2009 Christmas Quiz

[trw99]

What Ho! Time, me thinks, for a Christmas quiz. In February I gave you the road test of a 1937 Frazer Nash - and you got it really rather rapidly. At least, Mark did!

So I am giving no clues (for the time being) and the winner has to get both cars correct. These are from two road tests. One a retrospective in Classic & Sports Car, the other from an Autocar road test. Both these cars were sold successfully in North America as well as Europe. Reading the tests, they could apply to our cars, but they are not Elans. So, what are they?

CAR ONE:
For its day, it was technically advanced. It will reach 115 mph yet return 40 mpg with less energetic driving. Once you have squeezed yourself behind the massive wheel and jammed your feet in the footwell it manages to feel snug rather than cramped. On the move, it feels moderately quick but no more. The four speed gearbox has a pleasing precision and, if all you wish to do is travel in a straight line, it proves no more difficult to drive than a modern hatchback. Only in its steering and suspension does it feel from another age. Naturally, levels of outright grip are minimal compared to today?s standards but what you notice most is its exaggerated reactions to your inputs. If you like such traits, you call it agility, if not, it?s nervousness. And yet, once you learn its ways, there?s much to be enjoyed, flicking it into corners, fine tuning your line with minute adjustments of delightfully accurate steering.

CAR TWO:
Yet it is a waste of such a car not to drive it hard and the very nature of its design and handling qualities encourage this. It is wonderfully well suited to the road conditions of this country, particularly on tortuous and hilly routes where its small overall dimensions, quick steering responses, leach-like adhesion and ready power render it almost unbeatable. Very light and precise, the steering at first seems over-sensitive to those accustomed to nose-heavy cars. It answers best to a gentle touch, and calls for little physical effort except to hold it through a corner at high speed.


Tim

[Ross Robbins]

Car one: Westfield Eleven
Car two: Lotus Europa Special

I have both of these and the descriptions fit perfectly! Even if I'm wrong about the answer you have in mind, I'm right about them fitting the description.

[robertverhey]

Car one...Morgan 4/4? Triumph TR something?
Car 2...yep gotta be a Europa

[Elanintheforest]

Car 1: Post war with some pre-(first world)war designs, but a modern engine. Big steering wheel and lousy suspension......Morgan. Maybe S1 / S2 Seven.

Car 2 : Elan.

Mark

[trw99]

Come on Mark......I said they were not Elans! Have I foxed you on these two?

No one near yet.

Tim

[Elanintheforest]

Youi said it wasn't an Elan but it describes the Elan perfectly! I think that we need some more context.....

Mark

[rjaxe]

I'll go for an Austin Healey 100/4? and a Mini

[jimj]

8C Alfa and Austin 7
Jim

[gjz30075]

Time for another clue(s).

Greg Z

[69S4]

Stabbing in the dark, I'll guess:

1 - Original Elite

2: Mini Cooper S

[Robbie693]

Stab in the dark:

1: BMW 328

2: Ferrari Dino

[richardcox_lotus]

Stuart beat me to it (almost)...

1. Lotus Elite
2. Lotus Elite

Merry Xmas !

Richard

[aussieelan]

Not alot to go on ...
More stabbing the the proverbial darkness

1. MGA
2. Porsche 911

[trw99]

It is not meant to be easy!

OK. The first car is British and this one being driven and described is a 1960 version.

The second car is not British, is being road tested in 1962, and there is a slight clue in the words used in the road test. The car could match car one's top speed, but mpg would be closer to 25.

There you go!

Tim

PS Remember you have to get both correct

PPS The idea behind these descriptions is that they could happily apply to the Elan.

[robcall]

1-Lotus Elite
2-Porsche 356