The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: TBird1958 on June 29, 2008, 11:36:07 PM

Title: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on June 29, 2008, 11:36:07 PM

 So...... I got too lazy to dig up the chrome thread, but it was about time for a new family portrait. I don't always seem to get this done as much as I'd like, 9 1/2 months of the year its raining here. Anyway a few things have changed since I posted this shot back on the old dudepit.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/5_birds.jpg)

 The natural '76 is purple, the '02 natural finish and the Blackbird have given way for a nice black '77 and a Greco Thunderbird II, also a '77. And as a minor irritant to our Herr Moderator, I've replaced any black hardware with chrome, and found some nice new pieces for the 76's as well. Alot more chrome than your Volvo has..........or my Subaru for that matter!  ;)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/5birds2.jpg)

Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on June 30, 2008, 12:47:32 AM
Thats a sweet looking family of Thunderbirds you have Mark.
How much variation is there between them in the feel of the necks?
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: rockinrayduke on June 30, 2008, 03:18:53 AM
Suh-weeeettt!  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on June 30, 2008, 04:05:41 AM
The new guards look great Mark- nice job. Great family pic.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on June 30, 2008, 04:58:20 AM
nice flock 'o birds.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on June 30, 2008, 05:07:26 AM
Great upgrades on the birds, but from a Camaro to a Subu?
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on June 30, 2008, 05:09:51 AM
Shame on you for getting rid of that Blackbird, it sure had the nicest looking pups. Nothing like smooth plastic to arouse my senses ...

How does that Greco measure up in sound? It sure looks faithful.

Those enlarged TBird insignias on the pickguard ... a tribute to approaching farsightedness?  8)

Uwe
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on June 30, 2008, 05:13:07 AM
Great upgrades on the birds, but from a Camaro to a Subu?

As girls mature, they grow to appreciate the practical over the fashionable. Plus, Mark needs room for those Birds and his - albeit scanty - stage clothes.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Nocturnal on June 30, 2008, 05:46:08 AM
Great looking flock Mark! I like the new pickguards.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: the mojo hobo on June 30, 2008, 07:51:23 AM
I really like the ones with the bridge and pickup covers. It's just the right finishing touch.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on June 30, 2008, 09:12:20 AM

 I wanted to say a big *Thank You* to John aka Barkless Dog for the kind permission to use his art for the pickguard on the purple one, its all done with various lacquers and enamel over black .060 styrene. And yes they're big so my feeble eyes can see them without my bifocals on!
 The Greco has the loudest pup I've ever had on any bass - I have to turn the amp down when I play it, being set neck its a little tighter/punchier than the Gibsons and wider at the nut. For $750 its one of the coolest basses ever!  The necks are a bit different, the Greco is a bit like a Pee bass, and the 76's are comprable to a Jay I guess, the "modern" white '89 has the slimmest neck, its a very good player.
 And anymore the Subaru is more fashionable than the Camaro, it gets me, the rig and a couple of 'Birds to any show, with gas @ 4.55 a gallon 30mpg never looked better  ;)
 Here's a close up of my rendition of John's cool 'Bird design, the lighting doesn't show it well but the colors on the bass and the PG are a perfect match.

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/pickguard2.jpg)

And here they are together.

 (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/purplewhite2.jpg)

     
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on June 30, 2008, 09:14:36 AM
I love the update on the buzzard design. Looks great as well as the other big Bird.


Nice job!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: gweimer on June 30, 2008, 10:11:20 AM
I love that purple bird.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on June 30, 2008, 01:32:27 PM
Mark I've got the same car in white, but the next model (looks almost the same anyway) and your right, its a great car to get to gigs with. whole rig in the back and 3 basses and a guitar. (2 in the back seat).
The loading height out the back is perfect.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on June 30, 2008, 01:56:24 PM
I too have a Subu Outback-Should we start a Gibson Subu club?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/Car/nose.jpg)

Mine only gets 17.8 MPG!  The turbo could be the cause
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: ramone57 on June 30, 2008, 03:38:11 PM
my 2000 Outback only gets 20-21 around town.   good car for the most part, though.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on June 30, 2008, 05:18:06 PM
Now all I need is a good T-bird to pack into my Outback.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on June 30, 2008, 05:33:21 PM

 Mine's a '99 non-turbo, so its not fast....I might be a little high on the mpg, I love the car. For what I have to do its just about perfect. What year is yours John?  I'm totally gay for Subaru's!
 And yes, we could have a Subaru club, that is if our esteemed moderators will let us.... ;)   
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on June 30, 2008, 06:14:26 PM
a turbo station wagon?
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: chromium on June 30, 2008, 06:28:16 PM
Mine only gets 17.8 MPG!  The turbo could be the cause

Or, if you're like me, liberal application of the turbo might be the cause  ;D

Lovely flock, Mark!  The 'guards came out cool
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 01, 2008, 02:51:39 AM
I've always loved John's dive bombing Buzzard - I only realized now that it is - enlarged - on Mark's one scratch plate.

And those Subarus don't look half-bad.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 01, 2008, 03:49:24 AM
Yes a Turbo Wagon!


Top mounted intercooler with functional hood scoop.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/Car/engine.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on July 01, 2008, 04:25:28 AM
My Suby is a 2001 2.5L flat four non turbo.

What size donk is connected to that turbo John. I would guess that Marks is the same as mine.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 01, 2008, 04:46:23 AM
It's the same engine as the WRX but bumped up in HP for the added weight of the larger legacy platform.

243-hp turbocharged SUBARU BOXER 4 engine
241 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/Car/side.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 01, 2008, 05:43:10 AM
a turbo station wagon?

Silly question. What other means of transporting a flock of Birds quickly is there? You know what the difference between a man's car and a woman's two seater is? The former still is good for something.

Station wagons are totally "rawk":

Six-cylinder 3.0 litre petrol engine
400 Nm torque from 1500-4800 revs

And in Germany - land of the free - it is allowed to go 150 mph on ze Autobahn too!

(http://www.volvocars.com/uk/PublishingImages/Migrated%20Page%20Resources/wallpaper_V70_preview_4.jpg)

(Mine is black though, with red leather seats and - most important - a 4x125 Watt stereo plus a 200 Watt subwoofer ...)





Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Nocturnal on July 01, 2008, 05:54:44 AM
I want one of those Volvo V70's in the worst way! I had a Volvo wagon back in my band days that was just cool as hell. Fit all kinds of gear in that thing.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 01, 2008, 05:59:30 AM
My neighbor's wife just got the mini hatch back Volvo. Cool little car.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 01, 2008, 06:54:29 AM
The C-30.

(http://img.stern.de/_content/57/62/576268/5DSC_4175_500.jpg)


Edith has one like that (in matching black) and loves it. Looks like a washing machine from behind me thinks ;D,


(http://img.stern.de/_content/57/62/576268/250DSC_4158_250.jpg)



 but it's a good car. Used it for a longer ride to Düsseldorf last week to see Judas Priest (my brother had loaned the V 70 off me for a longer trip where his little show-off, totally impractical two-seater Opel Speedster (manufactured by Lotus as part of the GM family)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Opel_Speedster_Blue.jpg/800px-Opel_Speedster_Blue.jpg)

would have put unnecessary duress on female co-pilots!) and it acquitted itself well, even with four adults in it.

Uwe
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Dave W on July 01, 2008, 07:56:56 AM
I'm totally gay for Subaru's!

I think this remark just whooshed past everyone else. Maybe they've never heard the term "lesbaru".  ;)

I owned three Subies back in the days when their slogan was "inexpensive and built to stay that way." Wish I still had my Justy.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 01, 2008, 08:26:24 AM

 "Maybe they've never heard the term "lesbaru".  ;)

I thought I was the only one that had heard that name for them    :gay:
My is definately a non-turbo, I like Uwe's V70, but its well beyond my means........and with Seattle's traffic you're lucky if you could go 150 miles in a day! much less an hour  :sad:     
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on July 01, 2008, 01:34:14 PM
I went from a Volvo to this Sooby. The Volvo was THE most comfortable car I've ever had but the Outback is still pretty good IMHO and more suited to my current requirements.

They recently change the open road speed limit in our Northern Territory from unlimited to 140kph. So Australia now has no more open road unlimited speed limits left.  Mind you, if you have ever hit a Roo at any speed you would know that driving fast on our roads any other time except broad daylight is like a crap shoot from hell.

Not familiar with the whole Lesbaru thing.

I guess you guys wouldn't be familiar with the whole Volvo = old man wearing a hat and a cardigan and driving very badly conotation either?  Back in the 70's Ford did a TV ad here that had a guy in a new hot Ford getting cut off by this now stereotypical Volvo driver and ever since that all Australians weather they have seen the ad or not associate Volvo drivers like this.

Ironically I believe that Ford now own Volvo. ;D

Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: doombass on July 01, 2008, 02:30:57 PM
Ironically I believe that Ford now own Volvo. ;D

True. Volvo sold the car division in '99 and went on with the trucks, construction equipment, marine and aero divisions and also bought Renault Trucks,
Mack Trucks, Deutz and Nissan Diesel. I don't have to tell you I work at Volvo do I? :P

You have a really nice T'bird collection Mark.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: HornetAMX on July 01, 2008, 03:47:52 PM
Nice 'Birds Mark!  And did you know that Subaru backwards is U R A Bus?  I dated a gal back in 1981 that had a late 70's Subaru.  She loved that song by Blondie "Rapture" as well.

BTW, was the Camaro a '71?
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 01, 2008, 03:57:00 PM
 "I guess you guys wouldn't be familiar with the whole Volvo = old man wearing a hat and a cardigan and driving very badly conotation either? "

 There is a Scandanavian suburb of Seattle called Ballard, this sort of thing is a virtually endless source of local humor............driving well under the speed limit with your seatbelt hanging outside the car while staring thru the steering wheel  ;)

"Not familiar with the whole Lesbaru thing.

 For awhile here in the States Martina Navratalova (famous lesbian tennis star) was the spokesperson in their ad campaign, thus the start of the whole Lesbaru thing, they're very popular in the gay community........ :gay:

 Ahhhh....the Camaro was a '73, my mom's old car, she drove it for many years, my band's singer really wanted it - so she's got it and has completely restored it including new paint. If anything its way better than it was in the old photo.. 


Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: godofthunder on July 02, 2008, 04:47:01 AM
 Love the birds Mark !
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 02, 2008, 04:52:19 AM
Love the birds Mark !

Way to bring things back on topic Scott!

I had a Volvo Cross Country and it had the best seats of any car I have owned. Hands down the best!


Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on July 02, 2008, 05:43:56 AM
Yeah My old Volvos seats would be about the best I've ever had too.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 06:13:03 AM
Great basses!

And talking about gay-ish cars. Mine's just the gay icon. It's a Renault Twingo and my T-Bird case reaches from the back to the transmission handle.
My old car broke down; I had no money for another car, but my brother and sister in law moved to KL, so I could buy their car and I made a payment deal.

You won't believe it, but it transports:

- Me
- My girlfriend
- Orange AD200B head
- Orange 4x10
- 70s Kustom Bass head
- Fender 1x12 Deluxe amp
- two guitars (one gigbag and a case)
- two basses (one gigbag and a case)
- two cases with strings, leads, batteries, ...
- an FX rack
- and sometimes VJ stuff like a screen and some more cases!

Yep, all in this tiny car!

(This isn't my car, but it has the same colour and big sunroof.)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/111559068_a80da51b23.jpg)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/272233809_e2729a4eef.jpg)

BTW: Uwe: I see you have a new car. This one suits you better! I like it!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 02, 2008, 06:20:27 AM
I fell for the SUV craze with my last leased car, that Volvo XC-90. Great car it was, but a hypher-charged tank with an eight-cylinder engine and 320 something hp is still a tank at the end of the day. It was great for travelling for tall rear passengers but its ungainly width drove me nuts. I don't know how many times I bumped the darn things butt and sides in subterran garages so popular in Frankfurt. You'd always get around with the snout, assume you're safe and then ... the sides or the butt would screech along a wall or corner ... 

The V-70 feels like a sports car in comparison and can still carry a sizeable amount of bass guitars.

Uwe
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 02, 2008, 07:38:05 AM

 "It's a Renault Twingo"

Okay, this has to be THE GAYEST name EVER for a car!.............
That is likely the gayest car I've ever witnessed............There's hope for you yet  ;)
   
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 07:58:33 AM
I'm ashamed of my car. And the worst thing is that our former lead guitar player had a Twingo too. And another guitar player I know. we used to come to gigs in two Twingos... That isn't rock 'n roll. That means people don't take you seriously and... and...

... well, it just sucks.

Last week I drove behind an enormous Dodge Ram pick up. It was so high and wide I could drive my Twingo underneath it if I wanted. At the back it has this little chrome plate with 'Heavy Duty' on it. I want such a plate for the back of my Twingo!  :)

Heavy [heavy]
Duty [duty]

Heavy duty, rock 'n rohoholl!

(Spinal Tap)

I like Subarus and the sound their boxer engines produce. You need a good rhythm section to reproduce the sound a well running boxer engine.

Well, if we're married I can use your Subaru and you can strenghten your reputation by coming to gigs in 'our' Twingo. 
Title: Kiss & make up ...
Post by: uwe on July 02, 2008, 08:04:12 AM
"Well, if we're married I can use your Subaru and you can strenghten your reputation by coming to gigs in 'our' Twingo."

I was worried for a while about these two, but now things look hopeful again.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 02, 2008, 08:09:43 AM
 One thing for certain I'd much rather ride in the Twingo than the Dodge..........just stopping at the gas station twice to fill one of those would get you a new bass!  It's vehicles like that, that make me feel shame at being an American, excessive, wasteful and oblivious. Besides we have a saying over here, "The bigger the truck, the smaller the  :o"  

   


Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on July 02, 2008, 08:10:07 AM
Go little red Twingo go!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 02, 2008, 08:13:27 AM

 If it weren't French I'd think it's a streamlined Yugo!  Complete with two motorcylce transmissions mounted side by side.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on July 02, 2008, 08:15:19 AM
We'll have fun,fun,fun 'til daddy takes the Twingo away!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 08:19:51 AM
:)

It has a big block four cilinder injection 1.2 engine! And five real gears:)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/GayTwingo.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on July 02, 2008, 08:22:35 AM
just Maaahvalus dahhlinng.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 08:29:00 AM
If I've got the money I'll trade the Twingo for a Shaguar:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/classics/J/jaguar-e-type/03-large/austin-powers-shaguar.jpg
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on July 02, 2008, 08:41:30 AM
or maybe something Australian?.......................
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x120/yrofrat/LASTOFTHEV8S-1-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 08:56:35 AM
The Last Of The V8 Interceptors. A legend!

Some weeks ago I googled on 'V8 Interceptor' and I found a lot of people who made their own yellow/red/blue interceptors:)

And talkin' 'bout Interceptors: The British Jensen Interceptor is a great car too! Not as famous as the E-Type, Aston-Martin DB5, some Lotuses, but I think it's a classic which needs more attention.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 02, 2008, 09:06:48 AM

 You know it actually looks better with make up on it...........just like me  ;)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 09:13:14 AM
Don't say that! You must be pretty without too, but I haven't seen you right out of bed in the morning...


....yet.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: gweimer on July 02, 2008, 09:51:23 AM
In my prime, I was able to put a Thunderbird, a Precision, AND a full Acoustic 360 rig in the back of my '73 Opel station wagon with no sweat.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 02, 2008, 09:58:36 AM
In my Opel-days (I used to sell 'm) I drove lots of different types. From Zafira and Sintra to Corsa GTIs and this little sports car which name I've forgotten.

One time I had an ugly Aguila for some weeks. That's a car for elderly people... But it's very high and square and I could really fit everything in it!
One time a complete backline with Ampeg and Marshall rigs + a drumkit.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 02, 2008, 10:13:02 AM
 "Don't say that! You must be pretty without too, but I haven't seen you right out of bed in the morning..."

 I think it best if you only see me with the make up on....... ;)  I can barely stand to see myself right out of bed in the morning.
 
Viva la Twingo!
 
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on July 02, 2008, 01:34:28 PM
The Last Of The V8 Interceptors. A legend!

Some weeks ago I googled on 'V8 Interceptor' and I found a lot of people who made their own yellow/red/blue interceptors:)

And talkin' 'bout Interceptors: The British Jensen Interceptor is a great car too! Not as famous as the E-Type, Aston-Martin DB5, some Lotuses, but I think it's a classic which needs more attention.

Ironically Australians have never heard of an "Interceptor" To us its just a Ford Falcon XB painted matt black with some shit hangin' off it. For years after the movie's we saw the different vehicles for sale around Adelaide even in car yards.
Was the movie still called Mad Max in the US?.

If you walked up to an Australian and said to them: "What did you think of the Interceptor in Road Warrior they would look at you blankly.
In the American version, all the voices, including that of Mel Gibson's character, were dubbed by U.S. performers at the behest of the distributor, American International Pictures, for fear that audiences would not take warmly to actors speaking entirely with Australian accents. Much of the Australian slang and terminology was also replaced with American usages (examples: "See looks!" became "Look see!", "windscreen" became "windshield", "very toey" became "super hot", and "probie" became "rookie").


Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: SKATE RAT on July 02, 2008, 01:48:18 PM
it was called Mad Max in the US.the 2nd was the Road Warrior. there was talk a while back about a fourth movie.i wonder what became of that "cow car"?
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: sniper on July 02, 2008, 05:16:50 PM
it was called Mad Max in the US.the 2nd was the Road Warrior. there was talk a while back about a fourth movie.i wonder what became of that "cow car"?

it got recycled into a Hummer on steroids and used by Batman
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: HornetAMX on July 02, 2008, 05:32:37 PM
In my prime, I was able to put a Thunderbird, a Precision, AND a full Acoustic 360 rig in the back of my '73 Opel station wagon with no sweat.

Ah!  My first car was a '69 Opel Kadet wagon.  I bought it in '78 for $500.  I could fit our keyboard players Fender Rhoads, my 215 Peavey cabinet, my bass and amp head and even have room for the Fender PA 100 speakers on the roof rack.  I loved that car.  German made too! :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 02, 2008, 05:52:35 PM
 "In my prime, I was able to put a Thunderbird, a Precision, AND a full Acoustic 360 rig in the back of my '73 Opel station wagon with no sweat."

 I'm not much for vintage amps, but I'd really love to have an Acoustic 360..........What an amp!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: gweimer on July 02, 2008, 07:59:29 PM
it got recycled into a Hummer on steroids and used by Batman

Personally, I liked this one better
(http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/100-greatest/03-large/56-lamborghini-lm002.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: PhilT on July 10, 2008, 05:09:44 AM

I guess you guys wouldn't be familiar with the whole Volvo = old man wearing a hat and a cardigan and driving very badly conotation either?  Back in the 70's Ford did a TV ad here that had a guy in a new hot Ford getting cut off by this now stereotypical Volvo driver and ever since that all Australians weather they have seen the ad or not associate Volvo drivers like this.

Ironically I believe that Ford now own Volvo. ;D


They definitely had that image in the UK, so in 1994 Volvo entered a couple of 850 estates in the British Touring Cars championship. It wasn't the fastest car on the track, but it got them a lot of good press.

(http://www.t5r.org/pages/big/BT_lammers2.jpg)

(http://www.t5r.org/pages/big/BT_rydell.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 10, 2008, 05:21:10 AM
I had the first generation Volvo Cross Country and I loved that car!

The best seats made. Too bad it had a lot of small electronic issues.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on July 10, 2008, 06:39:57 AM
They definitely had that image in the UK, so in 1994 Volvo entered a couple of 850 estates in the British Touring Cars championship. It wasn't the fastest car on the track, but it got them a lot of good press.


(http://www.t5r.org/pages/big/BT_rydell.jpg)

Yep they did very well in the Oz Touring car circuit. Notice the Southern Cross (stars) on the door panels in your pic?  Then think Australian flag. The logo on the side is for Clipsal Electrical. One of the biggest companies in Adelaide and probably the biggest electrical fittings company in this part of the world.

VOLVO Won 1985 European Touring Car Championship
VOLVO 4th 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship
VOLVO Won 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship

http://wwwrsphysse.anu.edu.au/~amh110/240T_GpA_racing.htm (http://wwwrsphysse.anu.edu.au/~amh110/240T_GpA_racing.htm)


+1 regarding Volvo seats. The best I've ever used.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 10, 2008, 07:15:33 AM
OUr Dutch hero and former Le Mans winner and F1 driver Jan Lammers was driving that Volvo station. And they sure had some good press! One day the put an enormous toy dog in the back of the car just for laughs!!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 10, 2008, 07:25:14 AM

 It needs more chrome!   ;)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: rockinrayduke on July 10, 2008, 09:49:32 AM
Chrome is good. In fact I just bought a set of Fralin Bassbuckers to install in the Fenderbird......shiny, shiny chrome.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Freuds_Cat on July 10, 2008, 05:27:51 PM
OUr Dutch hero and former Le Mans winner and F1 driver Jan Lammers was driving that Volvo station. And they sure had some good press! One day the put an enormous toy dog in the back of the car just for laughs!!

South Australia has a Le mans winner! No really! 

Vern Schuppan

24 hours Le Mans, winning in 1983 driving a Porsche 956 with Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood.

He is a bit of a legend here.


Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 11, 2008, 03:47:08 AM
I rember that introduction of the 850 station wagon into the touring circuit - that was a clever ploy, of course they could like everyone have used a sedan, but 75% of Volvo's sales are station wagons.

In hindsight you can say that the 850's (which spawned today's V-70ies and XC-70ies) development from scratch (in the early nineties and prior to the advent of the 850, Volvo's passenger car line was hopelessly outdated, the 740/60ies and 940/60ies used rigid rear axles which mad Volvo laughing stock of the industry) only took place to "dress the bride". The 850 proved a smash hit and made Volvo's passenger car division (which had always relied on subsidies from the highly profitable truck division) all of the sudden attractive. Ford, which bought Volvo passenger cars in 1999, never regretted the move: It is making them - unlike Jaguar and Landrover which they sold off to Indian car conglomerate Tata recently - good money. GM which bought Saab for pretty much the same reason (buying a boutique brand) is envious as Saab never got out of the red.

Having driven Volvos since the early nineties (after an initial 480 hatchback, an 850, a V 70, an XC 70 and an XC 90, my current V 70 is my sixth model, I tend to lease them for three years and then move on), I can't say there was a decline in quality since Ford took over, in fact the opposite: They are a bit more on the beat with modern technology (though still a few years behind Mercedes or BMW) and workmanship has not only become esthetically more pleasing (gone are the days where discerning the interior design of a Volvo from that of a Russian T 34 tank was hard work), but also much better, BMW quality by now (not quite Mercedes) I would say (they only reached that quality level a few years ago). And it has never bothered me that components of my Volvos might be found in Fords, in fact I find it kind of reassuring to use mass produced components - if something is built a million times you can at least hope for construction faults having been eradicated along the line of trial and error, if not for the customers then at least to not be bothered with service issues.

Uwe
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Basvarken on July 11, 2008, 04:04:48 AM
Floor and I had a few Volvos in the past.
They steer like a tank, but I do think they're pretty cool:

We had a bordeaux Volvo 164. The one in the picture is not our car, but looks similar. Except for the doorhandles, we had the early model ones.

(http://www.swedishcollection.nl/lay/cars/DR-76-41-1.jpg)



And Floor had a turquoise blue Volvo 142. Man, that was a cool looking car! The one in the picture is not the car she had, but it comes pretty close:

(http://www.delest.nl/media/img/EST_70910_1.JPG)



Nowaday we both drive Mercedes Benz old timers...
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 11, 2008, 04:18:43 AM
Cars from the fletsen thieves?  :o

You two have no shame.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Basvarken on July 11, 2008, 04:21:27 AM
Cars from the fletsen thieves?  :o

You two have no shame.

The "fietsen thing" is no longer an issue since a certain German lawyer bought off that blemish with a prototype...  :toast:




Here's my Mercedes 230 CE (that I bought in Germany(!) last year)

(http://a933.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/36/l_5dd91a8018aef4e1a1ab933e90391504.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 11, 2008, 05:17:17 AM
Cars from the fletsen thieves?  :o

You two have no shame.

You know your 480 hatchback was designed and developed in the Netherlands by mr. Rob Koch from the Netherlands?
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 11, 2008, 07:35:59 AM
Figures. It looked great, but wasn't a very good car.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 11, 2008, 10:20:14 AM
Actually John de Vries designed it and Koch was the team leader.

So you didn't liked it and still you leased a lot ov Volvos after that!?!?! ;)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: uwe on July 11, 2008, 10:41:26 AM
It was my first "real" car. I loved the looks, but it was severely underpowered - that Renault engine with a Porsche engineered turbo lovelessly added to it delivered a scarce 120 hp, it had all the agility of a tractor engine. I still do like the look, it was never available in the US by the way:

(http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,834645,00.jpg)

(http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,834648,00.jpg)

(http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,834654,00.jpg)

I thought they must be able to do better than this so I gave them another chance!

Uwe
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 11, 2008, 02:52:41 PM
Of course this car was meant as a modern interpretation of the Volvo P1800 ES. The normal P1800 (great car, i drove it once!!)  is of course well know by Roger Moore as The Saint. The ES version is a stationwagon/sportscar like the 480 ES. I think the new S30 is a car in the same tradition.

BTW: Val Kilmer used a C70 coupe in the later Saint movie.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 11, 2008, 03:31:30 PM

 Not much chrome........ :-[    Evil Europeans!   ;)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 17, 2008, 07:30:56 AM
We do use chrome in Europe! I'll do my best to find some examples.

Holland had a big chrome shortage in the late '40s, early '50s, after Hornung Sr. took all our chrome-steerd bikes to make a fortune for his future son... you can imagine it hurts badly, everytime Junior's talking about his chrome pick ups.
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: gearHed289 on July 17, 2008, 08:37:47 AM
Great upgrades on the birds, but from a Camaro to a Subu?

Yeah man, I noticed that too!

I'm a Ford guy myself.....

Love the birds though! That green is awesome. I'm getting my Fenderbird body re-finished very soon. I was thinking of having it painted to match my car, which would basically be Lake Placid blue. I don't know, maybe I'll start a poll in another thread.

And BTW - hi everybody!

(http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3647/mystangside31108mediumnw9.jpg)
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Chris P. on July 17, 2008, 08:48:01 AM
Nice 'Stang!

Take a look at the Gretsch G Love Corvette and copy those racing stripes for the Bird!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 17, 2008, 08:52:31 AM
Yeah man, I noticed that too!

I'm a Ford guy myself.....

Love the birds though! That green is awesome. I'm getting my Fenderbird body re-finished very soon. I was thinking of having it painted to match my car, which would basically be Lake Placid blue. I don't know, maybe I'll start a poll in another thread.

And BTW - hi everybody!

(http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3647/mystangside31108mediumnw9.jpg)

About time you showed up.

A cruel irony if it finally ends up Lake Placid!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: TBird1958 on July 17, 2008, 09:05:36 AM

 Beautiful car!

A Fenderbird in that color would be fantastic, and like your car a little chrome just sets it off!

NICE!
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: gearHed289 on July 17, 2008, 09:36:45 AM
A cruel irony if it finally ends up Lake Placid!

Holy crap! That's right, it was supposed to be that color in the first place, wasn't it? Well, Pelham anyway.... I'm close to going that route, but I really have a thing for green too. Then there's JAE's favourite, Fiesta Red. Decisions, decisions...
Title: Re: Lots of chrome in my life :)
Post by: Barklessdog on July 17, 2008, 10:22:05 AM
I started a thread on it without you. Hope you don't mind, but the House Of Blues picture was too cool to pass up.

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=838.0