Who knows a lot about classic cars?

[slyc_willie]

A character in a story I'm writing drives a very distinctive classic car with a very distinctive engine. An engine that can be identified by its sound alone by those who are aficionados of such things.

I know a lot of basics when it comes to cars. But not enough specifics. So, if there are any of my fellow AHers who can help me on this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

So, what car, and with what engine, can I give my character that would match the basic description above?

 

[starrkers]

Sound's gonna come down to more than just the motor. The exhaust system plays a big part.

Something with a big V8 and extractors wold give a good resonance, but then it depends on the muffler...

 

[drksideofthemoon]

A character in a story I'm writing drives a very distinctive classic car with a very distinctive engine. An engine that can be identified by its sound alone by those who are aficionados of such things.

I know a lot of basics when it comes to cars. But not enough specifics. So, if there are any of my fellow AHers who can help me on this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

So, what car, and with what engine, can I give my character that would match the basic description above?

The Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth 426 Hemi was very distinctive....

 

[slyc_willie]

Sound's gonna come down to more than just the motor. The exhaust system plays a big part.

Something with a big V8 and extractors wold give a good resonance, but then it depends on the muffler...

Good point.

The Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth 426 Hemi was very distinctive....

I'm not going for a big muscle car, and not necessarily anything loaded with power. I have a vague image in my head of a two-door coupe, probably from the early sisties to early seventies. But NOT a Mustang, Cutlass, Nova or Maverick. Something a little obscure.

 

[jomar]

The Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth 426 Hemi was very distinctive....

Barracuda came to my mind. I saw a classic one the other day (60s I guess) and it did rumble.

 

[slyc_willie]

Barracuda came to my mind. I saw a classic one the other day (60s I guess) and it did rumble.

A Barracuda might work. Just googled it and came up with a video of a '67 on a race track. The car's not a monster, either.

 

[starrkers]

Following up my earlier idea, could it be a "standard" sort of car that the owner has tricked up a bit, so it has its own special sound?
Even an old VW Beetle sounds unique with the right system on it. Note I didn't say "good", just "unique"

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Well, if you want to go back a bit further, you could try something like a souped up 48 Packard. They had a inline 8 cylinder engine, other wise known as a Straight-8, that would have had a fairly distinctive sound and it's pretty obscure.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-12/1290194/48packardsm.jpg​

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Following up my earlier idea, could it be a "standard" sort of car that the owner has tricked up a bit, so it has its own special sound?
Even an old VW Beetle sounds unique with the right system on it. Note I didn't say "good", just "unique"

Actually, with a bit of work, the VWs could sound pretty good....

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Good point.



I'm not going for a big muscle car, and not necessarily anything loaded with power. I have a vague image in my head of a two-door coupe, probably from the early sisties to early seventies. But NOT a Mustang, Cutlass, Nova or Maverick. Something a little obscure.

Google Jay Leno's garage, Leno's Garage I think, he has some videos of some of his cars. Check out his little Honda 600, it sounds awesome....

 

[slyc_willie]

Following up my earlier idea, could it be a "standard" sort of car that the owner has tricked up a bit, so it has its own special sound?
Even an old VW Beetle sounds unique with the right system on it. Note I didn't say "good", just "unique"

I do like that idea. In the story, the car is inherited, so the main character only knows it's basic maintenance. All the customization was done by his uncle. So it could very well be an 'ordinary' car that has been heavily modified.

Just not a station wagon.

Well, if you want to go back a bit further, you could try something like a souped up 48 Packard. They had a inline 8 cylinder engine, other wise known as a Straight-8, that would have had a fairly distinctive sound and it's pretty obscure.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-12/1290194/48packardsm.jpg​

While I personally like vintage classics like the Packard, that would be too distinctive. A lot of the action in the story will take place in neighborhoods where classic cars are fairly regular sights. I want my car to blend in, but still stand out a little.

 

[slyc_willie]

Google Jay Leno's garage, Leno's Garage I think, he has some videos of some of his cars. Check out his little Honda 600, it sounds awesome....

I'll do that, Bri. Thanks.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Check this out....and take the time to watch the whole video, the sound of the car later on is worth it...

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/cars/HondaSM600_shell.shtml

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I'm not an expert, but the one that came instantly to mind is Jaguar XK-E roadster, 3.8 liter six-cylinder. I recall the sports car afficianados back in the day used to wax ecstatic over "Abarth" mufflers, so you could install one of those.

The real virtue of the E-type for a porn story is that looks so phallic.

http://www.jaguar-club.de/Jaguar-Modelle/Jaguar-E-Type_S2-schw.jpg

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Possibly an early Porshe 911 like the old Carrera RS 1963-1070 something. They had an air cooled 3 litre flat 6 that had a very distnctive sound.

 

[slyc_willie]

Check this out....and take the time to watch the whole video, the sound of the car later on is worth it...

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/cars/HondaSM600_shell.shtml

For me, personally, I'd love a little car like that. Regards the story, however, my character needs somethign he can get away from a fight in.

But I will be checking out the rest of Leno's Garage.

 

[slyc_willie]

I'm not an expert, but the one that came instantly to mind is Jaguar XK-E roadster, 3.8 liter six-cylinder. I recall the sports car afficianados back in the day used to wax ecstatic over "Abarth" mufflers, so you could install one of those.

The real virtue of the E-type for a porn story is that looks so phallic.

http://www.jaguar-club.de/Jaguar-Modelle/Jaguar-E-Type_S2-schw.jpg

Another car I'd love to have . . .

The heighborhood my character will be visiting is your typical run-down 'gangsta hood' so you can imagine a lot of rebuilt Novas, El Caminos, Caddys and the like intermingling with Lexus and Acuras. An E-type would definitely stand out too much.

 

[The_Fool]

Do you want to do US or are you open to other options?

One car I aways wanted was an Austin Healey 3000 Mk III.

Another favorite was a Triumph TR6. Triumph TR6.


Both have straight-sixes, which have a nice growl to them, which is noticeable, but quite different from the rumble of a V-8.

The other nice option from the 60s from GB was the E-type Jaguar. With this car you had different body styles, different engine options, but all were screamers.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Alpha Romeo Duetto Spider

http://awesomecarauctions.com/uploaded_images/1988-alfa-romeo-spider-convertible-798919.jpg

 

[starrkers]

Triumph Stags.....sigh, always wanted one of those.

 

[slyc_willie]

Do you want to do US or are you open to other options?

One car I aways wanted was an Austin Healey 3000 Mk III.

Another favorite was a Triumph TR6. Triumph TR6.


Both have straight-sixes, which have a nice growl to them, which is noticeable, but quite different from the rumble of a V-8.

The other nice option from the 60s from GB was the E-type Jaguar. With this car you had different body styles, different engine options, but all were screamers.

I'd most likely want to stay with domestic-made cars from the time frame, just for the sake of the story.

After doing a little googling, I've been brousing a little amongst Vegas, Cougars, and Darts. I think I'd like to go with something like that.

 

[TxRad]

If you're looking for something 60 ish and off the mainstream radar, check out the Rambler Rebel series from the mid 60's. They had a station wagon with a 300 cid six and dual carbs from the factory. There's also the Avanti from Studebaker that was distinctive. a six cylinder that still holds a dozen or more land speed records.

Both had a distinctive sound and were sleepers of the day. There was also a mid sized Rambler that was in the Rebel line with a 401 cid v8 that was awesome.

If you want more mainstream there was the xke Jag and the Ford Cobra. The Jag growled and the Cobra roared with the big block.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I'd most likely want to stay with domestic-made cars from the time frame, just for the sake of the story.

After doing a little googling, I've been brousing a little amongst Vegas, Cougars, and Darts. I think I'd like to go with something like that.

Vega!

How about a Pacer?

Hey - how about just a plain old Vette? Not a '63 stingray, just a run of the mill one.

 

[kiten69]

Who knows a lot about classic cars?

Umm, not me. Sorry you asked, I had to answer.

 

[TxRad]

I'd most likely want to stay with domestic-made cars from the time frame, just for the sake of the story.

After doing a little googling, I've been brousing a little amongst Vegas, Cougars, and Darts. I think I'd like to go with something like that.

The early Darts came with a 225 slant six engine or a 273 v8. You could stuff a big block up to the hemi in there but had to run fender headers to make everything fit. Those fender headers had a sound all their own and you usually had to run dual dual exhaust to keep from blowing the mufflers off with the hemi.