BXProject

[mnde]

it was based on the Austin 1800 platform, and used a 2.2 litre straight-six engine based on the Maxi 1500/1750 unit. Transverse.

Mark.

[Philhod]

Yes it would have been 1800. The FE carried the 18 and 23 lumps and was a lot heavier than the much cleaner FD I had. they had the 16 and 20 engines. There was also a 3300 straight 6 version called the Ventora and a "supersport" version of the 20 and 23 with the legend "VX 490"
Mine was a 2 litre VX 490, but I swapped the twin carb set up for a larger twin choke jobby
TBH they fucked it up with the FE, it was very American a heavy ponderous thing that failed to sell in any numbers.

If you go back to that lovely pic of the SS Mickey put on and then look at a later Z28 you'll see what I mean


I thought the 6 pot was an E series engine the 2 four pots were O series

[mickey taker]

so to clarify you can have an FD victor which looks like



and can be made to look like




and then theres the FE

[Philhod]

Spot on Mickey...I mean the FD was beautiful, it even looked fast stood still.

Then they discontinued it and produced the FE......err well ......moving swiftly on....I mean ...what a dog.
It's what killed the "Victor" model off and heralded the Cavalier in.
Yeah what about that 9 liter beast.... 0-60 in 1 second

[docchevron132]

Maybe it's just me then, but I prefer the FE.
Probably childhood memories and that...

[mickey taker]

Maybe it's just me then, but I prefer the FE.
Probably childhood memories and that...

Nah Doc its probably because it looked and handled


well err how should I put this , like a fooking bus

[Philhod]

A bus Your too kind Mickey. More like a fucking oil tanker at sea.
You know those trick yank tanks with Hydraulics to make them "nod" up and down.
All you had to do with the FE was brake

[docchevron132]

I've never really driven one properly, other than moving it back and forth, so I duno about handling.
My dad never complained though.

I prefer the Alfa he had when I was REALLY small though, that was a fucking weapon.

[mat_the_cat]

Alfa? Which one was it?

[docchevron132]

Twas a 60's alfa Guillea 1600 twin cam, like what the itialian plod used, looked like the police cars in the Italian Job (the Michael Caine one).
It was imported from s***h Africa by a mate of my dad, then dad bought it and had to rebuild it from the ground up.
Years of driving it on shitty african roads had caused metal fractures all over the place.
Then some bitch drove into it some time later.
IIRC dad rebuilt it again, but I have no idea what became of it.
I was, er, 4 or 5 at the time, but I can still remember the car, and the noise it made, I loved that thing.
Even at that age! It was the first car that I sat in and thought "this is great".

[Fish_Botherer]

Like this?

[Philhod]

That's the one. Hardly any difference between that and the Lancia Fulvia, Police used them both.

Except the one you've pictured is a cloverleaf, which was the M badge for Alfa's

[docchevron132]

Aye, thats the fella!
It was grey when dad got it, but like many of our cars of the time, dad sprayed it the colour of choice. College Blue.

The only car's that I revall that were not college blue were the Victor (met green) and the 525a (peppermint green).

[Philhod]

The colour you describe Doc, was garnett starmist (green metallic). Mine was Honey starmist (gold) with black stripe and roof and the grill off that fast one Mickey put underneath the FD.
Happy dayz.

[docchevron132]

Could be mate, duno!
I dont think I have any pictures of that car, although I'll try and find some.
Twas quite a light green.
Happy days indeed, seems like a million years ago now..