Show me a nice old car

Moto-Uno said:
"Lawrence" your earlier pic of the Capri has me wondering what has happened to the front wheel of the car ? Peter
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It looks a bit weird because it was photographed with a Hasselblad SWC which at this distance shows some perspective distortion at the edges. The photo was rather badly framed so I cropped the left side, so this shows no distortion.
 
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Sonnar2 said:
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I have never seen this model in Australia, ever. I wonder if it is rare in Germany, too? I'm generally of the opinion that, with a few exceptions, (Eg. the 507 & M1) BMWs have tended towards being handsome, rather than, beautiful, automobiles. But this is quite lovely, and I put a lot of that down to the recessed grille and fenders profiled towards the round headlights, yet it's still instantly recognisable as a BMW. From the rear it's broadly reminiscent of an Alfa coupe, no bad thing, in my view. Lovely images, too.
Cheers
Brett
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
I have never seen this model in Australia, ever. I wonder if it is rare in Germany, too? I'm generally of the opinion that, with a few exceptions, (Eg. the 507 & M1) BMWs have tended towards being handsome, rather than, beautiful, automobiles. But this is quite lovely, and I put a lot of that down to the recessed grilyle and fenders profiled towards the round headlights, yet it's still instantly recognisable as a BMW. From the rear it's broadly reminiscent of an Alfa coupe, no bad thing, in my view. Lovely images, too.
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Actually Bertone in Turin (automotive works were closed in the 2000's) made the coachwork of the 3200CS (aka "Bertone BMW"), the bodies were railway-shipped and completed in Munich at BMW. Design was an early work of Giugiaro, who also designed the Alfa Bertone (and the Golf I, much later). So that's why it looks Italian. Many aspects of the line was reused with later BMW models like 2000CS, 3.0CS/E9 and series-6/E24. The 3200CS is quite large (4.85m) for a 2-door coupé, because it shared the chassis with the 501/502 4-door sedan car. Quite spacious too, even by today's standard. Comfortable travelling for 5 grownups. Large luggage space.
They made about 6oo, but rarely exported them. Common believe is that BMW lost money with the big V8 cars, although they were quite expensive. So they didn't really wanted to sell the last series of the BMW V8 "Grosswagen", completely build-up in hand work, when BMW already turned to modern mass production with the new "middle class" 1600/1800/2000 model. Admittedly a hand-worked car is more joyful to repair/restore.
 
Sonnar2 said:
VW 1200 Karmann Cabrio (ca. 1953)

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Wow! I had one of these, a 1952 version. The top was heavy and the rear window was a minute slit. The bone white steering wheel and button brings back memories. Mine had brown "leather" interior. Engine was the 25 horsepower version, gearbox was non - synchro. 6 volt electrical system (slow grind from the starter on a cold morning - and dimming lights when revs dropped). Interesting car, heat was virtually non existent - and this was in Sweden with cold winters. You carried an ice scraper for the inside of the windshield! Roadmanners on icy road was quite exciting.
 
Hi Tom, my generation (like Michael Schumacher) used to learn driving with the "Käfer", so we don't fear any other car. I still believe it's one of the best winter cars, in the meaning of "it get you there regardless weather and tire conditions". My example of 1978(?) was a bit better with heating, but the ice-scraper and wiping cloth for the inside windshield was just fact.
 
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Figioni and Falachi bodied Delahaye. Paris, 1983. It was shown at one of the Automobile Exhibitions there. Not very subtle body - but it certainly made a statement.
Leica M4-2, Super Angulon 21f3.4. TriX in D76 1:1 11 minutes.
 
Sonnar2 said:
Hi Tom, my generation (like Michael Schumacher) used to learn driving with the "Käfer", so we don't fear any other car. I still believe it's one of the best winter cars, in the meaning of "it get you there regardless weather and tire conditions". My example of 1978(?) was a bit better with heating, but the ice-scraper and wiping cloth for the inside windshield was just fact.
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They did have interesting road manners. You NEVER lifted your foot of the throttle in a curve. You also quickly learned how to get out of a spin or slide. The Karman was OK as the 25hp engine prevented too exuberant driving style (it was later fitted with a Judson super charge and Monza style exhaust. A bit more exciting to drive - stock brakes and steering. Only suspension modification was a truck flat spring across the transmission, anchored to the swing axle for better camber control.
Later I got a 1951/52 Porsche 1500S roadster - all the manners of the old "bug" - but much more power!
 
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