one thing was sure: No matter if someone loved it or hated it, everyone
had something to say about it. What makes the Plus 8 unique today is what
got so many of us involved with cars in the first place-you have to drive
it; a cruise control on this car would be the equivalent of neon signs in
the Sistine Chapel. There are no tricks or gimmicks, it's just a no-frills
approach to goodtime motoring. This approach is not without merit; the cars
have looked and been built the same for years, and the factory can't produce
enough cars to meet demand.
It should be mentioned that weather gear (a top and side curtains) is included
in the package, and it works with relative ease. There are no buttons to
push and it's not a one-hand job like those you see in the ads, but the
top can be put up and the side curtains installed in three or four minutes,
depending on how hard it's raining. When inside, with all the gear up, you
either have to be very short or bend your neck a lot to see out the sides.
Oh, there's a heater, too.
The cars are available in the U.S., even though there is some six-year backlog
in England, at the rate of 30 cars a year. |
This
number also includes the more classical looking 4-cylinder version, with
either a 1600 Ford CVH or a 1600 twin-cam Fiat engine, both using propane.
So if you like to drive, like the nostalgic thought of zipping down the
lane with that long, louvered hood stretching out in front, |
and
you don't mind getting your hair blown and being bounced around a bit, if
you don't mind everybody staring and every other body asking, "What
is it?" and "What year is it?" and you have an extra $26,000,
call Bill Fink in San Francisco at (415/433-1344). You'll have a ball!) |
