What is perfect/quintessential MV 80s car?

[Ferrariman]

Any votes for Izzy's cousin's Maverick?  No? Ok never mind 

[Dadrian]

30 minutes ago, Ferrariman said:

Any votes for Izzy's cousin's Maverick?  No? Ok never mind 

I would totally drive it! 

[RedDragon86]

Who was Izzy's cousin, the miracle man?

[RedDragon86]

Sorry for being a bit clueless but who did the Maverick belong too? or is it just an inside joke 

[Dadrian]

3 minutes ago, RedDragon86 said:

Sorry for being a bit clueless but who did the Maverick belong too? or is it just an inside joke 

Remember Izzy offering it to Sonny at the beginning of “Whatever Works” when the Daytona is being confiscated? 

[RedDragon86]

31 minutes ago, Dadrian said:

Remember Izzy offering it to Sonny at the beginning of “Whatever Works” when the Daytona is being confiscated? 

Oh I get it now, thanks.

[Paul Veres]

FYI here is a nice review of Daytona from Jay Leno few days ago. It's not the MV McBurnie, but an actual Ferrari, though they do talk about Miami Vice in the video at 11:35.

 

[airtommy]

Great video!  I disagree with Jay Leno about the replicas.  I think they looked great!

[Dadrian]

1 hour ago, Paul Veres said:

FYI here is a nice review of Daytona from Jay Leno few days ago. It's not the MV McBurnie, but an actual Ferrari, though they do talk about Miami Vice in the video at 11:35.

 

They talk about Miami Vice right out of the gate. How could you not?  

[apocalypse]

My vote goes to 126 Mercedes S-Class. 

Every drug dealer and bad guy in Miami Vice drove one. 

[Dadrian]

43 minutes ago, apocalypse said:

My vote goes to 126 Mercedes S-Class. 

Every drug dealer and bad guy in Miami Vice drove one. 

LOVE it! Any info on those wheels. That’s the part that really says “MV Villain” for me.  
 

I’m trying to remember the close up at the hangar (pun-intended) on Phil the Shill. Maybe “BBS” or something? 
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185551190037?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=M-qD4wbnR4q&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=pubP6yz6RwS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Edited January 26, 2023 by Dadrian

[apocalypse]

Yes. Not sure but they look BBS wheels to me. 

[pahonu]

On 1/25/2023 at 6:32 PM, Paul Veres said:

FYI here is a nice review of Daytona from Jay Leno few days ago. It's not the MV McBurnie, but an actual Ferrari, though they do talk about Miami Vice in the video at 11:35.

 

Leno made a very interesting and prescient comment in the opening.  He stated that 100 years from now, the Daytona would still be running because it is mechanical, whereas modern Ferraris or any others with so much electronic control will likely not because the numerous electronic chips won’t be available.  

I have a 35 year old VW Westfalia campervan that was among the first generation with ECU’s for engine management when sales started in 1980.  It’s very basic and there is only one module.  I’ve even heard other owners joke that it probably has the computing power of a clock radio!  

I’ve had it since 2007 and decided shortly after to buy an OEM electronic module when I found one of the very few remaining online.  I had read a newspaper article about an elderly man with a similarly old Ford Crown Victoria that had been sitting idle for months because the dealer couldn’t locate an ECU.  The car had maybe 50k miles and was mechanically sound but the electronic module was no where to be found.

Fast forward to 2021 and my van begins having running issues.  My trusted mechanic narrows it down to the ECU, but can’t find one.  The recommendation is sending it to a rebuilder for several weeks and spending as much as a grand.  Long story short, I bring in my OEM unit that I bought for about $250 and am driving again before the day is over.

The disconcerting part now is that I know my only solution for the problem in the future will be a very costly and lengthy rebuild of the ECU, and remember this is a simple unit.  How will modern cars with a dozen or more of these electronic modules be maintained 30 or 40 years from now?   On the contrary, I’ve never had a problem getting an aftermarket mechanical part, not that it won’t be a future problem some day.

Edited January 28, 2023 by pahonu

[Paul Veres]

16 hours ago, pahonu said:

Leno made a very interesting and prescient comment in the opening.  He stated that 100 years from now, the Daytona would still be running because it is mechanical, whereas modern Ferraris or any others with so much electronic control will likely not because the numerous electronic chips won’t be available.  

I have a 35 year old VW Westfalia campervan that was among the first generation with ECU’s for engine management when sales started in 1980.  It’s very basic and there is only one module.  I’ve even heard other owners joke that it probably has the computing power of a clock radio!  

I’ve had it since 2007 and decided shortly after to buy an OEM electronic module when I found one of the very few remaining online.  I had read a newspaper article about an elderly man with a similarly old Ford Crown Victoria that had been sitting idle for months because the dealer couldn’t locate an ECU.  The car had maybe 50k miles and was mechanically sound but the electronic module was no where to be found.

Fast forward to 2021 and my van begins having running issues.  My trusted mechanic narrows it down to the ECU, but can’t find one.  The recommendation is sending it to a rebuilder for several weeks and spending as much as a grand.  Long story short, I bring in my OEM unit that I bought for about $250 and am driving again before the day is over.

The disconcerting part now is that I know my only solution for the problem in the future will be a very costly and lengthy rebuild of the ECU, and remember this is a simple unit.  How will modern cars with a dozen or more of these electronic modules be maintained 30 or 40 years from now?   On the contrary, I’ve never had a problem getting an aftermarket mechanical part, not that it won’t be a future problem some day.

Yes I made note of that comment also. To be fair, indeed the same argument can be applied to any mechanical element - if it dies 50 years later you would have very hard time finding an OEM part available. Granted, manufacturing a mechanical element from scratch/adapting from another car might be easier than building out some electronics module. 

Sad Crown Vic story, even that kind of car can run out of parts huh. By the way do you know that the last produced Crown Vic was sold to a Saudi guy?

I guess while we are on this topic of grand old cars... check out this amazing build, Jonathan Ward is a true master.
 

 

[Kalci]

On 1/26/2023 at 5:34 PM, apocalypse said:

My vote goes to 126 Mercedes S-Class. 

Every drug dealer and bad guy in Miami Vice drove one. 

Yes,  these are BBS wheels.  BBS Mahle 16 inch

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175082984727

although also Rial produced similar ones that look also cool.  In the early 80's AMG,Brabus utilized these one piece 15 and 16 aluminium alloy wheels mostly, on their cars and then started to design their own wheels and they made them produced by either BBS or OZ in most of the cases.

Whay you @Paul Veres have shared, they are 3piece versions of these and of course they worth a lot more. "BBS RS  3digit" number dependent on the actual style and sizes.

I will attach here some great designs by AMG throughout the 80s

As far as I know the first AMG desgined aluminium alloy wheel was the penta. Here are some photos of it.

Production company of this wheels was BBS, later Ronal also produced this Style. I guess the BBS produced ones are more sought after.

Edited January 28, 2023 by Kalci

[pahonu]

2 hours ago, Paul Veres said:

Yes I made note of that comment also. To be fair, indeed the same argument can be applied to any mechanical element - if it dies 50 years later you would have very hard time finding an OEM part available. Granted, manufacturing a mechanical element from scratch/adapting from another car might be easier than building out some electronics module. 

Sad Crown Vic story, even that kind of car can run out of parts huh. By the way do you know that the last produced Crown Vic was sold to a Saudi guy?

I guess while we are on this topic of grand old cars... check out this amazing build, Jonathan Ward is a true master.
 

 

I had no idea that the last Crown Vic was sold to a Saudi… random!

You’re absolutely right that reproducing mechanical parts is much simpler than electronics.  In many cases, the manufacturer that made the OEM part simply sell the tools and dies to another manufacturer once the requisite number of years has passed. The quality control may not be as high, but very often those aftermarket parts are being made with the original dies.  I’ve purchased many parts made in this manner over the years.
 

For the electronic modules, the  schematic drawings are often available, but manufacturing new ones is a very costly process and aftermarket suppliers often shy away from doing so.  Then it’s up to rebuilders doing so by hand with older units and taking a significant amount of time.
 

If a car becomes collectible, rebuilt modules might be kept in stock from some suppliers.  I’ve seen that recently with my unit from a VW specialist here in California.  I got the last OEM ECU from them at a slight discount because I returned my original to them to be rebuilt.  I just hope if I ever need another they will still have some, and there won’t be a long delay, but they are definitely costly enough that I’m not going to buy one just in case.  
 

I just can’t imagine that modern cars having so many electronic controls will have them all available in the future!  

[Paul Veres]

FYI a video very relevant to the topic from one of the best YouTube car reviewers. I didn't know half the cars, real enthusiasts like @Kalci might enjoy this even more:

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by Paul Veres

[Dadrian]

1 hour ago, Paul Veres said:

FYI a video very relevant to the topic from one of the best YouTube car reviewers. I didn't know half the cars, real enthusiasts like @Kalci might enjoy this even more:

 

#6 (Buick Grand National) was Frank Arreola’s car in “Killshot” 

Pretty cool list.

This guy is indeed a huge presence on the YouTube car review scene. I’ve seen a ton of his videos, but I rarely agree with his opinions. 

I had not seen this video, though. Thanks for sharing!

[Paul Veres]

Not an 80s car of course, but it's boxy and has pixels  so I thought I'd post it here.

Did you guys see the new Hyundai Santa Fe?? Hyundai and Kia (they are sort of the same company by the way) have been killing it recently with designs, and this "budget Range Rover" looks amazing to me.

And thank god there are physical buttons left. New Mercedeses etc have nothing now other than one huge screen everywhere...

What do you guys think, as far as SUVs go?