Electric Sprinter – Peugeot EX1 Concept

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As part of Peugeot’s 200th Anniversary Celebrations their design center at Vélizy in the South Western suburbs of Paris created the electrically powered EX1 Concept in time for a public debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The water droplet shaped carbon composite monococque chassis is optimised for weight and rigidity, the whole vehicle weighs less than 1,000 kgs / 2205 lbs.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Two electric motors, one for each axle, combine to produce 340hp, enough to turn the EX1 into a record breaker for vehicles weighing less than 1000 kgs.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The complete car measures 0.99 meters / 3′ 4″ high by 1.7 meters / 5′ 8″ wide.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In September 2010 the EX1 was taken to Linas-Montlhery autodrome just south of Paris where Nicolas Vanier set six records in one afternoon.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

They were 0-60mph in 3.55sec, 1/8 mile 8.89sec, 1/4 mile in 14.4sec, standing kilometre in 28.16sec, standing mile in 41.09sec and overall top speed of 161mph.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Chinese blogger and competition driver Han Han drove the EX1 at Taipingsi military airport in Chengdu, China three months later where he lowered the 1/8 and 1/4 mile records to 7.08.62sec and 12.67.54sec respectively.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Nicolas Vanier also drove the EX1 in China and lowered his 0-62 mph time to 3.49sec and recorded a longitudinal acceleration of 1G over a total sprint of 39 meters.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

These electric record breaking achievements indicate Peugeot is well on the way to offering it’s electric vehicle customers of the future with incomparable driving experiences.

Thanks for joining me on this “Electric Sprinter” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting Castle Combe for a spot of preseason testing. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Gelände Sportwagen – Mercedes Benz W153 230S

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Alongside Mercedes Benz Land Speed Record, Grand Prix and Sports Car programmes during the 1930’s the company also built a small number of Gelände Sportwagen of three types to compete in Rallies such as the Brandenburg Rally and Deutsche Alpenfahrt for the 1938 and 1939 seasons.

Mercedes Benz W153 230S, Dana Point Concours d'Elegance,

The most numerous was the 170VS with a 60hp 4 cylinder motor fitted to a modified W136 tubular cross braced frame of which 30 examples were built between 1938 and 1939.

Mercedes Benz W153 230S, Dana Point Concours d'Elegance,

The 230S was powered by a 58hp six cylinder motor which offered more torque than the 170VS that was fitted to a pressed-steel ladder-structure W153 frame of which 19 examples were built in the same time frame as the 170VS.

Mercedes Benz W153 230S, Dana Point Concours d'Elegance,

The Gelände Sportwagen programme concluded in 1939 with the 230SV which was an improved version of the 230S but with a short stroke engine that still only produced 58hp, but was more reliable than the 1938 model.

Mercedes Benz W153 230S, Dana Point Concours d'Elegance,

The spartan light weight bodies were of elektron with aluminium wings / fenders, the boot / trunk of these cars carried the fuel tank, a spare front tyre with normal tread pattern and rear knobbly treaded tyre plus a selection of spares and tools that might be required on route by competitors who were required to carry out any repairs without any outside assistance.

Mercedes Benz W153 230S, Dana Point Concours d'Elegance,

The frame on today’s featured W153 230S, was found after a two year search by the Mercedes Benz Classic Centre in 2002 and restored with many new fabricated parts in time for Mercedes Benz 125th anniversary in 2011.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton who took these photographs at Dana Point Concours d’Elegance in 2014.

Thanks for joining me on this “Gelände Sportwagen” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another French Concept car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Gearless Green Car – Mini 9X ADO20

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Today’s featured British Leyland Motor Corporation Mini 9X test car was built to trial the replacement overhead cam engine intended to replace the BMC ‘A’ series push rod that had been introduced in 1951 along with the Austin A30, and a new gearless transmission.

The single overhead cam eight valve four cylinder engine has a capacity of 1500 cc / 91.5 cui with a rubber belt driving the cam, when tested it produced 50hp at 4000 rpm.

BLMC Mini 9X ADO20, Atwell Wilson Motor Museum

Despite achieving only 20 hours running time over 4 and half weeks on a test bed in 1975 due to leaks and other faults this car was regularly driven up until 1987 with only a cam belt failure on the M5 in 1982 during high speed testing.

The transmission consists of a torque converter and a mechanical final drive sourced from an Austin Allegro, the only gear options being forwards or reverse.

BLMC Mini 9X ADO20, Atwell Wilson Motor Museum

Other novel features on the 9X test cars were a redesigned nose, vertical strut suspension, this car was also fitted with competition aluminium doors, with sliding windows and original ADO15 type exterior hinges and boot lid, the unique bonnet and wings were also in weight saving aluminium, the original doors and boot lid corroded and have been replaced by steel items.

Four ADO20 Minis were converted to house the 9X transmission three of which also had the 9X single overhead cam engine also fitted, today’s example seen at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum, Calne, was the second to be converted and the first to be fitted with the 9X engine, known at the factory as The Green Car, originally painted Connaught Green, resprayed in 1985 to the current Tundra Green, it was purchased in 1975 by the father of the Mini Sir Alec Issigonis who used it as his preferred transport for many years until he sold it back to Austin Rover as BLMC had become.

One prototype to an all new 9X design featuring the overhead cam engine, gearless transmission, front strut suspension and hatchback tailgate was built before the project was cancelled leaving the Mini in production until 2000 having out lived it’s eventual successor the Austin miniMetro that was in production from 1980 to 1997.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Gearless Green Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Mercedes Monday, don’t forget to come back now !

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Aeronautical Heritage – Mackson 500 F3

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The Mackson 500 F3 came about through a short lived collaboration that started in 1951 between constructor “Mac” McGee and aeronautical engineer Gordon Bedson who’s curriculum vitae included working for Vickers Armstrong on the ultra modern Valiant jet bomber.

The Mackson was built in Guildford Surrey with a tubular frame, independent front wishbone suspension and swing axle rear and fitted with the latest Dunlop alloy wheels.

Mackson 500 F3, Gordon Russell, Castle Combe,

A Norton double knocker engine was specified, although an example has also been fitted with a JAP engine in the United States, the Norton gearbox transmitted power to the rear wheels through chain drive and the solid rear axle.

The 18 gauge aluminium body is noticeably lower than it’s contemporaries like the Kieft CK52 and Cooper Mk VI.

Mackson 500 F3, Gordon Russell, Castle Combe,

Designer Gordon tested the original Mackson, but Arthur Gill ran two cars for himself and Alan Scoble while a third car was bought and raced by Peter Braid, with no wins during the 1952 season Gordon Bedson left the team to become a director at Kieft.

No more Mackson’s were built, but they continued to be raced, one being converted into first the Saxon Formula 3 car which was upgraded to Formula Junior spec, Gordon Russell is seen at the wheel of today’s example at Castle Combe.

Thanks for joining me on this “Aeronautical Experience” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another Mini variation that never made it into production. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Portello Caldo – FIAT Strada 105TC

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Three years after the launch of the rebodied FIAT 128 based Ritmo / Strada range FIAT introduced it’s first “hot hatch” version the 105TC in 1981.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

The most important performance improving feature of the 105TC was the 104hp 1,585cc / 96.7 cui twin overhead cam engine that was derived from FIAT’s 124, 131 and 132 models.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

Available only with a 3-door body 105TC’s were also equipped with front fog lights integrated into the front bumper and integrated front spoiler combined with wheel arch extensions.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

Other distinguishing features included thick black sill line and black mesh air intake,
UK Strada 105TC’s were supplied with Speedline alloy wheels as seen on this example at Auto Italia Brooklands.

FIAT Strada 105TC, Auto Italia, Brooklands,

From the rear 105TC’s were distinguished by the rear spoiler mounted below the rear window, this magnificently preserved example was first registered in the UK on the 14th of August 1982.

Thanks for joining me on this Portello Caldo edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a motorcycle powered racing car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Multi Tasking Canadian – Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

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In 1993 General Motors moved production of it’s Chevrolet Camaro model from it’s Van Nuys, California assembly plant to Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada just in time for the introduction of the forth generation Camaro.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Bristol American Car Show, Yate Town FC

The new model featured more rounded styling than it’s predecessor as did the similarly F-body platform fourth generation Pontiac Firebird.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Bristol American Car Show, Yate Town FC

From 1993 to 1995 fourth generation Camaro’s were powered by either a 160 hp 3.4 litre / 207 cui V6, as in the example seen here at the Bristol American Car Show at Yate Town Football Club, or 275hp 350 cui / 5.7 litre MPFI (LT1) Small Block V-8 for the more expensive Z/28 version.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Bristol American Car Show, Yate Town FC

1994 Camaro’s, as seen here, saw the previously yellow instrument gauge graphics replaced with white, ’94 Camaro convertible advertising ran with the “Now open to the public” strap line.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Bristol American Car Show, Yate Town FC

Under the bonnet hood the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), for the engine, silicon chip was no longer removable and was now reprogrammed via the Assembly Line Diagnostic Link (ALDL) located next to the center console, beneath the drivers side dashboard.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Bristol American Car Show, Yate Town FC

As well as managing the engine electronics 1994 Camaro ECU’s were also tasked with managing the new 4 speed 4L60E automatic transmission, as seen on today’s featured vehicle, which could be ordered as an option to replace the standard manual 5 speed on the V6, and standard manual 6 speed on the Z/28.

Thanks for joining me on this “Multi Tasking Canadian” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another motorcycle engine powered race car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Turbo Super Party 3 – SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI

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Just over a month ago I got a call from SEAT telling me my company SEAT Toledo TDI was due for some warranty work and they kindly arranged for me to take it in to my local dealer Blades, on Feeder Road in Bristol, who were to provide a loan car for the couple of hours it would take for the work to be completed.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

Having a job where I am on call five days on and five days off I find it quite difficult to keep track of the day of the week so when I turned up at Blades I found I was in fact a day early, but that was no problem and the service receptionist kindly summoned today’s featured 4th generation face lifted SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI for me to drive from one of her colleagues.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

I planned to use my time off with the loan car to go and get some of my favorite Mendip creamed honey from Web Stile Farm a couple of miles off the A37 in Hinton Blewett and as often happens when swapping from diesel powered cars to petrol power I applied slightly too much pressure to the throttle as I left the premises and on this occasion was greeted by the delightful sound of the free revving 1 litre / 61 cui 3 cylinder turbo and supercharged engine which immediately brought a smile to my face.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Burrington Combe, Somerset,

By the time I had left the outskirts of Bristol I was thoroughly warming to the sound of little TSI engine which was much smoother than a 4 cylinder, but not quite as growly as a 5.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Hinton Blewett, Somerset,

Having picked up a couple of jars of honey I decided to pursue a route I discovered, with my friend Tim Murray, last year when planning a treasure hunt for the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club towards Burrington Coombe.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

Driving down the empty windy B3134 was so much fun that once I had stopped to take a photo or two at the bottom, I had no hesitation driving back up it and then round to Cheddar Gorge from whence I completed a loop back to Burrington Combe and back up the B3134.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Burrington Combe, Somerset,

Having enjoyed the handling and the sound of the harmonious little 95hp 3 cylinder with the six speed transmission I reluctantly headed back to Bristol, trying a 30 mph rolling brake check on a particularly muddy uneven empty road and it was no surprise that with the ABS kicking in the car stopped in a remarkably short distance straight as a die.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

With the car now covered in several buckets of Somersets finest red mud I drove the little loop up and down the M32 and stopped off to vac and jet wash the car at Sainsbury’s in Harry Stoke.

SEAT Ibiza SE Ecomotive TSI, Harry Stoke, Bristol

When checking the odometer I discovered 72 fun filled miles had been covered on the honey run in the stylish Ibiza which I filled up with 9.04 litres / 2 Imperial Gallons of unleaded which turned out to be comfortably more than had actually been used.

Just as I had finished cleaning the Ibiza I got a call telling me my Ambulatory Toledo TDI was good to go and so I headed back to Blades where with many new fond memories I exchanged the key’s with the Service receptionist.

In the 30 year history of German magazine Auto Bild’s 100,000 km / 60,000 mile road tests the 2011 Ibiza scored not only the best small car results for vehicles in the VW Group but also the best result for any small car ever tested over that distance by the magazine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Turbo Super Party 3” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Convertible Camaro. Don’t forget to come back now !

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