Battle of the Decades - 50th Show Special
About this episode
Celebrating their 50th episode, Max and Matt dive into a lively debate about the best classic car decade between the 1950s and 1990s. They explore iconic models like the Jaguar XK120, Healey 100, Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, and Citroën DS, highlighting the charm and challenges of 1950s cars—beautiful yet often difficult to drive. The hosts share personal anecdotes, discuss design influences, and set the stage for comparing subsequent decades, blending humor with deep automotive appreciation.
We’ve got to 50! After two years of arguing, somehow Max and Matt have made it to FIFTY episodes! Blimey. To celebrate, they're finally getting a divorce. Only joking! They're having a super extra special high octane heated debate on what's the BEST decade for classic cars? It's an extended edition of The Tyre Kickers as a special punishment beating for you, our loyal listener, who has stuck with us through lots of torrid nonsense and the occasional laugh. Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoy it. Spoiler alert - we may finally agree on something!
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classic cars
"This is The Tire Kickers, classic car chat with Max and Matt."
Classic cars are old cars that people like because they look cool or are special. They are usually taken care of carefully and can be worth a lot of money.
Classic cars are older vehicles, typically 20 years or older, that are valued for their historical significance, design, and rarity. They often require special maintenance and are popular among collectors and enthusiasts.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
"I don't really agree with that, because look at the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, hand-built British V8, Audi R8, Honda S2000..."
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a fancy British car with a strong engine that makes it fast and fun to drive. People like it because it looks great and is made with a lot of care.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a hand-built British sports car known for its powerful V8 engine and classic grand touring design. It represents a blend of luxury and performance, often appreciated by enthusiasts for its craftsmanship and driving experience.
Honda S2000
"hand-built British V8, Audi R8, Honda S2000, Subaru and Pretzer, WRX, STI, Lotus Elise..."
The Honda S2000 is a small, sporty car that is fun to drive because it can go very fast and turns well. It has a special engine that likes to spin really fast.
The Honda S2000 is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster famous for its high-revving naturally aspirated engine and excellent handling. It is highly regarded among enthusiasts for its driver-focused experience.
Audi R8
"because look at the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, hand-built British V8, Audi R8, Honda S2000..."
The Audi R8 is a fast and powerful car that has its engine in the middle, which helps it drive really well. It also has special all-wheel drive to keep it stable.
The Audi R8 is a mid-engine sports car known for its performance, advanced technology, and quattro all-wheel-drive system. It combines supercar speed with everyday usability, making it popular among enthusiasts.
Audi V8 Audi
"cars after 2000 aren't really classic yet. I don't really agree with that, because look at the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, hand-built British V8, Audi R8, Honda S2000, Subaru and Pretzer, WRX, STI, Lotus Elise, I mean, there's a lot of good cars after 2000. Exactly. No, that's more scratch"
Lotus Elise
"WRX, STI, Lotus Elise, I mean, there's a lot of good cars after 2000."
The Lotus Elise is a small and light sports car that is very fun to drive because it turns really well. It doesn't have a big engine but is made to feel fast and exciting.
The Lotus Elise is a lightweight British sports car known for its exceptional handling and minimalist design. It emphasizes driver engagement over outright power, making it a favorite among purists.
Rover P4
"Yeah, cars like the Mini, Rover P4, Morris Minor, Rolls Royce, Silver Cloud and the Ford Anglia"
The Rover P4 is a fancy British car from the 1950s. It was known for being strong and comfortable, often used by business people.
The Rover P4 is a series of British executive cars produced from 1949 to 1964. Known for their solid build and conservative styling, they were popular luxury cars in the 1950s.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
"Yeah, cars like the Mini, Rover P4, Morris Minor, Rolls Royce, Silver Cloud and the Ford Anglia"
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is a very fancy and expensive car made in the 1950s. People who wanted the best and most comfortable cars often chose it.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is a luxury car produced from 1955 to 1966. It is known for its elegant design, smooth ride, and status as a symbol of wealth and prestige.
Minor Morris Minor
"Yeah, cars like the Mini, Rover P4, Morris Minor, Rolls Royce, Silver Cloud and the Ford Anglia"
The Morris Minor is a small, simple car from Britain made in the 1950s. Many families used it because it was reliable and easy to fix.
The Morris Minor is a British economy car produced from 1948 to 1971. It was known for its simple design, reliability, and popularity as a practical family car.
Ford Anglia
"Yeah, cars like the Mini, Rover P4, Morris Minor, Rolls Royce, Silver Cloud and the Ford Anglia"
The Ford Anglia is a small car made in Britain during the 1950s. It was popular because it was affordable and easy to drive.
The Ford Anglia is a British compact car produced from 1939 to 1967, with the 1950s models known for their distinctive styling and affordability.
Jaguar XK120
"... well as the sporty ones as well, Max. So the Jag XK120, 140, the what, the Triumph TR2, the MGA and the..."
Jaguar XK140
"So the Jag XK120, 140, the what, the Triumph TR2, the MGA and the Austin 80100 as well."
The Jaguar XK140 is a sports car made in the mid-1950s. It looked similar to the XK120 but had some upgrades to make it better to drive.
The Jaguar XK140 is the successor to the XK120, produced from 1954 to 1957. It featured improvements in comfort and performance while maintaining the classic sports car styling.
Triumph TR2
"So the Jag XK120, 140, the what, the Triumph TR2, the MGA and the Austin 80100 as well."
The Triumph TR2 is a small sports car from the 1950s. It was fun to drive and not too expensive for a sports car.
The Triumph TR2 is a British sports car produced from 1953 to 1955. It was known for its affordability and sporty driving experience.
aerodynamics
"Well, I suppose a lot of that aircraft design from the Second World War was left over, wasn't it? So lots of people took the kind of aerodynamics that they thought worked because it wasn't properly tested and stuck it out."
Aerodynamics is about how air moves around a car. Cars shaped well can go faster and use less fuel.
Aerodynamics refers to how air flows around a vehicle, affecting its speed, fuel efficiency, and stability. Early car designs sometimes borrowed from aircraft shapes to improve airflow.
spats
"And it still does. This one's got spats. It's just got that aerodynamic styling."
Spats are like little covers that go over the back wheels of a car to make it look smoother and help it move through the air better.
Spats are covers over the rear wheels of a car that improve aerodynamics and give a streamlined appearance, commonly seen on classic cars.
Land Rover Series
"...it's a bit like that series Landrovis, you know, I just love them. But every time I get into behind the wheel, I kind of think, oh, yeah, it's not quite as nice as it looks."
Land Rover Series are old, tough off-road vehicles that look cool but can feel slow and clunky to drive, kind of like a big bus.
The Land Rover Series refers to the original line of off-road vehicles produced by Land Rover from 1948 to 1985, known for their ruggedness and utilitarian design but often criticized for their basic and bus-like driving experience.
Gullwing doors
"What about that Mercedes with the flappy doors? Well, exactly. I think this has got to be the most beautiful car of the 1950s, the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing... But surely the Gullwing doors make this one of the most iconic cars ever. It's up on your screen now with the Gullwing doors up"
Gullwing doors are special car doors that open up instead of out, like wings. They look cool and are found on some fancy cars.
Gullwing doors are car doors hinged at the roof rather than the side, opening upwards resembling a seagull's wings. They are iconic and rare, often associated with high-end or classic sports cars like the Mercedes 300 SL.
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes 300
"...t to be the most beautiful car of the 1950s, the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, the world's first production car wit..."
fuel injection
"the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, the world's first production car with fuel injection. The designer had had some previous experience on the model called the Meshesmith Bf109, I think."
Fuel injection is a way cars get fuel into the engine more precisely, helping the car run better and use less gas than older methods.
Fuel injection is a system that delivers fuel directly into the engine's combustion chambers or intake manifold, improving fuel efficiency, power, and emissions compared to older carburetor systems.
overdrive
""Not probably, again, not the easiest to live with, you know, they didn't have overdrive, a lot of them.""
Overdrive is a part of the car that helps it use less gas and be quieter when driving fast on highways.
Overdrive is a transmission feature that allows the engine to run at lower RPMs at higher speeds, improving fuel efficiency and reducing engine wear during highway cruising.
Citroën DS
"Over in France, over the channel in 55, they launched a spaceship or a goddess, the DS. So I want to put this in, the Citroën DS. Have a look at this one. I found a Citroën DS Palace. You driven one of these Citroën DSs, and they're an experience, aren't they?"
The Citroën DS is a fancy French car from the 1950s that was really smooth to drive because of special suspension, but its engine wasn’t very strong. It looked very different from other cars at the time.
The Citroën DS is a French luxury car launched in 1955, famous for its futuristic design and advanced technology such as hydropneumatic suspension. It was known for its smooth ride and innovative features but had an underpowered engine compared to its ride quality.
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
"...you waft along, it's kind of probably equal to a Silver Shadow and that kind of perfect ride quality, but just n..."
Mini Cooper
"You've got cars like the Mini Cooper, Renault 4 and Fiat 500, putting ordinary families on the road, simple, cheap and absolutely everywhere."
The Mini Cooper is a tiny car from Britain that was easy to park and fun to drive. Lots of people loved it in the 1960s because it was cool and practical.
The Mini Cooper is a small British car famous for its compact size, nimble handling, and success in motorsports during the 1960s. It became a symbol of urban mobility and style.
Renault 4
"You've got cars like the Mini Cooper, Renault 4 and Fiat 500, putting ordinary families on the road, simple, cheap and absolutely everywhere."
The Renault 4 is a small French car that was easy to use for everyday family needs. It was simple and reliable for many years.
The Renault 4 is a French economy car produced from 1961 to 1992, known for its practicality, simple design, and versatility as a family car.
Fiat 500
"You've got cars like the Mini Cooper, Renault 4 and Fiat 500, putting ordinary families on the road, simple, cheap and absolutely everywhere."
The Fiat 500 is a tiny Italian car that was easy to drive in cities and very affordable. Lots of people used it for everyday trips.
The Fiat 500 is a small Italian city car introduced in 1957, known for its compact size and affordability, becoming an icon of Italian automotive design.
Lotus Elan
"Then came the cool stuff, the Jagi type, the Porsche 911, MGB, Alpha Spyder, Lotus Elan, and Triumph TR4."
The Lotus Elan is a small British sports car that was very light and easy to drive fast around corners. It was special because it handled so well.
The Lotus Elan is a British lightweight sports car from the 1960s, praised for its sharp handling and innovative design, influencing many sports cars after it.
Triumph TR4
"Then came the cool stuff, the Jagi type, the Porsche 911, MGB, Alpha Spyder, Lotus Elan, and Triumph TR4."
The Triumph TR4 is a sporty British car from the 1960s that looked good and was fun to drive. It was popular among people who liked classic cars.
The Triumph TR4 is a British sports car produced in the 1960s, known for its stylish design and strong performance for the era.
Porsche 911
"Then came the cool stuff, the Jagi type, the Porsche 911, MGB, Alpha Spyder, Lotus Elan, and Triumph TR4."
The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car from Germany that looks unique and is very fast. It has a special engine in the back and is loved by car fans.
The Porsche 911 is a legendary German sports car introduced in 1964, known for its distinctive design, rear-engine layout, and strong performance, becoming a benchmark for sports cars.
Aston Martin DB5
"...ill stop people in their tracks, the Aston Martin Db5, the Lamborghini Mura, the Ford Mustang and Roll..."
Ford Mustang
"...Aston Martin Db5, the Lamborghini Mura, the Ford Mustang and Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. The 60s feel like ..."
Ferrari 250 GTO
"...art at the top, and I think probably Ferrari, the 250 GTO, lots of race pedigree, 26 built, now over, what..."
Alfa Romeo Spider
"... cars. And I probably would have gone for an Alfa Spider Max as well for the 60s. I mean, both you and I ..."
Jaguar Etype
"still pull the crowd to car meets. They are probably the most iconic designed classic car. And that is the i-set. No, it's not. It's the Jaguar E-Type. It's the Jaguar E-Type. You can't beat an E-Type, can you? I mean, this one's just popped up on the"
Ferrari Dino
"...I've said before on this podcast, but I think the Ferrari Dino 246 is the world's prettiest car, and I'd probab..."
Ford Anglers
"...nd things like that. I mean, they were, you know, Ford Anglers. There were loads and loads of runabout cars. An..."
Lamborghini Miura
"...he other 60s designs you think about. Lamborghini Miura. Well, that was our price for most people. Ford ..."
Ford Cortina
"...le survival and full blown swagger. Cars like the Cortina Mark 3, the Austin Agro, VW Golf, Renault 5, the..."
Volkswagen Golf
"...ars like the Cortina Mark 3, the Austin Agro, VW Golf, Renault 5, they all became everyday transport ac..."
Citroen Sm
"...ack, they've been a bit more ridiculous. But the Citroen SM was ridiculous as well, a bit like flares. But it..."
Alfa Romeo Gtb
"...ly 70s. 1971, I think it was, this is 73 version, Alfa Romeo GTB 2000. So it's the coupé. This one's in sort of a..."
Land Rover Range Rover
"...n this is the antidote. This is a 1972 Land Rover Range Rover Suffix A. So this is the first Range Rover, the ..."
SUV
"This is the mother and father of all SUVs. I know the Jeep Wagon Air came first. But I think this is actually what encapsulated what an SUV should be and is about."
SUV means a type of car that can carry people comfortably and also drive on rough roads or off-road. The Range Rover was one of the first cars like this.
SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle, a type of car designed to combine passenger comfort with off-road capability. The Range Rover Suffix A is considered one of the earliest examples that defined what an SUV should be.
3.5-litre V8
"Fantastic 3.5-litre V8, pretty crummy gearbox, which is really whiny, but a great design."
The 3.5-litre V8 is the engine in the Range Rover that makes the car go. It has eight cylinders and is a bit big, giving the car good power but the gearbox can be noisy.
The 3.5-litre V8 engine in the early Range Rover is a petrol engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape and a displacement of 3.5 liters. It provides strong power for the vehicle but is paired with a gearbox that is considered noisy and less refined.
Lotus Esprit
"...ren't they? You know, they're more like the Lotus Esprit. They're more like, you know, that fat wedge, yo..."
Jaguar XJ6
"...'s a big butch cars. They're more like the Jaguar XJ6. Those are 70s cars, aren't they? Did you mentio..."
Alfa Romeo GTV
"... designs that were beautiful and like that Alpha GTV was a delicate looking car. This is a thug of a c..."
Marina Morris Marina
"... though, is the old parts bin problem of the 70s. Morris Marina door handles, Sherpa indicators on a cool sports..."
Pontiac Transam
"...American cars, you know, they had in the 70s the Pontiac Transam that's smoky in the bandit, the Stardyn smoky in ..."
Chevrolet Corvette
"...bout American cars, look at the evolution of the Corvette by the time it got to the 70s. That was another b..."
Ford Capri
"...e that gave us turbo lag, big body kits for base capris and the Peugeot 205 GTI. Yes, because if 70s cars..."
Peugeot 205
"...turbo lag, big body kits for base capris and the Peugeot 205 GTI. Yes, because if 70s cars were butch and chao..."
Peugeot 205 GTI
"...g, big body kits for base capris and the Peugeot 205 GTI. Yes, because if 70s cars were butch and chaotic,..."
Ford Sierra
"...hing up and added a turbo. Everyday cars like the Ford Sierra, Austin Metro, VW, Golf Mark II and 205 were sha..."
turbo
"the 80s felt like someone had tidied everything up and added a turbo."
A turbo is a part that helps a car's engine make more power by pushing more air into it.
A turbocharger is a device that forces extra air into an engine's combustion chamber, increasing power output without increasing engine size.
hot hatch
"But then came the heroes, the hot hatches and poster cars that defined a generation."
A hot hatch is a small car with a back door that opens up, but it's also fast and fun to drive.
A hot hatch is a high-performance version of a hatchback car, combining practicality with sporty handling and power.
Lancia Delta
"... front-wheel drive became the Quattro, the Lancia Delta went to the Intergrale. Yeah. You know, even the..."
Audi Quattro
"...he two-wheel drive, front-wheel drive became the Quattro, the Lancia Delta went to the Intergrale. Yeah. ..."
Ferrari Testarossa
"...80s icon. And that was on Miami Vice, the Ferrari Testarossa, 12 cylinders. Now, you're always going to be ha..."
Mazda Flair
".... But it was, it had style. It had real style and flair. But again, it comes about to your point. It's a..."
Ford Mondeo
"...ng everything in the oven. Everyday cars like the Ford Mondeo, the Vauxhall Vectra, VW Golf Mark III and the R..."
Renault Clio
"...o, the Vauxhall Vectra, VW Golf Mark III and the Renault Clio, they were all round sensible and as bad as excit..."
Subaru Impreza
"...ough was a different story. You've got the Subaru Impreza, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, the BMW M3, the Pors..."
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
"...y. You've got the Subaru Impreza, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, the BMW M3, the Porsche 911, 964 and then the 99..."
Mercedes-Benz Sclass
"not just something for sunny Sunday country lanes. Meanwhile, at the top end, luxury cars, you had the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, the Range Rover P38. They're all aiming for tech and comfort over glamour with so-so visual results. I mean, some are magnificent, others look like"
V8 engine
"It's got a beautiful engine in the V8 and then they put a V12 in it."
A V8 engine is a type of car engine with eight cylinders that helps the car go fast and have a lot of power.
A V8 engine is an internal combustion engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V configuration. It is known for producing strong power and torque, commonly used in performance and luxury cars.
V12 engine
"It's got a beautiful engine in the V8 and then they put a V12 in it."
A V12 engine is a bigger and more powerful engine with twelve cylinders, making the car very smooth and strong.
A V12 engine has twelve cylinders arranged in a V shape, offering very smooth power delivery and high performance. It is often found in high-end luxury and sports cars.
Ferrari F355
"...his. It's on your screen now. It's a 1995 Ferrari F355. Now these came after the 348, which is pretty u..."
Porsche 944
"...pooning through, you've got a Rover 100, Porsche 944, super impressed that we talked about, Saab 900, ..."
Jaguar Xjs
"...e W124 is still a bit of a blam, isn't it? Yeah, Jaguar XJS is. They're still kicking around in the 90s. Oh,..."
Renault Clio Williams
"... Jaguar XK, something just quite boring. Renault Clio Williams 95 again. Yeah, a shopping car with, you know, st..."
Lamborghini Diablo
"...'m trying to freshen up the 60s car. Lamborghini Diablo Roadster, 474,000. Kind of irrelevant for us, isn..."
Toyota MR2
"...Don't know what that looks like. Oh, it's like an MR2. Oh, right, okay. But I'm clicking through and a..."
Morgan Plus
"... Oh, right, okay. But I'm clicking through and a Morgan plus eight, but that's an old design, isn't it? Yeah,..."
Porsche 968
"...ted about particularly, was it? And then Porsche 968, you know, it's just nothing. Yeah, but kind of ..."
Datsun 240Z
"... from the 70s, but that was a 60s car. That's in 240z. We didn't mention that, but we did a few episode..."
Ferrari 308 GTB
"...arossa is the car of the 80s from Miami Vice. The 308 GTB was the car from the 70s, and that was in Magnum..."
Lamborghini Countache
"...dbye. Excess was back on the menu. Cars like the Lamborghini Countache, they grew wings, they got loud and shouted succ..."
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