Tag Archives: Colmar

One Seventy Four – Maserati Ghibli SS

In 1969, three years after the launch of the original Tipo AM115 Maserati Ghibli the Tipo AM115/49 Maserati Ghibli SS was introduced.

Maserati Ghibli SS, Silverstone Classic,

The major difference between was the increased displacement of the quad cam motor up from 4,719 cc / 288 cui to 4,930 cc / 301 cui which with the latest four vertical twin Weber 42 DCNF/11 carburettors pushed the power up from 310 hp to 330 hp.

Maserati Ghibli SS, Silverstone Classic,

Similarly the top speed was pushed up from 155 mph to 174 mph.

Maserati Ghibli SS, Silverstone Classic,

After 1,195 Ghibli Coupé’s and Spyders of both AM115 and AM 115/49 types had been manufactured Maserati dropped the Ghibli for a new Bertone designed Maserati Khamsin in 1974.

Maserati Ghibli SS, Silverstone Classic,

The Tipo AM115/49 seen at Silverstone Classic in these photographs was built in 1971 and is fitted with Borrani wire wheels that were optional when the car was new.

Thanks for joining me on this “One Seventy Four” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a vintage French car fitted with a vintage American aero engine. Don’t forget to come back now !

’64 TdF Class Winner – Triumph Spitfire

Leave a Reply

To keep development costs down the Triumph Spitfire was based on the Triumph Herald chassis and running gear and like the Herald the bodywork was designed by Giovanni Michelotti.

Despite the unrivaled demand for British Sports cars it was a sign of the times that Triumph had to wait until it merged with Leyland before the Triumph Spitfire 4, later known as the Spitfire Mk1 could go into production in 1962.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

For the 1964 season Triumph built four Spitfires in pale blue for the works and one in pale green for Stirling Moss to take part in tarmac based rallies alongside the four green Spitfires built for endurance racing at Le Mans.

Stirling Moss entered his light green Spitfire for his secretary Valerie Pirie in five events of which she only recorded a finish on the 1965 Tulip Rally.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

Of the rally cars today’s featured car ADU 7B was the most successful having taken part in 5 events from ’64 to ’65.

Rob Slotemaker and Terry Hunter won their class driving ADU 7B on the 1964 Tour de France and Terry Hunter drove with P Lier in the co drivers seat of ADU 7B to finish second overall and first in class on the 1964 Geneva Rally.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

In 1965 an additional left hand drive Spitfire was built for Finish works driver Simo Lampinen.

It is believed ADU 7B is the only survivor of the series of Spitfires built for rallying.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

Mark Field of Jigsaw who was responsible for the recreation of the ADU 1B Le Mans racer found ADU 7B and restored it to it’s current condition which included returning the steering wheel to right where it had been when used by the Triumph works.

Thanks for joining me on this ” ’64 TdF Class Winner” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

T4 Turbine – Rover T4

Leave a Reply

To their credit while Rover must have realised the cost of producing a gas turbine powered motor car for the masses was prohibitive because of the cost of the exotic materials required and because of the high fuel consumption they continued experimenting with the technology until 1966.

Rover T4, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon,

Today’s featured 1961 T4 prototype was their final attempt at making a gas turbine vehicle for production to replace the Rover P4 models that had been in production since 1949.

Rover T4, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon,

For this application Rover engineers had their gas turbine producing 140hp enough to power the T4 from rest to 60 mph in 8 seconds, about the same as would be achieved 7 years later with the 155 hp aluminium Rover V8.

Rover T4, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon,

Designers Spencer King and Gordon Bashford carried a number of ideas over from the Rover T3 I looked at last week including all wheel disc brakes and de Dion rear suspension.

Rover T4, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon,

Even though the fuel consumption was improved from 13 mpg on the T3 to 20 mpg on the T4 the notion of a gas turbine powered car was eventually put to rest with the T4 and the nose was redesigned to accept a variety of petrol engines for the P6 series Rover 2000’s launched in 1963 and later Rover 3500’s launched in 1969.

Rover T4, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon,

Rover’s experiments continued with their Gas Turbine powered BRM Le Mans project which achieved 7th and 10th place finishes in 1963 and 1965 respectively.

Thanks for joining me on this “T4 Turbine” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another rallying Triumph. Don’t forget to come back now !

350 Rocket V8 – Oldsmobile Cutlass

Leave a Reply

The third generation Oldsmobile Cutlass was introduced in 1968 with new styling overseen by Stan Wilen.

Oldsmobile Cutlass, Classics At The Castle, Sheborne

Every year there were upgrades to the third generation Cutlass which by 1970, when today’s featured car was built, was available with seven different body options.

Oldsmobile Cutlass, Classics At The Castle, Sheborne

In 1970 a third 455 cui / 7.4 litre V8 engine was made available for the Cutlass, this one is fitted with the smaller 350 cui 5.7 litre Rocket V8 which could be ordered with two barrel or with two four barrel carburetor options producing over 325 hp in top W31 form.

Oldsmobile Cutlass, Classics At The Castle, Sheborne

Those Cutlasses fitted with floor mounted gear changers were fitted with Hurst shifters.

Oldsmobile Cutlass, Classics At The Castle, Sheborne

This particular ‘matching numbers’ Cutlass was imported from Florida in 2013.

Oldsmobile Cutlass, Classics At The Castle, Sheborne

There are probably less than half a dozen Cutlass models of any age in the UK.

Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Farm Targa Rally

Leave a Reply

A couple of weeks ago I popped along to the Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally an event for novice rally drivers held entirely on Washingpool Farm near Easter Compton.

BMW 318is, Lukas/Bicknell, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

There were 29 starters after a, now, rare Polski FIAT 126 dropped out before the start of the event. Above Dan Lukas and Jason Bicknell kick up a cloud of dust on their way to a 13th place finish in their #26 E30 BMW 318is after borrowing a couple of meters of wire to rewire their fuel pump.

Subaru Justy, Solarski/Tbc, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

High on entertainment value was the Subaru Justy driven by Robert Solarski, who finished 9th, his co driver seemed completely unfazed after Robert gave the plastic barrier a hefty whack before stopping for the last time control.

Vauxhall Corsa, Attiwell/Emery, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Farm Targa Rally,

Classes were run for Masters, Experts and Novices then further divided above and below 1400 cc. Winners of the Experts Class for smaller cars and 15th overall despite a soft offside front tyre were David Attiwell and Kieth Emery driving their #5 Vauxhall Corsa.

Vauxhall Corsa, Sissins/Earl, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Farm, Targa Rally,

11th overall and winner of the Novices class for drivers of smaller cars were Ray Sissins and Haydon Earl driving their #110 Vauxhall Corsa.

Peugeot 205 Rallye, McLachlan/Baverstock, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

6th overall and winners of the Masters class for drivers of smaller cars were Richard McLachlan and Andy Baverstock in their #2 Peugeot 205 Rallye.

Citroën Saxo, Potyra/Rudzki, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

Winner of the Novices class for drivers of larger cars and 3rd overall were Robert Potyra and Piotr Rudzski driving the #28 Citroën Saxo.

Ford Fiesta, Lobb/White, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

2nd Overall and winner of the Masters class for drivers of larger cars were David Lobb and Adrian White in their #101 Ford Fiesta.

Renault Clio, Connor/Spencer, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

Steve Conner and Alan Spencer won the event overall with Steve at the wheel of the #6 Renault Clio.

Ford Puma, Spencer/Connor, Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Targa Rally,

Alan and Steve also took the team prize for fastest pair when Alan’s 12th place overall finish in his #106 Ford Puma was taken into account.

If the event goes ahead again next year and my daily driver is still on the road I shall give serious consideration to taking part in what was an entertaining day out.

Thanks for joining me on this “Tavern Motor Club Washingpool Farm Targa Rally” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me for a look at a Cutlass tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

The Car With The Silver Wheels – Monarch Curtiss

Leave a Reply

It appears at least two companies attempted to sell cars with the Monarch brand name prior to 1916, the first the Monarch Automobile Company of Aurora Illinois sold runabouts with guaranteed air cooled motors in 1906 and the second Monarch Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan was founded by Joseph Bloom in 1913.