Tag Archives: Chrysler

Last Finest And Most Exciting – Bristol Fighter

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When I got up at some absolutely ungodly, dark and cold, hour last November to join some friends from the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club for a trip to the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham the last thing I could have imagined was finding my self sitting at the wheel of a 210 mph car, the last Bristol ever built to boot, taking a selfie, a couple of hours later thanks to the generosity of owner Mr Gibbs that is exactly what happened.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

The Bristol Fighter was designed by Max Bostrom, regular GALPOT readers might remember another vehicle from his design portfolio the rumbling Aston Martin AMR 1 Group C Le Mans challenger. The design of the Fighter seems to center on it’s motor which is based on the 8 litre / 487 cui all aluminium Chrysler V10 as used in the Dodge Viper and Dodge Ram SRT-10 pick up.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Fitted with Bristol’s own heads the motor was made available with 525 hp in normally aspirated base form, a 628 hp option was also available which with the effects of ram air when in motion is boosted to 660 hp, and if that was not was not enough in turbocharged from the motor produced 1012 hp to become the second most powerful motor ever offered by a manufacturer second only to the 1046 hp quoted for the SSC Aero.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

The standard transmission is a six speed manual and with all the torque from the V10, when Richard Porter tested one for evo magazine in in 2008 he found the motor would pull in sixth gear from as low as 30 mph. A 4 speed automatic was an option with performance being the same regardless of transmission meaning 60 mph could be reached from rest in a claimed 4 seconds with the 525 hp motor.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Despite extensive use of aluminium and carbon fiber to save weight and keep the center of gravity than almost every weekend apart from a Ferrari Enzo the interior is completely civilised and decked with finest Wilton carpet over extra thick soundproofing underlays to provide a “perfect environment in which to enjoy the car’s astonishing performance.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

At 6′ tall I find many performance vehicles no go area’s, however the Bristol is different it was designed to accommodate individuals between 5′ and 6′ 7″. I can just picture my 5′ 2″ mother loving this car since she recently passed her Institute of Advanced Motorists test. Notice the swicth gear, finest military grade good enough to last the life of the car, just as well since a replacement switch would cost you £60 each in 2008.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

With all of that glass parking should be a piece of cake, no having to open the gull wing doors and getting a mate to talk you in as would be mandatory with some of Marchello Gandini or Pininfarina’s finest designs.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

As Bristol said “in a world where cars are styled first and tested for function afterwards the Fighter is again unique”. The 0.28 drag coefficient of the body is class leading, in part because this 210 mph car has no need of wings, Gurney flaps or even venturi because it was designed to set new aerodynamic standards not follow the crowd.

Bristol Fighter, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Exact production numbers for the Fighter are hard to come by one source says sixteen Fighters were built while another suggests at least 46 may have been built. What is for sure is that today’s featured car was the last completed Bristol to leave the factory, the owner Mr Gibbs also tells me that one incomplete Fighter left the factory when it closed down in 2011.

In the advertising cody for the Fighter model Bristol claim that it is “Designed according according to engineering and aerodynamic principles, it is intended to represent the finest and most exciting way for two people to travel by road.” One day I’d like to put that to the test, meantime I’d like to thank Mr Gibbs for letting me try his Fighter, the very last complete Bristol to leave the factory, for size.

Now all I have to do is see if I can save my pennies fast than any one else before Mr Gibbs parts with it, did I mention this car which has never been registered is for sale ? It was and if you would like to purchase it get in touch and I’ll gladly pass the message on.

Thanks for joining me on this “Last Finest And Most Exciting” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. When I’ll be looking at a agricultural super vehicle. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Motorised Goat – Farmobil

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A couple of months ago I started clearing some stuff out through my e-bay account, including a collection of French Adverts from a magazine called Connaissance des arts.

Chrysler, Advertisement, Connaissance des arts

One item that really triggered my curiosity was featured on the undated Chrysler ad above was the cute l’il utility vehicle referred to as the Farmobil below.

Farmobile Chrysler, Advertisement, Connaissance des arts

Last thing I imagined was that this item would sell to a Farmobil owner…. living in Perth Australia !
Mark Bird owner of today’s featured Farmobil kindly sent me some photo’s of his vehicle and some information about it to share.

Farmobile

The Farmobil story begins in a small town on the southern border of Germany with Switzerland in Gottmadingen where the former Fahr factory occupied 4,000 employees in the production of agricultural machinery and equipment with metal castings a speciality.

Farmobile

One of the products they designed in co operation with BMW is the Farmobil a light utility truck with all round independent suspension and a drive train including, 4 speed synchromesh gearbox, 2 cylinder BMW 700 cc / 42.7 cui motor, stick shift, brakes and wheels lifted more or less straight out of a BMW 700 LS.

Farmobile

To maximise flexibility the windscreen could be folded down and the doors removed and for inclement weather the Farmobil was provided with a canvass roof, it had a power take off for farm implements and could even be converted into a six seat passenger vehicle.

Farmobile

The 32 hp air cooled horizontally opposed motor was originally developed for BMW motorcycles, but this is not the same single cylinder unit as used in the BMW Isetta bubble car or R60 flat twin as used in the BMW 600 Bubble Car.

Assembley of Farmobils was put out to tender which was won by Greek low volume manufacturer Peter Kondorgouris who founded Farco to build the Farmobil in Thessalonika, Greece, from 1962 to 1966.

Farmobile

During this time Chrysler was looking for away into the European markets and acquired Farco as a first step towards establishing a European base. However shortly after the acquisition Ford sold it’s share in the French Simca concern and Chrysler bought it giving them an entrance into the French and German markets while the Farmobil manufactured in Greece, outside the European Economic Union (EEC) at the time, attracted prohibitive taxes.

Farmobile

In Greece, where the Farmobil was never officially distributed, it was known as the ‘motorised goat’. Chrysler distributed it through it’s network within the EEC however by 1966 production came to an end after efforts to move production to Rotterdam, and the UK where two vehicles fitted with Hillman Imp motors from the Rootes Group, soon to become part of the Chrysler empire all failed to secure a future for the versatile machine of which just under 1000 were built between 1962 and 1966.

Farmobile

Mark, a member of the “Special Interest Vehicle Association” (SIVA) found his 1966 example needing a full restoration in France in 1999 and took it back to Australia where he spent 12 years locating all the correct parts to restore it back to the as new showroom condition seen here.

Farmobile

He says that “It is a completely unknown vehicle in Australia so it’s a bit difficult to share it with others” outside the the Special Interest Vehicles Association whose members own a diverse range of vehicles including Hino Contessa, Messerschmitt KR 200 & 201, NSU Prinz and Ro80, Autobianchi Bianchina, Trojan 200, Nissan S-Cargo, Honda s600″s , Coupe 7″s & 9″s as well as N360 and TN360 to name a few.

My thanks to Mark for sharing today’s photographs of his stout little Farmobile about which he contributed to a fuller description which can be seen on the allpar.com website linked here.

Thanks for joining me on this “Mechanised Goat” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for a few of the many stories behind the oldest Bugatti in Britain. Don’t forget to come back now !

18/02/14 Errata in the original post of this blog I incorrectly spelled Farmobil, it has no ‘e’ and stated; that the Farmobil’s transmission was a Porsche design which it was not, that the motor was shared with the BMW Isetta Bubble car which was also incorrect.

Apologies for the confusion and thanks to Mark Bird for pointing out the inaccuracies. Mark also tells me that the Farmobil is not to be confused with the similar but completely unrelated Steyer Puch Haflinger made in Austria.

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Turbo Mopar Under The Hood – Bristol Brigand

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By the early 1980’s the temporary austerity enforced on the global economy by the oil crisis ten years earlier was giving way to a new era of prosperity that would be characterised in the immortalisation of Gordon Gecko in “Wall Street“.

Bristol Brigand, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Likewise in the motor trade cars were becoming seemingly exponentially faster thanks to widespread use of turbochargers which had the benefit of boosting horsepower of small motors without the cost of having to develop new large motors, additionally turbochargers could give executives a powerful model with a small motor typically 2 litres / 122 cui without the tax liabilities and inefficiencies of a 3 litre model.

Bristol Brigand, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Many manufacturers like Lotus naturally made sure everybody new your car was fitted with a turbocharger, though later a more discrete approach was introduced by some like Volvo. Amongst the Créme de la Créme unsurprisingly Bristol chose to take the more discreet approach with the turbocharged variant of it’s 603 model which was differentiated from it’s less powerful brethren by; standard alloy wheels, a visually inconsequential power bulge in the bonnet / hood and the “Brigand” name on the boot / trunk lid.

Bristol Brigand, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The series 3 603’s introduced in 1982 were among the first to be given names used by Bristol’s early owners the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the normally aspirated 603 Series 3 is known as the Britannia after a turbo prop airliner with the Brigand named after a ground attack bomber. The Brigand equipped with a 5.9 litre / 360 cui Chrysler V8 and a Rotormaster Turbocharger was said to be capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph.

Bristol Brigand, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Brigands like today’s 1985 example, seen at the Bristol Classic Motor Show at Shepton Mallet a couple of years ago, were manufactured from 1982 to 1994 with minor exterior revisions, no production numbers for these cars was ever released some believe there may be 16 left while How Many Left.com shows only an extremely conservative 2 as taxed for use in the UK !

If you think the tail lights look familiar that probably show’s that at some point in your life you have sat behind a Bedford Commercial CF2 van.

Thanks for joining me on this “Turbo Mopar Under The Hood” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an agricultural BMW powered Mopar. Don’t forget to come back now !

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No Enthusiast Should Miss – Ginetta G.15 Coupé

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For trade stand No. 157 at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1967 Ginetta prepared a vehicle that they said “No enthusiast should miss”, the new Ginetta G.15 was billed as being capable of 100 mph and achieving 40 mpg with ‘fantastic’ road holding and all for the low price of just £849 in kit form.

Ginetta G15, Prescott

However Ginetta had over sold them selves since they had not sorted out their supply chain out sufficiently to start production until 1968. However once they got going according to Ginetta’s engineer Ivor Walkett “we could not build them fast enough” for a while Ginetta moved into a new factory to cope with the demand which eventually was just short of 800 units.

Ginetta G15, Prescott

Built around a steel space frame with glass fibre pannels the G.15 used proprietary Triumph Spitfire front suspension and like the later Clan proprietary rear mounted engine and suspension from the Hillman Imp. Ginetta also had the car type approved for turn key sales.

Ginetta G15, Russell, Prescott

The G.15 was a big hit on the tracks and hills, Chrysler engineer Brian Tavender used his in sprints with is own specially prepared motor and gearbox, until an accident at Castle Combe in 1975 Barry Wood was successful running a works backed car in the modified sportscar (Modsport) class while 3 years after production had ended in 1974 David Beams became 1977 Production Sports (Prodsports) Champion with his G.15. Two years later Alison Davis repeated the Prodsports feat to become the first woman to win an overall circuit racing championship.

Ginetta G15, Prescott

The end of G.15 production in 1974 was brought about by the usual suspects for the period, dreaded Value Added Tax (VAT), a three day working week due to fuel shortages, with the additional threat of the end of supply of the Hillman Imp motor. Several G.15s were built for the US market with Volkswagen motors and Ginetta considered using a Skoda motor to replace the Hillman unit before cutting their losses and calling it a day for the model. Subsequently Ginetta moved back to their original factory.

Today’s featured G.15 belonging to Andrew Russell was seen at Prescott a couple of years ago.

Thanks for joining me on this “No Enthusiast Should Miss” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early turbocharged Bristol. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Unparalleld Vision – Bristol 603 E

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When Bristol replaced it’s faithful 411 models in 1976 it came out with all guns blazing launching the Targa topped 412 and today’s featured model the 603 which owed little to it’s older sister apart from a familial face with four round head lights.

Bristol 603 E, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

The 603 was launched in E and S form’s, the E like the 1977 example seen here was supplied with a 145 hp 5.2 litre / 318 cui Chrysler V8 while the S was fitted with the 170 hp 5.8 litre / 360 cui motor.

Bristol 603 E, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

Since it left the factory today’s featured car has been fitted with a stroked 360 Mopar to bring it up to 375 hp 6.6 litre / 408 cui spec. An Edelbrock carburetor and special inlet manifolds helping to more than double the cars original horsepower numbers.

Bristol 603 E, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

The official rest to 60 mph time for the more powerful S variant was a sprightly, for 1976, 7.6s with a 1/4 mile time of 18.2 seconds, one would imagine with double the horsepower these numbers would take a significant dive.

Bristol 603 E, Bristol Concours d'Elegance, Greenwich

The 603 is noted for it’s slim window pillars which offered unparalleled vision, and yet this did not give the car in anyway an overly futuristic glass house look, the 603 was very much of it’s time and it’s variants remained in production until the one off Blenheim S4 was built in 2009.

Thanks for joining me on this “Unparalleled View” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an agricultural pick up. Don’t forget to come back now !

Tony Crook RIP.

It was with sadness that the motoring fraternity learned of the death of Tony Crook earlier this week.

Tony had a long and successful racing career which included driving two Bristol powered cars in the 1952 and 1953 British Grand Prix, run to Formula 2 regulations.

Tony went on to become an agent and later the sole agent for Bristol Cars in which he took a 40% stake when Bristol Cars became independent of it’s parent the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1960.

In 1973 Tony bought out Bristol Cars founder Sir George White to become sole proprietor and distributor of Bristol Cars until 1997, when he sold a 50% stake to Toby Silverton which became 100% in 2001.

Tony continued working for Bristol until 2007.

We offer sincerest condolences to Mr Crooks family and friends.

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Clash Of The Eccentrics – Bristol 412 S1

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In 1975 Bristol replaced it’s 411 model with the 603 featuring a completely new body, a second new car was scheduled to appear on Bristol’s Earle Court Motor Show stand in October 1975 however despite pre event publicity the targa topped 412 model featured today was not ready and so did not appear as promised in the press.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The 412 has been described as a clash of automotive eccentrics by some commentators because the body was designed and built by no less an eccentric company than Carrozzeria Zagato wih whom Bristol’s Tony Crook had earlier worked as their UK Concessionaire and Importer. The distinctive head light clusters appear to have been sourced from the second generation Opel Commodore.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The first Series 412’s were built with the 300 hp 6.6 litre / 400 cui Chrysler B series V8’s but the second series introduced in late 1977 were fitted with the smaller 5.9 litre / 361 cui Chrysler motor.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

Series 2 412’s have front suspension modifications as a result of the lighter motor, improved ventilation for the cabin and redesigned seats. From the date of first registration, March 1977, and engine size it would appear today’s car, seen at a Pistonheads Sunday Service meeting held at the BMW Plant in Cowley a couple of years ago, is a Series 1 412.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

Apparently when Tony Crook went to see the the prototype 412 at Zagato it featured an even bluffer front end and was some 18 foot long, before Tony intervened.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The appearance of the 412 divides opinion like few others, as can be seen on this linked Pistonheads thread, one either gets Bristol ethos or one does not their is little middle ground.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

In 1982 the 412 was fitted with a turbocharger and slightly face lifted which included twinned headlight clusters and called the Beaufighter production of around 27 of these continued until 1993. It is thought just one export only fully convertible versions of the Beaufighter with an electric roof, known as the Beaufort were built along with two non turbocharged US spec 412 known as the 412USAs.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

It is thought 24 412 Series 1’s were built and 34 Series 2 412’s. Of the 88 Targa tops and one Convertible it is thought 76% are still extent.

Thanks for joining me on this ” Clash Of The Eccentrics” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at something a little more agricultural. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Mopar Presidents Station Wagon – Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back

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This month’s Americana Thursdays will feature 4 station wagons. First up is this 1941 Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back seen by Geoffrey Horton at last years Carmel by the Sea Concours d’Elegance.

Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back, Carmel by the sea Concours

The Chrysler Town & Country was powered by a 108 hp Spitfire L-Head straight six motor fitted with a Fluid Drive semi automatic transmission.

Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back, Carmel by the sea Concours

The woody part of the otherwise steel body comprises an Ash frame with Mahogany veneer panels, it is said to have been designed by Chrysler’s President David A. Wallace.

Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back,Carmel by the sea Concours

Only 496 of these six passenger station wagons were built before the 1939-45 war intervened and prematurely terminated production in 1941. It is thought that just 5 of these cars remain, making them amongst the most sort after station wagons.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs of this difficult to identify vehicle.

Thanks for joining me on this “Mopar Presidents Station Wagon” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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