Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Ribble Colani GT

  1. #1

    Ribble Colani GT

    Not really sure whether this is a 'beautiful' or and 'ugly'! (It's not my sort of styling) BUT here's a company that wants you to take an unsuspecting VW Beetle and turn it into something wacky, uncomfortable and impractical - where have we met that concept before?

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ribble-Colani ... 33806c70ac

    Good job it doesn't need and IVA with decapitate you at will perspex windscreen, headlights as low or lower than the Nova, and a three part GRP body shell with metal frames for £3,400....... I guess ease of build would be the major attraction?
    It's a 52 year old car and everything works, just not always at the same time.......and it's probably about to get jealous!
    *Donate to Euro-Nova today!*

  2. #2
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter*** Spacenut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    5,744

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    I guess you can register the car as a re-bodied Beetle to avoid IVA.

    My rather dog-eared copy of Hans Neubar's "VW Beetle and Derivates" (Beaulieu Books, 1978) had a picture of the Colani GT which I used to lust after (front three-quarter view, low down, it looked stunning). No details of course, but the example in the book had an aerodynamic roll-over bar with RS badges on, so I guessed a Porsche engine...

    Not sure about the claim (made by Colani himself) that the GT was the first proper "kit car", as limited production fibreglass bodies had been made in the 1950s by the likes of Spohn, Aldoff-Plastic, Devin etc., but it may well have been the first to be built in serious numbers. Still has a strong following in Germany, where they do all sorts of strange things...

    http://zumann.com/data_images/posts/col ... -gt-10.jpg

    Unfortunately, at the end of the day the spindly wheels, shallow body and sharply cut-off tail didn't do it any favours, and my attention was drawn to the more exotic machines in the book (Nova, Futura and the Brubaker Box...)

    My personal preference would have been a replica of the Colani GT2, but I know that the styling also divides opinion. Each to their own I suppose... Nevertheless, I wish the Ripple effort every success!

    Lauren
    only Pythagoras can save me now!

  3. #3

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    Could be worse , according to today's paper Wil.I.am ( whoever that is) has spent £200,000 converting a VW. Beetle into one hideous looking automobile. Beauty in the eyes of the beholder.........I think not, should have gone to specsavers. Must be nice to have money??????????
    Phi 1.618 is more universal than pi 3.142

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    NSW, Oz
    Posts
    2,203

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    The Colani isn't that bad a looking car, but there are better looking cars, and kit cars, out there. And I to would love a Brubaker Box.

    As for Wil.I.Am and his custom Bettle...


  5. #5
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter*** Spacenut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    5,744

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    Doesn't do it for me I'm afraid
    only Pythagoras can save me now!

  6. #6

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    Nor me, but £200,000 if what they say is true, he needs his bumps feeling as they say up north
    Phi 1.618 is more universal than pi 3.142

  7. #7

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    Oops, got it wrong again dad, apparently it cost $900,000, even more ludicrous, going to have to increase my work charges, obviously I don't charge enough.
    Phi 1.618 is more universal than pi 3.142

  8. #8
    Senior Member bushboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Grays Essex
    Posts
    2,456

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    RE William,
    More money than taste & common decency.

    bushboy
    "Always do what you are afraid to do"
    "I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying"

  9. #9

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    Paint the Colani thing pink and it reminds me of Penelope Pitstop's car with the forced curves



    Maybe adding a parasol would double as rollover protection?

    Colani's stuff leaves me scratching my head that he is taken so seriously as a designer. Having said that this is the most acceptable thing he has done, presumably before 60s drug culture kicked in!

  10. #10

    Re: Ribble Colani GT

    Looks like the love child between our Vokaro:



    and our old Invader GT:




    I love some of Colani's ideas... this isn't one of them. Plus, I couldn't be seen driving something called a "Ribble".

    "What's it called?
    A Ribble...
    Come again??"

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •