My new to me

[TonyL]

I think they did, Nick, along with the Fiesta and Focus.......wot???.....Someone told me it had a lot to do with going electric on many models and the requirement on many designs to go taller due to the daft big battery located at the bottom......

Bring back those Mark I, II and III Escorts and early Fiestas!

[TonyL]

So, what WOULD the airgun equivalent of an Allegro be? One of those Panther (RO71/72?) pistols from the late 70s? Milbro Cougar?

[TonyL]

Very happy me!

Parcel Force man came today with a very well wrapped 1982 HW80, courtesy of Mach 1.5, Thanks again Paul. Great condition considering how old it is. Plus VMach old spec Venom spring to go with it. Great day.

Called in a Blackpool Air Guns to buy some more pellets and, they were giving away a free HW77K with them! Would you believe it?
No, the Boss didn't either

So, 4 rifles, 3 of them Weihrauch, I'm done.

For now

Have you had a good play with your new toys yet?

[look no hands]

I think they did, Nick, along with the Fiesta and Focus.......wot???.....Someone told me it had a lot to do with going electric on many models and the requirement on many designs to go taller due to the daft big battery located at the bottom......

Bring back those Mark I, II and III Escorts and early Fiestas!

Yes Tone you're right, totally agree with bringing back the older models, not so sure about the mk3 Escort though.

[maximus]

Yes Tone you're right, totally agree with bringing back the older models, not so sure about the mk3 Escort though.

You can buy brand new mk1 and mk2 escorts from a bloke in Wales made to whatever spec you like upto full rally car. Watch the late brake show on YouTube, he's been and had a test drive. Not cheap though. Mk3's not quite the same to me though the cosworth one was a bit special.

[TonyL]

Yes Tone you're right, totally agree with bringing back the older models, not so sure about the mk3 Escort though.

I loved the Mark III, Pete. Sharp, angular looks, far, far ahead of its time. They handled, too. The Mk IVs that followed became more rounded, more refined and "softer" feeling.

When I had my own car business for a while I used to love buying and selling Mark IIIs. I'd get ones that had good histories and that were good mechanically. But they often needed paint. I had a very good body sprayer on hand who would do a very good job at a good price. So I could buy the cars cheaply and they looked lovely once done. Proper job, too, not bodged.

One of my stand out memorable drives was in a bright yellow Mark III 1.6 GL on one of my favourite tight and twisty roads. The taut chassis and mega communicative steering made it an absolute joy through the twisties.

[TonyL]

You can buy brand new mk1 and mk2 escorts from a bloke in Wales made to whatever spec you like upto full rally car. Watch the late brake show on YouTube, he's been and had a test drive. Not cheap though. Mk3's not quite the same to me though the cosworth one was a bit special.

Yes, one of my bike customers from last year was telling me you could get brand new (Chinese?) bodyshells for them?

[look no hands]

You can buy brand new mk1 and mk2 escorts from a bloke in Wales made to whatever spec you like upto full rally car. Watch the late brake show on YouTube, he's been and had a test drive. Not cheap though. Mk3's not quite the same to me though the cosworth one was a bit special.

I have seen them but as you say, they are not cheap, my first car was a mk1 Escort with a 1600 Mexico engine on 1300 running gear, went like the clappers but went through 1300 gearboxs like no ones business, so I've always had a soft spot for Ford's especially the mk1.

[look no hands]

I loved the Mark III, Pete. Sharp, angular looks, far, far ahead of its time. They handled, too. The Mk IVs that followed became more rounded, more refined and "softer" feeling.

When I had my own car business for a while I used to love buying and selling Mark IIIs. I'd get ones that had good histories and that were good mechanically. But they often needed paint. I had a very good body sprayer on hand who would do a very good job at a good price. So I could buy the cars cheaply and they looked lovely once done. Proper job, too, not bodged.

One of my stand out memorable drives was in a bright yellow Mark III 1.6 GL on one of my favourite tight and twisty roads. The taut chassis and mega communicative steering made it an absolute joy through the twisties.

You should try the older 1.7 Pumas like I have Tone, amazing fun on a B road.

[TonyL]

You should try the older 1.7 Pumas like I have Tone, amazing fun on a B road.

Yes, I've heard that. You lucky chap.

I briefly worked for a Ford dealership back in 1998 and felt that the smaller cars were much more fun than the softer, more vague feeling larger ones. Those early 1.25 motors in the Fiesta were fun and characterful.

[look no hands]

Yes, I've heard that. You lucky chap.

I briefly worked for a Ford dealership back in 1998 and felt that the smaller cars were much more fun than the softer, more vague feeling larger ones. Those early 1.25 motors in the Fiesta were fun and characterful.

Yep I have a mk5 (mk4 facelift) Fiesta Black edition with the 1.25 engine and its actually pretty nippy, considering its only 75bhp.

[Segata]

Few lads back in College had them, was better than the 1.3 and similar performance to the 1.4 as was a newer design (Mate currently has a Kack with said 1.3 and its barely hiding it's 60s roots), I had a 1.4 Civic that was faster so I somewhat ruled things car wise.
If a HW is a BMW I assume it must regularly have a tantrum and make a mess, most definately not a poor mans Merc though, Mercs are designed comfort first, BMWs are designed driving ability first which is why they can run rings around equivlents with less engine and HP, you stand my E46 next to it's C-class equivlent and more will want to drive it than the Merc.
Really wouldn't mind trying the Puma, need to be careful to check which 1.7 it is as theres a power difference, both I think are still Yamaha though and essentially its a perfect balance for a B road blaster, Fiesta chassis so light but simple so responds well without needing a giant lump to shift it and a sporty Body thats still usable day to day.

Dunno what you could say an Allaggro would match, I think the Brummies more akin to stuff like Rootes or BMC, the right one is a rewarding thing and handles well and the wrong one leaves you wondering if you should've taken the bus or in shooting equivlent thrown the pellet instead.
And modern ones, usually built by someone else somewhere else, feel ok but still leave you thinking you should have got something else.

[maximus]

I have seen them but as you say, they are not cheap, my first car was a mk1 Escort with a 1600 Mexico engine on 1300 running gear, went like the clappers but went through 1300 gearboxs like no ones business, so I've always had a soft spot for Ford's especially the mk1.

Ha, my second car was a 1300 gt which I put a 1600 Mexico engine in, struts came through the inner wing before it had chance to knacker the gearbox though!

[Dornfelderliebe]

So, what WOULD the airgun equivalent of an Allegro be? One of those Panther (RO71/72?) pistols from the late 70s? Milbro Cougar?

I followed one through the Lincolnshire Wolds once, it went round the bends like it was on rails.

I cannot think of an airgun but it would have to be unfashionable, underrated but technically good apart from the square steering wheel if my memory is right.
Which one do you all think matches that?

[ToniD]

Have you had a good play with your new toys yet?

Been Playing in the cellar and the garden, should be going to the range in a couple of weeks.
In the cellar we have some hanging Guinness cans for the Sig Sauer rep, only about 5 yards. Shot at one of them with the 80, the can didn't move, there was just a hole in it that I could put my little finger through (I've got small hands).

Super Happy me