dailydriver

300; there was an AWD 2 door RS500 in rallying, or did they also call the Group A 4 door Sierra an RS500?? I thought the whole reason they went to the 4 door (as a stopgap until the Escort Cossies RSs were developed/released) was so that they could use an AWD system vs. the RWD only of the RS500 coupe???
BTW; I've seen more than one XR4 Merkur 2 door converted to a 5.0 on the streets over here.

300bhp/ton

I'm not too sure. It's common folk lore that the Cossie was developed for Rallying. But no, Mr Costin and Mr Cosworth clubbed together and came up with the 16v head and turbo assy for the 2.0 Pinto lump.

The RS500 eventhough it carries the (Rallie Sport) RS tag was meant for touring car racing.

I know it was used as a rally car also where it replaced the aging V6 powerplant. I'm pretty sure these where 4wd. But I'm not sure if they where called RS500, I think they where just known as "Sierra Cosworth". The early models where known as the "jelly mold" shape. Latter Sierra's (not just Cosworth) had a complete face lift. This is where the 4 door Sierra came from. This was 4wd but there was also a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth which looked identical but was only rwd, these are the most common ones found on the street.

The Escort Cossie, is actually not an Escort at all, it's a shortened Sierra platform with Escort style body panels.

I'm sure there's plenty of info via Google though, the Cossie is a cult car over here, although it's never really lit my fire.

dailydriver

Thanks. I think you meant to say "Mr. Costin and Mr. Duckworth" as the too partner's names, right?
And, yes, I know about the "chop job homologation" done to the Sierra to beget the Escort Cossie, hence the cost and rarity of those rides.

Sharpe

iTrader: (7)

What do people from England think about American muscle? Is there a stigma against it, or do they think it's "exotic" or whatever? Or, is it just nothing big at all?

300bhp/ton

It's strange. There's a real die hard support for American cars over here. People who own them will never own anything else. But it's rare.

Great names like Camaro, Trans Am, Boss, SS mean nothing to the majority of people here. They have just never heard of them. Mainly because they have never been sold in the UK or Europe.

If you say GTO people will think Ferrari 250 or 288 GTO. Cobra means a AC Cobra.

The vast majority of people think ALL American cars a 8 feet wide, 30 feet long BIG V8's with no HP. Can't handle or stop and do 2mpg.

In the case of some American cars I sure they are correct. But it ain't half fun educating them on what a modern muscle car can do

American cars like Stangs, Fbody's and such are very exclusive. Probably more rare than Ferrari's. Aston Martins and Porsches are common place by comparison.

The sad thing is even when you tell people what you drive they still have no idea? "What's a Camaro?" They ask.

Simple answer = it's FAST, that's what it is

JKDZ28

iTrader: (14)

Cool pics.

Where and how did you get your fbody? Did they sell them in England? Is it left-hand drive?

carado1984

so whats your competition over there?

300bhp/ton

I bought it 2nd hand from an American car specialist. It had been traded in for a new Stang.

But yeah GM sold Camaro's (z/28, V6 & V6 vert) at selected Vauxhall dealers (Vauxhall is owned by GM). From 98-02. They also sold C5 Vettes as well. These where all "Euro" spec. So have subtle changes from US models. But they are still left hand drive. They also have a km/h odometer.

GM also sold the Chevy Blazer and Cadillac STS from 1998 onwards but these where proper UK spec cars with right hand drive and mph odo.

300bhp/ton

There are a lot of BMW's and Mercedes. M3's and the like are all over the place, although I haven't yet managed to run one. Rally want-a-be's like STi's and Evo's are very common also.

Then there's the hot hatch brigade with various cars, some pretty quick for what they are such as a Focus ST220 (220bhp stock).

Lotus Elsie's are pretty common, RX-8's, 350z's.

The real competition comes from Porches (loads of these, 911's and millions of Boxsters). TVR's are the home grown competition. But the slowest one they have made in the past 15 years will run low/mid 13's. Most are a lot quicker.

Apart from that the competition is pretty poor really. While all these cars sound fun they probably only make up like 5% of the traffic on the road and usually going in the wrong direction.

Sharpe

iTrader: (7)

Are you from America, or...? How did you get interested in American cars if not?

300bhp/ton

Nope, English born and bred.

Simple answer - because they are fantastic!

I've always loved cars, espcially V8's (generally rare over here). All cars, but mostly performance and classics. However I have no real love for German or Japanese cars, far too bland and boring for the most part.

American cars have that fantastic flare and styling along with a sound track to die for.

Plus two of my all time fav films are Smokey and the Bandit and the Cannon Ball Run. Plus I was always a BIG fan of the Dukes of Hazzard, but mostly for the 69 Charger.

This is my all time fav car and I will one day own one:


A black 77/78 Trans Am SE with the 6.6 TA pack and WS6 handling package. 4 speed manual and a few mods to convert the 400ci Poncho to more like the RAM IV of previous years. Or a swap in a nice 455ci SD unit

Basically I just love American cars and culture. There are some nice British cars, but most are way too expensive and the greatest ones are all from a by-gone age.

American muscle rules as far as I'm concerned!!!!

American cars would play a big role in my fantasy garage as well. In no particular order this is a car collection I'd love to own:

-1977/8 TA
-1968/9 Charger R/T 426 Hemi
-1958 Corvette in red/white
-C6 z06 Corvette
-03+ quad cab Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 Cummins (off road package and tyres) in red
-YJ Jeep Wrangler with 35's
-Twin Supercharged Aston Martin Vantage
-Gordon Keeble (has a Corvette V8)
-3rd gen Camaro z/28
-64/5 Mustang V8 (coupe not fast back)
-03/4 Mustang Cobra
-Land Rover Discovery Series 3

LS1Aggie09

iTrader: (25)

thats awesome...and its so nice to see someone who knows what they are talkin about from over there...by the way, very clean Z!