I’ve a sneaking suspicion there isn’t a subject on earth you don’t claim this about to be fair.
To be fair it wasn’t me who said that a Vauxhall Firenza ever had a V8 option and that a 12v71 powered cab over Pete was ■■■■■.
Also would have had to decline a job offer by NASA or Boeing.Or a nerosurgeon vacancy.
I’d also like to try to land a 747 but I hate flying and I just know that I’d probably crash the thing in the attempt.
Having said that I do think that Einstein has missed something regards the theory of gravity and space time.His theory just doesn’t add up regards objects falling towards each other in opposite and every direction.Every object being at the centre, of an infinite globe shaped universe, creating a convergence proportional to its own respective mass, at its own respective point in space, might.
That’s definitely not to say that I’m more qualified than he was.But what if I’m right and he’s wrong.
hotel magnum:
Renault with the help of Volvo did it for me
What’s so special about this truck? It sure looks…interesting and I’ve always wanted to drive one but never had (and most likely never will) the chance. I saw one deliver to our yard the other day I was so tempted to ask the driver to let me try it Is it the ride quality or the interior or what?
Hi ETS it was the interior. for me plenty room and a nice size bunk cheers Ray
I had trips out in a couple of them, and got on OK. The nodding cab I soon got used to and the flat floor, square box cab could be adapted for anything. One of them had a small table and chairs under the bunk, clever. Not much good as a yard shunter maybe!
hotel magnum:
Renault with the help of Volvo did it for me
What’s so special about this truck? It sure looks…interesting and I’ve always wanted to drive one but never had (and most likely never will) the chance. I saw one deliver to our yard the other day I was so tempted to ask the driver to let me try it Is it the ride quality or the interior or what?
Never understood the Magnum ,
cab was small - if you cut the top off a Superspace cab DAF you can drop a magnum cab inside it - so its not that big .
Flat floor was good but the nodding cab was enough to made some drivers seasick.
Finally the steps into the cab were a disaster - more than one poor bloke forgot to take the “Magnum sidestep” and ended up with a broken ankle or two after a big night out .
The Mack engines in the early ones were about the only good thing about them
beefy4605:
Never understood the Magnum ,
cab was small - if you cut the top off a Superspace cab DAF you can drop a magnum cab inside it - so its not that big .
Flat floor was good
It’s obvious that it loses a lot of cab space by bringing the cab floor level above the engine.
The DAF with an MX13 and an 18 speed Fuller would be a far better wagon.
biggriffin:
Or at least it would have been if the ze Kamaraden had allowed GM to make it 6 cylinders not 4.Opel let alone BMW would never have allowed it.
The Firenza in the picture has a V8 in, Opel had nothing to do with DTV, Ventora had a straight6, or the slant4, or an evolution was the 2.3 twin cam, later the 2.6… Also fitted in HS/HSR chevvette, o and used in Sunbeams, and by Lotus.
Google fast hurrys away to check,then comes back with pages of waffle.
Remind me who was the parent of both Opel and Vauxhall and what does the V mean in DTV.
If it’s got a V8 in it then it ain’t a ‘proper’ Firenza.It’s a Big Bertha Bitsa special which I knew all about in the day before the internet existed.
I know the Ventora had the same pushrod 6 in it as the Cresta before it.
It’s the fact that there was never a 3.4 OHC, let alone twin cam 6, based on the 2.3 4 pot, made for the production and homologated Firenzas which was my point.Much too many implications for ze Fatherland in that.
The V in DTV is Vauxhall, the reason being, Opel didn’t allow a factory backed team to do Motorsports, so all dealers paid into a fund to support the race team, Opel had nothing to do with it.
The slant 4 was a British designed engine, around 64/65. Built by Vauxhall with help from GM, it could have been a V8 but GM said no, the Straight 6 in the ventora only went to 3.3 in its later days, and was deemed to heavy, hence the Opel designed 2.6/3.0 cih, in its last incarnation as a twin cam 24v,available in 4.0L from Irmshcer,. As for Homologation that’s another story.
hotel magnum:
Renault with the help of Volvo did it for me
What’s so special about this truck? It sure looks…interesting and I’ve always wanted to drive one but never had (and most likely never will) the chance. I saw one deliver to our yard the other day I was so tempted to ask the driver to let me try it Is it the ride quality or the interior or what?
Never understood the Magnum ,
cab was small - if you cut the top off a Superspace cab DAF you can drop a magnum cab inside it - so its not that big .
Flat floor was good but the nodding cab was enough to made some drivers seasick.
Finally the steps into the cab were a disaster - more than one poor bloke forgot to take the “Magnum sidestep” and ended up with a broken ankle or two after a big night out .
The Mack engines in the early ones were about the only good thing about them
Distinct lack of lockers compared to DAF SSC and some others. To get the flat floor the whole cab is raised to level of the engine hump. Windscreen base and top both raise, so no space above for storage.
Yes, it will drop inside an SSC, but you can’t describe the Magnum as “small”.
They do feel light and spacious.
switchlogic:
Don’t even really have a favourite make of trucks let alone things like gearboxes or engines. No such thing as a bad truck these days as there once was
So you’ve never driven an Actros then Luke.
Yeh you’re right actually,.there are no ‘‘bad’’ trucks anymore, just that some are better than others,.we’ve been spoiled since about mid nineties I reckon,.and quite rightly ‘expect’ good standards now.
There have been trucks well ahead of their time which have stood WELL out from competitors head and shoulders.
3 examples (of which I’ve had experience of) the Ford Transcontinental in the late 70s, (and a curveball controversial opinion) the Iveco Turbostar in the 80s, to the Renault Magnum in the mid 90s.
For the benefit of younger drivers…who don’t know wtf I’m prattling on about. …
We all know what a Magnum looks like.
I’ve driven actual ‘bad’ trucks in the past, I’d have killed then for the Actros that I hate today.
Btw those Firenza ‘droopsnot’ models I brought up, illustrated earlier…are there any left at all?
Anybody?
switchlogic:
Don’t even really have a favourite make of trucks let alone things like gearboxes or engines. No such thing as a bad truck these days as there once was
So you’ve never driven an Actros then Luke.
Yeh you’re right actually,.there are no ‘‘bad’’ trucks anymore, just that some are better than others,.we’ve been spoiled since about mid nineties I reckon,.and quite rightly ‘expect’ good standards now.
There have been trucks well ahead of their time which have stood WELL out from competitors head and shoulders.
3 examples (of which I’ve had experience of) the Ford Transcontinental in the late 70s, (and a curveball controversial opinion) the Iveco Turbostar in the 80s, to the Renault Magnum in the mid 90s.
For the benefit of younger drivers…who don’t know wtf I’m prattling on about. …
1
0
We all know what a Magnum looks like.
I’ve driven actual ‘bad’ trucks in the past, I’d have killed then for the Actros that I hate today.
Btw those Firenza ‘droopsnot’ models I brought up, illustrated earlier…are there any left at all?
Anybody?
Carryfast?
Yes there’s a few, still around, Gerry Marshalls DTV Baby Bertha is, and a few road going versions.
I’ve never seen one for 30 yrs, they were a limited edition anyway, so must be worth a bit now.
As far as classics go,. I reckon the ones kept as standard are the best, not really into rally/race prepared stuff, or cars spoiled with after market crap on them.
I love watching that ‘Bangers and Cash’ tv show on ‘Yesterday’ Channel, some real nice stuff on there, never seen a Firenza yet though…but they did have a Mk2 Atkinson on one episode
Anyone who likes Classsic cars should check it out.
robroy:
I’ve never seen one for 30 yrs, they were a limited edition anyway, so must be worth a bit now.
As far as classics go,. I reckon the ones kept as standard are the best, not really into rally/race prepared stuff, or cars spoiled with after market crap on them.
I love watching that ‘Bangers and Cash’ tv show on ‘Yesterday’ Channel, some real nice stuff on there, never seen a Firenza yet though…but they did have a Mk2 Atkinson on one episode
Anyone who likes Classsic cars should check it out.
If i was building the perfect truck, it wouldnt have a Merc 12 speed auto for starters
I think the perfect lorry has already been built, as in the F range MAN with a roadhaus cab and the 410 engine.
It says why weren’t they more popular in the day.As I said as any serious driver knew the 4 cylinder motor didn’t cut it and GM wouldn’t allow Vauxhall to compete with Opel.The rest is history.
robroy:
I’ve never seen one for 30 yrs, they were a limited edition anyway, so must be worth a bit now.
As far as classics go,. I reckon the ones kept as standard are the best, not really into rally/race prepared stuff, or cars spoiled with after market crap on them.
I love watching that ‘Bangers and Cash’ tv show on ‘Yesterday’ Channel, some real nice stuff on there, never seen a Firenza yet though…but they did have a Mk2 Atkinson on one episode
Anyone who likes Classsic cars should check it out.
To be fair the AC Cobra was an ‘after market’ operation like the Jeff Uren Cortina Savage or even the Mini Cooper.In addition to the numerous garage built specials on a budget along similar lines all based on what the factory ‘should’ have built.Often also of street racing fame in the day on roads like Kingston or Sutton By Pass or North Circ or M1 etc.
Not to be confused with a Halfords body kit on a Ford Fiesta or silly race spec effectively unusable on the road.
On that note the Cresta and Ventora were far easier and cheaper to convert to V8 than the Firenza or were even just nicer to burble around in with standard 6 cylinder and the bonus of four doors.To the point where from memory both were in greater demand in the used market. youtube.com/watch?v=wVKglJBn7wI
On the subject of GM’s finest I wonder if it would have been possible to fit that 12v71 motor in a Bedford TM.
switchlogic:
Don’t even really have a favourite make of trucks let alone things like gearboxes or engines. No such thing as a bad truck these days as there once was
So you’ve never driven an Actros then Luke.
Well…my first ever truck all those years ago was and it was my pride and joy! I actually rather like Actros, driven various after that and last time was a trip to Denmark in one of Broughtons
robroy:
I’ve never seen one for 30 yrs, they were a limited edition anyway, so must be worth a bit now.
As far as classics go,. I reckon the ones kept as standard are the best, not really into rally/race prepared stuff, or cars spoiled with after market crap on them.
I love watching that ‘Bangers and Cash’ tv show on ‘Yesterday’ Channel, some real nice stuff on there, never seen a Firenza yet though…but they did have a Mk2 Atkinson on one episode
Anyone who likes Classsic cars should check it out.
To be fair the AC Cobra was an ‘after market’ operation like the Jeff Uren Cortina Savage or even the Mini Cooper.In addition to the numerous garage built specials on a budget along similar lines all based on what the factory ‘should’ have built.Often also of street racing fame in the day on roads like Kingston or Sutton By Pass or North Circ or M1 etc.
Not to be confused with a Halfords body kit on a Ford Fiesta or silly race spec effectively unusable on the road.
On that note the Cresta and Ventora were far easier and cheaper to convert to V8 than the Firenza or were even just nicer to burble around in with standard 6 cylinder and the bonus of four doors.To the point where from memory both were in greater demand in the used market. youtube.com/watch?v=wVKglJBn7wI
On the subject of GM’s finest I wonder if it would have been possible to fit that 12v71 motor in a Bedford TM.
Still have fond memories of my '69 Ventora, 3.3 6 pot engine, 4 speed manual with switchable overdrive, engine so flexible you could drop into overdrive 4th at 10mph and she’d pull cleanly right through to 110 (probably more if you pushed it) without a hiccup so effectively an automatic on the road because you seldom came out of top gear, using overdrive just to lower the revs at high speed, better on fuel than you might expect too as the body was relatively light.
When it came into my hands it was shod on Mich ZX’s, wouldn’t wear out but utterly terrifying in the wet, like trying to control an overloaded shopping trolley, scrapped them and put a set of the then newly released Goodyear Unisteels on, car tranformed instantly.
Cars like that change you, once you’ve had an effortless driver you don’t ever want to go back to undersized engines that need to be worked hard, the same goes for lorries, you can’t replace CC’s.
Juddian:
Still have fond memories of my '69 Ventora, 3.3 6 pot engine, 4 speed manual with switchable overdrive, engine so flexible you could drop into overdrive 4th at 10mph and she’d pull cleanly right through to 110 (probably more if you pushed it) without a hiccup so effectively an automatic on the road because you seldom came out of top gear, using overdrive just to lower the revs at high speed, better on fuel than you might expect too as the body was relatively light.
When it came into my hands it was shod on Mich ZX’s, wouldn’t wear out but utterly terrifying in the wet, like trying to control an overloaded shopping trolley, scrapped them and put a set of the then newly released Goodyear Unisteels on, car tranformed instantly.
Cars like that change you, once you’ve had an effortless driver you don’t ever want to go back to undersized engines that need to be worked hard, the same goes for lorries, you can’t replace CC’s.
I can remember my Dad working on one or two of them in the trade in the day and some equally memorable ‘test drives’.It was rightly liked by everyone both its owners and those who worked on them .It’s surprising how quick that old pushrod 3.3 motor actually was.
The PB Cresta like I posted in the vid was a worthy predecessor to it.Bonus points for a V8 conversion.
Also from memory another of those, like the S type Jag, which the insurance companies didn’t like in the hands of young boy racers like me in the day even with most of us being ‘fronted’ on the policy by our Dads.
But the 2.5 Triumph seemed to be under a seeming 3 litre capacity threshold which dropped it off their radar ( luckily ).The difference was that most of those involved from the brokers to our parents actually rightly thought that being thrown in at the deep end was the best way for us to learn to be responsible drivers.Also the safety angle of being built like tanks so if we hit something or it hit us we had a good chance of walking out of it.
Definitely a different car scene from the silly 4 cylinder girly shopping cars which forms so much of it today, when they aren’t forced into riding bicycles instead in the poverty economy.
Yep and the same applies to trucks there’s no substitute for cubic inches and the idea of using forced induction instead of, as opposed to as well as, as part of that.
switchlogic: Well…my first ever truck all those years ago was and it was my pride and joy! I actually rather like Actros, driven various after that and last time was a trip to Denmark in one of Broughtons
Christ! So Nolans did once run something that wasn’t a clapped out DAF!
My Actros has steadily grown on me; give it the i-Shift box and the seats out of my old Renault Premium and it would be better still.
That’s for work, though; for play, it’d have to be this. With a Detroit and a quad box of course.
Is it the ride quality or the interior or what?
cheers Ray
cheers Ray
