New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Merlin or Scorpion?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Merlin or Scorpion?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 91011
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
iGRF View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 07 Mar 11
Location: Hythe
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Merlin or Scorpion?
    Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 4:32pm
Didn't the Escort Mexico sport that 1st crossflow engine? I'm not that up on Ford Chavmobiles but there was something a bit special about the Mexico.

MM surely you should be driving something like ..
Snow Equipment Deals    New Core Kite website
Back to Top
Medway Maniac View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 13 May 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2788 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 4:32pm
Originally posted by iiitick

Really?  Cart sprung, live axle, push rod...and orange! You want one of those?
If it means I can easily drive around having sideways fun at normal traffic speeds (= low plod appeal + safer than a high-speed crash), then yes.  Maybe scratch the orange; I've seen black ones.  And I did say updated running gear, engine and gearbox.

Not looking for old or retro, just fun, low-grip motoring.  My present car needs to go at illegal or at least plod-attracting speeds before anything interesting starts happening.

Isn't it analogous to what I think most of us agree on: it is more important to have a boat that is exciting and feels fast than one which actually goes fast?
Wilsonian SC
3000 Class
Back to Top
iiitick View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 04 Jun 14
Location: gb
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 478 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iiitick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 4:37pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

[QUOTE=iiitick]
Really?  Cart sprung, live axle, push rod...and orange! You want one of those?
If it means I can easily drive around having sideways fun at normal traffic speeds (= low plod appeal + safer than a high-speed crash), then yes.  Maybe scratch the orange; I've seen black ones.  And I did say updated running gear, engine and gearbox.

Not looking for old or retro, just fun, low-grip motoring.  My present car needs to go at illegal or at least plod-attracting speeds before anything interesting starts happening.

Isn't it analogous to what I think most of us agree on: it is more important to have a boat that is exciting and feels fast than one which actually goes fast?


Medway......south of the river, black OK. Over on the north bank Orange all the way! Just trying to think, are BMW and Merc. the only rear drive cars left?
Back to Top
Medway Maniac View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 13 May 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2788 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 4:50pm
Originally posted by iiitick

  Just trying to think, are BMW and Merc. the only rear drive cars left?

Porsche, Jaguar, Ferrari, some of the sportier Japanese, etc.  All the nice ones really.  As a German engineer once said to me, "front wheel drive is a solution for poor people".  The Volk got provided with a rear engine as well, of course, which was maybe too much of a good thing.
Wilsonian SC
3000 Class
Back to Top
iiitick View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 04 Jun 14
Location: gb
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 478 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iiitick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 4:54pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

Originally posted by iiitick

  Just trying to think, are BMW and Merc. the only rear drive cars left?

Porsche, Jaguar, Ferrari, some of the sportier Japanese, etc.  All the nice ones really.  As a German engineer once said to me, "front wheel drive is a solution for poor people".  The Volk got provided with a rear engine as well, of course, which was maybe too much of a good thing.

Perhaps there is a market for a cheap, rear drive supersaloon?
Back to Top
Rupert View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 11 Aug 04
Location: Whitefriars sc
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 5:23pm
Escort Mexico needs to be pale blue - that is the colour of the matchbox one I had as a kid. Think it is probably still in the box of cars my kids played with too.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
Back to Top
Rupert View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 11 Aug 04
Location: Whitefriars sc
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 5:27pm
Originally posted by iiitick

Lightning 368 is a bit of a Morris Minor I suppose.


Morris minor too early - surely that is what the Solo is?

I'm a bit worried that the Lightning is the Austin Allegro, much as I'd like it to be the Golf GTI.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
Back to Top
iGRF View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 07 Mar 11
Location: Hythe
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6499 		Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 8:02pm
Originally posted by Rupert

Escort Mexico needs to be pale blue -



Correct, that's the colour I remember them.

A Solo is more akin to the upright nose ford prefect.





With the more modern versions also catered for complete with an exactly apt disabled sticker


Edited by iGRF - 26 Nov 14 at 8:14pm
Snow Equipment Deals    New Core Kite website
Back to Top
wombat88 View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 01 Oct 14
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote wombat88 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 10:36pm
Originally posted by iiitick

A few years ago a funny old bloke turned up at the club with a beautifully restored wooden NSM Merlin and a teenage daughter. It turned out he was a poet...really...and had a complex poets name. They could not really sail and flapped about in a tangle before graunching the poor boat ashore....many times. After a few weeks of this painful to watch experience the boat disappeared. Half way through the following season it reappeared but minus all it's string. Just the basics left, sheets, kicker etc......somehow it was not a Merlin anymore, just another boat. It made no difference unfortunately they did not improve. Never saw the Merlin again but the daughter turned up last year and sailed a Topper, now at Cambridge reading something like the philosophy of Byzantine racial divergence....You meet interesting people at boat clubs.

That would be me then (apart from the poet and daughter bit). But my crew and I are enjoying ourselves. The first time your narrow old '50s Merlin starts to plane is a moment of real excitement...or is it fear?

Whatever...
Back to Top
JohnJack View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 12 Mar 13
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 246 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JohnJack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Nov 14 at 10:43pm
Pigs may fly, if you can make them go fast enough that is
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 91011

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy