Tag Archives: Karmann

Camp, Sell, Show ‘n’ Shine – Bristol Volksfest

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A couple weeks ago I popped along to Bristol Volksfest at Easter Compton, to help some acquaintances from Bristol Advanced Motorists out with a parking competition that was being run in the main field.

Bugle Dune Buggy, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Among the vehicles on display for sale was this 1964 Bugle Dune Buggy complete with turbocharged motor.

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Basking in the afternoon sun on very cool Fuchs rims above is a 1971 Karmann Ghia.

Volkswagen Type 2 T3 syncro DoKa, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

The owner of the 1990 Volkswagen Type 2 T3 syncro Dopple Kabina (DoKa) Pickup above told me that it had been in service with the Norwegian armed forces as a fire engine before being imported to the UK.

Volkswagen Transporter Caravelle, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Graffiti Artist Banksy is vying with Damien Hirst to be Bristol’s most famous living artist and going on the number of tourists visiting his work in Bristol Banksy might well be Bristol’s living biggest tourist attraction, above a 1996 Diesel powered Transporter Caravelle presumed not to belong to Robin Gunningham pays tribute to Banksy.

Volkswagen Golf Mk IV, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Over in the show’n’shine area a Golf Mk IV receives some tlc.

Volkswagen Polo GTI, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

I suspect the 2006 Polo GTI is bigger, heavier, more powerful and faster than the Golf that started the GTI badge fashion in March 1975, but I’d be interested to know if this one sitting on lowered suspension and tyres with stretched side walls can possibly run so well.

Thanks for joining me on this “Camp, Sell, Show ‘n’ Shine” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again, tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Mercury powered special. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Classic Clubs – Silverstone Classic

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Today’s blog is dedicated to all the hundreds of car clubs and thousands of classic car enthusiasts who brought classic cars along to Silvertone Classic as we take a look at some of the clubs present.

Aston Martin Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

No less than three, from a total production of 100, of the 2002 limited edition Aston Martin DB7 Zagato’s headed the Aston Martin Owners Club parade.

Berkeley Enthusiasts Club, Silverstone Classic,

Celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary in style was the Berkeley Enthusiasts Club, above a Berkeley Foursome and B105 lap the Silverstone Circuit.

BMW Car Club, Silverstone Classic,

Complementing the 40 metre BMW wheel and Village Green the BMW Car Club was out in strength, above a Z3 and Z1 lap the circuit during one of the parades.

Classic Corvette Club UK, Silverstone Classic

Classic Corvette Club UK was celebrating it’s 35th anniversary, the ’78 Indy 500 Pace Car Limited Edition above was built a year before the formation of the club. This one has the desirable 220hp L82 motor option, the 1978 Indy 500 was won by Al Unser in his Cosworth DFX powered Lola T500.

Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club always have a fine display of SP250s at this event and this year was no exception.

Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain, Silverstone Classic

The Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Pony Car, above a ’70 convertible stands next to a ’69 Shelby GT 500.

Ginetta Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of the Ginetta G33, one day when I’m in a position to buy one I’ll become a member of the Ginetta Owners’ Club.

Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, Club, Silverstone Classic

John James of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club was able to help me out with an Otter Switch for GALPOT’s most famous XK140 owner Geoffrey Horton in California.

Lamborghini Club UK, Silverstone Classic

The original competition spec prototype Lamborghini Muira Jota burned to the ground on the, unopened, Brescia ring road in April 1971, a member of Lamborghini Club UK has built this wonderful replica of the Prototype originally built by Bob Wallace.

Mercedes Benz Club, Silverstone Classic

Amongst the Mercedes Benz Club members vehicles was this imperiously tailfined 1967 Mercedes Benz 200.

Morgan Sports Car Club, Silverstone Classic

Wecoming Morganeers was the Morgan Sports Car Club with 5,000 owners world wide.

Piper Sports And Racing Car Club, Silverstone Classic

Catering for just 80 examples ever built is the Piper Sports And Racing Car Club which is primarily concerned with preserving the marque for whom Tony Hilder designed the 30″ GT’s first seen in 1968.

Porsche Club Great Britain, Silverstone Classic


Porsche Club Great Britain is the UK’s only officially recognised club for the marque and has close links with Porsche AG and the marques official importer Porsche Cars Great Britain.

Stag Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Driven by a zest for life for those united by a common interest in the Triumph Stag classic car is the Stag Owners Club.

Karmann Ghia Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The Karmann Ghia Owners Club attempts to support all aspects of ‘KG’ ownership from purists who want to see original cars to those whose interests include customisation, lowering and performance modifications.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Classic Clubs’ edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Americana Thursday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Safari, Trekker, Kurierwagen, Thing – Volkswagen Type181

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The Volkswagen Type 181 was born out of the incompetence of the Governments of West Germany, France and Italy to bring the Europa Jeep project to fruition. While the German military were waiting for this all wheel drive wonder mobile in 1968 the German Government approached Volkswagen to come with an interim vehicle which became the Type 181 seen today.

Volkswagen Type 181, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The Type 181 is based on a Karmann Ghia floor pan, a little wider than that used for the Beetle, and had running gear from the Volkswagen Type 2 which included reduction gears for the driven rear wheels that helped raise the ride height of the Type 181 to give it some off road capability.

Volkswagen Type 181, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Military Type 181’s were adopted my several NATO forces apart from Germany once the Europa Jeep project was abandoned in 1979.

Civilian versions of the Type 181 were first seen in Europe, Kurierwagen, and Mexico, Safari,in 1971 with US versions, Thing, appearing the following year. In 1975 Trekker versions of the Type 181 were sold in the UK but they were not popular and soon withdrawn from the UK market.

90,883 Type 181’s were built in Wolfsburg 1968–1974, Hannover,1974–1983, Puebla, Mexico 1970-1980, and Jakarta, Indonesia 1973 – 1980.

Note the Hannover built 1976 example seen in today’s photographs features a Porsche steering wheel and Porsche alloy wheels.

Thanks for joining me on this “Safari, Trekker, Kurierwagen, Thing” 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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The Karmann Influence – Triumph TR6 PI

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The Triumph TR6 PI (Petrol Injection) was in production from 1969 – 1976 during which time a then record 94,619 (Injection & Carburettor ) models were produced of which less than 10 percent were sold in the UK.

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Allegedly the squared off look was the outcome of a consultancy contract with Karmann.

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The Lucas Fuel injection gave the 2489cc / 151 cui straight 6 150hp though it is said the 104 hp carburettor US version was far more reliable. The car came with a standard 4 speed gearbox with overdrive on 2nd, 3rd & 4th available as an optional extra.

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The performance figure from rest to 60 mph was 8.2 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.

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To bring the car safely to rest disc brakes were fitted to the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear independent suspension.

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Unusually for the time the TR6 was made using a chassis with body panels bolted on rather than a monocoque (unitary) construction that had become widespread during the course of the 1960’s.

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Later TR6 PI’s had a engines tuned to a more tractable 120 hp.

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The registration plate on this vehicle indicates this vehicle may have first been registered in Kent between 1974 and 1975.

If you’d like to experience a TR6 but with an older style body you could try signing up with the Huet Brothers in the Netherlands for a ride in an HB Special complete with tuned TR6 motor and chassis.

If you have any TR6 experiences or memories, please do not be shy share them below.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s fuel injected edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow for a 50th Birthday Celebration. Don’t forget to come back now !

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