Tag Archives: S2

A Glimmer Of Hope – Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet S2 #1865GT

Leave a Reply

Today’s featured Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet S2, chassis #1865GT seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, was initially sent to Ferrari Representatives of California in 1960 before being bought by a former lab assistant, book salesman and piston ring salesman turned successful broadcaster of the Today show David Garroway.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet S2, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

“The Roving Announcer” Garroway was a pioneer of the informal conversational style and tone of television presentation, that had hitherto been more authoritative in the style of public oration, introducing one show thus :- “And how are you about the world today? Let’s see what kind of shape it’s in; there is a glimmer of hope.” in 1957.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet S2, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

David broadcast the Today show from a variety of locations including; Paris, Rome, car shows, technology expos, plays, movies and aboard a B-52 bomber for a practice bombing run, his catch phrase when signing off was “Peace”.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet S2, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

In the 1980’s this cars original engine stamped 326/F was installed in a Ferrari 250 GT Coupé chassis # 2027GT of similar vintage, while the engine from a 250 GTE chassis #2929GT had already been installed in today’s featured car a decade earlier.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet S2, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

#1865GT is the 29th of the 201 Ferrari 250 GT Series 2 Cabriolet’s to be built between 1959 and 1962, it was entered at Goodwood Festival of Speed by John Collins.

Thanks for joining me on this “There Is A Glimmer Of Hope” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Ferrari Friday – San Marino Motor Classic

Leave a Reply

For the final visit to this years San Marino Motor Classic today’s featured marque is, unsurprisingly Ferrari.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Coupé Speciale, San Marino Motor Classic

Oldest of the Ferrari’s in this years show and winner of the
Art Center College of Design Award, was this Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupé Speciale. Built in 1956 with a 410 Superamerica body the car was delivered new to a descendent of FIAT’s Agnelli family who coincidentally was also member of the FIAT boardroom.

Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet S2, San Marino Motor Classic

Looking at the entry list which names only the entrant, marque and date and other resources it appears the vehicle above is a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series 2.

Ferrari 250 GT Coupe PF, San Marino Motor Classic

I’m much less certain as to the identity of the vehicle above it’s definitely one of 351 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupé’s. The combination of repeater light, absence of optional bonnet scoop and drivers side only door mirror lead me to believe this particular vehicle may have been built for a US Serviceman from Chicago who kept the car for 16 years.

Ferrari 250 GT/L, San Marino Motor Classic

Winner of the Pasadena Humane Society Award was the 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L belonging to Alan & Wendy Hart, a car originally delivered to a customer in Belgium.

Ferrari 365 GTS/4, San Marino Motor Classic

There were only 122 Ferrari 365 GTS/4’s built but I have not been able to link the owner of this 1973 example on the entry list to any particular chassis of the many with yellow bodies and Borrani wheels.

Ferrari F40, San Marino Motor Classic

It will also take a historian far more capable than me to tell you which of the 1,315 F40’s, like the 1990 example above, this is.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton and Paul McNabb for sharing their photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ferrari Friday” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at some details from last month’s Avenue Drivers Club meeting. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Finizione S2 – Ferrari 250 GT/E #4089GT

1 Reply

Last of the current series of Ferrari 250 GT/E blogs features coincidentally the last of the 348 Series 2 cars to be built chassis #4089GT.

Ferrari 250 GT/E, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Not much is known about the history of the car other than it was the last S2, finizione, to be built, if you know anymore please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Ferrari 250 GT/E, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The current owner has been showing this immaculate example of a 250 GT/E since at least 2009.

Ferrari 250 GT/E, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The #4089GT is seen here at the 2012 Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Finizone S2” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another design from the house of Bertone. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

The Power Of Dreams – Guglielmi Motorsport Lotus Exige

1 Reply

The Lotus Exige Series 1 coupé was launched in 2000, curiously just as production of the Lotus Elise Series 1 soft top on which it was based was about to be phased out in favour of the sharper styled Elise Series 2.

Guglielmi Motorsport, Lotus Exige, Britcar, Castle Combe

Like the Elise the Exige was powered by a Rover K series motor which all though not particularly powerful was enough to turn the lightweight Elise into a performance car with particular appeal to those who enjoy track days.

Guglielmi Motorsport, Lotus Exige, Britcar, Castle Combe

Today’s featured Exige was prepared by Guglielmi Motorsport who’s proprietor Steve Guglielmi was the 2001/2 double TVR Tuscan Challenge Champion. The Guglielmi Motorsport website suggests Steve retired from racing, although not from all competition, as of 2002 when he set up his Guglielmi Motorsport business to prepare road & track vehicles.

Ginetta G50, Lotus Exige, Britcar, Castle Combe

In 2011 Steve prepared this Exige which he shares with Jeff Mileman for the Britcar series. Above the #58 Guglielmi Exige is seen passing the #60 Ginetta G50 G4 coming out of Old Paddock Bend during the 2 hour Britcar race held at Castle Combe in 2011.

Mileham, Guglielmi, Lotus Exige, Britcar, Castle Combe

The #58 built is around an Elise 135R chassis with 220 hp Honda K 20 Civic Type R motor, which has since been upgraded to produce 250 hp and a Series 1 Exige body.

Mosler MT900 R, Lotus Exige, Britcar, Castle Combe

Steve plans to compete in this years Lotus Cup UK series this season, still sharing the Guglielmi Motorsport Lotus Exige with John Mileham, with whom he came 4th Overall and 1st Open Class in the opening round at Snetterton in April.

My thanks to Steve Guglielmi for sharing the details about his car.

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

Share

Wheels & Ears – Lotus Esprit S2 Type 79

2 Replies

The pace of innovation and development at Lotus was far too high for organised record keeping to be a strong point and some how the Lotus Type 79 number ended up being given to both the 1978 World Championship winning Formula One car and the otherwise unrelated Lotus Esprit S1 & S2 variations.

Lotus Esprit S2, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The second iteration of the Giugiaro designed Esprit, launched in 1978, featured a wrap around bumper which brought down the aerodynamic measure to Cd 0.355 and improved the handling in cross winds.

Lotus Esprit S2, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The Gotti alloy wheels of the original Elite were replaced by Lotus designed alloy wheels manufactured by Speedline. Inside wider seats were fitted along side new instrumentation and switch gear illuminated by fibre optics, the external rear view mirrors became remotely operated too.

Lotus Esprit S2, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Ears behind the rear 3/4 window were used to feed air into the carburetor on the left and into the engine bay on the right.

Lotus Esprit S2, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The Rover SD1 sourced rear lights now incorporated high intensity fog lamps. 1061 Esprit S2’s were built with the original Type 907 2 litre / 122 cui motor that gave the car a top speed of 124 mph. A further 88 S2.2’s were built with the an identical body, galvanised chassis and Type 912 motors of 2.2 litre / 134 cui with the same 160 hp but much improved torque which made the Esprit much easier to drive around town.

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

Share

Integrated Nose – Porsche 944 S2

3 Replies

01 Image2332sc

Porsche introduced the 944 model in 1982, it shared the same platform as the earlier 924 and latter 968 models. The 944 shares similar body revisions, wider wheel arches, of the earlier 924 Carrera GT.

02 Image2331sc

In 1987 the 944 S2 broke new automotive design ground being the first example of a vehicle with an integrated front bumper where the wing and bonnet (fender and hood) blended smoothly with the bumper. This design feature is still much in evidence today.

03 Image2330sc

The 944 S2 was also noted for carrying the largest 4 cylinder motor of it’s day the then brand new 208 hp 3 litre / 183 cui engine was particularly smooth thanks to its counter rotating balance shafts.

04 Image2329sc

Optimum front to rear weight ratio of the 924/944/968 design was achieved by placing the gearbox directly in front of the rear axle.

05 Image2328sc

60 mph from rest could be reached in 6.6 seconds,

06 Image2327sc

top speed for the 944 S2 was quoted as 150 mph.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this 944 S2 along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s integrated edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share