There was a Matra Simca Bagheera parked in the Gill at Ulverston there for many years it was white with a chequer trim not sure if it is still there next time i am around there i will have a look
My 507 re-body Questions.
- Thread starter Duncodin
- Start date
Ah. Chequer trim. Sounds like a mk1. Mk2 had wrap round bumpers and the default trim was tweed although I'm sure there were other colorful options.
@IanA Leaks were a big problem.
Most of bagheera leaks into the passenger compartment was via the front windscreen. It was bonded to the steel window frame and the glass cost a fortune. (I know because in trying to fix mine I cracked it and had to buy a new one. Luckily the insurance paid but it was around 850DM (German marks) Late 70's that equalled around 250 quid which, in the late 70's, was a stupid amount of money. No. Seriously. A STUPID amount of money.
and I think when they assembled bagheeras in the factory they were scared to 'PUSH' the windscreen down into the bonding for fear of cracking the glass. Every one leavig the factory probably already had a leak from day one.
Most of bagheera leaks into the passenger compartment was via the front windscreen. It was bonded to the steel window frame and the glass cost a fortune. (I know because in trying to fix mine I cracked it and had to buy a new one. Luckily the insurance paid but it was around 850DM (German marks) Late 70's that equalled around 250 quid which, in the late 70's, was a stupid amount of money. No. Seriously. A STUPID amount of money.
and I think when they assembled bagheeras in the factory they were scared to 'PUSH' the windscreen down into the bonding for fear of cracking the glass. Every one leavig the factory probably already had a leak from day one.
So did these have the same engine as the Talbot Solara ? I remember in the mid 80s when we all had modified minis and escorts someone turned up in a Talbot Solara at the usual Friday night traffic light Grand prix and wiped the floor of us
The chrysler/Simca/Talbot Alpine/1307/1308 had various engines. 1294cc 1442cc depending on spec and maybe country. They were around 84 Horsepower and around 92 (i think) for the sportier 1442 with 2xTwinChoke weber 36DCNF carbs. They were 5 door. So 4 doors and big hatch.
The solara had the same front end but had 4 doors and a boot. The solara had a 1600cc option. I don't think I ever saw an alpine with the 1600 but no technical reason why not.
That 1600 was the base engine for the Matra Murena. There was a 2.2ltr murena with Tagora engine.
Most people think that the VW Golf was the first 'hot hatch'. In fact simca did it first in the 60's with the Simca 1100ti the above 1294cc engine with the quad choke webers. Nowhere near as quick as a golf GTi but that came years later.
The solara had the same front end but had 4 doors and a boot. The solara had a 1600cc option. I don't think I ever saw an alpine with the 1600 but no technical reason why not.
That 1600 was the base engine for the Matra Murena. There was a 2.2ltr murena with Tagora engine.
Most people think that the VW Golf was the first 'hot hatch'. In fact simca did it first in the 60's with the Simca 1100ti the above 1294cc engine with the quad choke webers. Nowhere near as quick as a golf GTi but that came years later.
The first series Alpines had either 1300 or 1442 engines, they were susceptible to "tappet" rattle because people were, in the main, too lazy to keep the valve clearances adjusted. Which resulted in cam followers wearing and then you couldn't lose the rattle. The series 2 Alpines and Solaras had 1300 and 1600 engines which had better valve train components which did improve that rattle issue.
As I've previously said my 1442cc Alpine S wiped the floor with my brothers MGB GT.
Tony.
As I've previously said my 1442cc Alpine S wiped the floor with my brothers MGB GT.
Tony.
One of the reasons that the 1600 engine was introduced was because at that time Company cars needed to be at least 1600cc to make the system work . When the Hunter was discontinued (1500 and 1725) Chrysler did not have anything in their range to satisfy the company car engine size requirements so they "upped" the Alpine/Solara to 1600cc. We sold a lot of 1600 Alpine LS models, 2 customers who worked for the now defunct YEB had used Hunters for quite a few years and were reluctant to say the least about taking a FWD (over a RWD) but were soon won over by the Alpine.
Tony.
Tony.
I put a 1600 solara engine in my bagheera. The engine block has 4 bolts to the bell housing and on the 1100, 1300, 1442 engines they all line up. But on the solara engine one of the lower bolts didn't line up with the bell housing so I drilled the hole a bit bigger and did it up with a nut and bolt and fat washers. Every time I floored it it went like sh*t off a shovel but I always imagined that nut and bolt bodge coming undone. 
I never knew that. Makes sense though. I don't think the 1600 had much more HP than the 1442 with 2xtwinchoke webers. 90+I think. But 1600 would be more torque. Longer legs for those motorway business miles.
I put the webers on my 1600 bagheera but didn't have it properly jetted for the bigger engine. I often wonder how it would have peeformed if I had the webers properly setup for the engine.
The first mk1 bagheera had the 1294cc engine. Later came the 1442cc engine which was the same as the Alpine/Solara although a 1600cc came even later but that never got into a bagheera (except mine). The 1600 was the engine used in the murena which replaced the bagheera. Personally I never liked the murena even tbough it was a much better car.
The 1442 never came factory fitted in the Solara only 1300 and 1600 which had the "new" gearbox. I liked that old (Porsche - I believe) gearbox with separate bell housing. I could have one of those boxes out in my hand in half an hour.
Tony.
Tony.
Once owned a simca 1100 hatch back went like a rocket paid £25 for it at at local car auction as a stop gap as as rebuilt my mini engine again , the rear wheel arches had been repaired with cardboard and filler but by god could it go
If you were lucky enough to have dropped on a 1204, they really went like sh** off a stick. Next best was a Ti model.
Tony.
Tony.
they were disposable in them days you could go to the local auction on a saturday pick a car up for £20 run it for a few months give it a wash and re sell it for £30 we had a couple of simca 1000 in our back yard which were my grandads
Back to my 507 rebody questions. Just for a moment 
My z3 softtop is very noisy. Road noise etc. Does the lining, in tops that have it, make any difference to road and wind noise or is the lining just cosmetic Can lining be added or would I need a whole new top. Is it worth it just for the lining if it doesn't make any real difference.
Can power raise/lower be added to a manual hood?
If I want power and lining Is it better to change the whole thing? Metalwork n all? Seeing as how I fancy a color change too.
I really like my z3 OEM Hardtop and will attempt to mod it to make it fit the tribute 507 body. Might wreck it but happy to try.
My z3 softtop is very noisy. Road noise etc. Does the lining, in tops that have it, make any difference to road and wind noise or is the lining just cosmetic Can lining be added or would I need a whole new top. Is it worth it just for the lining if it doesn't make any real difference.
Can power raise/lower be added to a manual hood?
If I want power and lining Is it better to change the whole thing? Metalwork n all? Seeing as how I fancy a color change too.
I really like my z3 OEM Hardtop and will attempt to mod it to make it fit the tribute 507 body. Might wreck it but happy to try.
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@t-tony Looks like I'll be going for one of you PS3600 lifts after all. The whole thing is around 350KG? is that correct?
How easy is it to move around? I can do some work in the garage but, on nice days I'd maybe like to drag it out onto the drive. Is that feasible?
Another question, if I may. Those swing out arms. How far back and front do they reach? I always liked to lift a car via front/rear cross members, suspension mounts etc rather than the actual jacking points. Just wondering.
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Dxbolton
Zorg Guru (II)
You should only drive with the roof down, so lining isnt required.Back to my 507 rebody questions. Just for a moment
My z3 softtop is very noisy. Road noise etc. Does the lining, in tops that have it, make any difference to road and wind noise or is the lining just cosmetic Can lining be added or would I need a whole new top. Is it worth it just for the lining if it doesn't make any real difference.
Can power raise/lower be added to a manual hood?
If I want power and lining Is it better to change the whole thing? Metalwork n all? Seeing as how I fancy a color change too.
I really like my z3 OEM Hardtop and will attempt to mod it to make it fit the tribute 507 body. Might wreck it but happy to try.
I looked at modifying my hardtop to fit. You would need to remove around 20mm from below the rear window so that would become a weak area,
Ideally you would take a mould from your existing hardtop and chop that around so you get the shape correct before transferring the shape to the good roof.
One consideration is the location of the locking mechanism and if that still fits after you have reduced the sides on the rear quarters
Around a year ago my hardtop got dropped from a height and hit the floor hard and split the top surface almost across its whole width. I've fixed it good so a buyer wouldn't know but I wouldn't feel comfortable selling it. So I'm more than happy to risk chopping it up and scrapping it if it doesn't work out.
I will do some measuring tomorrow when it rains for you.
Just spotted this on eBay. I paid £1,300 for mine. Speak to Bill. Lovely chap. Tell him Tony from Torksey Lock asked you to call. Lots of info on his listing.
CAR LIFT, MOBILE SCISSOR LIFT. 3 YEAR WARRANTY. GREAT FOR HOME/WORK USE | eBay
WILL IT LIFT A CARAVAN ?. THIS LIFT IS MANUFACTURED BY AA4C AND THE. WILL IT LIFT A CAR ??! LIFT WEIGHT APPROX 350 Kgs. EXTRA CASTORS ARE INCLUDED TO MOVE LIFT AS IT IS HEAVY. Alternatively a 30 amp breaker, as fitted for the kitchen circuit, would be sufficient.
www.ebay.co.uk
Here's another
It isn't designed to be a mobile lift and you can use the pump/motor unit to move it, but it is anything but easy. I made some things so that you can move it using one hand. Be ready for a load of pictures tomorrow.
Tony.
I'm 6ft 90kg but wasn't planning on dragging it far. Just a car's length out into the sun. But if you've got an idea to make life easier it'd be much appreciated. Thank you.
Looks precarious. Wonder how much weight would be needed on the back end to tip it. But I guess that's under the centre and you just need to know where the centre is.
Looks precarious. Wonder how much weight would be needed on the back end to tip it. But I guess that's under the centre and you just need to know where the centre is.