Classic Car Club.
Please note this is not the Official Classic Car Club Site.... Click on here to Visit the Official CCC Site.
The 'Classic Car Club' is a Club for enthusiasts run by enthusiasts . It allows you to drive a wide variety of 'Classic' vehicles without the worries associated with owning a classic vehicle.
My wife recently enrolled me into the club as a Birthday present, thanks Sharon !!!!, and I just wanted to share with you some of the experiences of driving the cars in the club. You can see a full list of the vehicles available, the cost and the rules of the club at the Classic Car Club website (www.classiccarclub.co.uk) tell them you heard about the club from me...
A weekend with the Aston Martin V8
Engine: 5.3 litre V8, 325 BHP, 150 mph Year: 1975
My first car from the club had to be the Aston Martin, and it was. Sharon hadn't told me that she had arranged my present and you can imagine my surprise when I saw her sitting in the Blue Aston Martin at Gatwick Airport that memorable Friday night.
For years I have looked at the Aston Martins longingly, a real (British) Muscle car. It has all the qualities that make a Muscle Car, a two door body shell with more bonnet (hood) than anything else, a large V8 engine with tarmac ripping torque, the right exhaust note and a serious drinking problem.
What sets the Aston Martin apart from the typical Muscle car is the road holding and the comfort. The Aston boasts a full leather interior with a classic British Sports car dashboard. The brakes are very effective when compared with the all round un-assisted drums on my Roadrunner. The steering, although power assisted, is again more responsive than the Mopar. The acceleration is constant through the range with the smoothest of gear changes from the Automatic gearbox. From a standstill the pull from the engine keeps on right through the range, at least at the speeds I was able to achieve on the M27 on a Sunday afternoon.... This is obviously due to the V8, double overhead cam, all aluminum 5.3 litre engine.
You have to remember this is a car from 1975, it's fast approaching its Silver anniversary. When you consider what was a normal car on British roads at the time and compare it to this 150 MPH super car you can begin to imagine what it must have been like to drive one of these when it was new. I found that whether I was driving through the country side or on the Motorway it turned heads. Come to think of it, it could turn heads even when it was parked in a car park in Fordingbridge. It is one of the few cars that people give way to on the Motorway. It appears that the site of an Aston Martin in the rear view mirror causes people to pull in to let you pass (this was not due to menacing behavior on my part!).
I must say having driven this car for a couple of days and covered nearly 400 miles on all sorts of roads I was not disappointed. Whether it is as fast to 100 as the Roadrunner ? I think not, but, whereas the roadrunner runs out of revs a little above 120 I am sure the Aston would just keep going (up to the claimed 150 ???). Of course the fact that the Aston can stop and go round corners adds to its charm, it is a Gran Tourismo in the true sense. However, and remember I am biased, I think the Roadrunner provides more smiles to the Buck, but given a few more Bucks I would still buy an Aston Martin, oh well back to work....
Porsche 944
Engine: 2.5 litre, straight 4, 163 BHP, 140 mph Year: 1987
What can I say ? Well I think the first thing to say is that I am not a Porsche Person... The fact that when I picked it up I was wearing a suit and bright Red braces was just a coincidence !! I had just finished two days working in London, just down the road from the Club. The Braces were purely functional, they stop my trousers from falling down. Anyway, I thought I would take advantage of being in the area and have something "For the Weekend" as they say. The only reason I chose the car from the list I was given was because the guys at the Club, Eddie and Nigel, had both said to me that I would enjoy it, "Honest" they said.
Well to be fair to both Eddie and Nigel I did Enjoy it. I could tell you all the things it doesn't have, A V8 for example, but to be fair that is not what this car is all about. What this car does have is an adequate turn of speed, an excitingly low driving position with grip and the handling to match.
The interior is well designed with the gear lever and all the common controls to hand, it also has good visibility of the Speedo and Rev. counter, this I found became more important as I got used to the car. It is a 2+2 Sports Car and, although I didn't try it, several people said it was possible to sit in the back in relative comfort for short journeys.
I did not make in special journeys with the 944 but I did cover over 150 miles on a variety of roads from the country lanes where I live, to Motorways as well as some City driving in London. I must say the car behaved well in all situations. In London the light clutch and easy gear change meant the stop start driving in traffic did not cause your left leg to ache. On the Motorways the 4 cylinder engine moved along effortlessly, eating up the miles without fuss (this is where the Speedo visibility is important). However, it was the country lanes where the car was most fun. The 944 is the closest I have driven, up to now, to a road going Go-Cart. Although it is fitted with Power Steering you feel the road as you drive. Not in a tiring way, just enough to help you direct the car. It corners like nothing I have driven. Roundabouts were so much fun that I planned routes to include as many of these as possible. All in all the road holding could not be faulted. I am sure this is due to it's almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Only on one occasion did it twitch, this was on a roundabout with an adverse camber, and even then it was hardly noticeable, no sound from the tyres whatsoever. The performance of the engine was sporty, nothing earth shattering but then this is not the hottest Porsche either. I found if I kept the engine above 3500 revs (this is where Rev. Counter visibility is important) it would move a long very nicely thank you. You could certainly get yourself in trouble with the boys in blue if you weren't careful. All in all this is a good car. Not something I would have said a few weeks ago. I wouldn't have bought one then, I wouldn't buy one now either but then I don't have to... that the great thing about the club. I am glad I had use of it for the weekend and I would try it again sometime, possibly for a long trip, as it even boasts something like 30 to the gallon ! If you can live with the Porsche name (the associations with Yuppies always come to mind) it would make a good car for driving in Town. With the added advantage of being great for those longer trips at the weekend.
Jensen Interceptor
Engine: 6.3 litre V8, 280 BHP, 140 mph Year 1974
I have to say having spent the weekend with this car I was a little
disappointed. Not by Jensen or the Interceptor but by the gearbox. I understand the car
had recently had the engine rebuilt as it had seriously overheated causing terminal
damage. I am not sure if this always happens but it seems when you put a fresh engine in
the gearbox gives up, it did with my Roadrunner which uses the same drive train, anyway,
the Gearbox was definitely on its way out !!!
The car itself was built to compete with the Aston Martin, however, Jensen could not afford to develop its own engine and transmission so it went looking across the water in America. A deal was done with Chrysler and they began to use the Mopar Big Block. This in its self make me more interested in the car as the Roadrunner uses the same power plant. Again I was disappointed to find out that the Jensen from the club is fitted with the 6.3 litre (383 ci) variant and not the 7.2 litre (440ci). Jensen also used the 440 'Six Pack' calling it the SP. I suppose they didn't think 'Six Pack' carried the right image for a luxury car ?
When I found road conditions that suited the gearbox problem, ie keeping over 42 mph (otherwise it would drop to 2nd), I did enjoy the ride. The car has a similar feel on the road as the Aston Martin, it corners well for the size of car (remember I normally drive the Plymouth) and the V8 engine has plenty of power when it is needed. The brakes are fantastic, all round ventilated discs, so not only does it accelerate it goes round corners and stops, what more could you ask for ? It was the Jensen Interceptor that held the record for the fastest 0 - 100 - 0 mph in the '70s. Albeit the FF with ABS and 4WD.
The Jensen is still one of my favorite cars, I suppose because there is more chance of me owning one of these than an Aston ? However, I am still put off with the horror stories about repairs, especially to the bodywork. I also hear bad things about the engine but I find that hard to believe. I think these stories are due to unfamiliarity with the peculiarities of American Engines...
I hope to try the car again when it's set up better, maybe then my interest will be rekindled.
To find out more about the Jensen Interceptor look at the Jensen Owners Club Site.
To be added soon....
Mustang, Lotus Elise, Porsche 928, Daimlar V8, Caterham 7, Porsche 911 (70's Model), Porsche 911 (996, the new one !!), MR2, MX5, Misubushi FTO and a trip to the South of France in a Aston Martin Virage is planned for the Spring....
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