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“I only regret that I have but one face to palm for my country.”
Monday, July 27, 2009
It's so cute...
While hitting Google to show my roommate pics of the ultracool Toyota 2000GT this morning, I discovered the existence of the heretofore-unknown-to-me super-kewt Toyota Sports 800.
Ah, but they weren't even really convertibles; they just had the roofs cut off and fake folded convertible tops added. I learned this at Wikipedia this morning. :)
I want one too now, THANKS....Just one more thing that I really really want. Like Thompson Center to re-introduce the TCR, and Ruger to make a .308 version of the Mini-14. I don't want the Mini-30. I want a real round.
my first thought when i saw that 2000gt was "hey, they ripped off the datsun z!".
turns out 'twas other way around, thanks to yamaha and datsun rejecting their design...then datsun turns around and steals it back and calls it their own.
learn something every other day hanging around this here porch.
"Used to blow the doors off GTO's and SS-396's in its day, back when my other brother had one."
Yeah, my 1978 Ford 4X4 pickup with straight six and 4 speed will blow the doors off a GTO or SS-396 too... when there's a foot of snow on the ground... :P
IF you are in that market, don't forget about the Honda S800. Dinky 4 cyl spun to 8000 rpm for 100 mph...not bad for 1965. I believe it used a roller bearing crank too.
Sadly, I lost the love of my life to financial deprivation a number of years ago, a '69 XKE 2+2, of which the 2000GT was a shameless and under-powered ripoff.
The 2+2 was a fastback hardtop, 9 inches longer than the regular XKE, and lighter, due to the stiffening effects of the monocoque body.
My baby had the straight six, which actually out-excelerated the V-12 up to about 120 m.p.h. She would hang with a bigblock 'vette in the straightaways, and eat it for breakfast in the turns.
There were a few querks. I spent one Sunday per month adjusting all the adjustments that had gone dis-adjusted since the preceeding adjustment period. A new fuel pump was added about every 3 to 4 months, and balancing those SU carbs was, at best, a labor (labour?) of love.
Oddly, I never had any problem with the electrical system, the supposed eminance grise riding shotgun in all Jags.
Want to reduce any Jag owner into fits of giggles as he rolls on the floor? Ask him a riddle. "Why do Englishmen drink warm beer"?
"Because their refrigerators are made by Lucas Electric".
sigh, the 2000GT. that's on the list of Unattainables, for me, though i'd die happy if i could just SEE one in person. i hear there's one in a dealership in Toronto...
"How many ponies do you need to haul around 1300 lb, anyway?"
As many as you stuff into it, which means getting rid of the lawn mower engine and getting something with real oats into it.
Carroll Shelby got the SBF into the A/C Ace just fine, though I've never seen a Toy 800 in the flesh, so I'm not sure about the packaging factor. Hell, there were some guys doing Ford conversions to Miatas 15 years ago, and they were crazy fast.
Every ricer turned chopped hot-rodder wannabe has used the 'Busa engine for these types of things. Should have acres of room left over for...I dunno, exactly.
I'd kinda like to see it, honestly, as the sound would fit so well with the rest of the package.
Toyota built 2 convertible 2000GTs for James Bond's, You Only Live Twice.
ReplyDeleteBrass
Ah, but they weren't even really convertibles; they just had the roofs cut off and fake folded convertible tops added. I learned this at Wikipedia this morning. :)
ReplyDeleteI want one too now, THANKS....Just one more thing that I really really want. Like Thompson Center to re-introduce the TCR, and Ruger to make a .308 version of the Mini-14. I don't want the Mini-30. I want a real round.
ReplyDeleteSports 800 with it's screaming 28hp engine. Accelerating from 0-60 only if you threw it out the back of the plane.
ReplyDelete"Accelerating from 0-60 only if you threw it out the back of the plane."
ReplyDeleteWhereinthehell am I going to do 60mph between here and Fresh Market?
Obviously I'd need a larger vehicle for jaunts outside Broad Ripple...
How many ponies do you need to haul around 1300 lb, anyway?
ReplyDeleteNah. Datsun SRL311, also known as the 2000 Roadster.
ReplyDeleteHad one. Brother now has it.
Cruise at 120. Will do 140. Will do 105 in third gear.
Used to blow the doors off GTO's and SS-396's in its day, back when my other brother had one.
my first thought when i saw that 2000gt was "hey, they ripped off the datsun z!".
ReplyDeleteturns out 'twas other way around, thanks to yamaha and datsun rejecting their design...then datsun turns around and steals it back and calls it their own.
learn something every other day hanging around this here porch.
don't know about that 800 though...
jtc
"Used to blow the doors off GTO's and SS-396's in its day, back when my other brother had one."
ReplyDeleteYeah, my 1978 Ford 4X4 pickup with straight six and 4 speed will blow the doors off a GTO or SS-396 too... when there's a foot of snow on the ground... :P
IF you are in that market, don't forget about the Honda S800. Dinky 4 cyl spun to 8000 rpm for 100 mph...not bad for 1965. I believe it used a roller bearing crank too.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_S800
I'll take my Iso Grifo with the 327 and the Rock Crusher, please. :-)
ReplyDeleteSadly, I lost the love of my life to financial deprivation a number of years ago, a '69 XKE 2+2, of which the 2000GT was a shameless and under-powered ripoff.
ReplyDeleteThe 2+2 was a fastback hardtop, 9 inches longer than the regular XKE, and lighter, due to the stiffening effects of the monocoque body.
My baby had the straight six, which actually out-excelerated the V-12 up to about 120 m.p.h. She would hang with a bigblock 'vette in the straightaways, and eat it for breakfast in the turns.
There were a few querks. I spent one Sunday per month adjusting all the adjustments that had gone dis-adjusted since the preceeding adjustment period. A new fuel pump was added about every 3 to 4 months, and balancing those SU carbs was, at best, a labor (labour?) of love.
Oddly, I never had any problem with the electrical system, the supposed eminance grise riding shotgun in all Jags.
Want to reduce any Jag owner into fits of giggles as he rolls on the floor? Ask him a riddle. "Why do Englishmen drink warm beer"?
"Because their refrigerators are made by Lucas Electric".
Lucas Electric lighting fixtures have three settings: Off, Dim and Flicker.
ReplyDeletesigh, the 2000GT. that's on the list of Unattainables, for me, though i'd die happy if i could just SEE one in person. i hear there's one in a dealership in Toronto...
ReplyDeleteTam, I just saw this clip from Top Gear and for some reason I thought of you.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_KIqdS1SO0
(don't peek at the info, I want the end to be a surprise.)
The 2000GT is one of those cars I lust after.
ReplyDeleteI bet that 800 would be really fun. 1279 pounds!
"How many ponies do you need to haul around 1300 lb, anyway?"
ReplyDeleteAs many as you stuff into it, which means getting rid of the lawn mower engine and getting something with real oats into it.
Carroll Shelby got the SBF into the A/C Ace just fine, though I've never seen a Toy 800 in the flesh, so I'm not sure about the packaging factor. Hell, there were some guys doing Ford conversions to Miatas 15 years ago, and they were crazy fast.
Even a bone stock Miata mill would move <1300lbs with alacrity.
ReplyDelete...Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I wonder if a 'Busa motor would fit?
ReplyDeleteEvery ricer turned chopped hot-rodder wannabe has used the 'Busa engine for these types of things. Should have acres of room left over for...I dunno, exactly.
ReplyDeleteI'd kinda like to see it, honestly, as the sound would fit so well with the rest of the package.
Busa motor? Like this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdJ84nho3_k
a GSXR engine works too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCCeflCb_Hc
@Ed Foster, that Lucas joke is right in line with a joke I heard on a show years ago, told by a guy working on his Jaguar:
ReplyDeleteQ. Why don't the English build television sets?
A. They haven't figured out how to make them leak oil.