Tag Archives: Easter Compton

Streamline Dream Car – Lincoln Zephyr V12

One of many WOW ! moments I had last year was at the Summer Classics meeting held at Easter Compton when I turned round and saw today’s featured 1936 Lincoln Zephyr V12 purring up the main drag carrying two adults two children and a large black and white TV all the way from Dresden, Germany.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Edsel Ford is credited with conceiving the Zephyr V12 to slot in between the top of the range Lincoln K Series and top of the Ford brand V8 Deluxe.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Edsels initial choice was for a design based on the Biggs Dream Car designed by Jonn Tjaarda and Howard Bonbright a rear engined concept vehicle that was first shown by Ford at the The Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933-1934

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

High school drop out and head of Ford’s design department Eugene Turenne Gregorie is credited with turning the Biggs Dream Car concept into the finalised front engined streamline design, which must have been seen as something of a gamble in the light of the failure of the Chrysler Airflow model built between 1934 and 1937.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The 110hp 75º degree V12 motor was a development of the Ford flathead V8, not related in anyway to the Lincoln K series V12 motors, top speed for the Zephyr was 90 mph.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Standard on the 1936 Zephyr was the locking glove box, options included the radio and satellite navigation.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

During the first year of production the Zephyr V12 was available in 4 door and 2 door saloon / sedan versions.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Note the bullet shaped tail light lenses which would become a notable feature along with tall tail fins on several GM products 22 years later.

Lincoln Zephyr V12, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Lincoln Zephyr V12 proved to be a big hit with 15,000 vehicles sold in the first year of production which accounted for 80% of all Lincoln sales in 1936, and remained in production until 1940.

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Hatched In Germany – Cadillac Catera

In 1994 Opel launched a new Omega ‘B’ model that replaced the Omega ‘A’ model that had served as the basis of the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton which I looked at on Saturday. The Omega B was still rear wheel drive but had a much smoother body that formed the basis on the Vauxhall Omega in the UK and was launched with the aid of Cindy Crawford in the USA as the Cadillac Catera.

Cadillac Catera, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Cadillac Cateras were powered by a 200hp V6 motor with pistons angled at an unusual 54 degrees, the motors gained a reputation for expensive cam belt tensioner bearing failures.

Cadillac Catera, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Sales of the Catera peaked at around 25,000 in 1997 and 1998 but tailed off thereafter and the model was discontinued from the Cadillac range in 2001

Cadillac Catera, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Today’s featured vehicle seen ar last summers “Summer Classics” gathering at Easter Compton is registered officially as a top of the range Vauxhall Omega Elite and has most likely had the Cadillac exterior identifications including the grill fitted post production.

Thanks for joining me on this “Hatched In Germany 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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Bonus Built – Ford F1 1/2 Ton Pickup

In 1948 Ford introduced the new F Series pickups that were built on dedicated, Bonus Built, pickup chassis rather than the hitherto strengthend car chassis.

Ford F1 Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The F1 seen here is a 1949 F1 half ton pickup with a single piece windscreen / windshield and integrated in to the wings / fenders headlights.

Ford F1 Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

This one is fitted with the optional passenger side windscreen wiper, other options included foot plunger operated windscreen washer, passenger side sun visor and passenger side tail light !

Ford F1 Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

First Generation F1’s were powered either by a 95 hp flathead straight 6 or 100 hp flathead V8, the 4.2 litre / 256 cui quoted for today’s featured pick up suggests something more contemporary than a regular flathead might be lurking under the hood.

Ford F1 Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Three different transmissions were available for the First Generation F1, 3 speed light duty, 3 speed heavy duty or 4 speed.

Ford F1 Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The F1 came with a 6 1/2 foot bed or 4 door panel body.

Ford F1 Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

First Generation F1’s were assembled at Dearborn and Highland Park MI, Edison NJ, Long Beach CA, Norfolk Assembley VI, St Paul MN, St Louis MO, and Hapeville GA. First Generation F1’s were face lifted in 1950 and remained in production until 1952.

Thanks for joining me on this “Bonus Built” 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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Job Related – Dodge 1 Ton Pickup

In 1939 Dodge launched it “Job Related” series of trucks and panel vans that would stay in production until 1947.

Dodge 1 Ton Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Job Related series can be recognised by it’s streamline styling which was becoming all the rage in 1939.

Dodge 1 Ton Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

In 1941 parking lights mounted on the cowling became a standard feature on all subsequent “Job Related” vehicles.

Dodge 1 Ton Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

From what I have observed front indicator lights appear to have been entirely optional even as late as 1947 when this particular truck was built, presumably other road users were expected to see the drivers hand signal’s to predict where the truck was going.

Dodge 1 Ton Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The motor for this truck, seen at last years Summer Classics in Easter Compton, is officially quoted as 3772 cc / 230 cui which would have given 105 hp and was unique to the 1 ton trucks from 1942 on.

Dodge 1 Ton Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The gauges from left to right are water temperature, oil temperature (hidden by the 1/4 light window, speed and odometer, fuel tank and battery charge, a better selection than can be found on some cheap motor cars today. Radio was by drivers built in i-player only.

Dodge 1 Ton Pickup, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Dodge 1 ton pick up sits on a 120″ chassis with a 7 1/2 foot cargo box, from 1939 to 1985 all Dodge pickup cargo boxes came with a wooden floor, painted black, with steel skid strips.

Thanks for joining me on this “Job Related” 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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Aluminium Over Ash – Paramount Roadster

WA Hudson and S Underwood founded Paramount Cars in Derbyshire to produce sports cars in 1950.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

They intended to use Alvis running gear building an Alvis based prototype in 1948.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The cost of the Alvis parts proved prohibitive to Paramount switched to using Ford running gear and building vehicles with aluminium over ash bodies in much the same way as Morgan still do today.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

In 1953 when today’s featured car was built, Paramount were acquired by Camden Motors and moved to Leighton Buzzard.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

With the new ownership Ford Consul motors were offered with a new roadster as seen here, the twin carburetor Aquaplane cylinder head came from Harmer Copeman who started tuning Ford motors for his hydraplanes in a back garden shed before diversifying into becoming a tuning specialist for motor cars.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Paramount Roadster seen here at last years Summer Classics show at Easter Compton was purchased in 1975 and underwent a 13 year restoration.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

It is thought around 60 Roadsters were built, some of the last chassis built went to Rochdale in 1956 to have fibre glass bodies fitted.

Paramount Sports, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

It is thought only 8 Paramounts of the total production of around 80 have survived with only 3 in roadworthy condition.

Thanks for joining me on this “Aluminium Over Ash” 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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Ben’s Bus – Volkswagen Type 2 (T1)

In 1946 production of the VW Beetle was in full swing at maximum capacity at the Wolfsburg plant when Dutch importer Ben Pon paid the factory a visit and observed an improvised parts transporter which he recognised could be vastly improved upon with a new vehicle using a stock Beetle Type 1 chassis pan. Pons first doodles of his proposed vehicle were dated 1947 and two and a half years later the first type 2 rolled off the production line.

VW Type 2 Transporter, Goodwood Revival

The split windscreen was not part of Ben’s original design but was incorporated to improve the aerodynamic efficiency after wind tunnel testing showed marked improvements of the split screen at the University of Braunschweig. The original Type 2 with just 25 hp were rated to carry 1,500 lbs / 690 kgs. Above is a 1959 Type 2 with hinged rear door used by leading historic race car restoration specialists Crosthwaite & Gardiner who pride themselves on manufacturing everything from a Bugatti nut to an entire Auto Union Grand Prix car.

VW Type 2 Camper, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

It was not long before the versatility of the Type 2 began to shine through with, panel vans, 2 and four seat pickups, buses, campers being offered while 3rd parties converted Type 2’s to run on railway tracks and a myriad of other applications. It was not long before Type 2s were manufactured in a new dedicated plant in Hannover.

VW Type 2 Transporter, Goodwood Revival

The Type 2’s underwent continuous development by 1967 a larger motor was producing 54 hp and the load capacity had increased to 1000 kgs / 2,205 lbs. production of the Type 2 (T1) ceased in Germany in 1967 but continued in Brazil until 1975. Above is a 1964 Type 2 Transporter that appears to have served the Kapellen Stadt Moers volunteer fire brigade in North Rhine Westfalen. Like all today’s featured Type 2s it’s a left hooker which goes to show just how popular these vehicles still are in the UK.

VW Type 2 Transporter, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

The period from 1947 to 1991 is often referred to as the era of the Cold War between the Western Allies and East Bloc, a period punctuated by tensions in which mutually assured nuclear destruction reared it’s head as a possibility from time to time. What I did not realise was that the Western Allies were not in a particularly harmonious economic relationship at the time.

Each member nation was keen to preserve it’s own industries from the predatory monopolism of it’s neighbours and alleged friends. This culminated in 1963, soon after the Cuban missile crises, in the Germans and French placing restrictive tariffs on imported US chicken, in return to protect it’s automotive industry the US placed restrictive tariffs on Type 2s, designating them as commercial vehicles, which cut US sales by two thirds at a stroke. These tariffs are still in place today and Ford who these tariffs were to aimed at protecting among others has resorted to importing vehicles built in Europe which comply with passenger vehicle ordinances and then taking them to a warehouse in Baltimore for the passenger vehicle compliant items to be stripped and shredded turning said vehicles to commercial applications.

Above is a 1966 Type 2 which unusually has sliding rear doors on both sides, this vehicle served the Fire services at Zurich Airport and then a small Swiss village before being returned to it’s original colours and converted for use as a race car tow and support vehicle. With the introduction of the Transporter (T4) in 1990 all previous Transporter/Kombi’s/Buses were retrospectively given T1 to T3 identities so original iteration Type 2’s built between 1950 and 1975 became Type 2 (T1), 2nd iteration Type 2s with larger bodies built from 1968 to present became Type 2 (T2) and third iteration wedge shape Type 2s became Type 2 (T3) also known as T25.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ben’s Bus” 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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