Tag Archives: Lampredi

Brazilian Power – FIAT 127 1050/CL

In 1971 FIAT launched it’s 127 model which was to replace the 850 that was being phased out of production.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

Initially the 127 was only available as a 2 door a, the hatchback was not introduced until 1972, Spanish built variants with 4 and 5 doors were later marketed under the SEAT and FIAT names.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

Unlike the rear engine rear wheel drive 850 model it replaced the 127 had the Dante Giacosa designed 45hp 903 cc FIAT 100 derived engine first seen in the 1955 FIAT 600 mounted in the front with the transmission driving the front wheels.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

European journalists voted the 127 European Car of the Year in 1972 two years after it’s larger sibling the FIAT 128 had won the same accolade.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

FIAT launched it’s restyled second generation 127 with larger window’s and larger tailgate in May 1977 with the a 50hp 1050cc Brazilian developed and built version of the Aurelio Lampredi designed five bearing OHC FIAT 124 engine offered as an option.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

The Brazilian powered 127 seen in these photograph’s was first registered in the UK on the 22nd of January 1979.

Thanks for joining me on this “Brazilian Power” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a Formula Junior car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Alternative Italian 3 Litre – FIAT 130 Berlina Type B

At the 39th Geneva Motor Show in March 1969 FIAT launched it’s 130 saloon to replace the previous top of the range FIAT 2300 Saloon and Coupé.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

The straight six engine powering the 2300 series FIAT’s was replaced initially by a new 140hp 60° V6 with rubber belt driven twin overhead cam shafts designed by Aurelio Lampredi.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

The 2,866 cc / 174.8 cui engine was quickly modified to produce 160hp, by increasing the compression ratio and the size of the carburetor choke and reducing back pressure by extending the portion of the exhaust manifold that used individual pipes, after criticism the saloon was under powered.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

In 1971 when the Pininfaria designed and built FIAT 130 Coupé was launched the engine power was increased to 165 hp for both 130 models by increasing it’s size to 3,235 cc / 197.4 cui, curiously FIAT resisted ever offering more fuel efficient fuel injection as even an option.

FIAT 130 Berlina Type B, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

Production of the 130 saloon ended in 1976 with just 15,093 units produced, production of the Coupé at Pininfarina lasted until the following year, production of higher end vehicles was strategically left to Lancia within the FIAT group.

Today’s featured 1975 130 Saloon seen at Auto Italia, Brooklands was registered in the UK on the 1st of September 1975.

Thanks for joining me on this “Alternative Italian 3 Litre” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another front engined Formula Junior open wheeler. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Proving The Car’s Strength – FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye

When FIAT bought out Carlo Abarth in July 1971 it was looking for models to compete in the forth coming World Rally Championship that was inaugurated in 1973 with aim of “proving the car’s strength.”

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Abarth who’s reputation was primarily built on racing and hill climbing products was introduced to rallying with a Twin Cam FIAT 125 programme in 1970 and in 1972 the company started building and competing with a competition hardtop version 124 Spyder body, a model launched in 1966, for it’s Rally programme.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Initially the 124 Abarth Rallye was fitted with 1850cc / 112 cui versions of the FIAT four cylinder twin cam designed originally by former Ferrari man who became Abarth’s first President under FIAT management Aurelio Lampredi, a change in rules in 1974 permitted 16 valve heads to be fitted and engine sizes of 1850cc and 1756 cc / 107 cui were used in competition.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Success for the 124 Abarth Rallye included Rafael Pinto’s and Maurizio Verini European Rally Championship wins in 1972 and 1975 respectively, two wins on the Portugese Rally for Rafael in 1974 when he led a Abarth Rallye sweep of the podium positions and for Markku Alen in 1975 who with Ilka Kivimäki in the passenger seat led home 2nd place finishers Hannu Mikkola who was partnered by current president of the FIA Jean Todt.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

FIAT also finished second to Group stable mate Lancia in the 1974 and 1975 World Rally Championships, in all 1,013 hardtop FIAT 124 Abarth Rallyes were built between 1972 and 1975 when the programme was wound up to make way for the World Rally Championship winning FIAT Abarth 131 programme.

Today’s featured Abarth Rallye, appearing with 1981-’82 UK registration plates at Race Retro a few years ago, was originally supplied to a privateer for use in the Italian National Rally Championship, it is currently fitted with an ultimate works spec fuel injected engine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Proving The Car’s Strength” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a one off Formula Junior Car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Sporty Runabout – Fiat 128 Rally

After launching it’s first front wheel drive model the FIAT 128 in 1969 FIAT extended the range with a sporty saloon in 1971 with the introduction of the 128 Rally.

The 2 door only saloon / sedan came with the larger 1290 cc / 78.7 cui version of the Lampredi designed 128 engine tuned to give 67hp.

FIAT 128 Rally, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The front of the sporty runabout featured a pair of modest Rally lights and unique to this edition split front bumpers joined by a thin chrome bar, for any additional ancillary lights that might be required for competition.

Also fitted to the Rally were a set of attractive and purposeful alloy wheels.

FIAT 128 Rally, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The rear bumper curiously remained as per the rest of the 128 range but the Rally did feature a set of recessed rear lights which replaced the standard all in one oblong units.

I suspect much of the FIAT 128 Rally’s circuit competition history has been lost in the midst of time because the model was not differentiated from the regular 128’s in contemporary entry lists.

FIAT 128 Rally, Auto Italia, Brooklands

From the little recorded in the substantial RacingSportsCars.com archive linked here it appeared that the model regularly suffered from gearbox issues.

The example seen in these photo’s at Auto Italia, Brooklands features non standard large rally lights and non standard competition flared wheel arches, it was first registered in the UK on 18th September 1976.

Thanks for joining me on this “Sporty Runabout” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking a GN special called Spider. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Formula One Power – Ferrari 342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet #0234AL

In 1950 Ferrari began building a series of 23 340 America’s powered by his 4.1 litre / 250 cui long block V12’s designed by Aurelio Lampredi initially for Ferrari’s 375 Formula One programme.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

1952 the 342 America was introduced 5 of which were fitted with an improved version 4.1 litre / 250 cui V12 and one, today’s featured chassis #0234 AL, was fitted with 4.5 litre / 274 cui V12 which technically makes it a 375 but for some reason is known as a 342.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

#0234AL has an even chassis number, usually reserved for works team racing cars, as do all the other twenty three 340’s and five 342’s unlike the 11 375 America’s built from 1953 to 1954 which all have the usual odd chassis numbers used for Ferrari road cars.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

On the 6th of November 1952, coincidentally sixty three years ago to the day, chassis #0234AL was delivered to Carrozzeria Pininfarina where the Cabriolet body was fitted.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

In May 1953 King Leopold III. of Belgium took delivery of the car and is believed to have kept it for only two years before selling it to Garage Francorchamps in Brussels, Belgium.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

John Mastroianni of Armonk, NY founder of Auto Torismo Sport now in New Milford Conneticut owned #0234AL from somewhere in the 1960’s to 1998 alongside his 250 GTO and a 500 Superfast and numerous other desirable vehicles mostly of Italian origin.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

#0234AL has resided in California since October 1998 and has won numerous awards at Concours d’Elegance events ever since.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs of #0234AL taken at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance earlier this year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Formula One Power” edtion of “Getin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Chevron. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Formula One Cabriolet – Ferrari 342 America, Vignale Cabriolet, #0232AL

Between late 1952 and early 1953 Ferrari built six 342 America chassis powered by a 200hp 4.1 litre / 341 cui version of Ferrari’s latest atmospheric induction V12 designed by Aurelio Lampredi and raced with success in the Ferrari 375 Formula One cars.

Ferrari 342 America Vignale, Blackhawk Museum

Five of the 342 chassis went to Pininfarina where 3 were fitted with coupé bodies and two with cabriolet bodies, the first chassis #0232AL, featured in today’s photographs by Geoffrey Horton taken at the Blackhawk Museum, was sent to Vignale where it was fitted with a cabriolet body.

Ferrari 342 America Vignale, Blackhawk Museum

Upon completion Herr Otto Wild of Muri in Switzerland. Before the end of the 1950’s were out the car is thought to have made it’s way to the USA, from 1971 until at least 2000 the car was kept in single ownership.

Ferrari 342 America Vignale, Blackhawk Museum

The 342 America was said to be capable of 115 mph, not quite on a par with the contemporary Jaguar XK120 in it’s original aluminium bodied form.

Ferrari 342 America Vignale, Blackhawk Museum

The Lampredi V12 motor would continue in production until the 1960’s powering Ferrari’s large engine America series cars up to and including the 500 Superfast of which the last was built in 1966.

Thanks for joining me on this “Formula One Cabriolet” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be loocking at the first of this months big banger Formula 5000/A open wheel racing cars.. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Ferrari Road Treasures – Blackhawk Museum

A couple of weeks ago Geoffrey Horton kindly asked me what kind of cars I was looking for pictures of and I responded that I was desperately short of Ferrari’s, as you can see from today’s Ferrari blog, and will see in next weeks blog Geoffrey has come up trumps and saved Ferrari Friday single handedly probably up until Christmas. Here is a preview of some of the Ferrari road cars that will feature in the coming weeks.

Ferrari 342 America Vignale Cabriolet, Blackhawk Museum, CA

The Ferrari America series started in 1950 was designed to meet the requirements of Ferrari’s customers who wanted a little more than a racing car adapted for the road. The America cars featured more leg room and head room but were still powered by motors derived from Ferrari’s racing programmes. This 1952 Ferrari 342 America Cabriolet features a unique, as in one of, body by Vignale and is powered by a 230 hp Lamperedi designed V12.

Ferrari 375 America Coupé, Blackhawk Museum, CA

Following the 23 342’s came the Ferrari 375 America with a larger and more powerful Lampredi V12 which produced 300 hp. This 1953 Vignale bodied Coupé is one of two, regular readers may remember reading about the other one nearly a year ago.

Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé Speciale, Blackhawk Museum, CA

Sporting it’s original salmon paintwork and with just over 8000 miles on the clock this unique, one of, 1954 Ghia bodied Coupé sits on a 375 MM chassis designed for racing. It was the last Ferrari chassis to be fitted with Ghia body.

Ferrari 400 Superamerica, Blackhawk Museum, CA

In 1961 the Ferrari 400 Superamerica made it’s debut at the Geneva Motorshow with a downsized 4 litre 244 cui V12 which produced 340 hp. The second series Superamerica’s like the 1964 example seen here was built on a slightly longer chassis. Only 47 Superamerica’s of all types, Coupé, Cabriolet and Spider were built up until 1964.

Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupé, Blackhawk Museum, CA

In 1964 the 500 Superfast Coupé was introduced to replace the America series cars, like the earlier models the Superfast was only built to order and now powered by a 5 litre / 302 cui motor giving 400 hp.
This 1966 example is a series 2 500 Superfast with Pinin Farina Coupé body, the 33rd of 37 Superfasts built up until 1967.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this Ferrari Road Treasures edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when GALPOT’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Porsche 911 resumes. Don’t forget to come back now !

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