Tag Archives: Bertone

HY-KERS Limited Edition – La Ferrari

La Ferrari, first seen in 2013 is Ferrari’s first hybrid production car of which the manufacturers say just 499 examples will be built.

La Ferrari, Goodwood Festival of Speed

This hybrid is based on the Enzo and track FXX models.

La Ferrari, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The carbon fibre moncoque was developed by Rory Bryne who was responsible for the design of Micheal Schumacher’s Formula One Championship winning cars at Benetton and Ferrari.

La Ferrari, Goodwood Festival of Speed

La Ferrari features an in house designed body, the first Ferrari road car body since the Bertone styled body for the Dino 308 GT4 not to feature any input from Pinninfarina.

La Ferrari, Goodwood Festival of Speed

La Ferrari is fitted with a 789hp V12 and a HY KERS, Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System, battery powered electric motor that will deliver an additional 160hp for short periods, making La Ferrari the most powerful street legal Ferrari ever built.

La Ferrari, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Ferrari quoted performance figures include a rest to 62 mph time in under 3 seconds and top speed of 217 mph.

La Ferrari, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The price of La Ferrari is said to be more than GBP £1 million / USD $1.69 million.

Thanks for joining me on this “HY-KERS Limited Edition” 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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Designed and Assembled By Bertone – FIAT Super Strada Cabrio

The launch of the hatchback Volkswagen Golf to rave reviews and wild customer enthusiasm in 1974 left all the other big manufacturers wanting to cash in on the hatchback market that boomed with the arrival of the boxy little car from Wolfsburg.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

FIAT’s response was to commission Bertone to design a completely new body to fit onto the chassis and running gear of 1970’s European Car Of The Year the front wheel drive FIAT 128.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

The internal code for the new model was FIAT 138 but FIAT’s marketing department decided to give the car the Ritmo name in most non English speaking markets and Strada in most English speaking markets excluding the USA until the Italians found out that Ritmo was a US brand of non automotive product.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

The Strada was launched in the UK with the strap line “Designed with a computer, silenced by a laser and built by robot” in 1978 and remained in production until 1988 with over a million units being manufactured. In 1982 the Ritmo / Strada range received the quad lamp face lift and further changes including large plastic side protection strips were introduced in 1985.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

Just as Volkswagen had contracted Karmann to build the Golf Cabriolet, FIAT contracted Bertone to design and build a Cabriolet version of the Ritmo/Strada which was sold as the Bertone Cabrio in some markets but was registered as a FIAT with the authorities in the UK.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

This particular 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui Super Strada Cabriolet, seen at the Bristol Italian Auto Moto Fest, was first registered in January 1985 and originally painted Metallic Brown with a Cream roof. It was repainted red and fitted with it’s current roof during a 15 year lay off from the road.

Thanks for joining me on this “Designed and Assembled By Bertone” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be starting a month long series on vehicles that competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Counter Clockwise Spider – FIAT 850 Spider

One year after the launch of the original FIAT 850 in 1964, FIAT brought out Coupé and Spider variants.

FIAT 850 Spyder, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The 850 Spider featured body work designed and built by Bertone.

FIAT 850 Spyder, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The design appears to have been inspired by the 1963 Bertone Concept Vehicle the Corvair Testudo.

FIAT 850 Spyder, Auto Italia, Brooklands

Among the features unique to the Spider was it’s instrument panel and it shared sports seats and steering wheel with the Coupé.

FIAT 850 Spyder, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The 850 Spiders motor was uprated from 34hp to 49hp and unlike it’s siblings it rotated counter clockwise to give a top speed of 90 mph.

FIAT 850 Spyder, Auto Italia, Brooklands

In 1968 a revised spider received a 902 cc / 55 cui motor which produced 52 hp. The 1972 model seen here at Auto Italia Brooklands was made the year before 850 Spider production ceased in 1973 by which time Bertone was engaged in the production of the FIAT X1/9 which would later become a Bertone badged product.

Thanks for joining me on this “Counter Clockwise Spider” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a tribute to the late great AJ Watson. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Fantastic Futurist – Lancia Stratos Stradale

In 1970 Bertone built a futuristic concept car called the Lancia Stratos Zero, the car was so low the windscreen also acted as ‘the’ door !

The following year Bertone showed the Lancia Stratos Prototype at the 1971 Turin Show, this car was a little more practical with two side doors and a mid mounted tranverse mounted V6 as per the Ferrari Dino from which it was sourced.

Lancia Stratos Stradale, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

In all 492 of the road going Lancia Stratos Stradales like the 1974 example seen here at last years Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham were built between 1972 and 1974 when production of the V6 Dino GT also ceased.

HF competition versions of the Stradale proved particularly versatile in 1974 Gérard Larrousse and Amilcare Ballestrieri drove a Stratos to victory on the Targa Florio.

The Stratos is probably best remembered as a superb rally car, Sandro Munari and Mario Mannucci won the 1974 San Remo Rally on the Sratos World Rally Championship debut. By 1981, 4 years after the Stratos programe had been closed down by FIAT; Jean-Claude Andruet, Björn Waldegård, Bernard Darniche, Markku Alén, Tony Carello and Antonio “Tony” Fassina had all also helped contribute to a total of 18 World Rally Championship wins credited to the Stratos which included 3 consecutive wins for Munari on the Monte Carlo Rally, ’75 – ’77, and five victories each on the San Marino and Tour de Course Rallies.

Franz Wurz became 1976 European Rally Cross champion in a Stratos and sold his car, later fitted with a 3 liter / 183 cui motor V6 to Andy Bentza who won GT Rally Cross Championship in 1978.

In 1973 Sandro Munari and Mario Manucci won the mixed discipline Tour D’France, the following year Jean-Claude Andruet and “Biche” won the similar Giro di Italia with a similar bodied turbocharged example.

The final competition evolution of the Stratos was a turbocharged Group 5 long tail silhouette racer of the type that Carlo Facetti and P. Sodano drove to victory on the 1976 Giro di Italia.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fantastic Futurist” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a couple of Lotus Indy Cars. Don’t forget to come back now !

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140mph Tortoise – Gordon-Keeble

Like the Warwick GT the origins of Gordon-Keeble lie in Peerless Cars Ltd. In 1959 co founder of Peerless John Gordon teamed up with engineer and racing driver Jim Keeble to build a GT car for USAF pilot Rick Neilson who suggested fitting a a 4.6 litre 283 cui Corvette V8 into a Peerless chassis.

The steel body for the Gordon GT was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro working for Bertone who crafted it. The Gordon GT was assembled from scratch over 3 months just in time to be exhibited on the Bertone stand at the 1960 Geneva Show, where they it was well received. Autocar would later test the Gordon GT and proclaim that it was “the most electrifying vehicle that it has ever tested.”

Gordon Keeble, Haynes International Motor Museum

The Gordon GT was later taken to the USA where Chevrolet executives gave the green light for the supply of 5.4 litre / 327 cui to be fitted to a production version of the Gordon GT known as the Gordon-Keeble.

During an advertising shoot for Gordon-Keeble a tortoise wandered on to the set and it became immortalised in the Gordon-Keeble badge. The prototype achieved 70 mph in first gear and had a top speed of 140 mph.

Gordon Keeble, Goodwood Revival

Due to problems with the supply of some parts, in particular the Adwest steering boxes which were held up due to ‘industrial action’ by Adwest employees, the Gordon-Keeble did not go into production until 1964, by which time it was decided to use a fiber glass body similar to the Bertone original built by Williams and Pritchard.

Gordon-Keeble struggled financially until 1965 when it collapsed with 91 cars built. The company was almost immediately revived as Keeble Cars Ltd who built 8 more cars to the Gordon-Keeble specification before insolvency struck again. One further example was constructed from parts in 1971.

Gordon Keeble, Haynes International Motor Museum

In 1968 John de Bruyne bought the rights to manufacture the Gordon-Keeble and he built a further two cars badged as De Bruynes that were shown at the ’68 New York Auto Show.

The two cars seen here’ at Haynes International Motor Museum and Goodwood Revival were both first registered in January 1965, the blue one on the 12th and the red on the 14th.

Thanks for joining me on this “140mph Tortoise” edition of “Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for a look at an Indy Car tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Wacky and Bertone – Arnolt Bristol Bolide #404X3086

In 1906 Stanley Harold Aranoff was born into a family of bookbinders living in Chicago. After studying engineering he changed his name to Arnolt as part of an unsuccessful bid to break into the motor industry in 1936.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

While looking for business opportunities he bought the rights to the Sea Mite Marine engine which he attached to a 13 ft rowing boat and sailed from St Joseph in Michigan across Lake Michigan to Chicago as part of a publicity stunt which earned him his “Wacky” nickname.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

The Sea Mite proved a wise purchase after “Wacky” Arnolt won a contract to supply the motors to the US NAVY for their small vessels during the ’39-’45 war.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

After the war “Wacky” held franchises to distribute MG, Riley and Morris cars and at the 1952 Turin motor show a MG TD with bodywork designed by Franco Scaglione form the financially struggling Bertone Coachworks caught his eye.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Wacky immediately placed an order for two hundred of the distinctive Bertone MG’s and Mr Bertone apparently nearly fainted. Only 103 Arnolt MG’s were built because MG switched production to the new TF model.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Impressed with the sales of the Bertone MG Arnolt, “Wacky” commissioned Bertone to develop a body for an Aston Martin and a total of eight these cars are thought to have been built by which time Aston Martin has long pulled the plug on the project.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Wacky then commissioned a one off Bertone Bentley for his personal use before entering an agreement with Bristol to supply 200 type 404 chassis with 125 hp six cylinder Bristol motors which would then be shipped to Bertone for the bodywork as seen on today’s featured 1954 example chassis #404X3086.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Today’s featured car, which is seen at the 2012 Bristol Concours d’Elegance at Greenwich, was the original European demonstrator and was displayed at the 1954 Motor Shows held in Geneva, Turin, Brussels, Munich, and finally Paris where it was sold to an American owner.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

To help market the Arnolt Bristol “Wacky” entered three cars in the 1955 Sebring 12 hours and they finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in the 2 litre / 122 cui class with John Panks and Ernie Erickson sharing the honours. The following year the team finished second in the Sebring 12 hours to a Ferrari and in 1957 the team withdrew from the race after team member Bob Goldrich was killed during the race.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

In 1960 Max Goldman and Ralph Durbin shared a second Sebring 12 hour class win driving an Arnolt Bristol which finished 14th overall. Other class and race winners driving Arnolt Bristol’s included team owner Wacky himself, Ed Rahal, Carl Grassman and Tom Payne.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Production of the Arnolt Bristol is thought to have come to an end in 1959 with 142 vehicles built, of those 12 were destroyed on Wacky’s premises in a warehouse fire.

Arnolt Bristol Bolide, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Three versions of the Arnolt Bristol were built striped down Bolide like the one seen here, several Bolides also had aluminium bodies, Deluxe Roadster with Connolly hide seats full windscreen and full weather protection and a couple of coupes. At least one Arnolt Bristol is known to have been sold new as late as 1966.

Thanks for joining me on this Wacky and Bertone edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the first of this months Indy Cars. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Estremamente Bella Donna – Lamborghini Countach 5000 quattrovalvole

When it was first seen at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show the prototype Lamborghini Countach LP 500 powered by a 5 litre / 302 cui V12 with a Bertone body designed by Marcello Gandini was like the Muira before it nothing short of sensational. Unfortunately despite featuring extensive use of honeycomb aluminium in it’s construction, ironically unlike the later production models, the prototype was destroyed in European Countach type approval tests.

Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, Auto Italia, Brooklands

Appropriately the Countach name, Piedmontese slang for extremely beautiful women, lived up to the original, but production variants needed cooling intakes which broke up the smooth roof line. Due to a financial crises which resulted in founder Ferruccio Lamborghini selling a 51% stake of his company to Georges-Henri Rossetti in 1972 and the remainder to René Leimer in 1974. The first 1974 production iteration of the LP 400 Countach featured only a 4 litre / 244 cui longitudinal mounted V12 enough to give the car a 192 mph top speed though it was slightly slower 5.4 second rest to 62.5 mph time.

Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The second production Countach LP400S launched in 1978 https://www.psychoontyres.co.uk/had slightly reduced power, and only 181 mph top speed, but wheel arch extensions first seen on two cars commissioned by Canadian oil magnate and Formula One entrant Walter Wolf in 1977.

Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, Auto Italia, Brooklands

1982 saw the introduction of the 500 S with a 4.8 litre / 292 cui motor which took the top speed back up to 186 mph and acceleration times back to the same level as the original LP400.

Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, Auto Italia, Brooklands

In 1985 the 5000 QV with four valve cylinder heads was launched and a larger 5.2 litre / 315 cui motor as used in the, LM 002 SUV, which increased the power to well over 440hp taking the rest to 62,5 mph time below 5 seconds to 4.9 seconds bettered only by the Evoluzione which managed the same test in 4.2 seconds and prototype twin turbo 400S which got to 62.5 mph in 3,6 seconds with over 700 hp available.

Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, Auto Italia, Brooklands

Today’s featured car is a 1987 5000 quattrovalvole but without either the optional rear wing which took at least 10 mph off the top speed, or the dreadful seemingly Ferrari Testarossa inspired side skirts running between the front and rear wheels.

Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV, Auto Italia, Brooklands

For 1988 designer Horacio Pagani was commissioned to rework Gandini’s original Countach lines into a model celebrating Lamborghini’s first 25 years of production. The 25th Anniversary edition Countach remained in production until 1990 when it was replaced by the Diablo. By 1992 2,042 Countachs of all types had been manufactured it remains significantly rarer than the Ferrari 512 BB of which 2,323 were produced from 1973 to 1984 and Ferrari Testarossa variants of which over 10,000 were manufactured from 1985 to 1996.

Thanks for joining me on this “Estremamente Bella Donna” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at what is going on with Brighton Speed Trials. Wishing all GALPOT readers and contributors a Happy, Healthy and prosperous new year, don’t forget to come back now !

Brighton Speed Trials Under Threat of Permanent Cancellation !

In their infinite wisdom, Brighton & Hove City Council are seeking to ban the Brighton Speed Trials from 2014.

If you care about speed and or motorsport history, please sign this linked petition to save Brighton Speed Trials in 2014 and beyond.

It’s a faf to Register before signing, but relatively painless compared to loosing the event which has been run with few interruptions since 1905.

You do not need to be resident in Brighton or even the UK to sign.

Thanks and please spread the word through whatever social media you have at your disposal.

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