Tag Archives: 1300

Operazione San Gennaro – FIAT 1300 Berlina

The 60hp FIAT 1300 Berlina replaced the FIAT 1200, the chassis of which was used for the 1200TV, in 1961 offered with a price of Lira 1,190,000 (Italian Lira one million one hundred and ninety thousand with and identical version with a larger 73 hp 1500 cc / 91.5 cui motor offered for Lira 1,250,000.

FIAT 1300, Brooklands Double Twelve

The 1300/1500 range, marketed with an elegant modernity strap line, included estate / station wagon along with 2 door Coupé and Cabriolet versions which were fitted with the 73 hp motors only.

FIAT 1300, Brooklands Double Twelve

FIAT 1300’s, like the example seen here at a Brooklands Double Twelve meeting, were fitted with all synchromesh four speed transmissions and were early adopters in this class of disc brakes all round.

FIAT 1300, Brooklands Double Twelve

The 1300/1500 range was also produced by Zastava in Yugoslavia where the Zastava 1300, also known as the Tristać, production continued until December 1979, twelve years after 1300/1500 production had ceased in Italy.

FIAT 1300, Brooklands Double Twelve

Fans of Italian Comedy might remember a FIAT 1300 being abused in the 1966 film Operazione San Gennaro see from 1:25:30, in which Armandino Girasole detto Dudù the character played by Nino Manfredi terrifies his side kick Sciascillo played by Mario Adorf on a trip to Naples airport.

Thanks for joining me on this “Operazione San Gennaro” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Comet. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Coffee Croissant & Cars #09/14 – Avenue Drivers Club

Despite a modest drop in ambient temperatures and overcast skies there was another good turn out for Sunday’s Avenue Drivers Club meeting at Queen Square on Sunday.

Mercury Eight, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Highlights included this hot rod 1949 Mercury Eight with lowered roof and modern running gear.

Land Rover, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The blurb in the window of the 80″ wheel base suggested it was the 388th of the production line in 1948.

Cadillac de Ville, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

This 1965 Cadillac de Ville Convertible featured a nicely recessed aerial.

Ford Escort Sport 1300, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Built from 1971 to 1974 the Ford Escort Sport 1300 was the most basic of factory hot versions of the popular Escort range powered by a motor producing 75 hp, the one above was built in 1972, check out this link for the incredible amount of work many of these cars require to keep them on the road.

BMW 1502, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Another vehicle which the owner has put in an incredible amount of work is this 1976 BMW 1502 with flared wheel arches, lowered roof and Z3 tail lights. Originally fitted with a 80 hp 4 cylinder motor it now features what looks like an M60 V8 with at least 200hp.

VW 1600 E, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Finally one of my most popular blogs was about a VW Square Back called Kubrik, the 1600 E badge above was on the back of a similarly aged Fast Back. First seen in 1965 the Fast Back was supposed to replace the Notch Back, but customer demand for the later determined otherwise.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee Croissant & Cars #09/14” edition of “Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a prototype 16 cylinder racing car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Twin Carburetor ADO16 – MG 1300 MkII

In 1962 at the same time as the launch of the, rather conventional, MG B the British Motor Corporation (BMC) launched a revolutionary new car the Morris 1100 which was technically like a grown up version of the Mini first seen in 1959 featuring a transverse front mounted engine driving the front wheels through a transverse mounted gearbox. This allowed for the monocoque body to sit low to the ground compared to its conventional contemporaries which need a prop (propeller) shaft to run from the gearbox at the front to the rear axle.

MG 1300 Mk II, Silverstone Classic

Like the Mini the Morris 1100, which had carried the code ADO16 through it’s development, was designed by Alec Issigonis and would become one of Britain’s consistently best sellers through the 1960’s until the more conventional Ford’s began to make an impact thanks to overwhelming competition success on the race track which translated into sexy marketing campaigns. The body work for the ADO16 was styled by BMCs Italian styling house of choice Pininfarina and was available eventually in two and four door variations.

MG 1300 Mk II, Silverstone Classic

BMC also launched badge engineered 1100’s in Austin, Wolseley, Riley, van den Plas and 55 hp twin carburetor MG variants, in the UK market, before offering larger 1275 cc / 77.8 cui variations which in twin carburetor MG form produced 70 hp. In 1962 soon after the launch of the MG 1100 Alan Foster and Andrew Hedges drove a R.W.Jacobs entered MG 1100 to a 12th place overall and 1st in the 1300 cc class in the 1962 The Motor 6 Hours held at Brands Hatch beating a Ford Anglia in class that finished on the same lap.

MG 1300 Mk II, Silverstone Classic

Mk II versions of all the ADO16’s were introduced in 1968 with the rounded rear light clusters and ventilated steel wheels as seen on the 1968 MG 1300 MkII above which also has a walnut dash housing additional revolution counter, water temperature and oil pressure gauges. The leather bound 3 spoke steering wheel completed the sporty look.

MG 1300 Mk II, Silverstone Classic

The options list for all ADO 16’s included reclining seats and heated rear window. MG ADO16’s were replaced in 1971 by Austin and Morris GT variations using the same twin carburetor, MG, motors. In all 26,240 MG variants of the ADO16 were built between 1962 and 1971. One curious thing about the ADO16 when looking at it with the benefit of several decades of hindsight, they never made one with a hatchback only a small boot / trunk. I guess success in this instance bred what would become terminal complacency.

My thanks to Roger Lund, Rod Hunt, Michael Hickey, Ray Bell, Rob Kayemod, David ‘Red Bill Racing’ Coulthard and Frank de Jong at The Nostalgia Forum for their observations regarding the R.W.Jacobs MG 1100.

Thanks for joining me on this “Twin Carburetor ADO16” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a VW Microbus which I used back in my college days. Don’t forget to come back now !

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A New Peak – Ford Cortina Mk III

Barry Gill talking in a Ford promotional video claimed Ford had brought motoring to a new peak when they launched the Cortina MK III in 1970 and sales would prove that the claim was not without substance in the minds of the paying public.

Ford Cortina Mk III XL, Bristol Classic Car Show

The new car with late 60’s wide hip US Ford Torino influenced styling was several inches wider and lower than the million plus selling Ford Cortina Mk II.

Ford Cortina Mk III GT, Bristol Classic Car Show

As with the Cortina Mk II there was a plethora of different models L and XL models featured a pair of head lights while the GT, GXL variations featured twined pairs of headlights and Rostyle wheels as seen in the photo below. The XL model in the top photo appears to have a set of out of period RS wheels.

Ford Cortina Mk III GT, Bristol Classic Car Show

The Peak Performer came in 2 door, 4 door and 5 door estate versions while specialists like Crayford would be more than turn a Saloon / Sedan into a convertible. In South Africa a pickup ‘P100’ variation of the Mk III Cortina was also built.

Ford Cortina 1300, Qwara, Malta

In late 1973 the Cortina recieved a mild face lift known as the TD, the Cortina (TD) 1300 above seen in Malta is almost indistinguishable from the XL at the top of the post the GT and 2000E which replaced the GXL featured square headlights in place of the twined pairs of head lights of the original Mk III.

Ford Cortina 1300, Qwara, Malta

In the UK 4 cylinder overhead valve Kent and single overhead cam Pinto engines from 1.3 litre / 79 cui to 2 litres / 122 cui were available dependent on the different trim specifications.

Uren Ford Cortina Mk III Savage, Bristol Classic Car Show

Despite the Peak Performance tag Mk III Cortina’s were never intended for competition although Radio Presenter Noel Edmonds gained a fair amount of publicity for driving one in production saloon car races and Ford did organise a celebrity series called the BAE Trident trophy when the Mk III was launched with participants including Formula One champions Graham Hill and John Surtees along with British Rally ace Roger Clark. Those in the UK wanting larger motors had to turn to Jeff Uren who fitted Essex 144 hp 3 litre V6 motors which could be specified with Westlake cylinder heads giving 190 hp or additionally with Tecalemit fuel injection under an impressively ventilated bonnet / hood to give 218 hp and a zero to 60 mph time of 7 road burning seconds.

Uren Ford Cortina Mk III Savage, Bristol Classic Car Show

Those living in Australia could order their Cortina’s with a factory fitted straight six Ford (Australian) Falcon 4.1 litre / 250 cui motor while in South Africa a Essex V6 versions of the Mk III Cortina were built with the top of the range 3 litre / 183 cui carrying a Perana badge. Like the Mk II Cortina sales of the Mk III Cortina reached well over a million by the time production ceased in 1976.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘A New Peak’ edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I shall be looking at Ford Torino a US contemporary of the Mk III Cortina. Don’t forget to come back now !

09 05 12 PS I did not know it at the time of the original post but a Ford Cortina features in a car chase in the 2011 Robert De Niro action movie ‘Killer Elite‘.

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Brenda’s Makeover, Ford Escort Mk II Estate 1300 Base

The original Ford Escort was designed by Ford of Britain, it’s Mk II replacement, based on the original platform power trains and running gear, was designed in a collaboration between Ford of Britain and Ford of Germany under the code name Brenda.

Ford Escort 1300L, Castle Combe

The straight edged slab sided Mk II was launched in January 1975 in two and four door plus estate forms which came with equipment and trim level variations known as Base, Popular, L, GL, Ghia, Sport, RS Mexico and RS 2000. with 4 cylinder engines from 1 litre / 61 cui (Italian Tax Exempt Model only) to 2 litre / 122 cui which was used in the RS 2000 models fitted with the overhead cam Pinto motor. There was also a very successful competition version the 2 door RS 1800 which was fitted with the twin cam Cosworth BDA motor. 400 RS 1800 should have been built to meet the competition regulations that applied at the time but it is thought only around 50 RS1800’s were built for road use.

Ford Escort 1300L, Castle Combe

The Estate version of the Mk II Escort had the new square front grafted onto the original coke bottle styled Estate rear end from the A pillar back one cannot tell the Mk I and Mk II apart. This particular car is a Base model, probably the only variation still supplied with the large round head lights apart from the commercial van, all the other had then ‘modern’ square head lights. This particular car has non standard 1/4 front bumpers, vinyl roof and Minilite wheels along with a 2 litre / 122 cui motor.

Ford Escort 1300L, Castle Combe

My parents bought a brand new Diamond White Mk II Escort Estate 1.3 GL in 1977 and though I did not get to drive it much I had a number of adventures in it, with the fold down rear seat a mattress and sleeping bag it made a comfortable alternative to sleeping in a tent, even though it was a complete non starter when it came to a traffic light showdown.

The Mk II Escort along with the contemporary Ford Cortina and Fiesta models locked out the top three in the UK sales charts during most of it’s production run up until 1980.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Brenda’s Makeover’ 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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New Cortina is more Cortina – Ford Cortina Mk2

The Roy Haynes designed second incarnation of the Ford Cortina MK2 was launched in 1966 with a range of 4 cylinder ‘Kent’ motors ranging 1.2 litres / 73 cui to 1.5 litres 91 cui.

Ford Cortina MK2, Goodwood Revival

Above is a 1966 1500GT with a Crayford Cabriolet Conversion seen last year at the Goodwood Revival.

Ford Cortina MK2, Goodwood Revival

The 1300 cc / 79 cui Cortina above was acquired as a used model by London based Australian Dental Surgeon ‘Doc’ Merfield who raced under the Team Boomerang banner. The ‘Doc’ fitted one of the five prototype Coventry Climax V8 ‘Godiva’ FPE Formula One motors and raced it from 1969 and 1973. In 1979 the car was discovered in East London without the engine and has been restored with a Donovan V8.

Cortina Lotus, Goodwood Revival

In 1967 Ford marketed a performance version of the Mk2 Cortina known as the Cortina Lotus, the reversal of the Mk1’s Lotus Cortina branding signifying that these cars were wholly manufactured by Ford where as manufacture of Mk1 Lotus Cortina was completed on the Lotus premises. The 108 mph Cortina Lotus like the one used the same Lotus developed motor as the Mk1 and the Lotus Elan. Later Cortina Lotus models were rebranded as Cortina Twin Cams. The Cortina Lotus was widely used in racing and rally competition until it was replaced by the smaller Ford Escort competition models in in 1968.

Blown Hell, Ford Cortina 1600 GT, Shakespeare County Raceway

For those not interested in competing with their Cortina’s the 1600 GT powered by a ‘Kent’ motor was the performance Cortina of choice, Blown Hell above started life as a 1600 GT but has since been fitted with a supercharged 3.5 litre / 215 cui Rover V8 for drag racing.

Ford Cortina Super, Shakespeare County Raceway

The Cortina Estate / Station Wagon above was highly rated for it’s then unparalleled load space the car seen above at Shakespeare County Raceway started life as a Cortina ‘Super’ but has since also been fitted with a 3.5 litre / 215 cui Rover V8.

Ford Cortina 1600E

The most refined of the New Cortina models was 1600E launched in October 1967, this featured a 1600 GT Kent motor, Rostyle wheels, twin fog lights, bucket seats, sports steering wheel and instrumentation, along with luxury walnut woodgrain trim. I remember when my neighbor’s Dad showed up with a 1600E in 1968 every kid on the block including me could not wait to be taken for a ride in it !

Thanks for joining me on this New Cortina edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

PS Don’t forget …

Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz

Automobiliart, Paul Chenard

December 26th – January 2nd

Win a set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards

Sports-GT cars set, Paul Chenard

Set 1 Sports & GT Cars

Phil Hill, Sharknose Ferrari Set, Paul Chenard

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1950s Grand Prix Engines

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or

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The Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will comprise 8 categories.

Overall winner chooses one set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards from the five sets shown above.

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Which set will you choose ?

The free to enter Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will run from December 26th – January 2nd Entries close January 8th 2012, Winner announced January 16th 2012.

Full details on December 26th at GALPOT.

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