Lewis Kingston
@roadsidetypist.bsky.social
Award-winning freelance motoring journalist, writer and author. Big fan of lightweight cars and forced induction. Often found trawling eBay for automotive oddities. Based in the UK.
I suppose we could take this to extremes. How about 16 cyls and 1496cc? That's 0.0935 litres per. Voila: the BRM V16. • 7.5:1 CR • Centrifugal supercharger (max 83 psi) • 2x SU 3" carbs • 2V/4 cam, gear-driven • Alu block/head, iron liners • Dry sumped • 600bhp (peak) @ 12k rpm • 278lb ft @ 11k
Ben Subeck@bensubeck.bsky.social · 2d agoI think it’s time to back small-displacement engines. Nothing over 0.5 liters per cylinder!
Just reminded me of the Mazda 323 Fastback ZXi I bid on in '23. Didn't have the 1.8-litre K8 V6, but it did pack the still-small 2.0-litre KF V6. Was in fab shape and ended up selling for £3,000. I was tempted but it needed belts (a big job) and a few other bits and bobs. AC still worked, though! 😎
Ben Subeck@bensubeck.bsky.social · 2d agoI think it’s time to back small-displacement engines. Nothing over 0.5 liters per cylinder!
Excellent MOT history (no advisories since well before I owned it), very tidy underneath (usual UK surface corrosion but nothing "developing"), 2.0 Sport, LSD, folding hardtop, big chunk of paperwork, serviced every ~5k while I've had it. Something close to £5k would be nice but there's wiggle room.
Early interest check, but any UK folks after an MX-5? I have plans next year that involve it not being around, and as I'm unlikely to drive it much in the winter, I'll be aiming to sell it soon.
The front-wheel drive version I drove back in about 2018 or so was excellent. Felt a decade newer in its steering and body control than its age, and the engine was quite responsive too.
I've actually driven one of these about 25 years ago. I couldn't decide between a Sierra cosworth or a 21 turbo. I bought neither in the end lol but what I will say is these are spectacular. Everything that era is peak Renault. The 5 Raider, the 19 16v, the 21 Turbo...c'est magnifique, n'est pas?
Here's a rarity: a ’91 #Renault 21 Turbo Quadra. All-aluminium turbocharged 2.0-litre engine (SOHC, 8v), 5spd, viscous AWD, and a pneumatic rear diff lock (in 1st/rev). 173bhp, 199lb ft, 0-60 in ~8.0. Needs work. Up for £6.5k. Sold in '24 for £5k. www.facebook.com/marketplace/... #WeirdCarBS
Old School Frank The Tank's Awesome Reaction
ALT: Old School Frank The Tank's Awesome Reaction
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Team Radar Love@midnightdorifto.bsky.social · 2d agolunchtime browsing today: we probably should talk about these anymore until everyone on here owns one, then we can talk about them again www.asphaltclassics.com/annonces/dod...
Petrol station spot this morning. Talbot London badge on the grille.
Today's Marketplace temptation: a '66 #Chevrolet Corvair Monza. Garaged for 30 years. Doesn't run and needs some paint. Yours for £5,000. There's a chance you could get it going without much effort. See if it rolls over, clean the points, freshen up the carbs... #Corvair #WeirdCarBS #ClassicCars
Never liked convertible C4 Corvettes. But this, with the hard top... I'm warming to it. Without the big glass hatch, the profile reminds me of the later C5 FRC (and Z06). Cool to have the option of dropping the top, too. I'd have to lose that luggage rack immediately, mind... #OldCarBS #WeirdCarBS
There are a lot of posts in that thread about cars in Kyiv I just put up, so you might have to click 'Read 1 more reply' at various points. However, it looks like if you click through to this last post, you can simply scroll up and see all of them in one uninterrupted run. Let me know if it works!
Lewis Kingston@roadsidetypist.bsky.social · 6d agoThat'll do for now. But while we were there, we visited Музей ‘Колеса Історії’ – Museum ‘Wheels of History.’ I'll put some pictures up from that later. It's a really cool place. 😎👍
Interesting (to me, at least) cars I spotted in #Kyiv: a thread. Clocked this XJ on the first day. Very close in spec to one of my old ones. Spotted it a few times, so it was obviously getting used. #Ukraine #CarCulture #CarSpotting #OldCarBS #WeirdCarBS #CarBlueSky (1/x)
There was a guy taking great action shots on the road outside of #FoTU last weekend. His name is Julian Barker if you want to look him up and ask if he got a pic of yours! #WeirdCarBS
‘During one prolonged attack, an explosion shakes our building – then another rattles our teeth.’ Read the final part of my story about driving to Ukraine to donate my Ford Ranger here: www.the-intercooler.com/library/univ... #StandWithUkraine #SupportUkraine #Ukraine #CarBlueSky #Ford
Not seen a red SVX for ages. Looks pretty cool, I think, and suits it. This one's going through the Mathewsons July auction, which starts today. Not a car I'd want to own now, though – I imagine parts are very thin on the ground (outside of basic consumables). #Subaru #WeirdCarBS #CarBluesky
Me: I must work on the Suzuki and put it through an MOT test. You know, so I can drive it. My brain: BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CAR BUY ANOTHER CA–
Put more standard-looking wheels on this and you'd have yourself one hell of a sleeper: • RS3 2.5 TFSI conversion, claimed 550bhp • AWD conversion • Wingback seats • Japanese import • £25,000 (Currently listed on Facebook Marketplace.) #Volkswagen #VWGolf #RS3
There's no bad way to Nissan Pao, but Figaro engine swap and a manual 'box is definitely one of the good ways www.carsensor.net/usedcar/deta...
Looking for a V8-powered luxury saloon but want something few will recognise? Step this way: www.carandclassic.com/auctions/200... Currently £3,700. No reserve. Finishes at 17:25 (BST). (Yes, it's RWD.) #WeirdCarBS #CarBluesky #Nissan #V8
On a similar note... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18853023... #MG #WeirdCarBS #CarBluesky
Lewis Kingston@roadsidetypist.bsky.social · 4w agoHey, that's a neat colo–OH BLIMEY! "Finished in stunning BMW Individual Veilchenblau Metallic ... paired with an extraordinary BMW Individual full Nappa leather interior trimmed in Lotus White and Light Blue." www.manorparkclassics.com/auction/lot/... #BMW #E39 #WeirdCarBS #CarBluesky
I have lost three friends to suicide in the last 6 months. 2 in the last 2 days. Please reach out to your people. Or to anyone. I’ll listen if you need me. Even if we’ve never met or spoken. Just be there for someone.
Hey, that's a neat colo–OH BLIMEY! "Finished in stunning BMW Individual Veilchenblau Metallic ... paired with an extraordinary BMW Individual full Nappa leather interior trimmed in Lotus White and Light Blue." www.manorparkclassics.com/auction/lot/... #BMW #E39 #WeirdCarBS #CarBluesky
Something to turn off immediately for sure.
Alex Kwanten@sportzagato.bsky.social · 4w agoLock 'em down if you're still using this.