GTAm

Heh heh yes. I thought it looked a bit of Espana through the lense!

Thanks. Btw Don, how are your Italian projects coming along?

The wheels were my idea. But I wanted this colour below, which was used on many race Alfas like the Tipo 33, GTZ and GTAms etc. Took about a week to zero in on the exact colour find clear pics to show painter etc. However when I went to collect the car. I was greeted by this yellowish green gold to my horror. I had enough of delays already to ask them to re-do. So I just drove off.

Thanks. Elvis and MiniA Yes restored it and quite painfully with so many delays and let downs. That's resto life in SL I guess. The car needs a few minor tweaks to be tip top. But now is very drivable. Went to Ruwanwella and back on Sunday and it was fun. This is only its 3rd long outing the 1st being Ratnapura in the middle of the night without spare wheel, jack etc (forgot). And 2nd was Nuwara Eliya.

A few recent pics of my Alfetta GTV.

Nice. Heard that they were potent machines on the track in their day....

Thanks very much buddy, will fire a call tomorrow.

My personal opinion is that they have to sooner or later. Most probably later as the govt. will not want to be seen as bowing down to IMF directives. Heard that the Motor Traders Assn met up with the big man and urged him not to reduce until lots of their stocks are depleted.

Does anyone out there know of a place that can repair tiny cracks on a windscreen and also remove scrape marks? I know these are done in other countries. I knew a place in Colpetty many years ago but can't seem to remember where exactly it was. It was an old house.......

Only until "VOTES" last!!!!

Great news. Mercedes gave him his first drive in the WSCC. And he's German after all. I'm surprised at the "low" fee though. Whatever, it's going to be a cracking season. MS in the Merc, Lewis in the Mac, Alonso in the Ferrari, Vettel in the RB. Just imagine a wet race! However I have a slight feeling that Massa is going to surprise a few.......

Red and the Black are both now with new owners and under full blown restoration. Lucky owners!

Give me a call 0777 354081. Might have something of interest.

Well there have been favourable tests in Classic mags as well as Autoitalia mag who pitted them (Hawk, and another Kit which did not get as much praise) against the original....... which of course got all the raves....!

I think one can start with a rolling chassis for about 1.5m - 2m if I recall right. In fact yours truly got a quote from Hawk Cars some years back....... About the TG affair...... read this, I feel bad for this guy..... http://www.stratossupersite.com/forum/show...p?threadid=7683

Alas no. The Toyota from Austria when I visited and the Lambo from the US through a friend. They were both on special offer so they cost me around 10k a piece. Need to get that red Lancia Fulvia Coupe too. Hope Santa Clause is reading

Have not seen it yet but saw some comments about it that the Hawk was not in great shape and that the suspension and steering differs from the original. Anyway the original wasn't the easiest rally car drive and it was only the very best rally drivers who came to terms with it. However once you've mastered it............. so the legend goes. Anyway, I want a Hawk too and I doubt I'll ever be able to afford an Original Stratos

Now that it's dead (like Michael Jackson ), Many journos are calling it "arguably the most charismatic production V6 engine ever!"

Got two new 1:18s Toyota 2000 GT race car and Lamborghini Espada both AUTOART millenium. Will photograph soon.

It was FWD for the 4 cylinder and 5 cylinder (diesel) cars and 4WD for the V6. They gave the FWD option to save weight further! However the GM derrived V6 is no match for the old Arese V6 in terms of performance and charachter!

The Brera is a complete failure, despite not being a BAD car. Right from the start everyone, even Alfa knew it's not going to be a success - at least they should have. The reason is that it was such an overweight car and the 4wd system has too much inertia. This is the unfortunate result of being forced to use the GM platform that was spawn the next Saab 900 as well. The rest is now history. Fiat and GM fell out and when the Brera, 159 and Spider performance figures were publised GM knew they had a white elephant in this platform and ditched it (and Saab altogether). This platform and the GM twin phaser engines (Brera/Spider/159 have GM blocks and Alfa heads) might be good for yank tanks but for a sporting brand like Alfa they are off pace! The Brera with those looks should have been as Giugiaro designed it, i. e. RWD and the Maserati V8. It would have sold in low volumes but the image and credibility of the brand would not have been affected. On the other hand, the image of Alfa has suffered so much over the years thanks to poor marketing management that car jurnos expect a flawless car from the brand or else they bash it. For example the 159 is not overweight when compared with it's rivals from the class. Look at the C-Class and Lexuse IS!!!! However no road test has called them heavy! Only the 3 series is considerably lighter. And now with the new 1.8T 200BHP engine the 159 is very competitive car in the sector. Supra I'll go for the GT with the Arese V6!

Yes the Alfa forums are full of F words for Marchionne. There is speculation however that this is a precursor to the meetings that he's having with the Italian government next week regarding the closing of a factory in Italy. All European manufacturers have excess capacity so they need to shut down some plants to remain profitable. But it's really bad timing to make such a statement when the new Giulietta is being launched.

After driving quite a few of lesser models from the two brands, even if I've not driven these very models of either, it's possible to guess the to a certain extent what they might feel like. At least I think so..... So I would go for the M3!

The car or the babe?

Hard to decide between the two "models" but I'll take the one without wheels this time