Restomods | Alfaholics GTA-R 290, JIA Jensen Interceptor R, Tuthill Porsche 911 | Autocar
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Exciting stuff from Autocar today as we try some modernised classics - restomods, if you like. This isn't a conventional group test, because the three cars we've assembled all do very different things.
The Alfaholics GTA-R is an Alfa Romeo 105-series coupe that has seen the mother of all makeovers. With 240bhp and weighing just 840kg, its power-to-weight ratio is some 290bhp/tonne (hence the name) and fully seam welded, with carbonfibre panels and bespoke engine and gearbox internals and suspension, it's a true track car.
The Jensen Interceptor R by Jensen International Automotive is more road car than track car. But don't think that this reworked Interceptor is slow: JIA has squeezed a supercharged Chevy LSA engine under the hood, making more than 550bhp. But, as we'll see, it may be more cruiser than sports car.
Sitting somewhere between the two, in ethos, is a Porsche 911 modified and modernised by renowned specialists Tuthill. They'll do almost anything you want to a 911 but here they've taken an early 70s 911 E and made it all-round lovelier. It's a terrific blend of road and track performance.
The base for our test is Llandow circuit in Wales so join our testers James Disdale, Matt Prior and Matt Saunders as they try these three brilliant reimagined classics.
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That Alfa is, to me, one if the most desirable cars ever...
That is because you have taste and discretion.
@@MrCarrera28 why, thank you good sir.
The price, though, as with the other two, is ludicrous. Only for those who have ten times that amount to spend on cars, because if you only have - let's say - half a million to spend you're not going to spend £300,000 on any of these.
@@julianevans9548 I beg to differ, because I would absolutely do exactly that. No car exists, at that price or even a fair bit above, that I yearn to own more than the GTA-R 290.
@@error404blah Each to their own - variety is the spice of life. (I'm sure I can fit another cliche in there.)
old sports cars are so cool. I love the look of Jensen Interceptor
These are cars built when wind tunnels were not the forte. But you had a designer, his heart, his passion, his dream, a pen and a blank sheet of paper.
And old Alpha's just look absolutely gorgeous.
The Zanzibarbarian Almost agree but...ALFA ***!
@@nathanwabre - DOH* My bad :-((... Consider them as Alpha cars and not just beta ones then? :-\\...
The Zanzibarbarian hahaha well tried 😂 I give you that 🍀
@@nathanwabre - And the four leaf clover leaf above. Nice Alfa touch. I give you that :-))...
Loved the alfa when Harris did it
I fell in love watching that video.
With the car, I hasten to add.
Alex hogg reviewed it*
Saying harris did it means something completely different ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
The GTA-R is probably one of the best cars money can buy!
So proud of my GT 1300 Junior:)
I read you 2 years later and 2 years later I feel the same about my GTj '69, which I have owned since 1983
@@studiocalder818...and another 2 years pass- this 1600 GT Junior owner strongly agrees! Magic little cars. Forza Alfa!
Alfa for me...but then I'm biased 😄 Mine is only lightly modified but you still feel the magic.
@@user-vc9db6qj2k why thank you very much! Very kind of you to say, glad you like it! 😄👍
The alfa gta is a true legend. Look at the alfaholics track videos against the porsche gt3 at the nurnburgring.
Alfaholics GTA-R is my "first money no object" dream car!
I would definitely have an “unnatural” relationship with it.
As much as I have loved, lusted for and generally been crazy about 911’s since I was 9 years old, for me, it would be 100% the Alfa!
Jensen are so cool, I also love the Triumph Stag, still look good today IMO.
that alfa is on another level than the others...the 911 is stunning and i bet its a joy to drive...but for me...the Jensen is the one id have...understated highway bruiser...it would eat up the miles like nothing!
Am I the only one here, going for the Jensen?
Always been a fav of mine since I was 6, still hasn't changed
nah man
My vehicle is also insured for a figure starting with a “3” .... there are only two figures after it..... and there is a decimal point between them......
Back before marriage, kids, and this belly, I borrowed a roommate's extremely used Alfa 105 coupe during a New England downpour. He had convinced me to take the Alfa instead of my Fiat Spider due to the inclement weather. I have never been so wet while operating a motor vehicle. It was as if I had fallen into the deep end of an Olympic pool, fully clothed. Chilled water poured in via the vents, "weather striping" and half a dozen other places, including from somewhere behind the dash. Naturally, the electronics were shot. The only external evidence of electron flow was one feebly burning headlight; all other lights were out. But I have to admit, as I made the long interstate slog up 95 from Boston, that little engine never quit, and made nice noises as I revved through the gears. My friend loved that crunchy little thing. When I finally pulled in, soggy and dripping, he was eager to know what I thought of her. I grinned and said, "Ran great!"
Great story! If the channel around the hood is eaten with rust, water gets in. If the screen wiper panel is like a tea-bag then water gets in. The holes for the cables running through the bulkhead get oversized with rust, so water gets in. The footwell suffers from oxidation if there is not a decent oil leak to protect it, so water gets in. The lower screen seal has nothing much to seal against once the metal lip has rotted out, so...
Epic trip- with Alfa it's about making memories!
The Alcoholic Alfa is the one. Beautiful in everyway.
The Jensen’s a nice car but completely outshone by the other two nuggets. I’d usually go for Porsche simply for their combination of passion run through with top notch race engineering. But oh that Alfa..!! Seen it a few times now via various channels and printed publications and wow is it a thing of beauty. The drive looks utterly intoxicating too. Like you can wring it’s neck and use every mil of its talents on a good stretch of road.
One thing I must say tho. On the one hand, these cars have been lovely put together and their makers deserve compensation for their hard work, expertise and labour. The other hand is, they are ridiculously expensive. Somehow I just feel cars like these shouldn’t have such price tags. Just always seems a shame that they leave a massive group of loyal enthusiasts completely out of the picture. I mean i kno it’s bespoke central but going on close to half a mil is ridiculous to say the least. I’m certain I kno not what I am talking about with regards but I feel like these should come in round the ton fifty mark. Still out of reach for most but a way more realistic dream none the less.
Eitherway, I’m not complaining and am certainly glad that these machines exist. Love the Colin Chapmen ethos here too! What with the light and relatively underpowered cars absolutely showing the most powerful machine a clean pair of heels! 💥🚗😊
The Alfaholics GTA-R is taken to great extremes. When all the carbon fibre panels and billet titanium bits are taken into account, then it's always going to add up to a hefty amount. You can get a taste of the enjoyment from a tuned up GT Junior- even 130bhp in a sub ton car is still fun- about MX5 levels.
I know it's not real life, but the '65 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA in Forza 7 when "modified" properly is the BEST handling and most fun to drive car in the entire game (834 cars). It's like driving a live wire. So light, trigger quick response and beautifully balanced. It's telepathic and addictive. Forza really does capture how cars behave in real life, most of the time anyway.
Wow that Alfa is just such a sweet package! So pure and focused, light weight and that engine and noise! Would love to drive one!
I have been waiting for years for a video like this. I have been to the Alfaholics works a few year back, and all of us visitors were like kids in a sweet shop. I would love to see a video of one of their more recent creations with all the bells and whistles!
It's brilliant in there isn't it. I think Max's car here is the development car so has all the latest upgrades!
@@AshrafonCars I did a video on their open day about two years ago. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. One of the many things I'm intregued about is their power steering that works at slow speeds only.
@@henryhol8538 I've seen it, very nicely done! Strong views too 👍
@@AshrafonCars Many thanks, we are all looking forward to the next video on your Lancia, the last of the overengineered era being championed by J Leno. I'm also wishing to you sucess finding a Fiat 850 coupe to drive.
@@henryhol8538 glad to hear - the Fulvia is getting it's rolling road tune up soon! Struggling to find an 850, but a very generous owner is letting me drive his BMW E9 for a review, which should be fun!
Two are sports cars, one is a cruiser......😎
The Alfa is amazing!!
Just FYI, you can get a gt junior around 10k, probably even less if you look around, spend 5k for a really nice paint job and sorting out rust and a 75 engine is around 500 ( but actually even less if you buy them in France).
You can then get lightweight GRP panels made from a guy in the UK, I would expect no more than 3k.
So 10% of the price for 90% of the performance and 100% of the looks...
Oh yeah, absolutely... In a parallel universe twenty years ago... Not in this one... Not today...
@@sbadaro if you look around you can. Look on the French and Dutch websites. I bought 2 75s complete for less than a grand, both of them needed only minor repairs. One of them I've done 40'000km since I bought them.
The thing is, you need to scout the ads daily, because there are still some bargains from people who bought their car a while back and don't feel right asking for silly money like the rest of the advertisers.
If I had the cash, I’d be straight down to alfaholics to put an order in, it’s perfect 👌🏻
All fantastic cars...
But the Jenson has a whiff of a high end Jag and we all know naughty gentlemen cads drive those.
I’d prefer to pull up outside the jazzy club with my bit on the side in the interceptor.
Side burns glued on.
Brilliant. Very enjoyable lads.
That Alfa tho. 😍
Hey guys I live in the States and I would take the little Alfa Romeo in a heartbeat!!! We can't get cars like that over here and it's a crying shame.
Totally the wrong heart for the Jensen. MoPar do a HellCrate that will fit where the old B/RB V8 used to be. "Stiffer dampers" - maybe he means stiffer springs or faster dampers. Still won't change the roll, that's what sway bars do.
Alfa Romeo GTA she from another planet.
Real men drive cars like these. Such charisma! Loved this episode. Thanks!
So long as aforementioned real men have very large bank accounts. hahahahahah
Love the Alfa
Absolutely great episode! Although you can skip the walkie-talkies, as it seems like the old Top Gear.
Alfa for the track, interceptor for the sunday drive and the porsche as a daily.
you just need over 1 million pounds...
Love all three of those. Would have been more interesting if they'd modded a Jensen FF as the 4 wheel drive would improve the handling no end.
I was fortunate to do my apprenticeship at Roger Clark Cars on the Narborough Rd near Leicester. Yes that Roger .
He had a a multi franchise dealership. ( Lotus , Alfa , Jensen , Porsche & Ford )
I was lucky enough to have driven all these cars many times when they were new . Yes I’m old !
Used to get picked up every couple of week by a Jensen manager to bring back a Healey or Intercepter to Narborough. Fond memories!
Loved the Elan Sprint , Intercepter & the Porsche 911 , but at 6ft 3 could never get comfortable in the Alfa GTV . The Sud was fine though .
Don’t laugh but a couple of outstanding cars I drove was a newish Dolomite Sprint , a Fiat 124 special T , oops & a Jag XJ12c in Lilac !
Roger was a wonderful guy !
Great to have James Whale back.
love Tuthill's work, love Alfaholics work!
I love the Alfa and I was fascinated by the Jenson as a kid but I am a 911 guy, I just am.
Very nice video. Difficult choice between the Alfa and the Porsche.
I think I would go for the Porsche, but only I am a 50+ person. If I was 20 years younger I would go for the Alfa. But…. 20 ears ago I didn’t have the money….
Also love to see you are all watch guys. I think I see a Seiko SKX, a TAG Heuer Monaco and a Omege Seamaster. Just guessing….
Love the Alfa and Jensen but for me it has to be the Porsche. My favourite
The Jensen definitely needs an understated road/track button to switch between modes.
Love this video! Sod all the new Ev’s that seem to dominate these days - just listing to those three is awesome! Thanks lads!
Twin cam, inline-4 on ITBs or carbs is my favourite engine note of the lot. (Edit: and I don't mean just these 3)
The Jenson has that AMC Pacer look from the back 😜
Jensen intercepter.... BAdddAaa BOOOOM BAdddAaa binggggg 🇬🇧🇯🇲❤️💯
how much??????????? blimey. Nice test, would've liked to see a few more tests, maybe a drag-race, brake test etc.
When I See An ALFA Romero go by,I tip My hat. HENRY FORD
Good video. But I wish there was more to it than on track performance - especially for the Jensen! On road test of the civility of use (with the traction on for the Jensen) would have given a more comprehensive review. That would have been a Watch worthy 22-minute review. Also, a less abrupt (sudden and short) conclusion would have gone a long way. Still, keep up the good work!
Insane classics!!!
911 is my favorite one!
I am a 911 guy but in this case I would take the Alfa without even thinking about it.
Jensen sideways - so wrong... and so right!👌
It would have been nice if you had spent a few minutes filming the cars stationary, so that we could appreciate the detail of the restoration.
That Alfa ❤❤❤
A trio of beautiful cars ☺
Alfa Romeo di un altro livello!
jensen is a cool car.I love it
Love the cars but also like their watches! And idea what they're wearing? One is a Tag Monaco but not sure about the other two.
Wow!
This is one of the best comparisons you guys have put out so far!
Can’t help feeling this video could have been done in half the time...?
ALFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !
A bit unfair boys, 2 sports cars and a GT. I'm glad that these cars exist and people ( with enough money) can enjoy them today
That Alfa Romeo tho 😌
all over 300k...even close to 400....nutttttts
Thinking of modern equivalents, Could a Toyota 86 with aftermarket tyres and a supercharger be made to drive as nicely as the Alfa?
I need one of those Alfa's..
That Alfa could do with a longer gear stick.
Yeah, I thought so too. What do reckon, about a foot longer?
Great item thanks
No matter what you say....you will never be able to justify £300,000 for one of those cars. There are guys all over the country building similar cars in their garages for a fraction of a the price of these cars.
True emotive connected drivers cars.... :-) where have they all gone..... almost nothing today.
I am eternally sorry I never bought a little Alfa like that for 350 squid in 1977!
There was a straight and fully sorted Jensen Interceptor on eBay in California a few weeks back. I think they were asking $15K USD. How could you possibly go wrong?
The speaking on radios doesn't work that well, would be better chatting outside the cars before doing the individual in car bits, IMO ofcourse.
911😍
Great stuff
Joyous! Thanks. Not a self-serving vacuous spoilt brat in sight.
Too bad these shops don’t exist across the pond.
this could have been an awesome video in the right hands. Good video over all. The alfa wins for me
Magic!
Alfa Romeo marketing department should really have a look a this comment section 🍀
It all comes down to chassis dynamics vs horsepower. In Australia we have the V8 Supercars racing series, where they put that same LS in a lighter, more modern chassis, and one of those cars would have left this trio for dead. But I do like that Alfa, good combo of horsepower and roadholding. The Porsche would have cleaned up with one of the uprated turbo engines, but overall held up well despite its lack of horsepower.
The Alfa would murder your V8 on a twisty track no matter what you do lol.
Just a thought, can’t you all just merge your phone calls on your mobiles, put on loudspeaker mode, and stick them in a cradle ?
I know the cars are classic but walkie talkies ?
What century you living in 🙄
They are lovely cars, but I dont get the star ship prices. I know a lot of time has gone into a already rare vehicle. But still I am sure you would appreciate it more if you took a good classic car. Shoe horned in a tasty large crate motor and modern brakes and suspension, did the work yourself where possible. Done yourself to your own spec you would save a fortune. I have done the sums on the jenson. Even using a mint base car a d a new ls6 motor with a 6 speed zf corvette box its a third of the cost doing it yourself. And it would be a more personal vehicle to you
Dreamcars 👍
Absolutely pissed out of their brains on these prices. American restomods are so affordable. A lot of liberty being taken on toffs wallets!
piffiiiiiiit Comapnies that specialize mainly in old 911s don’t count.
I’m having difficulty getting past the fact that the Jensen has been fitted with a Chevy motor and not a Chrysler V8 as per original. Needs a Dodge Demon engine...
HellCrate delivery is required 😀
LSA has a alluminum block offsets the supercharger wieght, mabye a naturally aspirated Chrysler V8.
C7 GT1, well, compared to the original ‘iron boat anchor’ of an engine, anything would be an improvement......
What..??
No 510..?
Well, I would consider Jensen by numbers, Alfa by sound but in reality 911 what I would actually buy...
Surprised the 911 hasn't had its engine reimagined as well as the rest of the car. Seems like a let down me mechanically speaking in general
175 hp from that beetle.????? 😃😃😃😃
Price isn’t really an issue with these resto cars - the people paying that monstrous price already have 10 cars in the garage, meaning it’s just a project car for big wallets
Hideous price for these restomods at £300k + each. You'd get just as much feel and feel good buying original, authentic versions of the same in absolutely mint condition for 20% of the price the greedy buggers are asking for these...oh and need I point out that from an investment perspective, an authentic original will far more likely appreciate in value than one of these mongrels?...I would wager the value of these cars are more likely to drop when sold pre-owned. So personally, I fail to see the appeal of these cars.
I think the only company who may be able to legitimize what they are doing from an engineering perspective are Singer. They have arguably succeeded where these have not. This is because rather than rehashing parts of the originals, they have brought something unique to the fore.
You cant afford it, we get it. 300k is chump change for some
@@mitchbuchannon6637 Oh certainly, there will be idiots out there with 300k to burn. Are you one them?
I agree, you could build yourself for a third the price even if you outsourced all of the work. A full logbooked MK 2 escort rally car costs around £75,000 to build, even with a £30000 engine.
Yes, the price. I could build any of these for a third of the price, even if I outsourced all of the work.
Please rush me details of your cut-price titanium and carbon fibre suppliers!
At those prices you might as well save up and invest your money and get a Singer Porsche.
What no drag race? 🙄
And Eagle SpeedsterJaguar ?
The first thing I'd do with a Jensen is REPLACE THE ENTIRE FREAKING SUSPENSION. They were awful around turns.
For 350K you can get a Singer 911
julian pierce you could, just depends on if you like a reskinned 964 or a more original experience.
Alan Bowers a Singer 911 is much more than just a re-skinned 964
julian pierce there’s a lot that goes into it, but still a 964 base. This is a massaged and fettled original and has all the character and nuance that originals bring.
The Tuthills were and are involved in the chassis development of the Singer 911 anyway. Yes the Singer is 964 based.. but the Tuthills are one of the finest and most experienced companies in fettling and modifying Porsches.
@@byronmills5952 exactly, simply a case of different strokes.
JUST BUY THE MORGAN!
take the Alfa all day long.
That Alfa, I recon, puts all these modern six hundred horsepower monsters we have today, to absolute shame in the fun department. And we know it puts them to shame on design and cool factor. It's quite a pity that all the technological evolution we've experienced since the release of cars like the Alfa have, ironically, led to inferior sports cars.
Whaat? £300K to £400K?....strictly for rich cranks at that price.