Things of beauty – Page 54 – Splendid Isolation

Old And New

January 29, 2019 Kim du Toit Drive Time

I see that Honda’s trying to make a go of the wonderful NSX again. For a refresher, here’s a sample of the previous generation (+/- 1995):

…and the reincarnation thereof:

To probably nobody’s surprise, I think I prefer the lines of the older one: more understated, yet still beautiful — especially compared to the supercars of the late 1990s, e.g. the Lambo Diablo and Ferrari 355:

In fact, given that the Ferrari 355 is generally regarded as one of Maranello’s most beautiful designs, I would suggest that the 1995 NSX compares quite well in the looks department.

The new NSX seems to have gone more towards the dramatic lines of the Diablo (and of most modern supercars, for that matter), which is fine, I guess.

(Note that I’m not talking about performance, here: the 2019 NSX has well over 500hp, the 1995 a mere(!) 340hp or so. Yet I would suggest that for the average, or even above-average sports car driver, 340hp should be more than adequate.)

I just prefer performance cars to look understated rather than being schoolboy racecar-poster types. Once again, this should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody.

And of course, when it comes to reliability, I expect that the new NSX will have a mean time-between-failures rate (MTBF) measured in geological time units, just like its predecessor. And its competitors won’t.

Chippies

January 25, 2019 Kim du Toit Food & Drink

I see that the top 10 list of fish ‘n chip shops in the U.K. has been published. The one I’m going to make a beeline for the next time I’m Over There is Harbor Lights in Falmouth, Cornwall, because of this pic:

Granted, it may have been a promotional gimmick to get that many people to queue up outside the place, but whatever.

All that said, however, I’m still a huge fan of Sharon’s Plaice, in Boscastle, Cornwall:

…because I have never eaten such good fish ‘n chips before, anywhere. And yes, the potatoes are locally-sourced (delivered fresh daily) as is the fish, caught right offshore and brought into the harbor. I hope it survives until my next visit — Boscastle is a small village, and very dependent on tourism to keep its head above water, so any retail establishment there leads a precarious existence (other than the pubs, of course).

And Another Old Friend

January 17, 2019 Kim du Toit Drive Time

I see that Toyota has brought back the Supra, and all I can say is, it’s about damn time.

It’s pretty. isn’t it? The Mail compares it to a Porsche Boxster, and I think it kicks the Krautcar’s ass in the looks department.

I’ve only ever driven one Supra, back in the early 1980s:

..and what I discovered was that it was a beauty: nimble, quick and best of all, it started every time (I’d just come off a Fiat 124 and an Alfa Romeo Giulietta).

Sadly, I’m out of the Supra / sporty car market now — I can’t handle hauling my fat old ass out of these low-slung numbers anymore — but let me tell you…

Beauties And Beasts – 5

December 30, 2018 Kim du Toit Beauty, Drive Time

Once again, I hear the whines: “Oh Kim, those purty lil’ sports cars are fine an’ all… but they’re plain useless if’n you want to haul a load or sump’n. So give us more Murkin eye candy.”

I serve to please: