Category Archives: Uncategorized

Leading From The Front – Ferrari 550 Maranello

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In 1996 the Ferrari 550 Maranello saw the return of a model with a motor in the front to the top of the Ferrari range for the first time, since the much loved Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB4, in 20 years.

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This top end vehicle was powered by a 485 hp twin cam 48 valve V12.

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Featuring a tubular steel chassis the 550 Maranello was clothed with an aluminium body.

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Capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in just 4.2 seconds the F550 could cover 402 meters in 12.5 seconds and had a top speed of 199 mph.

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The 550 Maranello was also used in sports car racing by several private entrants including Prodrive who built 10 vehicles for themselves and BMS Scuderia Italia. Victories included a Class win at Le Mans for Prodrive in 2003 and the FIA GT Championship for BMS Scuderia Italia in 2004.

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

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The Olde Favourite – Jaguar E-Type #850216

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Like the humble Renault 4, the E-Type Jaguar celebrates it’s Golden Anniversary this year.

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When the E-type Jaguar was launched in 1961 Enzo Ferrari could afford to pay the car a compliment by describing it as ‘being the most beautiful car in the world’, because he knew his own cars were generally lighter and had more powerful aluminium motors.

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The E-type was a direct descendent of the three times Le Mans winning D- Type with an 3.8 litre / 231 cui evolution of the same iron block straight 6 double overhead cam XK6 motor.

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This 1961 Series 1 model was delivered to Jaguar agent, Dumbuck Garage, run by Mr & Mrs Stewart parents of the marginally more famous Jimmy Stewart and younger brother the now infinitely more famous Jackie Stewart.

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While the car was on the Dumbuck Garage demonstration fleet carrying the registration plate FSN 1 Jackie Stewart got married to Helen and was photographed sitting in this car with his bride on their wedding day.

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Subsequently Jackie drove the car to several victories in 1962 which led to his first professional contracts with Ecurie Ecosse and John Coombs for 1963.

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Allegedly this vehicle is known as “The Olde Favourite” in Jackie Stewarts family and is currently owned by Michael Wilkinson.

I hope you have enjoyed `The Olde Favourite’ edition of “Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres” and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Asymmetrical Anniversary – Renault 4 GTL

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With the demise of the Renault 4CV in 1961, Renault needed a new utility vehicle to compete with the ubiquitous if agricultural Citroen 2CV which had been in production since 1948.

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Renault Chairman Pierre Dreyfus came up with an urban vehicle that was superior to the 2CV in almost every aspect in the form of the front wheel drive Renault 4.

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Built from 1961 to 1994 the Renault 4 was powered by a variety of motors from 747 cc 45.6 cui to 1300 cc 78.7 cui all water cooled in line 4 cylinder engines. In the first year there was a baby R4 with a 603 cc 36.7 cui engine marketed in France only as the R3.

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Over 8,300,000 Renault 4’s were built, the 1st million had been built by 1966 in just over four years. Renault 4 was built / assembled at Billancourt, France in Australia, Spain, Belgium, Colombia, Slovenia, Portugal, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Ireland, Morocco, Algeria and from 1965 to 1964 41, 809 R4’s were built under licence by Alfa Romeo in Italy.

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Few people outside Renault and the motor industry realise that the Renault 4 has an asymmetrical wheel base with the left hand rear wheel being mounted just ahead of the right rear because each wheel is sprung by its own torsion bar mounted across the width of the chassis.

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Like the 2CV the Renault 4 has a box chassis unlike the 2CV the R4’s chassis stiffness is dependant on all the body panels being attached.

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A 20hp Renault 4 was entered in the 1962 Monre Carlo Rally in which it was classified last, an all wheel drive Sinpar version came 3rd in the 1980 Paris Dakar Rally and to celebrate it’s 50th Birthday a team of three Renault 4’s were entered in the 2011 Monte Carlo Rally.

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Renault 4’s are great fun to drive with dash mounted umbrella gear sticks and hand brake levers,
happy Golden Anniversary Renault 4 !

My thanks to Steve Arnaudin for reminding me of this anniversary.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s asymmetrical edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow for another 50th Anniversary. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Karmann Influence – Triumph TR6 PI

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The Triumph TR6 PI (Petrol Injection) was in production from 1969 – 1976 during which time a then record 94,619 (Injection & Carburettor ) models were produced of which less than 10 percent were sold in the UK.

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Allegedly the squared off look was the outcome of a consultancy contract with Karmann.

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The Lucas Fuel injection gave the 2489cc / 151 cui straight 6 150hp though it is said the 104 hp carburettor US version was far more reliable. The car came with a standard 4 speed gearbox with overdrive on 2nd, 3rd & 4th available as an optional extra.

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The performance figure from rest to 60 mph was 8.2 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.

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To bring the car safely to rest disc brakes were fitted to the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear independent suspension.

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Unusually for the time the TR6 was made using a chassis with body panels bolted on rather than a monocoque (unitary) construction that had become widespread during the course of the 1960’s.

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Later TR6 PI’s had a engines tuned to a more tractable 120 hp.

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The registration plate on this vehicle indicates this vehicle may have first been registered in Kent between 1974 and 1975.

If you’d like to experience a TR6 but with an older style body you could try signing up with the Huet Brothers in the Netherlands for a ride in an HB Special complete with tuned TR6 motor and chassis.

If you have any TR6 experiences or memories, please do not be shy share them below.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s fuel injected edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow for a 50th Birthday Celebration. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Mission Possible – Bristol Cars Ltd

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Last Monday 27 employees of Bristol Cars Ltd passed through these gates on their way to work.

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This morning only 5 employees will return through these gates as the manufacturing arm of Bristol Cars Ltd has been placed into administration with RSM Tenon.

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Tom Maclennan of RSM Tenon is quoted as saying ” There have been a number of immediate redundancies due to the financial position of the company, (but) we are maintaining the sales and service operations so customers will continue to be supported.”

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Though not without some criticism over the way the company has been run in the past, there has been a significant amount of support for Bristol Cars Ltd on the internet, in the light of this unfortunate development, from owners and non owners alike as evidenced by threads on pistonheads.com, The Nostalgia Forum and particularly on the Bristol Owners Club forum where members recall many of the Bristol Cars Ltd team with fondness having known them for many years.

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One member of the Bristol Owners Club, Teb Marius from the Netherlands with professional experience in handling these types of financial situations is calling for professional assistance from members and non members in the UK to investigate the possibility putting together a Bristol Owners Club led Consortium to negotiate a viable future for Bristol Cars Ltd with the administrators. Send Teb an e-mail if you can offer any such professional assistance.

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Alternatively for anyone with the financial muscle who wants make a bid for the manufacturing division of Bristol Cars Ltd, Tom MacLennan and Trevor Binyon at RSM Tenon have been appointed joint administrators of the business and would be interested to hear from you.

In anticipation of good news about the future of Bristol Cars Ltd I hope you’ll join me again at “Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres”. Don’t forget to come back now !

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It’s a lot of car ! – Lola T310

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1972 proved to be the year that the Penske turbo Panzer dominated Can Am in much the same way as the hitherto mercurial McLarens.

Lola Chevrolet T310, Race Retro

The original 1966 Can Am series champion constructors Lola had started with fresh from scratch designs in 1970, ’71 & ’72, the vehicle seen here is the Lola T310 from 1972.

Lola Chevrolet T310, Race Retro

To overcome the under steering (push) characteristics Jackie Stewart had complained of driving the stubby L&M; Lola T260 during 1971, Eric Broadley & Specialised Mouldings developed this body work, measuring 4.527 meters / 180″ long by 2.172 m / 85.5 ” wide, in a wind tunnel to hug one of the largest Can Am monocoques ever built.

Lola Chevrolet T310, Race Retro

The monocoque was full width and unusually full length so that the engine could be mounted without the need of a separate steel sub frame.

David Hobbs was given the responsibility of driving the T310 for Carl Haas during the 1972 season but the car was completely outclassed, David managed just one season high 4th place and came in 7th in the final ’72 Can Am standings.

The car was sold at the end of 1972 and Jerry Hansen managed to win a minor race at Atlanta, the car ended its competition days in the 1977 5 litre/ 305.5 cui Can Am series in the hands of Bruce Langson.

Lola Chevrolet T310, Race Retro

Power for the T310 came from the mighty 8.1 litre / 494 aluminium Chevrolet V8, according to World Champion and twice Can Am champion Denny Hulme the motor was good for a maximum of 760 hp, regrettably this top estimated performance was completely outclassed by the conservative estimated 1000 hp plus the turbocharged flat 12 cylinder Porsche’s were kicking out at the time.

You can see and hear the T310 driven by Bobby Rahal in 2008 in this splendid little youtube clip.

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

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Fibreglass Transformer – Austin Healey Sprite #ANJ/6378

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Lenahm Sprite, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

Today I am looking at this Austin Healey Sprite fitted with an Ashley nose and a Lenham Fastback, a body style also apparently known as a Lenham GT which found a new owner at last weekends Race Retro exhibition for £10,450 / $ 17,000 thanks to auctioneers H&H;.

Lenahm Sprite, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

Sporting a twin carb 1,100cc / 67 cui A series motor up from the original 948 cc / 57 cui fitted to a four speed gearbox which all points to a competition history.

Ausitn Healey Sprite

This undated and uncaptioned photo taken from the H&H; website of a vehicle bearing the same registration number (888 HPA) gives a tantalizing insight into an interesting race history that is said to have included preparation by the ‘Naylor Brothers’ and modification to Sebring Spec prior to the Lenham Fastback bodywork being fitted.

Lenahm Sprite, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

More recently this vehicle was driven to 5th in class in the 20th Classic Marathon by Peter & Betty Banham along a route from Belgium to the Dolomite mountains of Italy.

I’d like to thank David Birchall over at The Nostalgia Forum who came up with additional information on the identity of the nose type. If you have any interesting info on this vehicle in either of the photographs please add your comments below.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s transformer edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres and that you’ll join me again tomorrow for a look at another Great British sports car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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