Wheels Mag June 2007

[b2tf]

Got my issue yesterday and there's some good stuff in this issue, in particular a very good writeup about the $683,000 III HO and the guy who bought it. Also a lot of info about what they reckon will become the real collector cars in years to come, an interview with David Bowden (and more importantly some pics of his garage!) and some writeups about the cars to look out for.

It's a really good read if like me you're not all that knowledgable on the cars of the 70's, has cars in there like Bill Bourke's Cobra Jet XW (what a monster that thing would have been), the Phase IV, E49 and 55 chargers, A9X Torana etc etc. Very interesting to read about it all.

Also in there is a story on the death of Fairlane which shows the figures to warrant the death nail, a review of BFII Typhoon against VE GTS (guess who wins), and a really good writeup about the HSV WM Grange (I liked it anyway).

So no, I dont work for wheels, but just thought I'd tell a bit of what was in it, its an issue worth buying.

[Polyal]

About time a good issue comes out, Ive been buying it and motor every month for the last six years (still haven't subscribed to either..LOL) and Ive been wondering why lately.

I mean any of the "scoops" we find out here or somewhere else on the net long before its printed.

As for phoon vs GTS. Im tipping the performance is close, but the VE's chassis gets the nod?...maybe, these magazines chop and change there opinion all the time.

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by b2tf

a review of BFII Typhoon against VE GTS (guess who wins)

The Typhoon?

FF

[sleekism]

Cmon Holden spent a billion dollars on the new VE Commodore.

They had the choice:improve the car or buy a billion dollars worth of advertising...

Any guesses to what they chose??

Seriously did anybody else watch that "documentary" about the new Commodore presented by Mark Skaife and see that Holden blimp.

What actually improved in the car?

I have more fun driving my mates VS Executive than the new VE Commodore.

I think Holden is on to something make your hero car the best and you could put the Red Motor and a 3 speed transmission into the base models and people will still buy it buy the boat load and tell everyone else how awesome it is.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Cmon Holden spent a billion dollars on the new VE Commodore.

They had the choice:improve the car or buy a billion dollars worth of advertising...

Any guesses to what they chose??

Seriously did anybody else watch that "documentary" about the new Commodore presented by Mark Skaife and see that Holden blimp.

What actually improved in the car?

I have more fun driving my mates VS Executive than the new VE Commodore.

I think Holden is on to something make your hero car the best and you could put the Red Motor and a 3 speed transmission into the base models and people will still buy it buy the boat load and tell everyone else how awesome it is.

Don't start, this thread is about Wheels Mag not Holden.

anything about the xu1 v8, just out of curiosity?

I think there may be actually, will have to have another look.

[zigzagnt]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Got my issue yesterday and there's some good stuff in this issue, in particular a very good writeup about the $683,000 III HO and the guy who bought it. Also a lot of info about what they reckon will become the real collector cars in years to come, an interview with David Bowden (and more importantly some pics of his garage!) and some writeups about the cars to look out for.

It's a really good read if like me you're not all that knowledgable on the cars of the 70's, has cars in there like Bill Bourke's Cobra Jet XW (what a monster that thing would have been), the Phase IV, E49 and 55 chargers, A9X Torana etc etc. Very interesting to read about it all.

Also in there is a story on the death of Fairlane which shows the figures to warrant the death nail, a review of BFII Typhoon against VE GTS (guess who wins), and a really good writeup about the HSV WM Grange (I liked it anyway).

So no, I dont work for wheels, but just thought I'd tell a bit of what was in it, its an issue worth buying.

anything about the xu1 v8, just out of curiosity?.

[sleekism]

Fine.....Oi that Bill Bourke Falcon is that the one with the big block in it?

Whats the going price for that?

[zigzagnt]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Fine.....Oi that Bill Bourke Falcon is that the one with the big block in it?

Whats the going price for that?

yep there was an article in australian muscle cars mag ages ago about it,it was a 7.0 litre XW GT i think.

[b2tf]

Yeah, Bill Bourke's XW GT was a 429 Cobra Jet 7.0 litre with a 3 speed box.

Re Typhoon vs GTS, the winner is probably not who you think!

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yeah, Bill Bourke's XW GT was a 429 Cobra Jet 7.0 litre with a 3 speed box.

Re Typhoon vs GTS, the winner is probably not who you think!

tell us im confused lol!! i dont know what to think

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by philxy351

tell us im confused lol!! i dont know what to think

GTS won

[AEF_Silver94]

who won on typhoon vs GTS!! :P

[ED Classic]

What are the performance times? The GTS would have gone quicker no doubt, Those VE HSVs are bloody quick off the showroom floor.

[XR8-260]

I reckon the GTS ran a lowish 13 and the Typhoon a mid-high 13. Just my humble estimate... I haven't seen the magazine yet :(.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by ED Classic

What are the performance times? The GTS would have gone quicker no doubt, Those VE HSVs are bloody quick off the showroom floor.

And die once they get down the street lol.. Na I wouldn't have a clue on what they're like.

The VE is the more technologically updated of the 2 so I would imagine it would handle better than the phoon. And I think the wheels guys love that magnetic suspension on the GTS as well. It was probably still a close comparo though I bet.

I must buy this months edition and see if there is any stuff about the old school stuff I haven't read elsewhere. Used to have a Wheels subscription but the articles started getting crap. Same cars and the same tests over and over. Now I just buy it when there is something interesting in it.

[sleekism]

How come there was never big block Falcons?

The Falcon had the same underpinnings as the Mustang we should have had the FE engine family. Mustang had big block since 1967 and i remember reading somewhere that they were considering a big block for the XA. What happened????

[nb_351]

Originally Posted by sleekism

How come there was never big block Falcons?

The Falcon had the same underpinnings as the Mustang we should have had the FE engine family. Mustang had big block since 1967 and i remember reading somewhere that they were considering a big block for the XA. What happened????

that was written up about in amc... they were considering it, but i cant remember why they canned it, they built a couple of them...
cant be too hard to fit an fe into a falcon, i nearly bought a kit for the xe... was only mounts and a different crossmember IIRC...
of course the gts won, its an article in wheels... wait for the test in street machine if they do it, it will be the same outcome...
but if amc tested them, the phoon would probably triumph...

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by sleekism

How come there was never big block Falcons?

The Falcon had the same underpinnings as the Mustang we should have had the FE engine family. Mustang had big block since 1967 and i remember reading somewhere that they were considering a big block for the XA. What happened????

Understeering pig was the words they used to describe it. No good for Bathurst, too much weight over the front wheels. The Americans prefer straight line grunt for the quarter mile over handling so thats why they got big blocks and we didn't. The cars Ford US used for the track were small blocks like the 302 Boss, with big blocks used for the Nascar ovals where changing direction isn't really necessary.

[Gobes32]

The fact that the Typhoon was even considered for a comparo with the Billion Dollar GTS is something to be proud of. It is essentially a 5 year old car with a motor 2/3rds the size and missing 2 cylinders. Admittedly it has a turbo strapped on but it just proves there is a bright future for FPV if they put some effort in with the old 4.0 six when orion is released.

[Silver Ghia]

Dont take Wheels or any other magazine for gospel when it comes to comparisons.

The writers tend to exagerate on the various things, also cars may not be set up properly, been driven hard by previous testers, and also have their own ideas on whats better.

If you are choosing a car to buy, drive the contenders yourself and make your own mind up.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Dont take Wheels or any other magazine for gospel when it comes to comparisons.

The writers tend to exagerate on the various things, also cars may not be set up properly, been driven hard by previous testers, and also have their own ideas on whats better.

If you are choosing a car to buy, drive the contenders yourself and make your own mind up.

Or give it to the guys at top gear and let the gods themselves decide

[1970galaxie]

Bill Bourke's XW was not a 429!

[T3ts50]

Finally a decent wheels mag. Havent bought one in ages.

[FORD3V]

Bill Bourke's XW was a 428!
And if anyone here loves there old school stuff (V8GLI) they should have a read of australian muscle car magazine, its the best mag going for articles on old school fords,holdens,chrylers etc.