The Z Car's Nemesis?

[Zedrally]

Originally posted by Alfadog

What about the Alfa GTV or the Ford Capri?

QUOTE]

I wouldn't think you could consider the Capri a contender at all. I don't and as a previous owner of one I can speak with some authority on it [although it is a tainted view].

The V6 version was only a glorified beefed up 1600. There was no improved steering/suspension interior etc. Apart from the engine [typical cast iron push rod of the era, albeit a V6] the dash [sports model with tacho], there was no difference. Externally, the twin pipes side by side, driving lights [which melted the loom if used], bonnet pins the bonnet paint job and the Super Roo sticker was the only way of seeing the difference. Hearing was a give away, though.

I quickly traded mine for a zed back then. The zed was considered luxury in comparision to many sports cars of the era.

Now the GTV is another matter......

[Alfadog]

I wouldn't think you could consider the Capri a contender at all.

Fair enough, I don't know much about the Capri except that I think it looks cool and has a bit of power. I would have thought they could have been competitors because they were both "sports cars" from fairly mundane car manufacturers. But thanks for putting it straight

Going off-track a little, what kind of cars did the Capri V6 compete with?

[Zedrally]

Torana's!!!!!

[Zedrally]

Alfa, don't forget the zed was designed ground up as a sports car. The Capri was an UK version of the 510. A medium family sized car.

All that Ford did was to add the V6 and some other cosmetic details and call it a Sports Car!

From memory probably the best of the British of the time in the capacity class would have been the Triumph Stag, great little V8, removable top, little heavy and a high price tag [out here, at least]. Of course the XJE was the ultimate, but then again not a subject of this thread.

[Alfadog]

I just did a little bit of research.. interesting to see one of the Capri prototypes looks strangely familiar...!

[Zedrally]

Miniture Mustang.

[Bambikiller240]

I wouldn't think you could consider the Capri a contender at all. ..

Capri's did compete, though not successfully against 240Z's on the racetrack in the US.

Consistantly a backmarker from my recollection

[Zedrally]

Being a Contender is not the same as being a Competitior.

Sure they [Capri's] competed against zeds, but in my opinion they couldn't be considered a contender.

Did you get get the V6 push rod version in the USA or was it modified again?

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Zedrally

Being a Contender is not the same as being a Competitior.

Sure they [Capri's] competed against zeds, but in my opinion they couldn't be considered a contender.

Did you get get the V6 push rod version in the USA or was it modified again?

That's what I was saying, agreeing with previous statements.

A V6 was available, I assume it was a pushrod motor. Never really cared enough to stop by their pit stall and look! Too many Z cars and others to check out.

[Zedrally]

So I take it thay were LHD?

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Zedrally

So I take it thay were LHD?

Yes.

[Zvoiture]

God, I can't believe it took, like, 10 posts for someone to mention the GTV. It kinda looks like we have three different conversations going here... the 'nemesis' in the street, on the track, and in your yard.... I'm not going to sound like much of a homer here, folks, but I refuse to be myopic.

In the street? Well, first of all street racing is dangerous and illegal and I don't do it. With that said, the answer--for 99.5% of all Z's on this forum--would be JUST ABOUT ANYTHING from F-bodies and Pony cars up throught the Corvettes, Porsches and exotics and down through new, high-tech cars with similar or better P/W ratios like Eclipse, Acura, Neon, yes and even well-prepared 'rice'. Sorry for that, myopians. The Z is a dinosaur with 130 horse and 2400+ lbs and a peg-leg. It's a SPORTS CAR, not a green-light wowwer.

In your yard...well, I'm not going to touch this one. I don't play with rusty cars and you shouldn't either.

On the track? Now here is where the playing field gets a bit more level, believe it or not. Classifications are important, yes, and so is the driver. I would say those two each make up a third of a winning formula. The remaining third is the fact that the Z is a really good road racing car. Even mildly prepared, the suspension geometry is nearly perfect and even a stock powertrain BEGS and PLEADS with you to run the wizz out of it. You can be much less concerned about proper classing on smaller tracks. On larger tracks, there is no way it can keep up with cars with higher end. Give it the tight, torquey stuff and away you go! Yes, at the expense of puffing a few heads up, you can beat 911's. But that's a horrible blanket statement. Racing is for fun. No one is going to hire you to drive for the Jaguar Factory Team. You go out and pass the field--of 911's and 993's and 914's and Boxters and Corvettes and Eclipses and Neons and whatever else is not being driven to the FUN level your car is and you find someone to race with. It might be a 911. It might be a 944 (they match up very nicely), it might be an E-36 or a Boxter. Last weekend I passed 911's all day long and had my arse handed me by an EVO.

This kind of talk only leads to one thing: Sore elbows.

steve