Tag Archives: Concours d’Elegance

OSCA MT4 2AD, Ironstone Winery Concours d'Elegance

Neighbours Shadows – Ironstone Concours d’Elegance.

Today’s blog comes courtesy of Geoffrey Horton who took part in the Ironstone Concours d’Elegance back in September.

OSCA MT4 2AD, Ironstone Winery Concours d'Elegance

Among the cars saw was this 1955 OSCA MT4, built by the Maserati brothers once they were free of obligations to the company bearing their own name, said to have been raced on the West Coast from 1955 to 1957.

Ferrari Dino 196 S Recreation, Ironstone Winery Concours d'Elegance

Just over two years ago I learned about a mystery batch of recreations of Ferrari 196 S V6 powered sports cars, it appears the Dino V6 seen here might belong to another car from that mystery batch.

Shadow Chevrolet Mk II, Ironstone Winery Concours d'Elegance

At Ironstone Geoffrey was pleasantly surprised to learn that Dennis Losher who restored this wonderful 1971 Shadow Mk II I looked at last summer is a near neighbour.

Losher & Horton, Ironside Winery Concours d'Elegance

Dennis on the left above and Geoffrey right appear to have become friends.

Shadow Dodge DN6, Ironstone Winery Concours d'Elegance

Above another car restored by Dennis is the 3rd of 3 Dodge powered Shadow Formula 5000 open wheel cars that raced in the USA from 1975 to 1976. This car #DN6-3A is said to have been raced by the legendary Welshman Tom Pryce in the inaugural 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix and at Riverside by future 1979 World Champion Jody Scheckter, from South Africa, races from which both drivers retired with gearbox and engine problems respectively.

My thanks as always to Geoffrey for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Neighbours Shadows” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow.

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Mopar Presidents Station Wagon – Chrysler Town & Country Barrel Back

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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911’s 50th Anniversary – Niello Serrano Concours d’Elegance

I’d like to welcome a new contributor to Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres thanks to Geoffrey Horton who kindly asked Karl Krause to take the photo’s at Niello Serrano Concours d’Elegance which appear in today’s blog.

Karl sent around 200 images and since I’ve been celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 through October I thought I’d give the model one more look in today’s blog.

Porsche 911S , Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

I can’t be sure of the age of the 911 above but given that the distinctive 5 spoke Fuchs alloy wheels first became an option on the 911S in 1966 I’ll hazard a guess the car above in a 1966 or later 911S.

Porsche 911T , Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

There is a good chance that any Porsche carrying the distinctive #77 was once driven by Bruce Jennings who clocked up at least 30 victories mostly in Porsche’s between 1952 and 1981. The 911T with the distinctive solid alloy wheels appears to be the car Bruce shared with Bob Tullis in the 1970 Sebring 12 Hours. The pair started 46th and failed to finish.

Porsche 911S, Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

The #77 Carrera RS bodied Porsche 911S above appears to be the car Bruce shared with Bob Beasley and Bill Bean in the 1979 Six Hour race at Watkins Glen, despite a spin the trio started 40th and finished 18th.

Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Above is a 1974 era Carrera RSR bodied Porsche 911, it appears in the colours of the Gelo Racing Team though if it is one of the Gelo team cars I have yet to workout which one. If you know please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Porsche 934, Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Bruce Canepa of Canepa Design raced several Porsche’s back early 80’s I believe the single turbo 934 bodied example above was one of them that was originally raced by George Dyer through 1977 prior to Bruce acquiring the car and fitting a 935 flat nose more usually seen on the twin turbo 935 models raced primarily in Europe. If this is the same car then Bruce Canepa, Rick Mears and Monte Sheldon appear to have driven it to a third place finish from 19th on the grid in the 1979 Daytona 24 hours.

Porsche 934/5, Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Bruce drove several other 935 bodied Porsche’s notably with Gianpiero Moretti in the Momo team, at the time of writing I am not at all sure what the history of the flat nosed 935 bodied Porsche is, again if you know please chime in below.

Canepa Porsche Speedster 962 Twin Turbo, Nielllo Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Finally filed under outrageous road car is this twin turbocharged Canepa Design built Porsche Speedster which confirms Bruce Canepa’s addiction to fast cars.

My thanks to Karl Krause for sharing today’s photographs and to Geoffrey Horton for his help in procuring them.

Thanks for joining me on this “911’s 50th Anniversary” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at the final incarnation, to date, of the Ford Thunderbird this one driven by none other than Halle Berry. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Unique Among Rare – Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato #0188/L

In 1958 Aston Martin launched it’s all new DB4, which owed very little to the Claude Hill designs that spanned the 1939 concept Atom through the; DB2, DB2/4 and concluded with the 1957 Mark III. In September 1959 a short wheel base of the DB4GT was announced of which 75 were built and in October 1960 a DB4GT with light weight body work and further weight saving by Ercole Spada at Zagato was shown at the London Motor Show.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

The DB4GT Zagato was powered by a Tadek Marek designed 314 hp, 3670 cc / 223 cui, all aluminium straight six motor fitted to a 4 speed all synchromesh gearbox that could push the car from rest to 60mph in just 6.1 seconds, 3 seconds faster than a standard DB4, and on to a top speed of 154mph. The disc brakes however did not have servo assistance.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

The plan was to build 25 DB4GT Zagato’s however at £5,470, they were not a fast seller and production was halted with just 19 original cars built. Today’s featured car is unique among the 19 because it does not feature the faired in front head lights common to it’s 18 siblings.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

With the relative rarity of these cars pushing up prices and numerous of the 75 DB4GT’s being converted to Zagato specification, in 1988 Aston Martin approved the uprating of four DB4 chassis to DB4GT specification and for these chassis to be sent to Zagato in Italy to be built into works approved replica’s known as Sanction II’s, which were outwardly similar to the original but in no way identical. These four cars sold for over US$ 1,000,000 … each !

In 2000 Aston Martin sanctioned two further DB4’s to be similarly upgraded by Zagato and this pair of cars are known as Sanction III’s.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photograph’s taken at Danville Concours d’Elegance last year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Unique Among Rare” edition of Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Aston Martin DB4. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Race It Again Sam – Aston Martin DB2/4 Serafino #LML/761

In 1953 the Aston Martin DB2/4 featuring a single piece windscreen and 2 nominal rear seats, which made it a 2+2, replaced the two seat DB2 model.

Aston Martin DB2/4 Serafino, Danville, Concours d'Elegance

#LML/761 was ordered without a factory body by Casablancan resident Mr J O’Hara and sent to Serafino Allemano in Italy to be fitted with a unique body.

Aston Martin DB2/4 Serafino, Danville, Concours d'Elegance

Mr O’Hara raced the car locally and when he complained to his friend and Aston Martin proprietor David Brown that it was neither fast enough, nor the handling good enough Brown arranged for the car to be upgraded which I believe included replacing the original 2.6 litre / 158 cui straight six with a 3 litre / 183 cui straight six with an attendant increase in horsepower from 120 to 140 hp.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton who saw this car at last years Danville Concours d’Elegance and kindly shared the photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Race It Again Sam” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at some more French cars advertisements. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Baroque Tooth Racer – Chevrolet Corvette C1 #008

Continuing Americana Thursdays month long celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the USA’s first mass produced sports car today’s 1958 Chevrolet Corvette belonging to Brad Goldstone was photographed by Geoffrey Horton at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance in July.

Chevrolet Corvette, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The third and final incarnation of the C1, solid axle, Corvette was introduced in 1958 with a baroque tooth grill, the styling was gradually simplified until production of the C1 ended in 1962.

Chevrolet Corvette, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Not much is known about #008 before 1968 when the car was raced at Mid Ohio by James A Murray of Lombard IL, 1972 James was 5th in The Great River regional points standings.

Chevrolet Corvette, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

In 1989 Don Rettig purchased #008 from James and raced it before selling it to Brad with a blown 4.6 litre / 283 cui motor a couple of years ago. Brad’s mechanic “Frank Alaimo from A & E auto repair sourced a date correct seasoned but never used block.” The fuel injection was rebuilt by Jim Lockwood, the motor with fuel injection produces 290 hp, compared to the stock 230hp from a single 4 barrel carburetor version.

Chevrolet Corvette, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

It is believed #008 was supplied with the Regular Production Option (RPO) 684 package that included heavy duty brakes with cooling fins and scoops for the drums, 5 leaf rear springs and heavy duty shock absorbers. John Fitch helped develop these parts during a research and test program run at Sebring in 1956. Apparently the aircraft specification Ceremetalix brake linings are so good under intense racing use that they will wear out the brake drums before they need replacing.

Chevrolet Corvette, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Brad says of his car ” I love this Corvette and have gone through her front to back at this time so she is “race ready”! My intention is to campaign her with CSRG next season and see where we go from there.”

I am sure everyone at GALPOT will join me in wishing Brad the best of luck.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs and to Brad Goldstone of San Francisco Sports Cars for telling me about his magnificent Baroque Tooth race car.

Thanks for joining me on this “Baroque Tooth Racer” 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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It’s Friday – Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance

Marking the return of Ferrari Friday GALPOT returns to Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance thanks to more photographs from Geoffrey Horton.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series 2, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The 212 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series 2‘s built are most easily identified from the 36 Series 1 models by the vent window in the door and the absence of side vents in the front wing/fender.

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The 375 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso’s built between 1963 and 1964 all featured steel bodywork designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, with a top speed of 150 mph they were amongst the fastest production cars of their day.

Ferrari 275 GTB, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

I’m not totally sure if the Ferrari 275 above is a two cam GTB version built from 1964 to 1966 or the 165mph 4 cam GTB/4 version built from 1966 to 1968, the wire wheels suggest the former because the GTB/4 was the first Ferrari not to be offered with wire wheels, which may have been fitted retrospectively.

Ferrari 330 GTC, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

Sharing the same chassis, motor and independent suspension as the Ferrari 275 GTB is the Ferrari 330 GTC, a refined 2+2 which was said to be the first Ferrari in which one might “enjoy the radio”.

Ferrari 365 GTB/4, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

Replacing the 275 series cars in 1968 was the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 better known as the Daytona model.

Ferrari Dino 246 GT, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

Ferrari first installed a V6 motor, inspired by his son Dino in 1957 and the following year one of many variations appeared in a two seat sports racing car, however it was not until 1969 that a V6 was fitted to a Ferrari 246 GT Dino like the one above. The Dino was the first of the mid engined Ferrari’s to be built for the road, despite misgivings that Enzo had about his customers being able to cope with the handling of such a configuration.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photo’s more of which will appear next Thursday with a review of the Hillborough Concours d’Elegance.

Thanks for joining me on this “It’s Friday 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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