Tag Archives: Car

Hot One Of Fifteen – 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Indy Pace Car

For 1955 Chevrolet launched it’s second generation full size Bel Air range, to replace the almost entirely new 1954 Bel Air. with two tone paintwork and for the first time a new 4.3 litre 265 cui V8 ‘small block’ engine option that would remain part of General Motors product mix with many improvements over several decades.

The crisp clean styling of the 1955 Bel Air was set off by a Ferrari inspired chrome square potato chip grill as seen on the car below photographed at last years Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Alongside two straight six motor options the new ‘small block’ came tuned with either a 162 hp Turbo-Fire with twin barrel carburetor, 180 hp Power Pack Super Turbo – Fire with four barrel carburetor or towards the end of the model year a 195 hp competition option with a high compression motor.

Being selected to perform pace car duties for the 1955 Indy 500 is reckoned to have given Chevrolet’s Bel Air marketing campaign a terrific boost, it is said that a fleet of 15 two tone Red & White Bel Airs were in attendance at what proved to be an unforgettable race.

Chevrolet Sales Manager Thomas H Keating was given the honour of pacing the field for the Indy 500 on May 30th 1955 and he can be seen at the wheel of what Keating claimed to be a 180 hp vehicle, on this linked photo, sitting beside him is thought to be Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman. The linked photo is telling for what it does not show, namely it is quite clearly not about to pace the Indy 500 and as we shall see it might not even be the actual vehicle used to pace the event.

The give away as to which vehicle paced the event can be seen at 13m 37 secs into this linked clip when the pace car that actually led the field away can be clearly seen to be carrying a movie camera in the boot / trunk necessitating a rather large slit to afford the camera rearward vision and to accommodate the upper film reel. No one knows for sure what happened to that particular car after the event.

Bill Vukovich looked to be on course for a third straight Indy victory in 1955 with a 17 second lead on the 57th lap, of 200, when he ran into someone else’s accident and ended flying over the back stretch perimeter fence and coming to rest up turned and on fire giving the two time defending champion no chance of survival. Bob Sweikert who had worked his way up from 14th on the grid, and was second in the John Zink Special at the time of the accident crossed the line 3 hours 53 mins and 59 secinds after the Bel Air pace car had entered pit road to start the race.

Bob took home one of the fifteen Bel Air pace cars with his wife and their kids, he went on to win the 1955 AAA big car championship and Midwest Sprint Car Championship, becoming the only winner of what is known cumulatively as the American Motor Sports Triple Crown. The following year Sweikert was killed in a sprint car accident at Salem Speedway racing Ed Elisan whom he had raced as a teenager in his home town of East Bay California.

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

Au Revoir P et L – Panhard 24 bt

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In 1887 French Engineers René Panhard and Émile Levassor founded Panhard et Levassor to manufacture motor cars and using a Daimler motor manufactured under license offered their first car in 1890. All of their early cars were one off designs as they introduced a string of improvements on successive models. In 1891 they built a vehicle with a front mounted motor and rear wheel drive that would become ubiquitous in the motor industry for over half a century.

After a 48 hour 48 min drive Émile Levassor crossed the finish line first in the first mass start motor race, the 1,178 km / 731 mile which in 1895 Paris Bordeaux Paris. Panhard et Levassor was not awarded the win because the race was intended for vehicles with 4 seats and Levassor’s car only had two as did the Panhard et Levassor which came second.

Recording many race victories Panhard et Levassor became one of the largest automotive manufacturers prior to the Great War of 1914/18. Between the two World Wars Panhard et Levassor diversified into new areas including, like Bugatti, into rail buses.

After the 2nd World War Panhard focused on making light cars with two horizontally opposed cylinder motors and front wheel drive. Unofficial support for racing car manufacturers like Deutsch et Bonnet led to many success at Le Mans in the Index of Efficiency classifications during the 1950’s and 1960’s.

The Panhard 24 bt like the one seen here at the Malta Classic Car Collection was launched in 1964 featuring and air cooled 848 cc / 51.7 cui two cylinder engine, with origins dating back to the late 1940’s, driving the front wheels which allowed for the exceptionally low bonnet line which results in exceptional aerodynamic efficiency.

In 1965 Panhard was absorbed by Citroen during a period of rationalisation that was rampant throughout the European motor industry, so as not to compete with Citroen’s de luxe four door, four seater AMI 6 Citroén kept the spec of the 24 bt high and vetoed the development of a four door version.

Like, among many others, numerous BMW’s, the NSU Prinz, Stingray Corvette and Corvair from Chevrolet the Panhard 24 bt had a distinctive chromed trimmed midrift.

Saloon / Sedan 24 bt’s and the Coupé 24 ct‘s were amongst the earliest vehicles to feature integrated front and rear bumpers which gives the cars an efficient and stylish appearance which is taken for granted on new models these days but was well ahead of the curve even when production of the 24 bt ceased in 1967 marking the end of Panhard as a passenger vehicle manufacturer.

Thanks for joining me on this “Au Revoir P et L” edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking the 1955 Indianapolis Pace Car on Americana Thursday. Don’t forget to come back now !

Imshi Chassis – MG 14/28

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The history of the foundation of MG cars as a manufacturer is closely linked to the development of a vehicle, by Cecil Kimber of Morris dealer Morris Garages in 1923, based on a 14/28 Morris Oxford chassis purchased directly from the Morris Factory. In 1927 Morris Garages started registering their cars for the road with the local council as MG’s advertising one such car as being based on the ‘Imshi chassis’. Imshi, Arabic for ‘get a move on’, refers to a news paper journalists six month expedition through Europe and North Africa in a 14/28 Morris Oxford.

MG badges did not appear on the cars with MG bodies and modifications to Morris chassis and motors until 1928 and the blue radiator badge on the 1927 14/28 seen here bears the ‘Morris Oxford’ name. The car, seen here at the Bristol Classic Car Show, belonging to an Early MG Society member, is one of just 10 of the later 290 flat radiator 14/28’s built, the original 14/28 maintained the bull nose radiator from the original 14/28 Morris Oxford chassis.

This car was found in 1989 and the current owner acquired it in 1996 and since proceeded with a restoration to bring the 65 mph car, which cost £350 new, to it’s current condition.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Imshi Chassis’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be featuring a Panhard. Don’t forget to come back now !

Easy Handler – Ford Gran Torino

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For 1972 Ford stepped back in time and revived the separate chassis frame and body technique to build the Torino and Gran Torino models that were made both wider and heavier in Ford’s relentless pursuit of a comfortable quiet ride, ‘easy handling‘ and not forgetting a good profit.

Behind the basking shark like mouth of this particular Gran Torino sits a mid range 5.8 litre / 351 cui Windsor or Cleveland V8.

The Torino’s improved ride was said in Ford’s publicity to be down to the ‘computer tuned’ suspension and was well received in contemporary press reports.

Styling of the ’72 was typical for the period long bonnet / hood, short boot / deck. The two and four door models were built on 114″ and 118″ frames respectively, allowing Ford to make significant savings in interchangeable body panels.

In a nod to advances in braking technology that had been widely available in Europe for five or six years the Torino along with its Mercury Montego twin became the first US mid size vehicle to have front disc brakes fitted as standard. It’s hard to imagine FIAT, the Italian automobile manufacturer, naming a model ‘Great Detroit’ after the USA’s great motor city but it is probably best not to tempt fate.

Recessed door handles were a new safety feature for the ’72 Torino models. The vehicle seen in these images at the Bristol Classic Car Show belongs to a member of the Norton Radstock Classic Vehicle Club.

The success of the 9 model ’72 Torino range can be judged by nearly 500,000 sales that for the first time since 1964 allowed Ford to eclipse the Chevrolet Chevelle to claim top spot in the mid size market segment. It was probably not by accident that Clint Eastwood chose a ’72 Gran Torino as an analogous model for his 2008 film of the same name to chart the decline of public civility in Detroit.

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

A New Peak – Ford Cortina Mk III

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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‘.

Blingin’, Slamin’, Surfin’ ‘n’ Driftin’ – Spring Performance Car Action Day Castle Combe

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A week ago on Saturday immediately after the Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival I proceeded to Castle Combe thanks to David Roots who gave me a couple of tickets to go to the Performance Car Action Day.

On arrival aft Castle Combe I couldn’t help but notice a lot of bling on an otherwise cold and rainy day dry and shiny metal work stands out like a sore thumb as can be seen from the Mitsubishi Evo above.

Slammers, car with lowered suspension like the 1989 Volkswagen Golf Driver above were picking their way carefully through the mud,

while the surfers had to be the only ones dreaming of a wetter environment than that experienced at Castle Combe last weekend. Note the F, denoting France on the European Union Style number plate, on the 2005 Peugeot 206 GTi above, an odd choice for a car registered in, and that may well have been at Ryton, in the United Kingdom.

I have kept an open mind on drifting, never having seen it in person before last Saturday, until then I had the feeling drifting was akin to sheer hooliganism but with some entertainment value. Saturdays demonstrations of varying degrees of skill included a hand full of cars like the Nissan Skylines above running the wrong way round part of the Castle Combe track. With temperatures barely above freezing the entertainment value of the drifting demonstration was significantly diminished by the absence of smoking tyres which are usually associated with the ‘sport’.

Further delights to be found in the car included vehicles of antipodean GM descent inclding this 2004 HSV Maloo.

Back in the day when I worked in the motor trade I used to delight in taking on near worthless cars and seeing how far I could drive them. My best effort was to drive 10,000 miles in a £50 Volvo, the legend on the door of this 1993 Vauxhall Carlton Club Estate asks “How far can a £250 car take you ?” and points readers in the direction www.streetsafari.com worth a visit if you have ever had an inkling to take part in a banger rally. Something I have filled away in my to do before I die list.

The 1991 Mazda MX5 Le Mans Special above celebrates what was probably the nosiest victory, certainly the noisiest I have ever witnessed, at Le Mans in 1991 by the Wankel rotary powered Mazda 787B driven by Volker Weidler, Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot.

Sadly there were not many in need of engines needing their engines cooled down last Sunday but this Cars themed 1993 Ford Transit D 100 SWB ice cream van was a nice touch.

Among the 111 cars clubs present at Castle Combe was the Ford Cougar Owners Club, several with cars displaying Mercury brand badges as these New Edge styled cars were marketed in the USA. Was it really 14 years ago that Denis Hopper appeared in the Cougar television advertisement seems like only yesterday ?

Another club with a large number of members present was Briskoda.net the Bristol based Skoda Forum and Community, could be handy folks to know when I get round to participating in a banger rally if there are any £100 Skoda’s left.

Ampng the predictable masses of Subaru’s one might expect to see at a Performance Car Action Day, this Impreza Sport AWD combo really caught my attention, I wonder how difficult it would be to add drive to the trailer wheels ?

I left the Spring Performance Car Action Day with a head full of ideas as to how I might personalise my recently acquired Golf Estate.

My thanks to David Roots for passing on the tickets so that I could attend the Spring Performance Action Day at Castle Combe.

Thanks for joining me on this “Blingin’, Slamin’ ‘n’ Drifting” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early monocoque racing car. Don’t forget to come back now !

Terry’s Jam Jar – Ford Capri II 2.0S

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After selling more than a million Mk 1’s Ford Capri’s between 1969 and 1974 Ford gave the ‘Car you always promised your self‘ a new body with a shorter bonnet / hood and hatch back tailgate while retaining most of the original running gear.

The 4 cylinder 2.0 litre / 122 cui Pinto motor was offered as a half way house between the top of the range 3.0 litre / 183 cui V6 Essex powered vehicles and the lesser 4 cylinder Kent powered models.

The Capri II, like it’s predecessor was sold under the Mercury brand in the USA, it was taken off the US market after the 1977 model year.

The 2.0S, seen here at last weeks Bristol Classic Car Show, was available with came with standard alloy wheels, in 1975 a John Player Special, (tobacco brand !) limited edition was announced with gold coloured alloy wheels, the 1976 example seen above has similar black and gold paintwork to the JPS limited edition which mimicked the colour scheme seen on the world championship winning JPS Lotus team cars of 1972 and 1973.

The most famous Ford Capri II 2.0S, in British circles at least, was a white one that was seen on the Intro to a TV series called Minder, about London’s criminal under world featuring a crooked entrepreneur Arthur, pronounced Arfur, Daley and his ‘Minder’ Terry McCann who is seen in the opening sequences test driving and accepting a 1976 white 2.0S in return for his ‘services’.

Terry’s Jam Jar, cockney slang for car, registered SLE 71R was voted the 28th most popular TV car in a 2005 pole by Sky satellite TV viewers.

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

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring

Tag Archives: Car

Hot One Of Fifteen – 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Indy Pace Car

Au Revoir P et L – Panhard 24 bt

Imshi Chassis – MG 14/28

Easy Handler – Ford Gran Torino

A New Peak – Ford Cortina Mk III

Blingin’, Slamin’, Surfin’ ‘n’ Driftin’ – Spring Performance Car Action Day Castle Combe

Terry’s Jam Jar – Ford Capri II 2.0S