Someone else new!
11-09-2011, 06:29 PM
#11
CMOC Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: England & Germany
Posts: 9
Thanks for all the warm welcomes!!
Most people are pretty curious and interested, many know what it is, some people ask about it, and i've even had a married couple arguing whether it is a Ferrari or a Mustang at a gas station one day! I get a lot of people when i'm in Europe asking to take a photo of it, they want to know so much info but there are obvious language barriers sometimes, so I just open the door for them to sit in it, they love that, big 
and a photo, makes their day and I feel god for making them happy!
A lot of people love the noise (I have Flowmaster American Thunder cat-backs, so not too loud but a nice rumble still), and it's nice, when I drive the Puma or other performance cars here, everyone and their dog want's to race you, but no one bothers you in the Mustang, they are too intimidated by it, and i've really shocked a few people at hill-climbs and on race tracks, and i'm not afraid to push it hard.
I look forward to joining in once i've had a good read through everything, i've become somewhat used to having the car here in Europe and the conversion work I had to carry out to make it legal here - many people stick stuff to the cars but I made sure mine looks factory standard, for a little effort the results are - if I do say so myself - worth it!
Thanks 
When I bought my Mustang and drove it across the US, my adventure was just beginning, there is a whole wide world out there and i've only began to scrape the surface. I plan to keep this car and to have it see much more of the world where gas is cheaper than in the UK (pretty much everywhere!). I'll add some more pics at the bottom of this thread!
That's a shame about the plates, but if you do find any more i'd love to give them a home over here!
I would be more than happy to organise some plates coming your way from here, I have lots of German, Belgian and British plates, plus a few other European plates, but not so many of them. Send me a PM some time and we can discuss!
That's cool, I have a friend who lives in my local town (I live in a small village) who has an ex-LAPD Crown Vic, it still has all the lights and graphics, that thing certainly does grab a lot of attention! He is not allowed to use the lights & sirens on the public roads, but sometimes he does when parked because people love to see it!
And yes, there are a couple of specialists that bring in Ford and Dodge pick-ups, despite the larger size, there are advantages to operating US vehicles in the UK certainly, largely due to loop-holes in the system, these trucks are not European compliant, so can often get away with costing less on company tax etc. Even my Mustang is exempt from emissions testing and therefore gets a cheaper rate of road tax than if it was an official European compliant car.
-
And here are some pics the other cars:
A photo I took of the DeLorean one evening as the sun was setting in a local car park
Here is my Tickford Racing Puma, the license plate is legally the closest to Tickfordyou can get on the UK system, and came with the car, I never changed it (issued numbers stay with the car in the UK, not the owner). This is me driving it at Brands Hatch race track:
And at Snetterton race track:
And I even found a random photo of my old MR2, I owned this for 1 year, it took everything I threw at it, including driving though a flooded river where the water was half-way up the front hood (mid engine has its advantages). Loved that car, but it failed it's inspection so was not worth spending money on it to make it pass.
And a another of my Mustang:
The first day I had the car in the UK, I drove it for a few months on the Cali plates - just to be different! The hole in the bumper was caused by some rogue wooden furniture on a dark night in Colorado. All patched up now though.
Wow furthest from home member so a warm friendly greeting from across the pond. It must be interesting owning a North American car and muscle to boot in a continent that drives mainly fuel sipping 4 cylinders. Do people frown at you for driving said beast or are they more curious etc. I think it is great that you have joined our site and hope you contribute with your Euro insights and pics. Welcome again
and a photo, makes their day and I feel god for making them happy!A lot of people love the noise (I have Flowmaster American Thunder cat-backs, so not too loud but a nice rumble still), and it's nice, when I drive the Puma or other performance cars here, everyone and their dog want's to race you, but no one bothers you in the Mustang, they are too intimidated by it, and i've really shocked a few people at hill-climbs and on race tracks, and i'm not afraid to push it hard.
I look forward to joining in once i've had a good read through everything, i've become somewhat used to having the car here in Europe and the conversion work I had to carry out to make it legal here - many people stick stuff to the cars but I made sure mine looks factory standard, for a little effort the results are - if I do say so myself - worth it!
When I bought my Mustang and drove it across the US, my adventure was just beginning, there is a whole wide world out there and i've only began to scrape the surface. I plan to keep this car and to have it see much more of the world where gas is cheaper than in the UK (pretty much everywhere!). I'll add some more pics at the bottom of this thread!I would be more than happy to organise some plates coming your way from here, I have lots of German, Belgian and British plates, plus a few other European plates, but not so many of them. Send me a PM some time and we can discuss!
Welcome to the site. You mentioned the Crown Vic. I worked at FORD Talbotville ( over 32 years) where those were made from abt. 1991 until the plant recently closed in September 2011.
On a side note, I traveled to England/Scotland a few years ago. One of the things I remember is in Newcastle on the Tyne, seeing a ( big ?????) FORD pickup parked among all the smaller European cars on the street. I did a double take for sure.
On a side note, I traveled to England/Scotland a few years ago. One of the things I remember is in Newcastle on the Tyne, seeing a ( big ?????) FORD pickup parked among all the smaller European cars on the street. I did a double take for sure.
And yes, there are a couple of specialists that bring in Ford and Dodge pick-ups, despite the larger size, there are advantages to operating US vehicles in the UK certainly, largely due to loop-holes in the system, these trucks are not European compliant, so can often get away with costing less on company tax etc. Even my Mustang is exempt from emissions testing and therefore gets a cheaper rate of road tax than if it was an official European compliant car.
-
And here are some pics the other cars:
A photo I took of the DeLorean one evening as the sun was setting in a local car park
Here is my Tickford Racing Puma, the license plate is legally the closest to Tickfordyou can get on the UK system, and came with the car, I never changed it (issued numbers stay with the car in the UK, not the owner). This is me driving it at Brands Hatch race track:
And at Snetterton race track:
And I even found a random photo of my old MR2, I owned this for 1 year, it took everything I threw at it, including driving though a flooded river where the water was half-way up the front hood (mid engine has its advantages). Loved that car, but it failed it's inspection so was not worth spending money on it to make it pass.
And a another of my Mustang:
The first day I had the car in the UK, I drove it for a few months on the Cali plates - just to be different! The hole in the bumper was caused by some rogue wooden furniture on a dark night in Colorado. All patched up now though.
11-10-2011, 11:52 AM
#13
CMOC Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: England & Germany
Posts: 9
I don't mind questions! Makes my life easier as I never quite know what to say in introductions, so I work better with questions!
The car started life as a Ford Puma (a coupe based on the Fiesta platform). Ford decided they wanted to make an RS model, to go with the Focus RS, this is the result, however before the launch of the car Ford were concered it may embarrass the RS badge so decided to call the the Racing Puma - internally known as the ST160. The car was only available in Imperial Blue, the colour of RS models until the latest Focus RS when other colours became available. Turns out they had nothing to be embarrassed about, everyone loved the Racing Puma!
The build of the car was outsourced to Tickford (they build the bodies for Aston Martin in the 80's, and also designed and built the Ford RS200 Group B rally car, as well as many other cars over the years). They still operate I believe in Australia under the FPV group tuning the Aussie Falcons (although I am happy to believe this has now stopped).
Anyway I have digressed! The Racing Puma, built by Tickford was supposed to be limited to 500 cars for the UK market exclusively (but not that many were built). The body is much wider than the standard Puma, it sits lower and has an aggressive carbon fibre front splitter. Wider wheels and tracking along with a lower stance gave the FRP great handling characteristics - the body panels were the same cast as the World Rally Championship (WRC) Puma, although only made from Aluminium for the street cars. My car has been fitted with prototype Bilstein springs and dampers - only 15 cars had this setup installed, it is designed for track racing and the handling is like glue. I used to work for Lotus cars, and i've never found a car that grips as well as this does that doesn't wear the Lotus badge. Also the front brakes were straight off the rally car, and are able to pull 1.1g under braking (the only other car on the road with this size brakes appears to be the Ferrari 355 - so nice cheap replacements ... not!).
The engine has been breathed on as well, it's a 1.7 Zetec with variable valve timing, pushing out around 160 bhp naturally aspirated, with a 0-60 mph (0-100km/h) of around 7 seconds - not bad for a 1.7 engine! Due to the fuel management and high profile cams, the car pops and backfires and when driven hard very small flame can be seen (apparently - I can't see it as i'm driving!) from the exhaust - all this is factory tune, I have not modified anything except a Pipercross panel filter.
I hope that gives you some info, my car is #351 (last I heard the owners forum estimate less than 400 left on the road) and was built in 2000. I bought it in October 2006.
And if you think you ask a zillion questions, i'm afraid I give the longest replies ever!!
The car started life as a Ford Puma (a coupe based on the Fiesta platform). Ford decided they wanted to make an RS model, to go with the Focus RS, this is the result, however before the launch of the car Ford were concered it may embarrass the RS badge so decided to call the the Racing Puma - internally known as the ST160. The car was only available in Imperial Blue, the colour of RS models until the latest Focus RS when other colours became available. Turns out they had nothing to be embarrassed about, everyone loved the Racing Puma!
The build of the car was outsourced to Tickford (they build the bodies for Aston Martin in the 80's, and also designed and built the Ford RS200 Group B rally car, as well as many other cars over the years). They still operate I believe in Australia under the FPV group tuning the Aussie Falcons (although I am happy to believe this has now stopped).
Anyway I have digressed! The Racing Puma, built by Tickford was supposed to be limited to 500 cars for the UK market exclusively (but not that many were built). The body is much wider than the standard Puma, it sits lower and has an aggressive carbon fibre front splitter. Wider wheels and tracking along with a lower stance gave the FRP great handling characteristics - the body panels were the same cast as the World Rally Championship (WRC) Puma, although only made from Aluminium for the street cars. My car has been fitted with prototype Bilstein springs and dampers - only 15 cars had this setup installed, it is designed for track racing and the handling is like glue. I used to work for Lotus cars, and i've never found a car that grips as well as this does that doesn't wear the Lotus badge. Also the front brakes were straight off the rally car, and are able to pull 1.1g under braking (the only other car on the road with this size brakes appears to be the Ferrari 355 - so nice cheap replacements ... not!).
The engine has been breathed on as well, it's a 1.7 Zetec with variable valve timing, pushing out around 160 bhp naturally aspirated, with a 0-60 mph (0-100km/h) of around 7 seconds - not bad for a 1.7 engine! Due to the fuel management and high profile cams, the car pops and backfires and when driven hard very small flame can be seen (apparently - I can't see it as i'm driving!) from the exhaust - all this is factory tune, I have not modified anything except a Pipercross panel filter.
I hope that gives you some info, my car is #351 (last I heard the owners forum estimate less than 400 left on the road) and was built in 2000. I bought it in October 2006.
And if you think you ask a zillion questions, i'm afraid I give the longest replies ever!!
11-10-2011, 02:00 PM
#14
I am the post KING
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Calgary
Posts: 15,244
Nothing like a informative response lol. It may just be me but racing seems to be much larger of a sport in Europe except for useless Nascar racing here. I love to watch old clips of Formula 1 racing in the days gone by as those guys had ***** the size of well you know big.I have been trying to find a free site to watch the BBC4 movie about the crash at lemans in 1955 but no luck yet. Thanks again for your reply sir.
11-10-2011, 03:50 PM
#15
CMOC Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: England & Germany
Posts: 9
I wish I could help with the BBC4 crash, I think I remember seeing it when it aired on TV late night one evening on BBC1 or 2. It was an amazing insight into a world I can only learn about from the history books.
Track racing is much bigger over here, not just as a professional sport, but there are many amateur race series using all sorts of cars, from old hatchbacks to BMW's - there really is no limit. It is also becoming very popular to take your own car on track days, with more imposed speed limits and cameras it is the last refuge of the spirited driver, and even the Mustang owners club of GB organises a track event - here's a random selection of a few pics I took when I was there in 2009
And none of these guys are hanging around, we had 2 crashes and blown water tank that day!
Track racing is much bigger over here, not just as a professional sport, but there are many amateur race series using all sorts of cars, from old hatchbacks to BMW's - there really is no limit. It is also becoming very popular to take your own car on track days, with more imposed speed limits and cameras it is the last refuge of the spirited driver, and even the Mustang owners club of GB organises a track event - here's a random selection of a few pics I took when I was there in 2009
And none of these guys are hanging around, we had 2 crashes and blown water tank that day!
11-11-2011, 05:59 AM
#20
CMOC Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: England & Germany
Posts: 9
I have lots of video showing some oversteer action on that corner from both modern and classics I don't know where to upload them though, plus I have to find them, these pics are already online!!
Thanks for the welcome herbz!
As for the DeLorean, the standard PCV V6 engine was lame, i've driven 4 cars with that setup and it's not inspiring at all.
However, my DeLorean has 100 bhp extra, using new inlet manifold, complete exhaust system, high-lift racing cams (it won't idle on cold start, you must keep the revs up until it has started to warm up), and is fitted with Eibach lowering springs meaning it handles like a car from the 2000's, not the 80's!
It's still no rocket ship with 260-odd bhp, but it makes the whole experience a whole heap more fun, from the noise, and the added performance in a car that isn't very heavy!
Plus driving this car in the US is like being the most famous guy on the planet, it takes 20 minutes to fill up with fuel just from the onslaught of questions (and Back to the Future remarks) and people taking photos. It's crazy.
Here's a couple more pics from the track day, just because...
This guy came sideways around that corner, but the car snapped one way then the other before ending up in the barrier. 20 minutes later he was back on track after an inspection. His attitude was 'well it's damaged now, might as well continue enjoy the day'... proper behaviour!
Fitted with the Euro tailights (I think these are ugly and prefer the converted rear lights in the pic below this one)
I don't know where to upload them though, plus I have to find them, these pics are already online!!Thanks for the welcome herbz!
As for the DeLorean, the standard PCV V6 engine was lame, i've driven 4 cars with that setup and it's not inspiring at all.
However, my DeLorean has 100 bhp extra, using new inlet manifold, complete exhaust system, high-lift racing cams (it won't idle on cold start, you must keep the revs up until it has started to warm up), and is fitted with Eibach lowering springs meaning it handles like a car from the 2000's, not the 80's!
It's still no rocket ship with 260-odd bhp, but it makes the whole experience a whole heap more fun, from the noise, and the added performance in a car that isn't very heavy!
Plus driving this car in the US is like being the most famous guy on the planet, it takes 20 minutes to fill up with fuel just from the onslaught of questions (and Back to the Future remarks) and people taking photos. It's crazy.
Here's a couple more pics from the track day, just because...
This guy came sideways around that corner, but the car snapped one way then the other before ending up in the barrier. 20 minutes later he was back on track after an inspection. His attitude was 'well it's damaged now, might as well continue enjoy the day'... proper behaviour!
Fitted with the Euro tailights (I think these are ugly and prefer the converted rear lights in the pic below this one)
