For those that like cars that are a bit unusual

[Chris Wilson]

I have driven one of these, fantastic cars, very rare, yet easy to maintain and very quick. No idea how they value it, but it's the first I have seen for sale in many years, and looks mint.

 

http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/34111/1992_Venturi_400_Trophy.html

[Guest adam b]

As you say chris rarer then rockin horse s...t and a very good car.

must be breakin the owners haert to sell

[Supra Gaz]

Looks a bit like a mk3 supra from the front. nice looking machine, and as you say, extremely rare.

[Ian W]

Has a touch of Lotus Esprit about it. I like it

[Abz]

I think it has a F40 look about it, never seen one before.

[barneybrendan]

how much do you reckon that will be then

[mwilkinson]

10p and a block of very smelly blue cheese ought to secure a sale

[mwilkinson]

how much do you reckon that will be then

 

An internet/google search shows one up for €69,000.

[jevansio]

I can't believe there isn't an MR2 replica for that

[Havard]

Saw these at Le Mans years ago. Lovely looking car..!!

[Chris Wilson]

God knows what they will think it's worth, it looks like £30,000 tops to me, it's old, not particularly desirable to 99% of people save hard core enthusiasts, and nothing much to race it in any more. I suspect they will be asking something daft though seeing it's with a brokerage. I once looked at a brand new, totally un run Riley and Scott Indy car with a dummy Aurora engine in it that I could have had for 20K UK pounds in 2002. The outfit in the ad bought it, and had it up for 40K, and it sold again, untouched, for something in between. In the hands of another outfit it then had a running engine fitted that was sourced from the US, some totally incorrect wings on the front and back, and some gear ratios stuck in the box. The price jumped hugely, but what they don't tell you is it is a speedway car, with asymmetric suspension so it only wants to go anti clockwise. It has tiny carbon brakes designed to allow one hard stop and then they need a long cool down period. It also still has a spool diff (fully locked) again only suited to oval tracks. Buying single seater race cars is a dangerous pursuit for the unknowledgeable http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1658403.htm

 

 

Here it is in 2002, in Birmingham, it was a gorgeous thing though.

[Chris Wilson]

You could buy a Renault GTA and have a lot of similar running gear for a lot less money. I used to work on a few Le Mans and A310 versions, but haven't seen one at all for maybe 5 years now. I had the none turbo version for a couple of years, at the same time as A 5 Turbo 2, and it was a peach, albeit not very fast by MKIV TT standards, but the handling was sublime. Here it is in 1998 at the old house, how time has flown Whilst I am on about French cars, another bargain I should have bought, but didn't (smacks head...) was a mint factory Renault 21 Europa Cup race car that was really cheap and is now in a museum in Belgium.

[SUPRALAND]

Venturi: fantastic french car.

[dude]

For 30K I would consider it, what engine is it Chris???

[Chris Wilson]

Peugeot/ Renault / Volvo (PRV) V6 all ali. The later ones like in the Venturi where well sorted, very light and very powerful. Some privateer teams at Le Mans used these engines in various chassis and they were fairly successful. Shimmed wet liners, hardly anyone would touch them, I was a dab hand at them, it was just a matter of cleanliness and patience I bought my GTA on the money from rebuilding 3 engines in other people's cars

[Homer]

My mates dad has a Venturi locked away in his barn for about 15 years. He bought it new, did a few track days and it's been not been used since. Last time I saw it there was about an inch of dust on it!

 

He's also got an original AC Cobra, still with the 8-Track player, not been used since the 70's, such a waste. There's loads of other rare cars too, must go and take some pics next time I'm there.

[SUPRALAND]

Yes its the V6 PRV but with 2 turbos:)

[Chris Wilson]

950 BHP from a PRV engine in 1988 gave the small privateer WM team the honour of the fastest Mulsanne Straight speed trap reading for that year at 405 KM / hour (251 MPH!). The car was light as a feather, had hardly any downforce and to me always looked like a death trap, but the little team always got lots of sympathetic attention and whilst it had no real chance of a proper placement in the race itself, their very brave qualifying drivers always liked to aim for a fastest trap speed In case you can't guess the PRV V6 is an engine I have always had a soft spot for. Google PRV V6 or Douvrin, there'll be loads of stuff on them.