Discovering The World – Renault Captur Concept

Leave a Reply

Following the 2010 Renault DeZir concept, which represented the falling in love stage of life, the Renault Captur concept car, representing the Discovering The World stage of life, was shown to the public at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The design of the mini SUV Captur, seen here at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, was credited to Julio Lozano working under the guidance of Renault’s design chief Laurens Van den Acker.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Like the DeZir the Captur features butterfly doors, the carbon fibre body also features a removable roof panel.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Nissan’s Juke platform was used as the starting point for the running gear which includes a twin turbocharged 1.6 L dCi “Energy” engine that produces 158hp.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Despite it’s all wheel drive appearance only the Captur’s front 22″ wheels are driven, the ‘RX2’ mechanical self-locking differential will transfer the available torque to the driven wheel with the most grip.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Performance data suggests a rest to 62mph time of 8 seconds and a top speed of 130mph.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show Renault announced it’s Captur compact cross over based on fourth generation Renault Clio running gear would go into production.

Thanks for joining me on this “Discovering The World” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting the Atwell Wilson Museum. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Around The World In Five Years – Mercedes Benz W180 220S

Leave a Reply

From 1954 to 1959 it’s second generation 220 models known as the 220a and 220S on the W180 chassis all powered by 2.2 litre / 134 cui six cylinder motors upgraded from the first generation W187 to produce 84hp and 99hp respectively.

The more powerful 220S was introduced in March 1956, a twin carb 105hp engine was introduced the following year, with 4 speed column shift and an optional highly expensive to maintain Hydrak clutch which used micro switches to disengage the clutch, other differences included simplified chrome work with a single piece front bumper.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

Today’s featured 220S photographed by Geoffrey Horton at the The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA a couple of years ago was built in 1957 and registered in New Zealand on the 8th of November the same year.

Current owners Fred and Elisabeth Smits from the Netherlands now based in Wellington, New Zealand bought the car in 2003 and drove it over 24,000 miles before embarking on a thorough restoration in 2011.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

The body off restoration included replacing every bearing, bush and rubber component, rebuilding the engine which included replacing the complete cylinder head and all of it’s ancillaries along with the cam shaft, pistons, crankshaft, oil and water pumps.

The purpose of the restoration was to prepare the car for a 90,000 mile 5 year drive around the world crossing five continents, all except Antarctica.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

After much research the Smits chose to tow a light weight Zambezi Cross-Road tent trailer manufactured by Aart Kok of Heemstede, the Netherlands, to make themselves comfortable on route.

The 220S and the trailer were shipped to the USA in 2014 and at the time of writing they should be driving through South America before sailing to Europe having driven a loop around North America in 2015.

Mercedes Benz W180 220S, The Little Car Show, Pacific Grove, CA

The Smits have set up a website about there travels linked here www.classicstrider.com

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

Thanks for joining me on this “Around The World In Five Years” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a captivating concept car from Renault. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Michelotti Mini – MG ADO70

Leave a Reply

After rejecting the ADO34 and ADO35 projects to put the MG name on a Mini based vehicle in 1966 the conglomerate known as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd since 1968 re visited the idea of building a Mini based MG in 1970.

BMC ADO70, Gaydon Motor Museum

Project code ADO70 also known as the Michelotti Mini seen here is based on a 1275GT chassis and running gear a model which had been introduced in 1969.

BMC ADO70, Gaydon Motor Museum

The only mechanical modification to the car was the fitting of twin exhaust tail pipes.

BMC ADO70, Gaydon Motor Museum

Paul Hughes at the BLMC Longbridge works was responsible for the split Targa top styling and when the drawings were complete another member of the design team Robin Owen drove the new Mini 1275GT with it’s twin tailpipe modification over to Studio Tecnico Carrozzeria G. Michelotti in Turin, Italy

BMC ADO70, Gaydon Motor Museum

For two months Robin oversaw the removal of the original bodywork and it’s replacement with the new design at Michelotti.

BMC ADO70, Gaydon Motor Museum

On returning the Michelotti Mini to the UK it was immediately apparent that the new body was too heavy and that the twin tailpipe modification was insufficient to make for the lost performance, or to warrant putting the car in production with an MG badge.

New safety and emissions legislation in the USA were also responsible for halting any further development of the ADO70.

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

Share

More Homemade Than Most – Trenberth Vincent

2 Replies

In 1951 Murray Trenberth set out to design and build today’s featured competition car from his premises in South Australia.

Trenberth Vincent, Kerry Horan, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

The 35lb frame was built from 3 inch tubes, with a wheel base of 86″ front track 50″ and rear track 49″.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

The lower front wishbones were made from square tubing while the top were fabricated from sheet metal, Murray also fabricated his own uprights which are connected to the wishbones by rose joints and the tiny one off rack and pinion steering.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

The rear swing axle suspension was fabricated from tubes and originally suspended by rubber cut from 6″ by 16″ inner tubes, today bands from truck tarpaulin fasteners are used, Murray incorporated roller bearings into his rear hubs, he was also responsible for devising all of the drive components.

Trenberth Vincent, Kerry Horan, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

Murray based the braking system on photograph’s of pre war Mercedes Benz Grand Prix cars which includes four specially cast nickle chrome brake drums with alloy wheel centres, cast alloy brake shoes, dural wheel cylinders and stainless steel pistons, he even made the chromed steel copies of Renault wheel rims that bolt to the brake drums.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

Adelaide Vincent agent, Sven Kallins was given the responsibility of supplying a new 80hp Vincent Black Lightning V twin engine and gearbox for running in the up to 1 litre / 61 cui class and a Vincent Comet engine was upgraded to 35hp competition Series C Grey Flash spec and coupled with a Norton gearbox for the up to 500cc / 30.5 cui class as seen in these photographs.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

All of this hard work paid off, on his debut in the car Murray recorded fastest time of the day at Collingrove Hillclimb in South Australia and went on to win the South Australian Hillclimb championship, finish second in the Australian Hillclimb championship, record the out right lap record at Port Wakefield Circuit in South Australia, finish fifth in the 1955 Australian Grand Prix, 1st in the 1956 Reno Trophy Altona Circuit, Victoria, among 150 race, sprint and hillclimb wins.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

In 1960 Australian Speedway Sidecar champion Don Willison bought the Trenberth Vincent and raced her up until his death in 1973, Kerry Horan, seen driving the car in these photographs at Silverstone and Castle Combe, became the Trenberth Vincents sixth owner in 1990.

Share

Portello Caldo Numero Uno – FIAT Strada Abarth 130TC

Leave a Reply

Four months after the introduction of the FIAT Ritmo / Strada 105TC, in May 1981, FIAT upped it’s hot hatch stakes with the left hand drive only Ritmo Abarth 125 TC powered by a 125hp two litre twin cam 8 valve motor with a single carburetor that could reach 62 mph in 8.7 seconds and had a top speed of 120mph.

A second generation Ritmo / Strada was introduced in October 1982 which featured a considerably reworked nose featuring twinned head lights, and the following year a Ritmo / Strada Abarth 130 TC was introduced featuring twin carburetors, when all the hot hatch competitors were using fuel injection, which boosted the power to 130hp and the performance 0-62mph down to 7.8 seconds and top speed to 121mph making the car briefly the hottest hatchback until the arrival of the 137hp 16 valve Golf GTI in 1986.

FIAT Strada Abarth 130TC, Brands Hatch

Today’s featured Abarth 130TC is seen in the paddock at Brands Hatch in September 1985 prior to being raced by Performance Car editor Jesse Crosse in a Uniroyal Production saloon car race.

Earlier in the season the car was raced by Jesse, fellow scribe Jeremy Walton and rally driver Simon, brother of actor Rupert, Everett in the Willhire 24 hour race, it broke two gearboxes when qualifying second in class 15th overall and only made it to the start after the second gearbox change was completed with minuets to spare.

The unfortunate Jesse was an early visitor to the pits for repairs to a broken gear lever and the car retired before the 12 hour mark with a broken half shaft while Simon was at the wheel.

Thanks for joining me on this “Portello Caldo Numero Uno” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the Trenberth Vincent.

Share

Hi Wing Body Kit – Chevrolet Camaro Z28

Leave a Reply

Most of the news around the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro centered on the white 30 Anniversary edition, 108 of which were fitted with 330hp LS4 engines, of which today’s featured car is not an example.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Redland, Bristol,

Neither does it have the tri coloured rear lights introduced to some markets, nor the new for ’97 five spoke polished alloy wheels, but it probably does have the new for 1997 interior.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Redland, Bristol,

This ’97 Z28 is powered by a pushrod 5.7 litre / 350 cui LT1 which with the introduction of OBD II compliant engine controls and twin catalytic converters in 1996 produced 285hp, up from 275hp in 1993.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Redland, Bristol,

This particular car appears to have been fitted with a non original equipment or even option body kit that includes new front spoiler, side sill panels, wild rear wing and wider alloy 5 spoke wheels, if you know who made this kit please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Redland, Bristol,

This Camaro, seen in these photographs in Redland Bristol some years ago, was first registered in the UK on the 1st of April 2007.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Redland, Bristol,

At the time of writing it’s MOT, certificate of road worthyness, had expired and Road Tax was about to run out suggesting it might be up for sale somewhere if it is not sitting unloved in it’s garage.

Thanks for joining me on this “Hi Wing Body Kit” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for FIAT Friday, don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Testing Testing – Castle Combe

Leave a Reply

On my day off yesterday I headed over to the Atwell Wilson Museum in Calne, and taking the scenic route I happened by Castle Combe where pre season testing was under way, I couldn’t resist the allure of the sight of racing cars in action so stopped off to see what was going on.

Vauxhall Tigra, Oliver Bull, Castle Combe,

About to leave the paddock above is 2015 Castle Combe Sports & GT Champion Oliver Bull in his Fleuertation Flowers of Bristol Vauxhall Tigra in preparation of his campaign to defend his title which starts at the Howard’s Day meeting on Easter Monday March the 28th.

Haggispeed Mk9b, Tony Harman, Castle Combe,

Bob Haggis Le Seur is believed to have built around seventeen cars which included a couple of Hillman Imps and most notably Haggispeed Clubmans cars the series of which went up to Mk 10, I believe the Mk9b above has been owned and driven by Tony Harman since 2001 in the HSCC Classic Clubmans series, the HSCC will be holding a two day meeting at Castle Combe on April 16/17.

Ferrari 360, TBC, Castle Combe,

Just as I started making my way round the track it started to rain and so many of the cars immediately headed for the pits including the unmarked Ferrari 360 above, the driver of which is unknown to me as is the series in which the car might run, if you know please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Ginetta G16, George Douglas, Castle Combe,

In his time Mobile Windscreens proprietor and HSCC Guards Trophy competitor George Douglas has run a variety of special saloons and GT’s with exotic chassis including a Hillman Imp, Skoda and Ginetta G12, above he is seen diving into the pits in his slick shod Ginetta G16 as the heavens open.

Van Diemen RF00, Roger Orgee, Castle Combe,

I’ll try not to snigger at all the shenanigans going on in Formula One at the moment with the drivers unanimously requesting some one take control, as I have been saying for along time Formula One could do worse than come up with a 600hp version of Formula Ford 1600 on similarly skinny all weather tyres, if it was really interested in entertaining spectators, above 2015 Castle Combe FF1600 Roger Orgee spray’s the cobwebs out of his championship winning Van Diemen RF00.

Peugeot 106 GTi, Geoffrey Ryall, Castle Combe,

Geoffrey Ryall appeared to be having great fun in his #29 Peugeot 106 GTi with which he competes in Class C of the Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship.

Neil Harris, Nemesis Prototype, Castle Combe,

Seen setting sail for The Esses above is Castle Combe Sports Racing Series competitor Neil Harris in his #15 Nemesis Prototype.

Mini Miglia, Shayne Deegan, Castle Combe,

At the end of last year 2014 and 2015 Demon Tweeks 720 Stockhatch Championship winner Shayne Deegan switched from his Citroën Saxo to a Mini Miglia run by Peter Baldwin for the three race 50 Plate Triple Shoutout at Snetterton which he also won, Shayne who I believe is seen exploring the outer limits of Quarry above, won the #50 for 2016 the 50th Anniversary year of the Mini 7 club which runs the Mini Miglia Championship.

Reynard SF78, Graham Ridgeway, Castle Combe,

HSCC Formula 2000 competitor Graham Ridgeway is seen splashing towards Avon rise in his 1978 Reynard SF78, which he shares with Jennifer Ridgeway, above.

Nike Mk6, Peter Hannam, Castle Combe,

Back in the paddock Peter Hannam consults before adjust his shock absorbers on his 1970 Nike Mk 6 HSCC Formula Ford challenger for which he needed no tools beyond his fingers.

Wishing all GALPOT readers all the best for the 2016 Racing Season ahead, looks like my work schedule might allow me to kick my season off at the 24 Endurance race for Touring cars at Silverstone on April 2nd / 3rd.

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

Share