Cars that make your jaw drop.

[Mike T]

did someone say sharknose?

 

[auntiebling]

I know it's not fast or reliable, but I love the Citroen DS, right down to the funky single-spoke steering wheel.

i like them too, not quite jaw dropping but i certainly think they're cool. i recall seeing one in a collection of bonneville pictures making a speed run.

saw one in palo alto yesterday

Didn't those come stock with Hydraulics to rase and lower it depending on road conditions and speed.

there is also something about the brake system i think, it's not a pedal more like a pressure pad or something like that. apparently it was common for people to lock up the brakes on test drives

 

[Asphaultnaut]

Presenting the Manta Montage and Mirage, nominally kit cars.

 

[Dubbington]

Dad had one these we bought from a real pimp in Oakland. It had a couple bullet holes in the windshield before he fixed it and sold it. The breaks had a lock so you could take you foot off the pedal at light.

Now he's slowing putting back together this V-12 machine.

 

[pecha]

cobra with a 427 sohc aka cammer

Ford produced an engine with two overhead cams (one cam per head) and hemispherical chambers in the mid-1960s. The engine, displacing 425 cu in (6,965 cc) and belonging to the FE family of Ford engines, was known as the "427 SOHC"; it was also known as the Cammer. It was basically a set of SOHC hemi heads that bolted onto Ford's FE engine block. The 1964 engine was designed in 90 days of intensive engineering effort for use in racing. The 427 SOHC used the side oiler engine block modified slightly to deal with the missing in-block cam among other OHC issues. Because of their power levels it was banned from NASCAR races, though allowed in certain drag racing classes. After the NASCAR ban, Ford continued to produce the 427 SOHC for several years and sold it over the counter to racers and others. Dynamometer results of the day showed the SOHC Hemi producing almost 700 hp (522 kW) in crate form (100 hp per liter).The overhead cams meant that it was not as rpm-limited as the Chrysler Hemis were with their pushrods and heavy and complex valvetrains

cammer

seeing it at work made me drop my jaw

 

[bluenoser]

My Dad had one of these (with the 455 motor), so there's a bit of historical coolness everytime I see one on the street. He said it would squeal the tires in first, squeal in second, and chirp in third. My Mum loved it for hauling us younguns around as she never had to worry about passing a big rig- just gas it and go. Of course, Dad hated working on it- the notchout in the hood would leave a dent in one's forehead!

W-30: 455ci, 1x4bbl, 370 hp@5200rpm, 500lb-ft@3600rpm

Funny thing is my friend's dad just bought one too- 1970 convertible in blue, with white stripes.

Found a pic of the blue beast...

 

[bluenoser]

Oh, and for a modern motor in a classic chassis, here is my dream car...

But if you ar one who likes a little more "oomph",

I went to the factory a few years ago, and watched them as they were made (back when the Aero 8 was introduced). The ash frame makes these unique, although I'm not sure if the Aero SS is keeping up with that tradition.

 

[Dubbington]

Factory Five Electric 33 Hot Rod

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpqvpqklyk0&feature=player_embedded

Guess its putting out 600+ torque

 

[Cygnus]

Presenting the Manta Montage and Mirage, nominally kit cars.

"nominally"? why the qualification? I thought they were straight up kit cars. But then again, if it weren't for Hardcastle & McCormick, I probably wouldn't know the Manta nameplate at all.

 

[Mike T]

Factory Five Electric 33 Hot Rod

i was going to post up the same car

i'd love to own one....effin sweet car

 

[tedesco886]

^^^my jaw dropped, i LOVE those....

as for the 442's i just saw a 1970 sell for $105,000 on Barrett Jackson

and as for these two, their style is just alright, but their performance numbers is what makes my jaw drop...

 

[Dubbington]

Iconic GTR Roadster

First pic is without body.

800hp 600 torque 8,000pm 0-60 in under 3 seconds, 2300lbs

$600,000

Their website has far better pics buts its flash

 

[auntiebling]

cobra with a 427 sohc aka cammer

cammer

seeing it at work made me drop my jaw

that engine was created specifically to dominate NASCAR, and the pigfuckers changed the rules before ford ever got to compete with it, requiring cam-in-block motors. a notable step down the path of cookiecutter "stock car" racing we get today. motor = awesome. nascar=boooo

i hear rebuild costs on a cammer motor are astronomical

 

[Asphaultnaut]

I figure kit cars can be assembled by shade tree mechanics-most of not all Mantas were assembled by professionals or delivered turnkey from the factory, according to some of the fan sites I've read. Many were even sold by 'exotic car' dealers.

"nominally"? why the qualification? I thought they were straight up kit cars. But then again, if it weren't for Hardcastle & McCormick, I probably wouldn't know the Manta nameplate at all.

 

[bootsy]

Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3

At the 2010 New York Auto Show

 

[Rimmy]

this may be counterculture to the direction of the thread, but I think its a jaw dropping vehicle none the less.

the old Military M274A5 Mule:

"They had an air-cooled engine, 4X4, could carry a quarter-ton load, and were smaller and handier than a Jeep. The steering wheel swings forward and down, and there are hand controls so the vehicle could be DRIVEN WHILE THE OPERATOR IS CRAWLING! There's never been another one like that!"

apparently these little bastards would haul just about anything you could load on them. I think its awesome!

 

[SuperMike]

At the 2010 New York Auto Show

Say hello to the F1 Safety Car for 2010!

 

[maxandgrinch]

How about the first one, ever:

An offer of $20,000,000 was turned down for this car.

 

[onehighfocus]

How about the first one, ever:

An offer of $20,000,000 was turned down for this car.

Pshhh.. its only got a 289

 

[maxandgrinch]

Pshhh.. its only got a 289

No it doesn't.

The very first one, the one in that photo, has a 260.