Tag Archives: Cholmondeley Castle

Lightening Maserati Wrap- Maserati GranCabrio

Based on the same Maserati Quattroporte V as the Maserati GranTurismo Coupé the GranCabrio was launched in 2010 to become Maserati’s first four seat convertible.

Maserati GranCabrio, Andrew Philips, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The running gear is identical to the Maserati GranTurismo S which includes ZF 6-speed automatic transmission, Skyhook adaptive suspension, alternate under-door mini-skirts, non-black underlayed front lights, 20 inch wheel rims with “Trident” design, Bluetooth wireless technology and iPod interface all as a standard synthesis of Maserati performance and luxury components

Maserati GranCabrio, Andrew Philips, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Today’s featured car belongs to Mr Paul Hilton, owner of Cheshire Wellness, strap line “live life well”, a family firm specialising in the design and installation of swimming pools.

Maserati GranCabrio, Andrew Philips, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

I’m not sure if Mr Hilton uses his Maserati GranCabrio, seen here being driven by Andrew Philips at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, as a daily driver, but if he did I am sure his customers kids would have no trouble identifying with the man with the Lightening McQueen car.

The wrap was carried out by Wrap Vehicles of Sale, South West Manchester, surprisingly it is not the only Lightening Maserati as evidenced in this link.

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

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Mavis – Packard Bentley

Today’s featured vehicle Mavis is a creation of Chris Williams, the owner of The Ultimate Laxative Napier Bentley I looked at a couple of years ago.

Mavis, Packard Bentley, Chris Williams, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Mavis is built on a 1930 Bentley Speed 8 chassis which has been extensively modified to accommodate it’s 41.8 litre / 2563 cui V12 motor which was purchased by Williams at the suggestion of Duncan Pittaway.

Mavis, Packard Bentley, Chris Williams, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

This particular 1500 hp Packard 4M 2500 V12 is a marine variant of an aero engine that was orignally installed in a 45 mph 2nd World War PT, Patrol Torpedo, boat.

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The supercharged Packard M4-2500 has twin exhaust ports and hence is fitted with 24 exhaust pipes, the faux torpedoes are actually oil tanks.

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Up to 1500hp is transmitted to the rear wheels through a Bentley C type gearbox that has no synchromesh, note that this vehicle has no front brakes !

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The rear wheels can be spun in any gear and Chris Williams “drive it like you stole it” attitude ensures that spectators are entertained with copious quantities of fire from the exhaust and clouds of smoke from the rear wheels at every opportunity.

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Chris says that Mavis was once lightheartedly described as “biggest automotive waste of time, money and engineering expertise ever built”.

Thanks for joining me on this “Automotive Waste Of Space” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an event which returned Motorsport to Hullavington in Wiltshire. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Zeppelin Airship Power – Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen

Today’s featured 1920 Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen like last weeks featured Brutus is run and operated by the Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Maybach’s first car built in 1919 is said to have used a proprietary chassis, most likely from Daimler considering that Wilhelm Maybach was not only an almost life long friend of Gottlieb Daimler, but also his former assistant.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

If the 1920 date for today’s featured vehicle is correct then the this car was built before Maybach ever showed a vehicle in public, since that did not occur until the Maybach W3 appeared at the Berlin Show in 1921.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

My suspicion is that like Brutus, the Napier Bentley, the GN JAP and numerous other Curtiss engined specials, the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen is another creation made from an assortment of vintage parts.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The 6 cylinder engine for the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen is said to have been built for use in Zeppelin’s, Maybach’s Luftfahrzeug Motoren GmbH was founded as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH in order to build motors for airships in 1909.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The engine size is quoted as 23 litres which is the same as the Maybach Mb IVa
motors built from 1916 to 1918 used to power the Zeppelin airships LZ 105 to 114.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

In theory the Maybach Mb IVa could produce 300 hp at sea level but because the engine was designed for maximum power at high altitude the motor had to be restrained to producing just 245hp at sea level in order to enhance it’s longevity, this is still enough to easily propel the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen seen in these photographs at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power to 100 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Zeppelin Airship Power” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at some of the competitors vehicles at the recent Great Western Sprint at Castle Combe. Don’t forget to come back now !

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