Tag Archives: Ram

Wider Longer Lower – Chevron B28 #B28-74-01

Like Lola’s Eric Broadley a year earlier, Chevron Cars founder Derek Bennett decided that the way to go with the Chevron B28 1974 Formula 5000 challenger was wider, longer and lower.

Chevron B28, Simon Taylor, Silverstone Classic

Unlike Eric, Derek did not have such a good time convincing his customers that the B28 was a step forward they should invest in, with the VDS team being the only takers of two new B28’s, despite the fact that the previous years Chevron B24 had been successful winning the British F5000 title with Teddy Pelitte at the wheel and the Tasman F5000 series with Peter Gethin at the wheel, while Lola cars had not won any F5000 championships since 1971 !

Chevron B28, Simon Taylor, Silverstone Classic

With works support and Swiss Morand tuned fuel injected Chevrolet motors the VDS teams B28’s with reigning champion Teddy Pelitte and newly crowned Tasman Champion Peter Gethin raced exclusively in the 18 round Rothmans sponsored European F5000 championship.

Chevron B28, Simon Taylor, Silverstone Classic

By the season’s end Peter Gethin’s four victories were only good enough to secure 2nd place in the championship to Bob Evans driving an almost ubiquitous Lola T332 model while poor Teddy Pelitte driving what is believed to be today’s featured chassis only completed 7 laps of the opening two races before his season started getting any momentum.

Teddy managed several second place finishes, to Peter at Monza and wound up a distant fourth in the final championship standings. Interestingly the last race of the European Championship season was won by Vern Schuppan driving a Chevron B24 with the B28 suspension modifications.

Today’s featured chassis #B28-74-01 appears to have remained in the UK, with Tony Dean driving the car with Rockerfella’s, discotheque, sponsorship for most of the 1975 season before entering it for Brazilian Ingo Hoffman for the last four races of the season while he sorted out some problems with Her Majesties government regarding the import of cigars from the USA, said to have been smuggled in to the UK inside a spare car called the KEC Special, KEC denoting King Edward Cigar.

In 2012 present owner Simon Taylor, seen driving the car at Silverstone in these photo’s, had #B28-74-01 painted in the blue Thursday’s, discotheque, livery that was seen on the sister chassis #B28-74-02 in 1975 when it was driven by Australian F1 refugee Dave Walker for RAM racing.

Thanks for joining me on this “Wider Longer Lower” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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PVO Sports Utility – Dodge RAM SRT 10

For the 1996 Chicago Auto Show Dodge produced a Dodge RAM VTS concept sport utility truck powered by a 8 litre / 488 cui V10 motor form their revised Phase II Viper sports car.

Dodge RAM SRT 10, Kernow Mill,

The VTS never went into production but 8 years later DaimlerChrysler’s Performance Vehicle Operations PVO produced the RAM SRT 10 now powered by an 8.3 litre / 505 cui V10 producing 500 hp like the one seen in these photographs taken at Kernow Mill during the summer.

Dodge RAM SRT 10, Kernow Mill,

The 5,130 lb (2,330 kg) regular cab RAM SRT 10 will reach 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, cover a 1/4 mile in 13.6 seconds to reach 106 mph and has a top speed of 154 mph. Until the arrival of the Australian HSV Maloo R8 the RAM SRT 10 was the quickest production pick up in the world after NASCAR driver Brendam Gaughan set a record of 154 mph in February 2004.

Dodge RAM SRT 10, Kernow Mill,

Production of the RAM SRT 10 ran from November 2004 to the end of the 2006 model year during which time 9,527 examples were built.

Thanks for joining me on this “PVO Sports Utility” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you’ll join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Pre Spin Off – Dodge Ram Pace Truck

In late 2008 Dodge launched it’s forth generation (DS/DJ) Ram pickups, like the trend setting second (BR/BE) and third (DR/DH/D1/DC/DM) generation Ram pickups the big rig styling theme was kept and subtly updated.

Dodge Ram, Re/Max 250, Talladega, Superspeedway

As well as serving as pace truck the Dodge Ram above also served as camera truck as the field for the ARCA RE/MAX 250 prepared to leave pit road on the Friday before the Spring 2009 Aarons 499.

Dodge Ram, Aarons 499, Talladega, Superspeedway

Power options ranged from 215 hp 3.7 litre / 226 cui PowerTech V6 to 390 hp 5.7 litre / 345 cui cui Hemi V8 with a 350 hp Cummins Diesel added in 2010. The body options were one 2 door and three 4 door options plus the Dually on the heaviest trucks in the range. 2 or 4 wheel drive could also be specified across the range.

Dodge Ram, Aarons 499, Talladega, Superspeedwayadega, Superspeedway

Midway through 2009 Dodge owners Chrysler filed under Chapter 11 and entered into a deal with FIAT which saw the Dodge brand emerge as an automobile only brand and spun Ram spun off as a Pickup and Commercial Vehicle only brand, making the Aarons 499 Dodge pace truck seen here at Talladega one of the last to be sold under the Dodge Ram brand name.

The Pace truck above is seen in front of the #39 and #88 Chevrolets of Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt JR prior to the final restart of the Aarons 499, the finish of which will be best remembered for the incident between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski which saw Keslowski take his maiden Sprint Cup win and Edwards bounce of the retaining fence so that he ended up crossing the line on foot classified 24th. Newman who was caught in the fracas which ensued crossed in third behind an unscathed Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Thanks for joining me on this “Pre Spin Off” 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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Big Rig Look – Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab

After extensive customer research chief designer Philip E Payne took a gamble and went with the big rig look for the second generation (BR) Dodge Rams launched in 1994. He knew that by pandering to the majority of his clients he might loose a few of those who preferred softer styling.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Big Rig look gave the new range of Dodge Ram’s instant recognition that was quite distinctive form the main rivals built by General Motors and Ford, and the look is even more distinctive on this ’95 1500 extended cab with the bug deflectors and sun shield, the only thing missing are the christmas tree lights usually found on big rigs.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The second generation Dodge Rams were powered by the same motors as the first series this one, seen at last year’s Avenue Drivers Club meeting in June, is powered by a top of the 1500 range 230 hp 5.9 litre / 360 cui Magnum V8.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Second Generation Rams were available in 1500 half ton, 2500 3/4 ton and 3500 dually one ton forms. The 2500 3/4 ton and 3500 one ton was available with a 8 litre / 488 cui V10 that was used as the basis for the Dodge Viper sports cars.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Ram body options included 2 door, 2 door extended cab and from 1998 Quad Cab 4 door extended cab with front opening “suicide’ doors. Special attention was given to the storage area’s inside the cab with a large glovebox, central armrest storage and further storage space behind the seats.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

1500 Rams could be ordered with either 6′ or 8′ beds. THis truck will have been fitted with an A518 four speed automatic transmission a descendant of the TorqueFlight 3 speed automatic transmission first seen in 1956.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The 1996 film Twister featured a similar 3/4 ton Ram 2500 with club cab on the back to the one seen here, sadly it was destroyed near the end of the story nearly bringing some pick up truck fans to tears.

Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Philip E Payne’s gamble with the big rig look paid off handsomely as Dodge went from it’s traditional third spot in truck sales behind Ford and General Motors to first in three years and stayed at the top from 1996 to 1999 by which time both Ford and GM had caught up with the big rig look.

Thanks for joining me on this “Big Rig Look” 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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More, More, More – Dodge Ram Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie

When the Dodge Ram Mega Cab hit the market in late 2007 it was all about more, isn’t it always when anything new hits the market ?

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

The 2008 Mega Cab offered more space, more comfort and more practicality setting new standards in the ‘room with a view’ pick up market.

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

Mega Cab featured the largest ever cab with 143 cubic feet of interior space, room for six which included reclining seats for passengers in the back.

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

This particular model is powered by a 350 hp 6.7 litre / 408 cui straight six Cummins turbo diesel motor which can deliver class leading 650lb/ft torque.

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

Payload capacity for the Mega Cab was given as 3,150 lbs, that’s a little more than what a first generation generation Ford Thunderbird would weigh.

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

The emissions system of the Cummins diesel is Government certified 120,000 miles, that’s about 10 years for the average British motorist.

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

Unique features to the 2008 Larimie Spec Mega Cab include Dual Zone Climate Control, steering wheel mounted audio controls security alarm and Sentry Key® engine immobiliser.

Dodge Mega Cab 3500 4X4 Larimie, Goodwood Revival

Towing capacity for the 2008 3500 version of the Mega Cab is 16,000 lbs to give a gross combined weight rating of 24,000 lbs which was up 1000lbs from the 2007 model.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘More, More, More’ 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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High End Half Ton – Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie

Ever since my Dad took me to see Vanishing Point way back in the day I have always paid attention when the name “Dodge” crops up, today’s vehicle is a tad more practical than the white Challenger driven by the ‘Soul Hero’ being chased by the ‘blue blue meanies on wheels’ on ‘the maximum trip at maximum speed’, though this 2005 pick up does have something in common with the 1970 Challenger beyond the manufacturers name.

Dodge Laramie,

The Dodge Ram name first appeared on a trucks in 1981 with a revamped version of Dodge D Series pickups, since then there have been three further generations of the Ram that appeared in 1994, 2002 and 2009, this is a preface lift 3rd generation Ram 1500 from 2005.

Dodge Laramie,

The built in to the front bumper fog lights are a give away that this might be a ‘fully loaded’…

Dodge Laramie,

… a suspicion underlined by the alloy wheels, not some thing I would expect to find on a four wheel drive work horse …

Dodge Laramie,

anymore than I would a 345 hp 5.7 liter / 345 cui Hemi V8, a name I’d more commonly associate with the white Challenger in Vanishing Point, in fact today’s HEMI’s are very different from those installed in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s the cylinder heads are now less than hemispherical and today’s HEMI’s feature Multi Displacement System technology which allow’s two cylinders on each bank of four cylinders to be switched off under light loads to improve fuel economy.

Dodge Laramie,

The suspension on this half ton pick up is classic independent coil springs at the front and live rear axle mounted on longitudinal leaf springs.

Dodge Laramie,

I have to admit that when I saw this truck last year I assumed it had been imported from some where west of Cheyenne Wyoming but it turns out that Larimie is the name given to fully loaded Luxury Spec Doge Ram trucks…

Dodge Laramie,

which are supplied with woodgrain dash and door trim, leather seats, chrome clad wheels, leather seats, autodimming center rear view mirror, Homelink garage door opener, steering wheel mounted audio control and around $5k worth of useful stuff that is not commonly available on the SLT spec Dodge Rams.

My thanks to Dodge Dealership manager James R for his help with today’s blog.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘High End Half Ton’ 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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Booby Prize from Wide Track Country – Pontiac Firebird

In 1954 vice president of engineering at General Motors Oliver K Kelly called Packards head of Research and Development John DeLorean to offer him a choice of jobs across the five divisions on General Motors. DeLorean who at the time also had the choice of moving to Studebaker with whom Packard had just merged settled on becoming assistant to chief engineer Elliot ‘Pete’ Estes at Pontiac.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

By 1963 John had become chief engineer at Pontiac, and Estes had become general Manager when they together with engine specialist Russell Gee and chassis engineer Bill Collins convinced the GM management to let them offer a $296 performance package on the Pontiac LeMans Coupé and Convertible body stiles that included a 325 hp 6.4 litre / 389 cui V8 motor normally found in the full size Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville models, from whence the ‘Wide Track’ strap line was born and named it GTO a name John picked up from the Ferrari 250 GTO.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

The Pontiac GTO with initial production limited to 5,000, by a disbelieving Pontiac Sales Manager Frank Bridge, was an instant hit with Ronnie and the Daytonas, the youth market at which it was aimed and GM Management. The GTO was responsible for transforming the image of the brand from an ‘aunties car’ to a youth orientated performance brand with over 32, 000 units built in 1964.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

As the GTO was launched John DeLorean moved on to the development of the Pontiac Banshee a concept car to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette which was killed by GM’s top management. DeLorean seen as Pontiacs golden boy was promoted to head of the entire Pontiac division and given the consolation task of turning the Chevrolet Camaro into a Pontiac Pony Car with the proviso that there could be no alterations to the sheet metal except to the front and rear panels.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

By incorporating a signature Pontiac split grill with built in bumper at the front and a version of the rear strip lights seen on the two Banshee concept cars the Pontiac Pony car was easily distinguishable from it’s Chevrolet sibling, Having failed to acquire the Banshee naming rights from rocket scientist Eugene F. Lally, who had successfully raced a Corvette powered special of the same name, for less than ¢50 per car, the name Firebird which had been previously used by GM on three seriously out landish gas turbine concept cars, was eventually adopted for the Pontiac pony car.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

The absence of marker lights, Federally mandated in 1968, and the E suffix on the registration plate confirm this as most likely one of the five variations of the 1967 model line up.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

The Ram Air bonnet / hood suggests this car had the top of the range 6.6 litre / 400 cui motor installed when it left the factory.

Pontiac Firebird, Silverstone Classic

Just over 100,132 1967 Firebirds are thought to have been manufactured of which 9,980 were convertible.

Thanks for joining me on this Wide Track Country edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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