Favorite Gp. A car

[Radisichrox]

As per the threads w/Favorite ____ car, I've added a favorite Group A car thread.

Personally it's gotta be the Subaru Impreza from 1996...That's gotta be the best sounding car ever made!! (Not only inside but outside as well)

Also, did the Subaru team not have catalytic converters on that car, because it certainly sounds as if it doesn't.

[Lee Janotta]

The last incarnation of the Celica has to be the best looking, but the Lancer Evo is by far the best Group A series of cars.

[GTV27]

Honourable Mentions:

Alfa Romeo GTV6 (in Rothmans colour scheme - nice)
Sierra Cosworth RS500

Award goes to:

Lancia Delta Integrale Evolution

[429CJ]

Three-door Sierra Cosworth - with black & red Texaco colours.

[JAG]

I didn't think the RS500 was allowed in ralling (were 500 off evolutions banned from rallying).

As for favourite Group A cars.

The 1993 Escort Cosworth that Delecour almost won Monte Carlo in.

The Q8 Sapphire Cosworth.

Nissan GTI-R. Unfortunately cut short due to engine problems.

Prodrive BMW M3 and the Sierra RS Cosworth.

[Radisichrox]

I haven't seen many of the cars you're talking about. What did the Escort from 93 look like? (Delecour was second that year overall!)

[JAG]

http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand...scortrs1_2.jpg

Model of the 1993 Escort Cosworth

[alfasud]

So many good ones to choose from:

Escort Cosworth - as others have mentioned.

Alfa Romeo GTV6 - several top 10 finishes (and Group A class wins) in the Tour de Corse, finishing ahead of many Group B cars.

BMW M3 - quick on tarmac, including a win in the 1987 Tour de Corse.

But if I was given the choice of any of the Group A rally cars to park in my garage, then it would have to be the Lancia Delta Integrale.

[racer69]

JAG - the Sierra Cosworth was rallied, not the RS500 version though as as you said, they weren't allowed.

I liked the factory Nissan used in the Safari and Acropolis in '87 and '88. It sounded beautiful.

Here is a good (and rare) one from the 1986 Rally NZ, a Holden Commodore.

[GTV27]

Group A Commodore rally car - wow, that would have been spectacular - great photo, got any more?.

A few people have run Commodore and Falcon V8's in the ARC - they are slow but GREAT to watch - rear wheel drive, lots of power WOO HOOO there should be more of it!

[KA]

I wouldn't argue as any of these being amongst the best, but it has to be one of my favourites - the Rover Vitesse

http://www.edpphoto.com/pondHtml/tony_pond_84_manx.htm

Apart from that the Alfa GTV6- (Yves Loubet's car in Corsica in Rothmans colours) definitely gets (another) mention, and the Sierra Cosworth (black Texaco colours- stunning)

[garcon]

My favourite Group A car has to be the Impreza 555 of '96/7. Catalytic converters? I think not!!

Having said that, the forerunner to that - 92/93 Legacy - was quite awesome too... that was before cats were needed on the road car, never mind the rally version! The original Ur-quattro is the only thing ever to have come close in terms of sound...

Actually I remember seeing the sad demise (possibly?) of the last Prodrive GrpA Legacy... an ex-Richard Burns car that I first saw at Margam Park on the '97 RAC (anyone know who ran it?!) - saw it again in '98 with an extensively modified body after a heavy roll somewhere in mid Wales. I hope someone managed to re-shell it and keep it going, but I have my doubts....

[Horsebox]

I have to say the greatest Group A car was the B.M.W M3. The roar of the engine was something unreal. I know the car wasn't extreemly sucessful but it was still amazing.
I remember spectating on the 1991 Circut of Ireland and watching Austin McHale trying to hang onto the wild young Colin McRae in his Legecy, spectacular stuff! And I was only 6!
Many of the the cars ran in Ireland with much sucess, Denis Cronin embarrasing alot of WRC's in the ex- Bertie Fisher M3 and the ex Nicoli Bolshik M3 has just entered the country!

[KA]

Originally posted by Horsebox
I have to say the greatest Group A car was the B.M.W M3. The roar of the engine was something unreal. I know the car wasn't extreemly sucessful but it was still amazing.
I remember spectating on the 1991 Circut of Ireland and watching Austin McHale trying to hang onto the wild young Colin McRae in his Legecy, spectacular stuff! And I was only 6!
Many of the the cars ran in Ireland with much sucess, Denis Cronin embarrasing alot of WRC's in the ex- Bertie Fisher M3 and the ex Nicoli Bolshik M3 has just entered the country!

Wonderful machine- and more success than you'd expect given that it was up agianst 4wd opposition.....

[Radisichrox]

Originally posted by garcon
My favourite Group A car has to be the Impreza 555 of '96/7. Catalytic converters? I think not!!

Having said that, the forerunner to that - 92/93 Legacy - was quite awesome too... that was before cats were needed on the road car, never mind the rally version! The original Ur-quattro is the only thing ever to have come close in terms of sound...

Actually I remember seeing the sad demise (possibly?) of the last Prodrive GrpA Legacy... an ex-Richard Burns car that I first saw at Margam Park on the '97 RAC (anyone know who ran it?!) - saw it again in '98 with an extensively modified body after a heavy roll somewhere in mid Wales. I hope someone managed to re-shell it and keep it going, but I have my doubts....

I guess the 96 Subaru didn't have the catalyitic converters, but what made it sound that way???

[garcon]

Mainly the flat four configuration and low revving torquey nature of the engine, and absolutely no silencing!

[Radisichrox]

Garcon that's probably what it is. Nowadays it doesn't sound like that, I guess that with the change to WRC spec involved a noise restriction?

[krt917]

Good thread,

Some excellent choices, as well as interesting ones! My choice would have to be the 1992 version of the Martin Lancia Delta Integrale Evo. How did Lancia make a basic box-shape look that good?