEDS AND ZEROES
I’m with you on that 240Z body shape being one of the best to come out of Japan. A guy at work years ago did a similar resto job, but had a good car to start with, and fitted a small block Chev V8. Don’t know how that lump affected the handling but overall the car looked great. The body work was not overdone and it just had a set of Simmons wheels as I recall. With your feature car pic on the trailer, the tow car, (280Z?), was the ugly duckling and heavier to boot. Wasn’t, I believe, till the 300ZX arrived in Aus’ around 1994 that we again had a nice looking machine, albeit aimed possibly at a different target of buyer. Eric Waples, Albion Park, NSW.
ED The 300ZX was a welcome return to form, wasn’t it? Much underrated car and one we’d like to get our hands on for a retrospective. Any takers out there with a standardlooking example?