intersting awd history.. [LAC]
Mark J. Besso
mbspeed at maxboostracing.com
Tue Jan 2 15:42:35 EST 2007
<P>This is a cut/paste of an eBay ad for a
Jensen Interceptor written by Jay Lamm. Jay is
a former editor and current columnist for Sports Car
International and is also the originator of the 24 Hours
of Le Mons event. (Pure comedy on wheels!)</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;
TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Honest Vehicle
Description on eBay<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> I've already
told you the tale of my '73 Godzilla Defense Force Mazda,
which I built for the Double 500 and sold on eBay later at
a profit of hundreds of dollars (not counting $10,000+
worth of labor, fairly little of it mine).</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> You may also
remember --given a mind for useless trivia and little else
to occupy it-- that I had a Series 1 Jensen Interceptor
rotting in the driveway, which was a car I bought off of
eBay with the goal of creating a Jensen rat-rod for the
California Melee.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> One lesson I
learned from the Mazda was that an attention-getting eBay
ad can net you a lot of moola. A lesson I learned
from my last trip under the Jensen with a magnet was that
there wasn't enough steel left in it to support a chili
can, let alone a Wedge-motored vintage racer. And
the third lesson applicable to this story is that honesty
may not always be the best policy.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> The eBay ad
through which I bought the poor old Jensen had been honest
at least in a literal sense, but it pointedly hadn't
mentioned the car's bone-deep rust and all-encompassing
crappiness. Mind you, the ad didn't <EM><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">lie</SPAN></EM>,<EM><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">
</SPAN></EM>but neither did it go out of its way to tell
the truth.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> Well, in my
mind, a three-figure parts car is hardly worth going to
Hell over. After briefly considering my backup plan
--building a 7/5-scale Caterham shell for the Jensen's
tube frame and calling it a "Super-Duper Seven"-- I
decided to put the corpse back on eBay, only this time
with a painfully honest description. My ad would not
only describe the car's condition, it would try to express
some of the <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">flavor </SPAN></EM>of this fetid
English crustbucket. It went up on December
30th.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
0.5in"><EM><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">'67 Jensen Interceptor
Hooptie</SPAN></B></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
0.5in"><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">
</SPAN></EM><STRONG><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Vehicle
Description:</SPAN></I></STRONG><EM><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> Jensen built over 6,000
Interceptors, continually developing and debugging the
model for nearly ten years until it almost wasn't
horrible. Alas, this is an extremely early example,
so it's horrible in every conceivable way.</SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
0.5in"><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> Granted, as the
180th Interceptor ever made, this right-hand-drive '67
Type 1 could be worse. The first few dozen of these
overheating, pig-handling, self-immolating rust-buckets
came with Vignale-built bodies of such staggeringly poor
quality that the ENGLISH wouldn't accept them, which is
saying quite a mouthful. Even as it is, this
British-built version was apparently made from an alloy of
salt, wet newspapers, and tuna cans. The front
floors, both sills, most of the exterior front bodywork,
and the left doorpost are all shot; the inner front
fenders and box sections have taken a similar stroll
across the periodic table, as have the lower parts of all
four outer fenders. The hood, while fairly free of
corrosion, appears to have been run over by a monster
truck.</SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
0.5in"><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> On the upside,
the greenhouse and rear clip aren't too bad. The
rear suspension points are nice and solid, and the
twin-sewer-pipe tube frame --miraculously escaping the
usual rust ahead of the firewall that causes the entire
front half of these cars to break off and roll away on
their own-- is totally sound. I can only chalk this
up to a liberal coating of Limey lubricants having leaked
from the sump and gearbox.</SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
0.5in"><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> The engine (a
Jensen-spec Chrysler 383), transmission (787
Torque-Flite), brakes, and radiator were all supposedly
rebuilt by the car's last owner. I half-heartedly
buy it regarding the brakes and radiator, which look
pretty new. As to the engine, I think he's defined
"rebuild" as "a new can of Ford-blue engine
paint."</SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt
0.5in"><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> This fine
example of how Britain lost its empire comes with good
glass all around, working window motors, good (rare Type
1) dash and console metal, the pathetic remains of four
original Armstrong Selectaride shocks and a fairly cursory
paper trail.</SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">
</SPAN><STRONG><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Vehicle
Condition: </SPAN></I></STRONG><EM><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">Pretty sorry-ass. But go
ahead and e-mail me with any questions, as I love to be
reminded of that.</SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> <EM><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Terms of
Sale:</SPAN></B></EM> <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">For starters, you can get it out
of my driveway.</SPAN></EM></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><FONT
face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> The response, I
have to admit, exceeded my wildest dreams. By the
end of the ten-day auction I got:</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;
TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New
Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">52,982
hits.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;
TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New
Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">262 individual
e-mails, about 261 of which began with, "I definitely
don't want your car, but...."</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;
TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New
Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">28 bids (mostly in
one-dollar increments) from exactly the kind of Mopar-fan
and/or stoner screen names you'd expect, like <EM><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">6pack68,
thewailer and bb70duste</SPAN></EM>. I was pulling
for <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">ratfacegoon</SPAN></EM> myself,
but he gave up early --$225 was too rich for his
blood.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;
TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;
mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN style="FONT:
7pt 'Times New
Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">E-mails from nine
current Interceptor owners, seven of whom liked the ad,
one who didn't understand it and one who (you can't make
this stuff up) said he was "scandalized and incensed and
confused" by the "irresponsible, irrational
characterization of this motorcar of notable achievement
and importance."</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> The ad even got
reprinted in one of the British old-car mags --it was
either <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">thoroughbred & Classic
</SPAN></EM>or <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'">Classic &
Sportscar</SPAN></EM>, I can't actually tell them apart--
for which I'm considering sending them a bill.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:
'Verdana','sans-serif'"> I got 425 buck
in the end, which was 800 less than I had in it but 400
more than I would've taken. I really just wanted to
find somebody who'd actually have a use for the thing, and
to open up another space in my driveway. I'd found
this engine-less Maserati 3500 on eBay, see, and from the
description, anyway, it sounded like a really good
one.</SPAN></P>
<P>
<P>
<HR>
</P>
<P>Happy 2007,</P>
<P>Mark</P>
<P> </P>
<P>On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 12:24:04 -0800 thejimrose
<THEJIMROSE at GMAIL.COM>wrote: <BR>> interesting! the
article says the awd system was <BR>>developed by some
"awd <BR>> evangelist" Harry Ferguson and the FF stands
for <BR>>ferguson formula. split was <BR>> 37/63
f/r. they dont go into any detail on the <BR>>history
of the awd system <BR>> unfortunatley. <BR>>
<BR>> the awd was a dunlop system. <BR>> <BR>> im
sure the doorhandles were at least as dodgy as
<BR>>ours! ;-) <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> On 1/2/07, LL
- NY <LARRYCLEUNG at GMAIL.COM>wrote: <BR>>>
<BR>>> As I recall, the Jensen FF used the prototype
<BR>>>"T_rsen" center diff, too. <BR>>> So it
really IS <BR>>> a quattro, just with potentially
working <BR>>>doorhandles and a "normal" set of
<BR>>> hydraulics. <BR>>> The electrics are by
Lucas, however, and that <BR>>>oughta be worse than
VAG. <BR>>> <BR>>> Scargo <BR>>>
<BR>>> On 1/2/07, thejimrose
<THEJIMROSE at GMAIL.COM><BR>>>wrote: <BR>>>
<BR>>> > so i just read the new issue of CAR
magazine and <BR>>>there is an article <BR>>>
> about <BR>>> > the 1967 Jensen Interceptor
FF, a british coupe <BR>>>with a chrysler 440
<BR>>> > [nuts] and which had a british-based,
rear-biased <BR>>>AWD system 14 years <BR>>>
> before <BR>>> > audi brought quattro out. It
also had an abs <BR>>>system derived from an
<BR>>> > aircraft <BR>>> > anti-skid
system several years before mercedes <BR>>>used the
bosch system. <BR>>> > and a <BR>>> >
stainless steel roof! crazy.. so far ahead of
<BR>>>it's time. alas they only <BR>>> >
<BR>>> > made a few 100 and then ditched it as
noone was <BR>>>paying the huge premium <BR>>>
> over <BR>>> > the normal interceptor which
looked almost <BR>>>identical. interesting
<BR>>> > atricle <BR>>> > and bit of
automotive trivia that i thought i'd <BR>>>share..
<BR>>> > <BR>>> > sidenote: why do the
brits do magazines SO much <BR>>>better than we do?
CAR <BR>>> > and BIKE both set the bar. But @ $10
each / month <BR>>>it's an expensive <BR>>>
> hobby! <BR>>> > <BR>>> > --
<BR>>> >
<BR>>>--------------------------------------------------------
<BR>>> > Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice.
<BR>>> >
_______________________________________________
<BR>>> > quattro mailing list <BR>>> >
quattro at audifans.com <BR>>> >
http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
<BR>>> > --- <BR>>> > Watch this space
for ads :) <BR>>> > <BR>>> <BR>>>
<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -- <BR>>
--------------------------------------------------------
<BR>> Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice. <BR>>
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