Cult of Personality [LORE] [FINAL RESULTS]

[VicVictory]

1983 Matteo Miglia Legatus

@strop

There is never any question about the strong sports car culture in Europe, particularly the continuing battle between Italy, Britain, and Germany.

It’s also sad how many of these cars never hit our shore, and to get one requires going through the wait, the cost, and the hassle of imporation. But when you find the car that’s worth it, the very phrase “worth it” takes on a whole new meaning.

Meet the 1983 Matteo Miglia Legatus. A mid-engine, 211 horsepower, turbocharged 2.0 liter Speedster of Fury. Our senior editor warned us to take a spatula and a squeegee with us when he found out that we’d been offered a test drive of one. He didn’t explain why, he just smiled.

So, the spatula is so that you can scrape your brains off of the back window as this demon launches you to 60 in just a hair under 5 seconds, and the squeegee is so you can wipe off all of the slobber that has flown out of your mouth and decorated all the glass from the inside, thanks to the over-one-point-one-g handling.

It takes real care to handle when trying to burst off the line, as oversteer is a definite threat. At higher speeds, it’s more stable. Though in order to drive one at its limits you can’t be that mentally stable.

So if insanity is your thing, time to get on the net and bust out your checkbook. There’s nothing like a little Legatus action in your life.

Scoring:
Counter Culture - Import/Export: Very High (Currently in 2nd)
NOTE: Due to the scoring, multiple vehicles have had their sliding scale score lowered by one category

[HighOctaneLove]

1971 Bogliq Fanatic Engage

The fuel crisis would hit the US market hard, damaging sales of big, thirsty muscle cars and leave buyers with harsh choices; buy big and have no freedom or buy small and squeeze the most from every litre of fuel.

But, in 1971, Bogliq USA wasn’t thinking about the fuel crisis; it hadn’t happened yet! Nope, Bogliq USA wanted to sell a car designed to suit inner city dwellers and Bogliq Japan needed an export market. That’s right folks, you’re looking at another Bogliq HQ social experiment in car form…

It also helped that they only cost $985 driveaway!

Buy better, buy Bogliq!

[machalel]

1970 Epoch M40 - Atlas 2300

For 1970, Epoch uncovered a new replacement for the M40 based upon the previous year’s M10 Maxi chassis. Utilising an upgraded and oversized variant of the previous M40 engine, the M40 Atlas now boasted a 2290cc (140cui) inline 4 and new developments in suspension design and manufacturing, along with increased chassis stiffness and durability. One of the 1970 M40 Atlas’ claim to fame was that it could carry a load of over 2200kg, an amazing achievement for a car that weighed less than 1000kg.

[Crash77]

Oops, forgot about that…

[VicVictory]

Aluminum heads on iron blocks were tragic enough in the 80’s… with 10 more years of metallurgical research and production methods under their belt.

[VicVictory]

1971 Bogliq Fanatic Engage

@HighOctaneLove

Have you ever looked at a car and laughed at it, asking yourself why anyone would buy such a piece of junk?

Konstantin Bogliq never asked that question, and his company had a very, very long history of ignoring that very question. It seems a risky business move from the outside. But somehow, on the inside, it’s right. A visionary method without being radical.

Meet the Bogliq Fanatic, the quintessential 70’s version of Konstantin’s not really giving a shit what people think. A car that, very surprisingly, sold by tens of thousands, and quietly earned a reputation for unparalleled value and amazing reliability. And a terribly cramped interior that didn’t really seem to bother anyone.

The near ubiquitous presence of the little 750cc three cylinder coupe-sedan on our highways definitely bothered one person: Charles Bergman, CEO of Ardent. This was the moment that their long-time rivalry shifted, with Bogliq capturing the hearts and minds of the motoring public, and Ardent suddenly struggling to stay relevant.

So when you see one puttering along the road, faded paint and rusted body, just remember that car represents so much of the era. Free spirits, economic upheaval, and the changing of the guard.

Scoring:
Counter Culture - Spiritual Classics: Very High (Currently in 1st)
Counter Culture - Jalopy Culture: Very High (Currently in 1st)

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I have to give you a standing ovation with this one, HOL. I recognize that this would have destroyed the Piper in sales and popularity, hands down.

[VicVictory]

1969 Epoch M40 Atlas 2300

@Machalel

What do you do with an old, tired beast? Most people would sell it off, part it out, haul it to the junkyard.

This contributor decided to do a little research. With the Epoch M40 Atlas, there’s quite a bit that you can do to harness the power of the beast. All 83 horsepower of them.

Here are a few pictures of my project as it went along. You’ll see the fine U23 2.3 liter motor was, other than being liberally coated in grease and old leaves, in great condition. Solid body thanks to great factory rustproofing by Epoch. And in the back? Yeah, I don’t want to know what was nesting there either.

And here’s some photos of the finished project. Voila. Instant camper truck. Proper patina on the outside, and that giant cargo area in the back has been converted to two fold-down bunks and a ton of gear storage on roller racks.

This is just a tasate of what people do with their M40 Atlases. At a recent meet, we had 3 camper trucks, 2 that had been converted to food trucks, several lowriders, and even a plumber whose grandfather bought their Atlas brand new in '69 for the family business. We confirmed; that 5-digit odometer has rolled over four times, and the van is still in service. Granted, with a rebuilt engine and on its seventh clutch.

Scoring:
Mainstream Culture - RestoMods: Very High (Currently in 1st)

[VicVictory]

Week 4 submissions are open.

PLEASE NOTE: I have decided that this is the halfway point of the “competition”. Weeks 4, 5, and 6 are going to be the second half. If you’ve been meaning to send it in, dooo eeet!

[loflyh]

Legacy Auto Works - 1980

Janet

1980 Janet
Legacy Auto Works - Passion Inspired Engineering
A division of Retro Age Motors

But, I don’t want a car with a woman’s name on it …!

Then meet Cindy …aaah, I mean, Retro Age Motors 1980 F4FC. Same race heritage, same great driving experience …just not all the prestige …oh …and a lower price tag too.

Retro Age Motors
Parking Memories in the Driveway

[Knugcab]

1972-87 IP FREEWAY STAR Mk1

The IP Freeway Star was released in 1972, as an answer to a need for a smaller and cheaper van in the home market after the Highway Star had grown in size in 1967. In 1973, it was also released in the United States, with the biggest marketing campaign IP of America had been running this far. Cooperating with cartoonist Carl M. Holz, both animated TV commercials and ordinary magazine ads did feature the beagle “Sloppy” and the bird “Boondock” from the cartoon “Walnuts”, with Sloppy replacing his trusty old red doghouse with an equally red Freeway Star, touting that it was much more flexible than the doghouse. Because at least the passenger van version (called the “Astro” as it also was the usual suffix for IP station wagons) had an unusual interior that maybe was low on luxuries, but instead had features like front swivel seats that could be turned to face towards the rear passenger bench, and small collapsible coffee tables integrated into the rear door trim, and all seats also could be folded flat to form a bed for two. There was also a cargo van version available, that of course had an empty cargo area and normal front seats instead.

Technically it was different from the Highway star by being unibody instead of body on frame, but the rear end still was leaf sprung as on its larger sibling. The engine was an enlarged (to 1.3 litres) version of the all aluminium “LEE” (Low Emission Engine) unit first seen in the 1970 IP Colibri, designed from the start to give low amounts of toxic emissions and to cope with unleaded gasoline.

To boost some interest in the model in the US, IP of America made numerous special editions, like the 1974 “Royal” and the 1976 “Celebration”, most of them only with cosmetical differences like paint and hubcaps, sometimes including otherwise optional equipment like radios and power steering.

The first generation Freeway Star was facelifted in 1984 and produced until the 1987 model year.

[TheAlmightyTwingo]

The 1965 Meijer Hellfire V12 GT

Lore
After settling it’s first American Headquarter in Detriot, March 1960, the company decided to make a muscle car but with a European twist. The result was the Hellfire V12 GT, it produced around 242Hp from it’s ‘tiny’ 4L V12 and managed to get from 0-60MPH in 7s but in contrast to most muscle cars it was actually able to turn and it was fitted with comfortable leather seats instead of church benches. Production lasted from early 1965 to mid 1967.

Sales
The launch of the Hellfire wasn’t received well in America due to it being underpowered for it’s price nor did it go well in Europe because off it’s too expensive price tag and size. Around 10.000 units were sold with 3500 being sold in Europe, 6000 in America and 500 being exported to Asia. Prices never really inflated because it never really took off and reached a legendary status like the Dodge Charger.

Culture
Since it wasn’t popular at all around launch not many units were build, that’s why the cars went for cheap after production was canceled. Currently the car is a cheaply obtainable classic and it has been increasing in popularity slowly(still not popular at all).

Markets: Europe and America

NOTE: The price is in today’s dollars

[Ornate]

About the Velkolepy Popular

The eastern European car maker, Velkolepy, was famous for its ultra-luxury vehicles since its foundation as a coach-building company. Between 1880 and 1940, Velkolepy saw many famous clients buying their grand-tourers from Western European royalty to American tycoons. With the outbreak of World War 2, the company would see itself mothballed and with its workshops being used for the war effort. With heavy airstrikes being performed on Bozchia, it would see all of its company assets destroyed and left as rubble. With the end of the war and the nation being liberated by Soviet forces, the remanent Velkolepy assets would be nationalized and merged together with all other automobile manufacturers and steel producers. In spite of setbacks such as political conditions, losing contact with technical development in non-communist countries as well as drastically changing their focus from grand-tourers to compact commuters, Velkolepy managed to hold on to their reputation of well-built cars although losing prestige associated with them.

The Bozchia-Soviet split would result in the country being able to receive aid via the Marshall Plan as well as open the country up for more trade. While the aid would allow Velkolepy to build, the large pivot the company had made would see it stumbling around in International markets during the 50s and 60s with small compacts odd reliability issues and, compounded with technical stagnation would see the company’s reputation being frayed.

Bozchia wanted a vehicle that would restore the prestige of Velkolepy on the international stage, as well as the reputation Bozchia had of being “of those eastern European states”. Applying the “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” strategy brought the existence of the Velkolepy Popular RSI. The company had managed to buy the production rights of a newly made OHC flat-4 engine made by a French car maker and combined it with a small RR compact body to make the true “people’s sports car”.

The RSI, however, was definitely not a daily driver nor would be viable to make it the national car of Bozchia. A tamer, cheaper Popular had to be developed. The regular Popular was just a basic commuter that had only the basics such as a mono-speaker radio and cloth seats. This combined with its fuel efficiency was planned to be the car not only for the people of Bozchia but for the people of the world. With the fuel crisis, a certain American entrepreneur known for importing automobiles would help Velkolepy return the US market after being missing for more than 30 years.

[HybridTronny]

It’s Atera’s first RWD sports car that rolling down from it’s factory in Osaka. With the help of Mitsubishi with tuning this car, it’s a pretty dang fun car to drive. Oh and it’s a pretty cheap car too starting off around $15k at the time.

It is also appeared in a very popular sim-racing game, Gran Turismo 4 as Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of Gran Turismo series love the car in real life and in the game.

[HighOctaneLove]

1971 Bogliq Kitten Si

For some annoying reason Bogliq USA couldn’t make enough Zealot Enthuses in Coupe form. The trim supplier was restructuring and fell behind in their production.

In response to this crisis, Konstantin had 5k Bogliq England Kitten Si’s imported to fill the gap. The Kitten had a smaller engine than the Enthuse, 1.3L vs 1.6, but the Kitten was smaller, which bridged the gap, kinda.

Enough people bought them so they weren’t a failure but, by mid '75, it wasn’t unsurprising to see the occasional Kitten Si at the back of a Rural Bogliq dealership forecourt, languishing on heavy discount, left untouched because the local hoons don’t like small FWD cars with multiple carburettors!

Priced at $1,350 driveaway, the Kitten was yet another Konstantin “Captain Call” designed to benefit the US consumer at any cost!

Buy better, buy Bogliq

[Radster]

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Pictured here is the Vega Furis GTP. It ran in IMSA GTP from 1987 to 1991, driven by Bernard Moreno, Gregory Stein and Jody Cooper. Only three examples of this race car were ever built, one of them now owned by a car museum in Detroit, and two still owned and maintained by the Vega Motor Company.

This publication now has the opportunity to test one of the two units. Will they accept the challenge?

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(OOC: yes I wanted to think outside of the box )

[Aaron.W]

TSR Comet Turbo 2 RS

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Yep, it’s another Comet. But not just any comet, but a Group B homoligation model. Only 200 of these are made. Engine is now destroked to 2.8 litres to fit in the rules. It is also more powerful, making 426HP. It also has AWD. It took them 3 years until 1985 where they first raced this car, which is also the last year for the Group B era. This is now considered a supercar.

A TSR Comet Turbo 2 inside a TSR exotic dealership

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For more info, go check out my lore!

[conan]

WHOOSH.

This is the 1978 AEKI Skeva Turbo. Saying that it’s a pocket rocket would be a hyperbole. It’d probably not fit in your pocket. But that doesn’t matter as this car goes like a Saturn V with added Turbocharger.

It was not the first Turbocharged car to have ever existed, but it was one of the first proper mass produced one. It also made the Turbocharging something to brag about in the pub.

2-litre 4-cylinder engine with fuel injection. Adding the Turbocharging let this car produced a staggering 170 horsepower in a package weighing in at 1060kg. Lighting fast wouldn’t describe this car in 1978. Only 7 seconds and you’d already be at 100km/h.

But this car is not all about sheer speed either. Inside you’ll find high quality material and fit and finish and specially tuned stereo from renown Danish Hi-Fi maker. This is a lot more comfortable than you’d think. It also has specially tuned suspension and uprated brakes and is a perfect car for both long motorway cruise and a dash down mountain road.

The Skeva Turbo was produced until 1983 and became the icon of 1980’s excess. Bring on the puffy perm, the fur, the ridiculous coloured tracksuit and a can of Tab.

[Mikonp7]

I heard outside the box?

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1980 Popas Tachanka

The following documents are strictly confidential and should not reach the public

Pictures

[VicVictory]

Apologies for a few days w/o reviews posted. I gasp turned into a daywalker for the weekend and spent the time with my family. Will be starting work on these shortly.

Edit: Apparently I was unaware that Carbon Fiber unlocks at some point during the time window for this competition. And I didn’t have it on my explicitly “banned” list. So that entry is not being accepted, and CF is going on the “banned” list.

If you have to play the technicalities game to try to get your car in, your car probably violates the spirit of this competition. Just saying.

[VicVictory]

1985 TSR Comet Turbo 2 RS vs. 1988 Atera Zeta Sport

@Aaron.W vs. @HybridTronny

It seemed like the 80’s were a time of excess, even during the recession that plagued the states for much of the decade. Junk bonds, S&L scandals, and the high life of white collar scoundrels and celebrities was on full display.

For many whose lives hadn’t been turned upside down, the usual “Keeping up with the Joneses” mentality was still in full force. The need for style and speed was still there, especially for the Yuppie, but the cash flow wasn’t there for the ultimate toys.

Such is the backdrop for the battle between the flashy TSR Comet Turbo 2 RS, a highly touted successor to the original Comet Turbo, and the Atera Zeta Sport, a car not quite as revered or glamorized in livestyle publications, yet found in much greater numbers on the roads and in state registration databases.

1985 TSR Comet Turbo 2 RS

While the original Comet Turbo was a lightweight wonder machine, the Comet Turbo 2 had put on quite a little of weight with the generational change. Its 2.9 liter twin-turbo H6 motor was churning out 426 horses by 1985. Good for an impressive 6.4 second 0-60, despite its newly found heft.

1988 Atera Zeta Sport

By comparison, the Atera Zeta Sport, introduced a few years later in 1988, was much leaner, at 3062 pounds. Forgoing any sort of boost, the 2.8 liter twin-cam six in the Zeta was good for a pretty impressive 242 horses. It was able to get up and go with a 6.8 secon 0-60, not that far off the mark set by TSR.

But here’s where the TSR Comet falls down, like the impostor stock brokers who loved to drive them. All of the cooling vents and complex aerodynamic bits that TSR incorporated into the Comet 2 to make it look (and feel) like it was glued to the ground made the grand coupe pay a big price. A stock '85 Comet Turbo 2 RS had a top speed of just 90.4 MPH. And while the Comet had great low-speed handling, it couldn’t really get up fast enough to make a significant difference at high speed. Meanwhile, the Zeta Sport simply worked. Its superior road manners, comfort, fuel economy, and cost outlay easily outweighed the slightly lower handling capacity. And its 140.5 MPH top speed absolutely blew away the Comet.

So those who now choose to drive the Comet Turbo 2 do so mostly as a showpiece, reminding people of a day of decadence and lunacy. Whereas Zeta owners simply tear it all up.

Scoring (TSR):
Mainstream Culture - Rods and Sports Cars: Very Low (Currently in 7th)

Scoring (Atera):
Mainstream Culture - Rods and Sports Cars: Very High (Currently in 2nd)