Sleeper cars

casm said:
Funny you should mention that - the styling was largely based on the Citroen DS, hence the roofline. Of course, I also think the DS is the most beautiful car ever made and I am a massive Citroen bigot, so take that for what you will ;)
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Yes, I remember reading about your fetish for French cars. ;)

Beyond the Alpines and racing Matras I don't have much time for French cars.
 
casm said:
It's a Rover P5. This is the earlier 6-cylinder model (pre-Rover/Buick V8, aka the P5B), identifiable by the higher roofline and slats across the taillights. Good cars, built like tanks (much like the P6), but not imbued with much in the way of urgency.
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That's what I like about the early car, the "heavy" shapes.

I dunno what precipitated the change in styling from that type to the lighter, airier feel of later cars (speaking in general car terms, not Rover "P" specific). Was it driven by better manufacturing techniques or changes in styling influences, like say the M-B SLs with their "pagoda" roofs or what?
 
XJCasper said:
My cousin did a Butt load of work to get both cars to their current conditions. I think both cars still have a "To Do" list. My cousins is closer to "finished", if there is such a thing.
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I stand corrected - and might I add, your cousin does nice work. Kudos for saving something rather special from oblivion...
 
bjoehandley said:
Probably one of the best things to keep in mind when it comes to a sleeper's appearance is "If you do it right, it's like you've done nothing at all" (now let's see who knows where I got that phrase from :) )
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Futurama :) That episode was on again last night.
 
XJCasper said:
Ok, All of my Sleeper cars have been mentioned.

Little more detail:
1989 and 1990 Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan had a 2.5 T1 option. Awesome sleeper, but not what this guy is looking for.

Since no one has posted pics of the GLH/S, here we go:

glhs.jpg


glhs2.jpg


My cousin's GLHS next to my GLH. Daily drivers.
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not one, but two go-carts from hell!
 
Dude, those glh's are f-ing sick!! Ive thought many times about swapping my engine into one of those light turbo dodges, it would probably run high 11's, in street trim, but my car is in too nice of condition, my grampa was the original owner, only has 75k miles, and these are extremely rare.. (1208 made in 91).
.... The 91 Dodge Spirit R/T, 12.7 @ 108 on crappy california pump gas. I consider it a sleeper....
IMGP1563.jpg

P1010136.jpg

IMGP1463.jpg

BTW that button on the steering wheel is a remote switch for the dual stage boost control, keeps me from smokin the tires til 70 :). And if that deck looks familiar, Its because it came out of my 98 XJ.
here is a link to the original magizine add..
http://www.xmission.com/~dempsey/shelby/91rtad.jpg
-Jerry
 
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sandmcrew2 said:
Dude, those glh's are f-ing sick!! Ive thought many times about swapping my engine into one of those light turbo dodges, it would probably run high 11's, in street trim, but my car is in too nice of condition, my grampa was the original owner, only has 75k miles, and these are extremely rare.. (1208 made in 91).
.... The 91 Dodge Spirit R/T, 12.7 @ 108 on crappy california pump gas. I consider it a sleeper....

BTW that button on the steering wheel is a remote switch for the dual stage boost control, keeps me from smokin the tires til 70 :). And if that deck looks familiar, Its because it came out of my 98 XJ.
here is a link to the original magizine add..
http://www.xmission.com/~dempsey/shelby/91rtad.jpg
-Jerry
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lol cool grandpa. my grandpa drove a mid 80s chrylser 5th avenue till he died when i was a elementry school kid. To his credit there still is a pretty mint garaged (and parked since about 1980) '66 imperial lebaron with a 413 cubic inch sitting in grannies garage.

Some day me and my brother are gonna pimp it out.

Did your grandpa know he was buying the highperformance model ?
 
Rob Mayercik said:
I stand corrected - and might I add, your cousin does nice work. Kudos for saving something rather special from oblivion...
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Thank you

Considering the volume of time and work my cousin spent on the cars, I HAVE to give him the credit. Wouldn't feel right otherwise.
 
XJCasper said:
Thank you

Considering the volume of time and work my cousin spent on the cars, I HAVE to give him the credit. Wouldn't feel right otherwise.
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Welcome.

Rather ironic that all this L-body love is popping up lately (the Edmunds bit, those stunning pics of your rides, and my '84 making the Rockford Star) - I wonder what finally triggered people to finally give these little go-devils their props?

Must be fun riding shotgun and watching peoples' faces when you blow past them on the highway. (my father used to joke that with the rusty old '73 corolla he had years ago, people used to check their speedos to make sure they weren't going backwards as he sailed by)

"Gee, officer, you mean I really can go that fast in this thing?"

streetpirate: Go-carts from Hell - I like that!

Rob
 
sandmcrew2 said:
Dude, those glh's are f-ing sick!! Ive thought many times about swapping my engine into one of those light turbo dodges, it would probably run high 11's, in street trim, but my car is in too nice of condition, my grampa was the original owner, only has 75k miles, and these are extremely rare.. (1208 made in 91).
.... The 91 Dodge Spirit R/T, 12.7 @ 108 on crappy california pump gas. I consider it a sleeper....
IMGP1563.jpg

P1010136.jpg

IMGP1463.jpg

BTW that button on the steering wheel is a remote switch for the dual stage boost control, keeps me from smokin the tires til 70 :). And if that deck looks familiar, Its because it came out of my 98 XJ.
here is a link to the original magizine add..
http://www.xmission.com/~dempsey/shelby/91rtad.jpg
-Jerry
Click to expand...
Wow, you have one that actually runs! Just kidding. Those were fun cars, and cheap if the seller didn't realize what they had. Nothing quite like a 14 second (stock) k-car. I enjoyed driving my friend's mom's spirit r/t. Of course, it was kinda tame compared to the 340 powered Dusters/Demons and Challengers she used to drive, but fun. A real sleeper.
 
Oh yeah, my grampa definetly knew what he was buying when he bought the R/T. He has a 69 GTX in the garage, original owner! This was actually my grandma's gar (not your usual granny). When they gave this car to me, she got a red SRT4 to replace it. I know what your saying, "wow, it actually runs". It takes someone who really knows these cars to keep them goin. I think the car had like 4 timing belts fail before I got it, and found out the reason why they kept breakin. One of the reasons my grampa gave the car to me is he knew I would keep it running, which is what he wanted to see. Thanks for the compliments guys, it is definetly a fun car. BTW this was my DD for about 3 years, until I bought my XJ, to keep the miles on this car down. And maintinance for such a rare car costs LOTS O' $$$$$$!! Something a 20 year old college student doesnt have!

-Jerry
 
You want euro sleeper? What about a Porche with a LS1 ally v8? What was the front engine 9 series from the mid/late 80's?? 914?? 923?? I remember seeing a kit to bolt a sbc in one.
 
ponyracer1 said:
You want euro sleeper? What about a Porche with a LS1 ally v8? What was the front engine 9 series from the mid/late 80's?? 914?? 923?? I remember seeing a kit to bolt a sbc in one.
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The 928's already got a V8, why swap in an LS1? The sound alone would be a huge giveaway. Plus no-one is going to assume a Porsche is a slow old clunker, hence the sleeper factor is toasted...

My old Camaro would have been a sleeper then too. When I blew the stocker 305, my dad found an aluminum block Corvette V8 that we swapped in. That sucker ate everything for breakfast after that. Everyone assumed it was a stock Z28, but it killed everything...
 
ponyracer1 said:
You want euro sleeper? What about a Porche with a LS1 ally v8? What was the front engine 9 series from the mid/late 80's?? 914?? 923?? I remember seeing a kit to bolt a sbc in one.
Click to expand...

928 front engine rwd V8
porsche-928-red-3.jpg


944 front engine I4 2.5, 2.7 and 3.0 RWD

side.jpg


968 is allota 944 in it successor to the 944 3.0 4 banger

968.JPG


all to pretty to be a sleeper.


they somewhat ugly 914 could be the basis for a sleeper.

porsche_914.jpg



since were talking about rwd air cooled germans .... i once saw online a mid 80s VW vanagon. It had porshe wheels i think 911 or boxster the 5-6 spoker turbo blade ones. It had a suburu WRX engine in the back.

Now a wrx sti with the 270 or whatever hp they have in a vanagon would be a sleeper even with a cool stnace and porsche wheels.
 
casm said:
A BMW 2002 properly turboed (and I'm not referring to the factory turbo models) is a great example; ditto a 6.3-litre Mercedes, or a well-set-up 2.6-litre 190E. Shoehorn a Fiat 124 2-litre twin-cam into a Fiat 850 (driven one with exactly that setup) and you'll surprise the crap out of damn near everyone.
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A friend of mine is going to stroke and turbo his '74? 2002. Hes hoping for minimum of 250hp. Should be doable. Hes also hoping for about 1600lbs or less. Not sure if that is really possible or not, but should be fun... Hes thinking of either making it a sleeper, all stock, minus cage and slightly larger tires and wheels, or going all out vintage racer. Should be sick when hes done with it.
 
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