Non-Zs!!! (the real thread)

[Danglybanger]

...Can't quite get pics up of my 280 yet (must retrieve it first) but... I do have some long windedness to show off.

Belonged to an uncle years ago before he died (after having been owned/given away by every other member of my family since 1981), circa 1995 my grandma has had it parked between her Ford Aspire and a washing machine (apparently to protect the washing machine from any parking mishaps...).

In any case, the family conspired, and it's now sitting in my garage... On the plus/minus side it's the only Triumph TR7 not currently in the state of being a small brown pile of oxidation... It would probably start in a day if I put the effort into it (or maybe not, it has some strange Bosch EFI system in it), but last time I attempted that a rat that had been living in the (8 miles of) intake tubing came aflame, and that was a bit offputting. In any case, with a plaid interior it was my dose of 70s kitsch before the Z came around (which it technically hasn't yet).

(Benz in the background is my brother's, an old man gave it to him for free... actually the most solidly built car I've ever experienced somehow, it's in a race with the Triumph to be the most offput project).

...I'm a double wedgie though, here's the other one (though not for long, selling it to make room for the 280). Daily driver, believe it or not, and oddly it's even been fairly reliable (only a few instances warranting a prolonged borrowing of my mom's Blazer).

I'll miss it, but it might have to be gone for a while... Brilliant when it's working properly, which it will, except I could buy a new Z for every year that I owned it with the annual maintenance necessary for that to be accomplished...

Ownership on the following two is a bit sketchier, but as I'm the only person in the family who currently has patience enough to drive something without AC/power etc./functional brakes, I'm currently custodian.

Built with my dad starting when I was 5, my first car when I was 16, 350, 4 speed etc... My dad stole the original steel wheels for his 57 Vette, so Least fruity thing I currently own, I gather.

Built with my dad when I was 8. 350, automatic... A bit rough and ready, but that just adds to the shock value...

Can't wait to add Z pics You've all got me stoked on em...

[JonnyRock]

Esprit Turbo, nice... I've always loved Colin Chapman's way of thinking; if you want to make a better, quicker car, "add lightness."

I think the first Z's were in line with his ideals.

[Danglybanger]

...they look great in orange/yellow/lime green anyway, which Lotuses always do

I fell in love with the philosophy/engineering too, it's really a hardcore car in design and practice... meant for the driving moment rather than being worked on/carried in, no compromises, especially if you consider rearward visibility a compromise... Does have dual cigar lighters though, .