The Other Cars of USA7s Members (Non-Se7ens only)

[Croc]

Time for another car of mine - 1972 Lamborghini Espada.  I am the second owner.  I eventually acquired it after it failed at auction in 2020.  33K on the odo.  4.4L V12.  It has the special VIP Bertone interior - only 12 ever produced, 1 of 9 left and supposedly mine is the most original of those cars.   

 

The idea was to fix some deferred maintenance and then drive cross country from Seattle at Christmas 2020.  It was winter, middle of Covid, a 50 year old car with deferred maintenance, what could possibly go wrong?

 

As it turns out quite a lot.  First day out I broke one of the voltage regulators and blew up the battery and one of the generators.  After a somewhat desperate bodge of hooking two batteries in tandem and running on one generator and one voltage regulator I could survive easily if cruising above 25mph but was a bit iffy below that when needing headlights and wipers and heater at the same time.  Eventually failed to break through east at Lake Tahoe with snow despite having snow chains (yes for an Espada!).  Eventually turned around and headed back up the CA, OR and WA coast to Olympic National Forest.  Did some touring and called in on @JohnCh   Eventually stored the car back in Redmond WA until it warmed up plus to fix the electrical system.  

 

Then May 2021, I tried again.  This time I headed east via Idaho, down into UT, AZ, NM, CO.   It was a case of being hit by a drunk driver in ID.  Seeing @kayentaskier in UT.  Lost in Monument Valley on dirt roads.  Tornado in Moab.  Hailstorm in Santa Fe.  Maxing the car in Mexico.  Crossing snowy passes on the Million Dollar Highway in CO.  Eventually, after 9000 miles I broke down conveniently in the workshop of Tom Carlin at Birkin America - clutch slave plus an oil leak at the water pump that was getting worse and could not be fixed without dismantling most of the front end.  It is now at the workshop of a gentleman who has a vast collection of Lamborghinis and Lotus (Loti?), including an Espada.  

 

Getting the parts to fix things has taken over a year - thank you Italian part supply chains!  Then it will be back on the road.  Will stay out there in CO for a while as I have plans to road trip WY, MT, SD and more of CO Rockies - always wanted to drive up Pikes Peak in a classic car.  It will be a multiyear drive east touching on most states - no rush as I always wanted to road trip the USA.  This is the only way I can do it while working full time.  

 

Photo 1 - Morning of its meltdown.  Just 4 miles to Birkin America workshop - no leaks here!

 

 

 

Photo 2 - Still in Pacific North West here.

 

 

 

Photo 3 - Monument Valley

 

 

 

Photo 4 - Italian ergonomics in full display - someone vomited dials and switches over the dash.  The siting of the radio was intentional to prevent women passengers from changing it.  The gear stick boot is made out of real rhinoceros foreskin.  

 

 

 

Photo 5 - The car's forte.  Sitting in the fast lane, cruising in 5th, crushing continental travel.  I did 700 miles one day (5 fuel fills!) and popped out feeling quite fresh.

 

 

[kayentaskier]

Mike,

Here's a picture of the Espada at my house, the color is so great against the red mountains.

[panamericano]

You hooked me at, "Maxing the car in Mexico. "

 

You must tell us about that.

[xcarguy]

Hey, would really enjoy coming to NJMP. Life on my end had gotten quite busy with family commitments.

….are you sure Exocets are welcome?

[Croc]

3 hours ago, xcarguy said:

Hey, would really enjoy coming to NJMP. 

….are you sure Exocets are welcome?

 

Sure - we will survive an exocet invasion.  The laughs will be great at dinner.  

[Bruce K]

@11Budlite - Great trackday car and nice story - enjoyed it.  Terrific the way you are weaving a web to capture the interest of the entire family - I have only been able to get one son to accompany me to the track.  I can't even get the wife to join me - she claims it will just scare her.  Regarding off-track excursions, a skilled friend and I were driving a pair of hi-po Caterhams at Waterford Hills Raceway in MI.  He was ahead of me, and I just couldn't pull off a pass.  In one of the turns, I pushed too hard and wetted a rear slick on the outfield grass.  When I re-entered the track, the rear slid out and I started spinning.  I then left the track and reentered the outfield grass, which felt like being shot out a cannon due to the sudden reduction in tire friction.  I remember spinning and trying to figure out which tree I would hit, which turned out to be none.  Instead, I shortcutted the course and reentered the track again, this time FACING traffic, and AHEAD of my friend, whom I had passed courtesy of the shortcut.  And, of course, my motor stalled the moment I stopped.  I could see my friend's eyes as he spotted my stalled car facing him in the apex of the turn - looked like two friend sparrow eggs.  Fortunately, everyone saw me, my motor started, and after a brief inspection I was back out on the course again.

 

We'll need to wrap a cozy around your forum name, bearing words like "Really a COORS".

Edited June 12, 2023 by Bruce K

[11Budlite]

19 hours ago, S1Steve said:

Good Morning Bud, I personally love your new toy. May not be for everyone, there’s a tread going discussing wind buffering. I would think it could be a super fun track car. If you leave the rally tires on it, you could beat Croc by cutting across the grass and jumping a few corners…  Enjoy it..🍻

 

Thanks Steve. I don't know how much seat time I'll get in it, but I've been in an almost identical car on track and it was definitely faster than my Caterham.....while it was running anyway. I went out twice in my friend Tom's Exocet, and the first time he blew the clutch and the second time he blew the engine. In fairness to the car, he had done almost 10 years of autoX and track events, a trip to the Tail of the Dragon, and had the boost turned up pretty high. Regardless, we've decided I'm not going to ride with him a third time!

[11Budlite]

18 hours ago, Croc said:

 

 

 

@11Budlite  Are we going to see you at NJMP this year with your Caterham?  Exocets are allowed as well!

 

 

 

@Croc - I can't guarantee anything but I'm going to try to be there. I should have a little more free time coming up so that should help.

[11Budlite]

13 hours ago, Bruce K said:

@11Budlite - Great trackday car and nice story - enjoyed it.  Terrific the way you are weaving a web to capture the interest of the entire family - I have only been able to get one son to accompany me to the track.  I can't even get the wife to join me - she claims it will just scare her.  Regarding off-track excursions, a skilled friend and I were driving a pair of hi-po Caterhams at Waterford Hills Raceway in MI.  He was ahead of me, and I just couldn't pull off a pass.  In one of the turns, I pushed too hard and wetted a rear slick on the outfield grass.  When I re-entered the track, the rear slid out and I started spinning.  I then left the track and reentered the outfield grass, which it felt like I had been shot out a cannon due to the sudden disappearance of tire friction.  I remember spinning and trying to figure out which tree I would hit, which turned out to be none.  Instead, I shortcutted the course and reentered the track again, this time FACING traffic, and AHEAD of my friend, whom I had passed courtesy of the shortcut.  And, of course, my motor stalled the moment I stopped.  I could see my friend's eyes as he spotted my stalled car facing him in the apex of the turn - looked like two friend sparrow eggs.  Fortunately, everyone saw me, my motor started, and after a brief inspection I was back out on the course again.

 

We'll need to wrap a cozy around your forum name, bearing words like "Really a COORS".

 

@Bruce K - I've always been into sports cars, but my recent track day experience started 2 years ago when my son gave me the gift of a Father's day present by letting me borrow his Miata to do an event at Canaan, NH. Since then I've completed building my Caterham and have been able to do around 6 events a year. So it's my son who's ignited the spark for getting me on track. My youngest daughter (and her husband) are both a bit crazy and would love to do some trackdays. I'm hoping the Exocet will be a nice 'family' track day car and who knows, maybe one of my grandkids will drive it some day!

 

Your off-track experience sounds like a wild ride. I'm new to this and trying to avoid that scenario!

 

 A little explanation for my forum name. My last name is Wiser so growing up I was always referred to as 'Bud'. As the years passed I was fortunate not to gain many pounds due to my activity level.  One day after shooting hoops or riding my bike at lunchtime, one of my friends said that they couldn't call me 'Bud' anymore and they christened me 'Budlight'. It was around that time that I joined USA7's and decided to use my sports jersey number '11' (and also one of my favorite Lotus models) and 'Budlite' because I didn't drink Budlight anymore, as my forum name. With the recent events at Budlight maybe I should put a coozy around it!  

 

 

[wdb]

On 4/5/2023 at 12:34 PM, wdb said:

Ah, the Alfa 4C, which I someday hope to use to check "own an Alfa Romeo" off the list. Very nice!

 

I was out and about in the Caterham a couple of days ago, giving my son his first ride (he lives 2200 miles away). He was commenting on how the car boils the act of driving down to the very essentials. Which got me to thinking about the newest car in our little fleet -- a 2015 Mercedes Benz S65 AMG Coupe -- which is basically the direct antithesis to the Caterham.

 

If you've ever wondered what picture they should put in the dictionary next to "wretched excess", wonder no more. Mercedes already had an S63 AMG Coupe, with a 557 HP, 645 lb/ft twin turbo V8 and enough luxury to satisfy a sultan. But apparently enough customers cried out "where's the V12?" and so they made this. 4 more cylinders, just as many turbos, 621 HP, and a mind boggling 742 lb/ft of torque. (The AWD was left off, presumably because it didn't handle that torque.) That's diesel dually pickup truck territory. And if you look at the torque curve it jumps up instantly, and at 2200 RPMs it levels out to a perfectly flat line until it reaches 4500 RPMs. The effect is like nothing I've experienced before. In any normal driving situation all I have to do is *think* about wanting to hit a gap or get around another vehicle, and it has already happened. It's addictive. Corruption by torque.

 

Naturally enough Mercedes also had to layer even more luxury features onto the V12 variant, resulting in a car that has every luxury option known to man -- plus another six or seven. Swarovski crystals in the headlights? But of course; will 45 per light do? We'll plop a few more in various places inside the car while we're at it. Massaging seats? Hopefully 6 different massage modes are enough. Mercedes dumped enough extra foo onto this car to charge an extra $100K over the already expensive S63. 

 

The car is ridiculous. There is no other word. It's enormous, longer and wider than our E-Class wagon, and yet the back seat is cramped.  The brakes look big enough to stop a jumbo jet. The digital fuel gauge reads in percentage and the simple act of starting the car seemingly causes it to drop 5%, although the noises it exudes at startup almost make it worthwhile. Even the windshield washers are special, with the fluid being pumped out to the blade itself and exiting right next to it. Heaven forbid one should suffer a splash, I guess. Ridiculous.

 

Let me be very clear: we don't ordinarily move in these sorts of circles. The most I've ever spent on a vehicle purchase is well under $50K. I buy used, and I try to find bargains. But we had a death in the family, and there was an estate, and when the division of assets came to pass, NOBODY wanted this car. Can't say that I blame them, honestly. It is a pit into which money vanishes. But I waved my hand anyway. How often does one get the chance to live with a 620 HP V12, after all. And so we have it, and we'll enjoy it for a short while, hopefully take it on a few trips because it's as comfortable as you would imagine. A very soothing place to spend miles. But then we'll send it along to its next adventure.

 

 

 

 

The time has come to part with our 'titanium fist in velvet glove'. The BaT auction went live today.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2015-mercedes-benz-s65-amg-coupe-2/

[Bruce K]

3 hours ago, wdb said:

 

The time has come to part with our 'titanium fist in velvet glove'. The BaT auction went live today.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2015-mercedes-benz-s65-amg-coupe-2/

Gorgeous car, but sorry to say I will not be bidding.  Now, if its weight were divided into TWO cars, both with 7-speed DCT's, manual steering and more  . . .

[wdb]

3 hours ago, Bruce K said:

Gorgeous car, but sorry to say I will not be bidding.  Now, if its weight were divided into TWO cars, both with 7-speed DCT's, manual steering and more  . . .

I hear you. Compared to the 7 it is fat, sluggish at the helm, and takes up far too much garage space. It is a car meant for making the Kessel run, which is not something I envision in my future. Although it could do that run with a 7 or two strapped to it and not even notice…

[inchoate]

here's a question: what's a slightly less suicidal alternative to a 7?  I'm looking for something with the rawness and simplicity but without being quite so small and deadly.  I love driving my car but it's at the point where I feel safer on my motorcycles than I do in the Caterham.  I've looked into modified Miatas, Exiges, Caymans and some other stuff but everything has significant downsides.  any and all suggestions appreciated. 

[JohnCh]

Is this to replace or supplement the Caterham?

[Bruce K]

@inchoate (great handle, BTW - aren't we all!):  What are the primary virtues you seek?  And the secondary?  Do you have a budget?  For starters, Cobra replicas, if properly constructed and set up, can be a blast.  I recommend Superformance and Backdraft specced with their factory handling packages and big brake kits, and Roush or Keith Craft motors.  I would go with a less authentic 5 speed trans, for more versatility and fewer revs on the xway.  For passenger safety, fit dual roll bars.  For a more civilized experience over the road, look into GT40's and Cobra Daytonas.  Personally, I cannot get enough of that GT40 look.  Bruntons are much more substantial motorcars than Sevens.  I almost bought one of those configured with a sequential shifter and a high-revving V8, thinking it might preserve much of the Seven experience.  If you seek a Sevenesque experience, while surrounded with just a bit more car, consider the featherweight 240 hp Duratech-powered Ginetta G4 replica produced by Dare.  It is sold by Christopher John in FL.  Dare is an English company owned by sons of the original founder of Ginetta, and their replicas are highly accurate.  Their cars can be fitted with HVAC, stereo and more.  Very popular in Japan. A beautiful design and spectacularly rare.  Based on driving "funness", I can recommend my streetable Lola T70 tribute - it's an ultimate thrill ride, with to-die-for curves, but also a  unicorn - nearly impossible to find a used one.  Additionally, my T70 provides absolutely no weather protection.  I have the privilege of other cars for less clement days, which is a big part of my purchase rationale.  You could have Fran build you a Lola T70, or D-Type Jag or several other fabulous cars over at RCR in Fraser MI.  He's even working on a replica of Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, one of the most gorgeous cars ever penned.  He is also connected with owners of his cars who seek to sell them, so used examples could be possible.  Hope this helps!

Edited August 29, 2023 by Bruce K

[Vovchandr]

1 hour ago, inchoate said:

rawness and simplicity but without being quite so small and deadly

 

Pick one or the other

 

Lack of "deadly" comes with weight, size and complexity. 

 

Miata is the most reasonable safe alternative within a reasonable budget and then adjust the slider scale between generations. The older the generation the more raw it becomes but also the more deadly it becomes. 

 

Otherwise an S2000 can also be an alternative but without personal experience electric early design steering might feel dead to some people. 

Edited August 29, 2023 by Vovchandr

[inchoate]

@JohnCh supplement, i'll never get rid of the caterham

 

@Bruce K budget is mid 60k, i could go more for the right thing but less is better.  i've thought about cobra replicas but i've never driven one.  my guess is that there's a pretty wide range of experiences there.  i do have standing approval from the wife for a GT40 but that's still very low to the ground.

 

@Vovchandr S2000 is an interesting idea...

[JohnCh]

If it's to supplement the Caterham, is an open top a requirement or even desirable?  For me, it wasn't and why I bought a FHC Elan.  When I want the open top experience, it's the Westfield or Caterham.  If the weather is a little iffy, I grab the Elan.  If it's really iffy, then the Miata with bolted on hardtop and no soft top, or the 993 get the nod.  They each serve a different purpose and accommodate a different mood.  Figure out what purpose and mood you want to accommodate with the new car. 

 

If you want raw, I suspect you are looking for a modified car.  Factory setups have to appeal to the masses -- even if those masses are a relatively small group -- and as a result, rawness is diluted.  But how raw do you wish to go?  Do you want a modern car, with all the goodies like ABS, traction control, air bags, great HVAC, etc. or do you want something that has reasonable safety, but forces compromise in exchange for the driving experience?  With that information, I am happy to help spend your money  

[MV8]

For raw and simple, look for an old TVR (like a Griffith 200) to fit between a miata and a CAT for size and weight. Fiberglass versus aluminum sheet, fully enclosed, space frame, typically ford german v6  or 260/289 v8. Short wheel base can be a handful.

[MoBoost]

An Elise is bigger than a Seven and more civilized too. It does everything right. It’s a relatively simple car and quite reliable too. The engine is in the right place and the driver feedback is unmatched.