Tag Archives: Coupé

Minivan Pillarless Coupé – Renault Avantime

They say fortune favours the brave, unfortunately the brave fall over every once in a while before they find success if they survive long enough at all.

Renault Avantime_6277sc

Just as Matra had gone out on a limb in 1977 to bring the public the Minivan sized SUV Simca / Talbot Ranchero I looked at last week a concept which Matra later evolved into the Renault Espace minivan in the 1980’s, in 1999 Matra showed a car for a new post minivan market segment which envisaged former minivan customers who’s kids had fled the coop who wanted something minivan sized for the superior view, but with only two doors and 140mph GT performance.

Renault Avantime_6278sc

Patrick le Quément was responsible for the styling, which was loosely based on the upmarket Renault Vel Satis, that featured lots of heat reflecting glass to afford a panoramic view, the complete absence of any B-pillar and double hinged doors that take up less road space than smaller conventional doors when open for ease of entry and egress.

Renault Avantime_6279sc

Initially the Avantime was to be powered by the 3 litre / 183 cui 24 valve 207hp Renault V6, later options included a 2 litre / 122 cui turbo and diesel variants.

Renault Avantime_6280sc

Children were not expected to be carried but the rear features two separate full size seats, instead of the regular bench seat, that are mounted higher than the front seats offering what Renault called “theater seating”.

Renault Avantime_6283sc

The Avantime certainly broke the coupé mold with it’s minivan size, fantastic all round vision and futuristic styling but….

Renault Avantime_6281sc

… it had no competition except from genuine coupés that were smaller, more agile and less quirky to look at, meaning only 8,557 examples were built from 2001 to 2003 and of those only 450 were imported into the UK, much to the disappointment of Matra who called time on their car manufacturing aspirations.

Renault Avantime_6282sc

In light of the vast fleets of highly polished sports minivan sized Chelsea tractors with only one or two occupants one sees flying up and down Britain’s motorways Renault might perhaps have been better aiming the Avantime as an alternative to sports utility vehicle segment.

The Avantime seen in these photographs earlier this year in Ware, Herts is a 3 litre / 183 cui V6 powered model with the 5 speed automatic transmission, it was first registered in the UK on the 2nd of September 2002.

Thanks for joining me on this “Minivan Pillarless Coupé” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Wagon Wednesday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Something Yet Everything – Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé

The “something” that was “everything” that the Chrysler marketing department believed was never to be sensed or enjoyed in any other car….

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

…. was Chrysler engineering which excelled in 1930 when the 70 and 77 models were introduced.

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

The 77 was available with nine body options, including the Royal Coupé seen here, which were described in the companies marketing campaign as being of “dreadnought construction”.

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

To put the battleship construction into the guaranteed 77 mph performance arena Chrysler were among the pioneers who used of down draught carburetors ….

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

… and a cam driven fuel pump to replace the gravity flow vacuum fuel tank to improve fuel distribution to the 4.4 litre / 268 cui 93 hp straight six engine.

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

A “Multi Range” 4 speed gearbox was used to “out-distance all attempts to equal Chrysler performance.”

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

Further superior engineering was evidenced by the standard “weatherproof hydraulics” for the braking system and a handy brake fluid resevoir mounted conveniently on the engine firewall.

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

The other 8 body styles offered for the 77 Series were Business Coupé, Convertible Coupé, Crown Coupé, Crown Sedan, Phaeton, Roadster, Royal Sedan and Town Sedan.

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

A new Royal Coupé would cost an owner $1725 excluding all extra’s which included a novel electrical option radio for which the wiring was factory fitted.

Chrysler 77 Royal Coupé, Ken Thompson, 2014 Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

The example seen in these photo’s owned by Ken Thompson was first registered in the UK on the 3rd of June 1930.

Thanks for joining me on this “Something Yet Everything” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Parisian Show Car – Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé #0295EU

Visitors to the 1953 Paris Motor Show will have no doubt been impressed by the sight of today’s featured Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé #0295EU.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

#0295EU has the lowest chassis number of any 250 Europa and is one of only two such chassis with a Vignale Coupé body the other being #0313EU which I looked at a couple of years ago.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

After the 1953 Paris show #0295EU was shipped to the USA where at some as yet unspecified date in the 1950’s race car driver George Reed from Midlothian, Illinois who ran RRR Motors, Reed’s Race Rats, which dealt in Ferrari’s and later Shelby Cobra’s acquired the car.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

By 1971 Gilbert Walton in Danville California acquired the #0295 and to date became it’s longest custodian, in 1986 Crockett Auto Restoration commenced a four year restoration.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

More recently Kentucky property developer Kevin D Cogan became the custodian of the car and he appears to have been the first owner to take #0295EU to a Concours D’Elegance event entering it a Pebble Beach in the Ferrari Grand Touring Class earlier this year.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

#0295 is seen in these photographs back in it’s spiritual home town Danville where the car won the Award of Excellence at the 2015 Danville Concours d’Elegance.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs taken at Danville Concours d’Elegance.

Thanks for joining me on this “Parisian Show Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the last in the current series on Chevron’s. Don’t forget to come back now !

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For Mature Audiences – Plymouth GTX

The second generation “Gentleman’s Muscle Car” Plymouth GTX was introduced just one year after the first in 1968 and remained in production until 1970.

Plymouth GTX, Goodwood Revival,

The GTX was offered with either a Coupé or Convertible body though the latter was deleted after only 701 were built in 1969.

Plymouth GTX, Goodwood Revival,

New for 1969 were optional functional “Air Grabber” bonnet / hood scoops for the 4 barrel carburetor 440 7.2 litre “Super Commando” V8 which produced 375hp.

Plymouth GTX, Goodwood Revival,

Other goodies included a Hirst Shifter “so you spend less time going through the gears”, heavy duty radiator with viscous drive fan so “more power ends up at the wheels” and a Sure-Grip differential for “maximum traction”.

Plymouth GTX, Goodwood Revival,

The contemporary ads for the GTX suggested that’s it’s customers liked “the beach in spring. The Strip. Miniskirts. Neat cars. Blood rare steaks.” and “Things like that” with the strap line “Suggested for mature audiences.

Plymouth GTX, Goodwood Revival,

The GTX, like the 1969 example seen in these photographs taken at Goodwood Revival, was built alongside the similar but less well appointed, lighter and cheaper Road Runner, the convertible version of which made the production of the GTX convertible superfluous.

Thanks for joining me on this “For Mature Audiences” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Scoop & Simple Grill Coupé – Mercedes Benz 300 SLR #no.7

When Mercedes Benz told it’s drivers of the companies plans to return to sports car racing in 1955 with a gull wing bodied version of the W196 R formula one car the drivers were horrified and objected to the idea of sitting in a closed cockpit behind a formula one engine because the noise and heat would be difficult to endure over the longer races such as the 10 hour Mille Miglia where no driver change was permitted or the Le Mans 24 hours where two drivers were permitted.

As a consequence Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut furnished his team with the 300 SLR Roadsters that would become the über successful World Sportscar Championship winning cars during a season in which the most famous win was that of Stirling Moss and his co driver Denis Jenkinson on the Mille Miglia.

Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Coupé. Goodwood Festival of Speed

During the course of the 1955 season nine 300 SLR’s were built and two of them today’s featured chassis, which I believe is, #no.7 and #no.8 were built with Coupé bodies on the orders of Rudolf.

The two Coupés differ in detail with #no.7 having a squared scoop on the top of the bonnet that does not feature on #no.8, #no.7 also has a much simpler grill decoration, which possibly backs up Mercedes claim that the company was interested in exploring the idea of developing a Gull Wing Coupé for the 1956 season, regardless of the team drivers objections, before the companies plans changed in light of the tragedy at Le Mans in 1955.

Mercedes Benz 300 SLR Coupé. Goodwood Festival of Speed

I believe the 176mph 300 SLR Coupé Rudolf Uhlenhaut used as his personal transport was #no.8.

Thanks for joining me on this Scoop & Simple Grill edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Pull Up Two The Bumpers – Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé #0257EU

At the end of 1952 Vignale started producing it’s definitive 2 bumper coupé bodies designed by Giovanni Michelotti for the 116 mph Ferrari 212 Inter.

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

It is believed no more than six of these twin bumper 212 Inters were produced from a total of 26 Vignale bodied 212 Inters and that today’s featured #0257EU was the first chassis to be so futuristically equipped,

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

This particular car was initially sold in 1953 to a Turin dealer called Fontanella who exhibited it at the Concorso d’Eleganza San Remo the following year.

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Later in 1954 Luigi Chinetti sold #0257EU to paper product tycoon Robert C. Wilke of Milwaukee who was president of Leader Card Inc who would become a well known sponsor of Indy cars.

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The cars engine block is believed to have been replaced twice, first due to a crack that developed and secondly after a mechanic who over torqued the heads causing the studs to be pulled from the second block.

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The car resided in the United States until 1979 when it was acquired by a Belgian who kept it until 2006 when it returned to the United States.

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

In 2009 Michael Green in Texas bought #0257EU and the original engine block from John Hadjuk in Indiana whom he entrusted with the mechanical restoration of the car while Gassman Automotive in Waynesboro Virginia took care of the rest.

Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupé, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Mr Green sold the car for just over US$1.7 million including buyers premium at Scottsdale in January 2014 and it is my understanding that the car, seen at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July this year, is being offered for sale again by Tom Hartley Jnr £POA.

Thanks for joining me on this “Pull Up Two The Bumpers” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Chevron. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Presidential Speed King – Renault 40CV NM Montlhéry Coupé

The Renault 40CV was launched in 1911 powered by a 7.6 litre / 460 cui straight six and could be ordered with either an 3.6m / 11′ 9″ or 3.9m / 12′ 9″ chassis.

Renault 40CV Montlhéry Coupé, Jean-Louis Pichafroy, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

With the introduction of the 40CV Type HF in August 1920 the engine was upgraded to a 9.1-litre 9,120 cc / 557 cui straight six.

Renault 40CV Montlhéry Coupé, Jean-Louis Pichafroy, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

From 1920 to 1928 the Renault 40CV replaced the Panhard 20CV as the French Presidential vehicle of choice.

Renault 40CV Montlhéry Coupé, Jean-Louis Pichafroy, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

François Repusseau drove a 40CV to victory in the 1925 Monte Carlo Rally and the following year a vehicle similar to today’s featured 40CV MN was modified and fitted with a single seat Coupé body and taken to the Montlhéry Oval outside Paris for a record braking 24 hour run.

Renault 40CV Montlhéry Coupé, Jean-Louis Pichafroy, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Facilitated by a pit crew of 14 who could complete a pit stop including changing all four tyres in 50 seconds every hour and a team of unnamed drivers the 40CV set a new 50 mile average speed record of 190.013 kmh / 118 mph and a 24 hour record of 173.649 kmh / 107.9 mph, by comparison the fastest average speed on the road course at Le Mans for the 24 hours race in 1926 was just 106.35 kph / 66 mph set by Robert Bloch and André Rossignol in their 3.4 litre / 207 cui Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6.

Jean-Louis Pichafroy is seen at the wheel of an exact replica of the 40CV MN Montlhéry Coupé, built in the 1970’s by Renault, at last years Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Thanks for joining me on this Presidential Speed King edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be revisiting the Monterey Rolex Reunion. Don’t forget to come back now !

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