Tag Archives: Geoffrey

Hemispherical FirePower – Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe Newport

Leave a Reply

The advantages of a hemispherical cylinder head are that it makes an efficient combustion chamber with minimal heat loss to the cylinder head, however there are numerous difficulties to be overcome to make such a head reliable and commercially viable due to the complexity of the cross flow valve gear, the need for domed piston crowns to attain the necessary compression ratio and the need for high octane fuel to prevent inefficient and destructive detonation in the combustion chamber.

Chrysler engineers began developing hemispherical combustion chambers in 1940 for an inverted V16 that powered a prototype for the P.47H Tunderbolt and was considered for the XP.60C, but the motor was so delayed it never went into production.

Later Chrysler also worked on a hemi head design with Continental for the 810hp Continental AV-1790-5B V12, air-cooled twin-turbo gasoline engine that powered the M47 Patton Tank which was manufactured from 1951 to 1953.

Chrysler New Yorker, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

In 1951 Chrysler introduced it’s first FirePower V8’s with hemispherical heads on the New Yorker and Imperial models and as an option for the Saratoga.

Bill Sterling and Robert H. Sandidge drove a Hemi powered Saratoga to a third place finish in the 1951 Carrera Panamericana finishing behind two Ferrari 212 Inters, less than 16 mins behind the winning car driven by Piero Taruffi and Luigi Chinetti.

Similarly Belgian Paul Frére drove Hemi powered Saratogas’s to class wins at the Mille Miglia and Spa 24 Hour races, Lee Petty won the first of his three NASCAR titles in 1954 scoring seven victories in Hemi powered Chryslers and Dodges.

Chrysler New Yorker, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The grill on today’s featured car suggests that it is a Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe Newport built for the 1954 model year which was fitted with a 235 hp version of the Hemi that was good for a theoretical top speed of 97 mph.

New Yorkers appeared on the Carrera Panamericana in 1951,’52 and ’53 but were not as successful as the Saratoga, Reginald McFee scored the models best result a 12th place finish in 1952.

Today’s featured New Yorker was driven on the 2011 Carrera Panamericana by David Buchanan and New York auto engineer Raffi Najjarian dropping out on day 2, I believe they finished third in class with the same car in the 2015 edition of the event.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing these photographs taken at Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance in 2011.

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

Share

Ferrari Friday – Niello At Serrano Concours d’Elegance

Leave a Reply

Today’s blogs looks at some of the Ferrari’s at Niello at Serrano Concours d’Elegance, digitally captured by Geoffrey Horton for us.

Ferrari 458 Italia, Niello Serrano Concours d'Elegance

The 458 Italia is as stunning graceful today as it was the day it was launched in 2009.

Ferrari 250 GTE, Niello Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Of the two 1962 Series 2 Ferrari 250 GT/E’s present the older by default was chassis #3509GT above ….

Ferrari 250 GTE, Niello Serrano Concours d'Elegance

… since the last of the Series Two 250 GT/E’s to be built was chassis #4089 seen above.

Ferrari 500 Superfast, Niello Serrano Concours d'Elegance

I doubt one can ever see enough photograph’s of the Ferrari 500 Superfast chassis #8019SF that formerly belonged to hanging Judge Samuel Simon Leibowitz.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his Concours d’Elegance photographs this season which I hope he will continue to share with us next year.

Thanks for joining me on this Ferrari Friday edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psychoontyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the complicated story of a Chevron B16. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Americana – Niello At Serrano Concours d’Elegance

1 Reply

A couple of weeks ago Geoffrey Horton wrapped up his Concours d’Elegance season with another award for his Jaguar XK140 at the Niello at Serrano Coucours d’Elegance and kindly shared these photographs of some of the other competitors.

Ford Speedster, Niello at Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Turning Ford Model T’s into speedsters evocative of those raced before the 1914 – 18 war and immediately thereafter seems to be a growing pastime, this one looks brand new and unusually does not feature a transverse leaf spring for the front suspension.

Packard 1104 Super Eight Dual Cowl Phaeton, Niello at Serrano,

Powered by a straight eight the 1934 Packard 1104 Super Eight Dual Cowl Phaeton above seats seven in style.

Packard 110 Convertible, Niello at Serrano,

Eight years later Packard were manufacturing six cylinder Packard One Ten’s like the convertible example above.

Kurtis 500M, Niello at Serrano Concours d'Elegance

Around the time Kurtis built machines were dominating the Indy 500 the glass fibre bodied 500M like the example above was built for the road, powered by what ever engine the customer chose, often Cadillac, these machines were capable of reaching nearly 100 miles an hour over a 1/4 mile and had a top speed of over 130 mph.

Dodge Dart, Niello at Serrano,

The 1964 Dodge Dart Convertible above, which in optional automatic form had push buttons to select the gears come straight out of the era of rocket inspired styling

AC Shelby Cobra, Niello at Serrano,

Finally above a 1965 Shelby Cobra Mk III the 31 detuned semi competition versions of which are worth well in excess of one and half million dollars.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs more of which will appear on Friday.

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

Share

Dodge Powered Guest Car – Shadow Dodge DN6 #3A

Leave a Reply

For the 1975 US Formula 5000 season Don Nichols had Tony Southgate design a F5000 version of Shadow’s primary Formula one contender the DN5, known as the DN6 the main differences were that it required a sub frame to carry the 5 litre / 302 cui Chevrolet engines the team ran up until Atlanta, in place of the load bearing Ford Cosworth DFV used to power the DN5.

Shadow Dodge DN6, Ironstone, Concours d'Elegance

1974 Can Am Champion Jackie Oliver was retained to drive the UOP Lead Free Oil Products F5000 Shadow DN6 and his results, 3rd at Pocono, 6th at Mosport, 11th with a blown engine at Watkins Glen, 2nd At Road America and 4th at Mid Ohio showed the Chevrolet powered car was not lacking too much in competitiveness.

Shadow Dodge DN6, Ironstone, Concours d'Elegance

At Road Atlanta the team switched to Dodge Motors, coincidentally or otherwise just as the Shadow Formula One team was seeking an edge with the Chrysler Europe Matra V12 powered Shadow DN7 in Austria and Italy.

Shadow Dodge DN6, Ironstone, Concours d'Elegance

Just as with the Matra V12 in Europe the Dodge motor did not significantly improve Jackie’s fortunes he finished 4th in Atlanta, crashed at Long Beach, came home fifth at Laguna Seca and retired with low oil pressure at Riverside.

Shadow Dodge DN6, Ironstone, Concours d'Elegance

For the Long Beach Grand Prix the team entered their rising Formula One star Tom Pryce in a Dodge powered DN6 which is believed to be the one seen in these photographs taken by Geoffrey Horton at Ironside Concours d’Elegance a few years ago.

Shadow Dodge DN6, Ironstone, Concours d'Elegance

Tom retired from the race after completing just 14 laps of the final with a broken gearbox after qualifying 5th one spot behind Jackie and finishing third in his heat. At Riverside the team invited rising Tyrrell star Jody Scheckter to try the guest DN6.

The South African qualified 3rd, 5 spots ahead of Jackie, finished his heat with a blown head gasket after 5 laps and retired from the race after 33 laps with an engine problem, Jackie carried on racing the Dodge powered DN6 in 1976 with considerably more success when the car remained reliable.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs of the DN6, which has been restored by his neighbor Dennis Loscher, taken at Ironside Concours d’Elegance in 2013.

Thanks for joining me on this “Dodge Powered Guest Car” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again fr a look at the last of the nine Mercedes Benz 300 SLR’s to be built. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Ferrari Friday – Blackhawk Museum and Danville Concours d’Elegance

Leave a Reply

While participating at the Danville Concours d’Elegance last month Geoffrey also popped into the Blackhawk Museum where some of today’s Ferrari’s were also seen.

Ferrari 195 Sport Touring Berlinetta, Blackhawk Collection

Among the cars yet to feature at Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres is this Ferrari 166MM chassis #0060M that was fitted with a larger 2.3 litre 195 engine by the Ferrari factory and entered at Le Mans By Chinetti and later at Sebring by Briggs Cunningham in 1950.

Ferrari 250 GT Ellena Coupé, Blackhawk Collection,

The Ferrari 250 GT Ellena Coupé above was built in 1957 it is the 23rd of the 50 Coupés with bodies by Carrozzeria Ellena.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet, Blackhawk Collection

Built in 1958 the 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet above was the 30th of 40 Series 1 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet’s to be built which I believe was seen at the 1958 Paris Salon before being sold to Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata in Venice.

Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet, Blackhawk Collection,

I have not yet I identified the chassis number of this 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet, if you know it please do not hesitate to chip in below.

Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

Outside in the Danville Concours D’Elegance Brian Hoyte’s 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Coupé chassis #0295EU, another Paris show car, was judged worthy winner of the Award of Excellence.

Ferrari 250 GTO, Danville Concours d'Elegance,

While the Ferrari 250 GTO chassis #4757GT, another ex Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata car, now belonging to Tom Price turned plenty of heads, but on this occasion was awarded no prizes.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for once again sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ferrari Friday” edition of “Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a diminutive Chevron GT. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Hartz Avenue At Its Finest – Danville Concours d‘Elegance

Leave a Reply

A month ago Geoffrey Horton popped over to Old Town Danville to participate in the Danville Concours d‘Elegance and see Hartz Avenue at it’s finest, an event that raises Parkinson’s research and patient care.

Land Rover 101 Forward Control, Danville Concours d‘Elegance

Among the British vehicles on display this mid 1976 Land Rover 101 Forward Control designed initially for pulling field guns and carrying 1 ton of ammunition, a fleet of 31 101’s were converted by Land Rover to “City CABs” for the 1995 film Judge Dredd set in 2139.

Aston Martin DB5, Danville Concours d‘Elegance

For many years the Aston Martin DB5 could probably lay claim to being the the worlds most recognisable automotive movie star, with the James Bond franchise about to release a new film “SPECTRE” it is quite possible the DB5 will rise to the top of that chart again.

Jaguar E-type, Danville Concours d‘Elegance

Winner of Class B: 1960 – 1969 British Sports Cars was this 1962 Jaguar E-Type belonging to Donald Morris.

Austin Healey 100, Danville Concours d‘Elegance

From 1956 a cracking high performance 110hp Austin Healey 100M version of the BN2.

Lagonda 2.6-Litre DHC, Danville Concours d‘Elegance

Ideal for touring on the Continent is this 1952 Lagonda 2.6-Litre Drop Head Coupé one of only 125 built that was discovered in a barn by a Doctor in 2004 prior to an extensive restoration complete in original factory colours.

Jaguar XK140 FHC, Danville Concours d‘Elegance

Once again congratulations to Geoffrey whose 1955 Jaguar XK140 Fixed Head Coupé SE/MC was judged Class A: Pre-1960 Sports Car winner.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs from Danville more of which will be seen on Friday.

Thanks for joining me on this “Hartz Avenue At Its Finest” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a Plymouth Wagon. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Four Cylinder Zenith – Plymouth PB Sports Roadster

Leave a Reply

Six months before production of the Plymouth PA came to an end production of the PB commenced on February 4th 1932.

Plymouth PB, California,

The PB would be the last 4 cylinder model using the same 196 cui / 3.2 litre 4 cylinder motor inherited from both the PA and earlier U series Plymouths, though now with oil filters fitted as standard equipment.

Plymouth PB, California,

The 109″ chassis was the same wheel base as the PA and U series to but with X pattern cross bars for additional chassis rigidity.

Plymouth PB, California,

The hydraulic brakes were also upgraded to a centrifuse type featuring steel drums with fused cast iron friction surfaces.

It is believed that 2,163 PB Convertible Coupés were built like the example seen here in a California car park, though they were only available new from the factory painted; Black with either Black or Casino Red mouldings, Limousine Blue No. 4, Uhlan Gray, Merrimac Beige, or Biscay Sand, bodies, the 4 cylinder PB’s would be replaced by 6 cylinder PC’s and PD’s in 1933.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Four Cylinder Zenith” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a Superfast Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share