mercmad
Posted a lot
Flush Hard,it's a long way to McDonalds.
Posts: 1,740
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Last Edit: Jun 3, 2006 13:00:21 GMT by mercmad
Many years ago I changed my driving style to cope with rising fuel prices; I have now reached the stage where I am contemplating keeping my eyes shut in order to lower wind resistance.
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I wondered where you had got to, you crazy Aussie bar steward! Have you updated us with pictures of your Merc about to hit the tarmac?
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Skyline: 1963 - 1973 - 1983 Sunny: 1982 450SLC: 1973 Navara: 1992 Gloria: 1992
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Cool pics. Always liked the looks of the gemini. Is this a Holden commodore?
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It is indeed, a VK Commodore.
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Skyline: 1963 - 1973 - 1983 Sunny: 1982 450SLC: 1973 Navara: 1992 Gloria: 1992
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Great pics! Are non-rusty Kadett C - type Geminis still fairly common over there? Thought about emigrating to NZ or maybe Australia a while back, the thought of solid Gemini coupes would be a damn good reason to do it....plus Leyland P76s, and all those utes... Probably couldn't convince the missus though!
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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mercmad
Posted a lot
Flush Hard,it's a long way to McDonalds.
Posts: 1,740
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In New Zealand the gemini ewas considered the biggest peice of excrement ever delivered to the green and verdant land....apart from the 1972 (?) Lions Rugby team .But here in OZ,the gemini is the car of choice for many rev heads,the hottest of them having the ubiquitous 4AGE etc .Since their introduction here they have always been popular and theres dozens of them running about,I've even come across the occaisional diesel. Apart from the fact that socceroos wil blitz the cup this month theres little reason to come here.... ;D ;D ;D
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Many years ago I changed my driving style to cope with rising fuel prices; I have now reached the stage where I am contemplating keeping my eyes shut in order to lower wind resistance.
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Saru
Part of things
No Brand Loyalty
Posts: 460
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I will dispute the fact that the hottest Gemini's come with 4AGEs - the hottest ones come with 13bs. Mercmad - we might just have to have a Brisvegas Reto-rides beer at some stage
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1974 Saab 99 EMSI bought a new car. It's 35 years old. My friends said I was mad. We'll see.
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zep
Part of things
Posts: 199
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Mercmad, I must dispute your comments! People over here love the old Geminis (especially the PF50 models), the thing is, we didn't get too many of them and they are very rare to see. Here is an old pic of my coupe that i'm currently working on (owned for a few years): Dosen't have the SSRs any more, but they've gone not far to a friend. Commodore front vented discs + audi calipers, rear Ford falcon discs on a 4.44 ratio hilux LSD 5 speed mated to a worked 1.6 (shortened rods, forged pistons, h/d crank, custom cam, p&p, double valve springs, etc) with a custom high-mount exhaust manifold and a Garrett T3 ball bearing turbo & 2.6litre Rodeo injection gear /w a nice big falcon throttle body, intercooled and nowhere ready to drive at all as none of this is in or going! Hopefully wont be too long tho.
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Last Edit: Jun 6, 2006 2:05:01 GMT by zep
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With regards to the Gemini In Europe we had avaialable the Vauxhall Chevette and Opel Kadet from about 1975 to 1984 approx. I believe there was an American version that was made till 1990 and in Japan I have heard it was sold through Toyota dealerships ...does this mean they had the 4AGE engine in some as standard? A history lesson is what I need here
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zep
Part of things
Posts: 199
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You're right about the Chevette and the Kadett. We got the Chevette here in NZ too. Gemini's never came out in a hatch-back form so we got the Chevette instead. America got a Gemini varient called the I-Mark which was very similar, used the Isuzu G series engine aswell (also in Chevluv trucks etc). They were all brought out under the Isuzu brand, and I think that USA was the last place to still get some of the Isuzu passenger cars (Impluse (Piazza), Storm and one other I think), they seemed to get all the good ones too, turbo 4wd models and such. They also got the Chevy Chevette, built on the same chassis (GM T-Car), and other places such as Brazil got their own varients too. The closest thing to another manufacturer bringing out the Gemini was just rebadging - Subaru legacy (80s), Honda Domani and some others. Toyota never made one (I don't think they are affliaated with GM?? Anyone?) so no, 4AGE was never standard. The best engine the gemini (RWD) got was the G180W, which is an EFI 1.8lt twin cam producing about 97kw I think. These came out in the Gemini ZZ/R and ZZ/T varients, in both coupes and sedans. They also had disc brake rear ends and 4.1 LSDs. So yeah, a few cars built on the GM T-Car platform: Gemini, Chevette, Kadett, Chevy Chevette. All with their own engines (I think the GTE Kadetts had the best ones), gearboxes, diffs and styling. If you want to know more, wikipedia has a good article on the T-Car: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_T-carNEWS FLASH!! Isuzu has just been sold by GM after years of horrid SUV and truck creating slavery!! I have heard rumours that they may be entering back into the passenger car market and even (hopefully!!) bringing out new versions of the Bellett and 117 Coupe - somewhere I read that these may have 250hp v6 engines
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Zep Many thanks for that That is amazing info Only thanks to this forum did I start to realsie that this car was sold in other parts of the world but DID NOT realsie how far and how many models and so on, till now.
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I think there might have been some vague Toyota/GM links in the 80's, wasn't there a Chevy badged Corolla?
Interesting news about Isuzu, there's hope for them at last!
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Toyota and GM had a massive joint venture (called ‘NUMMI’) in the 80’s when Toyota first got into the yank market, GM helped Toyota get established and Toyota helped GM lean up their manufacturing operations, must have been some tech-sharing at the time.
Mega interested to hear that GM has pulled out of Isuzu, I hope they can make it on their own. I bet Saab enthusiasts will be egging them on, as their preferred marquee chugs out similar warmed-over SUV sh1te.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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zep
Part of things
Posts: 199
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If I remember what I was reading, Isuzu may have been bought by Mitsubishi. I'll try and find it to confirm tho. Will post up in a tick.
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zep
Part of things
Posts: 199
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It goes on to say that sources mention a few new cars in the build, and at least one to rival the Celica and another for the NSX!!! Also word on the "New Bellett GTR" which could be similar to the Audi TT. With fender flares and quad head lights (like the original), bonnet creases and even a black bonnet!! It will most likey have a DOHC 2litre with direct injection, but nothing on the driveline yet, lets hope its RWD!! "New 117 Coupe" has also been talked about. Cant say much on the styling but it sounds like it'll be very similar to the old 117, nice! "This vehicle is expected to be rear wheel drive with the 250 HP 6VE1 V6 direct injection engine. This model would be an image car to compete with such cars as the Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX8."
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All sounds freakin great! I hope they've got enough dough in the bank to get cracking on some of that lot.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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the gemini was what i based my isuzu turbo powered kadett project on
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zep
Part of things
Posts: 199
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I'd love to get one of those Kadett front ends on my car! They really look the part, but I'm not sure how much stuff I'd actually need. It's possible that the guards are different. The bonnet looks the same but who knows...
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