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Cars that you never thought they would make
Topic Started: May 24 2007, 10:12 AM (456 Views)
gillesno27
Engineer
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They never produced a mainstream 4 door Ferrari, only concepts. Like the 3 seat (ala McLaren F1) concepts they produced in the 60s which were similar to a P3 and influenced the Dino.

As for unusual road cars, what about the Renault Spider? A track day car before such things existed! And the Impreza/Legacy Turbo lines coming from a manufacturer who specialised in agricultural beasts. The VW Phaeton was a step in a weird direction for them, albeit at Dr Piech's request. The current BMW 7 series with Bangle's flame surfacing was a olt out of the blue for them. At the time the Audi Quattro was a mad concept for a road car, and the Jenson Intercptor FF with its Ferguson 4WD system. I always hoped Jaguar would display more integrity than to produce the X-Type, who would have seen that coming from a company with such heritage?

Interesting thread though, I will give it some more thought...

I will also add that the BMW town car was a interesting concept; given the post-war times where fuel and disposable cash was at a premium, esp. in Germany, and given the Suez crisis which gave birth to many Microcars, the Messerschmit (sp?!), Fiat 500, Mini, Bond, etc. I think it actually makes a lot of sense for a motorbike manufacturer to put the two together. It's no 507 though!
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John
Team Boss
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gillesno27,May 24 2007
07:13 PM
It's no 507 though!

That's for sure, but the bubble car helped save the company from the dreaded Mercedes take over while the 507 almost crippled BMW.
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gillesno27
Engineer
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John,May 24 2007
06:22 PM
gillesno27,May 24 2007
07:13 PM
It's no 507 though!

That's for sure, but the bubble car helped save the company from the dreaded Mercedes take over while the 507 almost crippled BMW.

Yeah there were only about 200 produced weren't there? Beautiful cars...I'm struggling to remember if I've seen one in real life before...
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John
Team Boss
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I saw a rather tired one in grey (not a flattering colour) at a BMW 2002 gathering at Brookland, England many years ago...

I understand John Sutrees has owned one from new which was given to him by his team boss when he was still racing motorbikes.
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gillesno27
Engineer
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John Surtees is a total dude. The more recent 507-inspired Z8 was slightly ill-advised. Awesome concept, poorly executed.
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John
Team Boss
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Ooh, when the Z07 concept(s) where unveiled.... they where fantastic... the open top had a D-Type bulge behind the driver... and the fixed top had 'Zagato'esk double bubble roof profile...

As you say the road version never matched the potential, but I'd sell my mother to own one...

I read recently in 'Octane' magazine (great read BTW) that the Z8's still command the same $150,000 prices it cost when new.... a contemporary Aston will have dropped $50,00 over the same period...

so my chances of owning one anytime soon are zilch.. :( just as well I also like Astons <thumbsup>
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