Curbside Classic Finds: The Sights Of Summer

Maybe this had a better back seat? A1984 Nissan Stanza saloon. More famous in Europe for being the first front wheel drive mid size Nissan than anything else, it was more common as a hatchback than as a saloon.

Look very closely and you’ll see a dealer sticker that says “Datsun” – this was at the changeover from Datsun to Nissan branding in Europe.

The straight edge styling was certainly of the period, even if the driving dynamics might not have been up to the contemporary European standards. But, it’s still running 37 years later, and I haven’t seen any Austin Montegos on the road since, well, a long time ago.

Of course, no British review could be complete without a Jaguar. In this case, a 1990 Jaguar XJ-s 3.6 litre Coupe. It’s a personal preference, but to me an XJ-S looks better as a coupe than as convertible, but better still with a 5.3 litre V12.

Seeing the XJ-S facing off with my Alfa Spider, a passing Curbivore asked which was mine….turned out although this was not his Jaguar,  he had one and an Alfa Spider….lucky man.

The XJ-S has now almost completed the journey from luxury but expensive to run old (almost but not quote banger or beater) to become an appreciating and appreciated modern classic, albeit with polarising styling. Personally, I find the long low coupe works best in sober colours.

Another unusual sport coupe classic – a 1968 Volvo P1800S. There only around 170 of these left in the UK and this is the first one I can remember seeing for many years. And looking good too.

Being a 1968 car, it will be one the later Swedish built models, and in Roger Moore white as well. I’m fairly ambivalent to be honest, though I know these have a following on CC. I think an Alfa Giulia Sprint would win out for me.

But I can understand the pedestrians looking over at it.

I’ve produced this summary, so you’ll expect some Alfa Romeo drooling, and I do not intend to disappoint. An Alfasud Sprint would never do that, but by 1989, when this car was built, the car was technically known as the Alfa Romeo Sprint, and this 1.7 litre version was the Quadrifoglio Verde. Of course, everyone referred to them as Alfasud Sprints.

Underneath, some of the original ‘Sud features had been replaced by Alfa Romeo 33 component sets, notably the front suspension with the inboard disc brakes.

Does life get any better than a 1966 Giulia Super, now fitted with a later 1779cc (or in Alfa folklore, 1750) engine?

The Giulia Super was the top of the everyday range Giulia, less specialised and more mainstream than the Ti. Still, 98bhp in a car like this in Europe in 1966, with a five speed gearbox and a twin cam engine was pretty much a unique offer.

And two other forecourt Alfas to drool over – a pair of Rosso Alfa Tipo 916, one Spider, one GTV, both with the Busso V6. Take your pick, they both sound glorious when roused!

Our local first Friday evening of the month classic car drop in meet has restarted too – here are a couple of the stand out cars from the first evening, starting with another Alfa.

A 1984 Alfa Romeo GTV6, also fitted with the Busso V6 in 2.5 litre form, in truly spectacular condition and evidencing many years of good care.

Apparently, it was owned originally by a Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, and I believe is still in the family. A tremendous example, and one that I had not seen before.

Elsewhere on the green, there was this, what I suspect is a 1965 Pontiac Tempest GTO. You may know better; feel free to enhance my knowledge.

Or maybe a 1965 Ford Falcon Futura hardtop with the Sprint package of a V8, bucket seats and detail trim pieces. Thanks to Jim Klein, JP Cavanaugh and Jason Shafer, I know only 2800 of these were built in 1965, and one is in the New Forest in southern England.

And one other American car to close with….

….a Ford Fusion Hybrid on US Government plates. For official use only, no less.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and happy motoring!

 

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