Tag Archives: Stromberg

Smooth Operator – Packard 1107 Twelve Roadster #73933

In 1934 the Packard Twelve was available in three chassis lengths with the 1107 sitting twixt the longer 1108 and shorter 1106 with a 142″ wheel base.

Packard 1107 Coupe Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge

By 1934 the 445 cui / 7298 cc engine produced 160hp with the aid of a single Stromberg carburetor.

Packard 1107 Coupe Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge

It is said that the 67° V12 is so smooth that when standing next one idling it is difficult to discern if it is actually running or not.

Packard 1107 Coupe Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge

11th series Packards were fitted with three speed manual transmissions and drum brakes all round.

Packard 1107 Coupe Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge

Chassis #73933 seen in these photographs was restored by Stone Barn Automobile Restorations of Vienna, New Jersey in the mid 1990’s prior to commencing a multiple award winning career on the Concours circuit the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) National Senior First Prize in 2003.

Packard 1107 Coupe Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge

When sold at Bonham’s Quail Lodge Auction in 2014 for US$ 465,000 the was described as having less than 40,000 miles on the clock.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing these photograph’s taken at the auction a couple of years ago.

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

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Stock Body Record – Chrysler 300D

The 1957 Chrysler ‘Letter Series‘ high-performance luxury cars had evolved to the 300C model powered by either a 370 hp or 390 hp 392 cui / 6.4 litre Hemi motor and either Coupé or Convertible bodies that were styled by Virgil Exner with a new ‘yawning’ grill at the front and larger tail fins at the rear.

Chrysler 300D, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham, Psychoontyres,

1958 300D’s, like the example seen here at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham, retained the 1957 body in Coupé and Convertible forms.

Chrysler 300D, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham, Psychoontyres,

The 392 cui FirePower Hemi motors were all tuned to produce 380 hp except for 18 fuel injected cars which produced 390hp that was so unreliable most were converted back to fuel delivery by carburetor.

Chrysler 300D, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham, Psychoontyres,

Norm Thatcher loaded his 300D, fitted with 8 non stock Stromberg carburetors into the back of his truck and took it to Bonneville from Van Nuys with 3 other people, supplies, food and extra tires in the trunk / boot.

Chrysler 300D, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham, Psychoontyres,

He then showed the cars high performance capability by recording a top two way average speed of 156.386 mph, using Firestone tyres and Quaker State oil without the aid of any special lubricants on the famous salt flats.

Chrysler 300D, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham, Psychoontyres,

Having accomplished his mission to set an new ‘Stock Body’ record Norm loaded the 300D, one of only two with manual 3 speed transmissions and all the factory options deleted, back into his truck and drove back to his shop where the car was eventually returned to stock carburetor configuration and sold on as a daily driver which is still a runner today.

Chrysler 300D, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham, Psychoontyres,

Automobile sales plummeted in 1958 and so only 618 Coupés and 191 Convertibles were built, down nearly two thirds on the previous year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Stock Body Record” 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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Under The Hood Details – Niello Concours at Serrano

On October 5th Geoffrey Horton took his Jaguar XK 140 to Niello Concours at Serrano where it was shown in the special display class.

Jaguar XK140, Niello Concours at Serrano

Any one interested in what is under the hood of Geffrey’s Jaguar can see it by following this link.

National, Niello Concours at Serrano

Today’s post will focus on what was lurking under the hood of some of the other vehicles on display, above the 1911 National Indy 500 car only had 4 cylinders but with a displacement of 7.5 litres / 460 cui they still packed a 100 hp punch.

Allard K2, Niello Concours at Serrano

I beleive this is the third appearance of this particular 1951 Allard K2 on this blog, but the first appearance of it’s 5.4 litre / 331 cui Cadillac overhead valve motor with three original Stromberg carburetors that produce around 160 hp.

Plymouth Fury, Niello Concours at Serrano

The 281st, off the production line, 1956 Plymouth Fury above boasts a 5 litre / 303 cui polyspherical head V8 with optional twin 4 barrel carburetors which combined to produce 270hp.

Chrysler 300F, Niello Concours at Serrano

For 1960 Chrysler introduced the 6.8 litre / 413 cui wedge motor for the 300F seen above. To maximise power in low to mid rpm range the motor was fitted with tuned 30 inch intake pipes which were fed by the carburetors from opposite sides.
The air resonances inside the air intake pipes helped to force air into the cylinders at low to mid range rpm and thus increase the power which topped out at 375hp.

Lotus 27, Niello Concours at Serrano

Not completely off topic I was reading some information about the early days of racing recently and discovered that while Voiturettes were generally restricted to 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui motors there was a smaller class known as Cycle Cars which were restricted to 1.1 litres / 67.1 cui which would make the much later 1963 Formula Junior Lotus 27 above the equivalent of a cycle car in Veteran times. The motor for this Lotus is clearly a Ford production block with a Cosworth head. Power for these motors has risen from 36hp in original side valve production form to 115 hp quoted by some tuners for a competitive Formula Junior with the Cosworth head.

Lotus 19, Niello Concours at Serrano

In late 1963 Lotus built the last Lotus 19 B chassis #966 uniquely powered with a 4 carburetor 4.7 litre / 289 Ford V8 motor for Dan Gurney. The car was quick, but unreliable and Dan never recorded a win with it although it’s next owner Steve Diulo managed a win at the SCCA Willow springs race in December 1965. The cars last appearance was at Texas International Speedway in November 1969 where Bruce Campbell was running but unclassified in chassis #966 by now rebranded as a BVC Mk 1 and with a Chevrolet motor installed.

Ford Mustang GT 350, Niello Concours at Serrano

Finally, for this week, above is another Ford V8 this time a 306hp 4.7 litre Shelby tuned Ford HiPo 289 inside one of the 252 “carry over” 1965 Shelby Mustang 350 GT’s which feature ’65 Ford VIN numbers and ’66 Shelby VIN numbers.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton once again for sharing his photographs from the California Concours d’Elegance scene through the year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Under The Hood Details” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psychoontyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 3 ton pickup that gets up to 60mph from rest in just 5 seconds. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Spy Who Loved Me – Wet Nellie

The Spy Who Loved Me is a 1977 action thriller staring Roger Moore as British Agent James Bond alias 007 and Barbra Bach as Anya Amasova, alias Agent Triple X from the KGB, who investigate the disappearance of British and Russian nuclear armed submarines.

Lotus Esprit 007 Wet Nellie

James and Anya find themselves pursuing the reclusive megalomaniac Karl Stromberg played by Curd Jürgens in a film that was shot on location in Egypt, Italy and the Bahamas.

Lotus Esprit 007 Wet Nellie

For this film Q the man with the unenviable of task of supplying toys to help 007 keep an edge on his dastardly rivals kits out a Lotus Esprit Series I, without the ears, with a myriad of gadgets and capabilities that include missiles, cement dispensers and submersible capabilities as required by the plot.

Lotus Esprit 007 Wet Nellie

The submersible Esprit seen in The Spy Who Loved Me was known as Wet Nellie and was built by midget sub specialist Perry Submarines in Florida. It was capable of 15 knots but for some reason the motors were not reversible which made controlling the vehicle somewhat precarious.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Spy Who Loved Me” edition of “Getting’ 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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