Tag Archives: Psycho

Best laid plans in PR – Bond Equipe 4S

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Continuing the theme of rare Triumph based cars started yesterday, today we are looking at this 1965 Triumph Herald based Bond Equipe GT 4 S.

The Equipe GT 4S was built on a Triumph Herald chassis and was powered by a 63 hp 1147 cc / 69.9 cui 4 cylinder used in the Triumph Herald and Spitfire.

The opening boot was only introduced to the Equipe range with the GT 4s in 1964 ! 1934 examples of this 4S were built from 1964 – 1967. The Equipe in various guises was built from 1963 to 1970, when Bond was taken over by Reliant and the factory in Preston was closed.

A little footnote on the Bond Equipe 4S, Bond supplied several of these vehicles to the press for the official opening of a new stretch of the M6 Motorway on 23rd January 1965, big news in those days with thronging crowds as can be seen in this picture. The publicity coup however fell flat when Winston Churchill died the next day.

Hope you enjoyed todays show, don’t forget to come back now !

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Killed by British Leyland – Italia 2000 GT

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The Italia 2000 GT was an attempt by Commendator Salvador Ruffino to fuse the proven ‘reliability’ of British engineering and the the artistry of Italian coach builders.

The Italia 2000 GT was built around knock down Triumph TR3A kits, featuring a 100 hp 1991cc 121 cui 4 cylinder engine, that has similarities to the engine Standard supplied to Ferguson for use in tractors in 1945.

The TR3 from which all the mechanical components are supplied was one of the earliest production vehicles to feature Disc brakes behind the Crosley Hotshot and Citroen DS.

As this, non original (?), plate show’s only 349 Italia 2000’s were built, the original agreement was for Carrozzeria Vignale to build 1500 of these sports cars however when British Leyland bought Triumph in 1960 the management decided to stop supplying the knock down kits and opted to build the TR4 instead.

The design of the Italia was by Giovanni Michelotti who designed the Triumph TR4 that superseded the Italia.

The production of the Italia 2000 GT in Turin ran from 1959 to 1962.

Thanks for popping by, don’t forget to come back now ! 🙂

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Cinquecento – Fiat ‘Topolino’

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Nothing more topical to celebrate this blogs 500th visitor than this cute little Fiat 500 ‘Topolino’.

The ‘Little Mouse’ was powered by a 13 hp 4 cylinder 596 cc / 36.37 cui engine mounted ahead of the front axle.

The low, for 1937, front body line, was achieved by mounting the radiator behind the engine.

This really is a two seat vehicle but I remember hitch hiking in Italy in the 1980’s seeing these vehicles stuffed with 4 or 5 passengers always screaming and laughing with Latin joie de vivre.

Thanks to every one who has popped by over the last couple of weeks and particularly all those who have made comments, its been great fun getting “Psycho on Tyres” up and running and I hope you’ll continue to find this blog continues to entertain.

Don’t forget to come back now 🙂

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A Lesson From Lotus – Elan plus 2

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The elegant Lotus Elan plus 2 was introduced in 1967 .

It was capable of 120 mph powered by a 126 hp 1558 cc / 95 cu inch 4 cylinder engine.

5200 plus 2’s were made between 1967 and 1975. The registration of this model suggests it was made in between 1971 and 1972.

This non standard badge, celebrating all of the Lotus world constructors championships is at least 6 years younger than the rest of the vehicle to which it is affixed. Lotus Team Manager Peter Warr who played a role in the 1970, ’72 and ’73 championship victories passed away yesterday.

Peter should be best remembered for taking Ayrton Senna to Lotus on Ayrton’s own terms and extending the life of the Lotus F1 team by several years after the death of founder Colin Chapman. However he is most well known for saying of Nigel Mansell (above Lotus 87 in 1981) “he’ll never win a Grand Prix as long as I have a hole in my arse”, which was probably all the encouragement Nigel needed to leave the Lotus team and become the winner of the 4th most Grand Prix of all time a World and Indycar champ. The lesson from Lotus must be ‘never speak ill’. RIP Peter Warr.

Thanks for dropping by, don’t forget to come back now.

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Memories of Tony Curtis – Ferrari Dino 246 GT

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The TV industry of the sixties and seventies thought up all sorts of curiosities that are simply inconceivable in todays world.

In 1971 one such was a programme called The Persuaders an attempt at making a thriller series popular in the UK and US. The premise was that two playboys Lord Brett Sinclair an English all action (Soldier / Racing Driver) Aristocrat teams up with Danny Wild a Bronx self made millionaire to solve all sorts of ‘errors of impunity’ to avoid ninety day jail sentences for fighting in a bar ! A community service order for rich people.

The show was not a success in the States and was cancelled after the first series though it was immensely popular in Europe, in Sweden The Persuaders translated to ‘Snobs on the Job’, in Germany and France the translations of the shows were a comic departure from the original.

The lead roles were played by Roger Moore and Tony Curtis who’s respective signature cars were an Aston Martin DBS registered ‘BS 1’ and a Red Ferrari Dino 246 GT registered 221400 MO. The Ferrari 246 was powered by a 175 hp 2.4 litre / 147.6 CUI 65 degree V6 which gave it a top speed of 146 mph, 3,761 were produced from 1969 to 1974.

The highlight of many a Sunday afternoon during my school days was watching the Persuaders and I still associate Tony Curtis with his Ferrari Dino no matter that he was actually far better recognised for his comedy films including ‘Some Like it Hot’ made around the time I was born.

Off topic I’d like to welcome all my readers from Belgium, particularly Wesley and Anja who’s Mini Moke featured in this blog a last week, mention of which was made on the Belgian Mini Forum.

Thanks for dropping by, don’t forget to come back now.

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Sorry I’m late. Some idiot in a red Lamborghini parked in my spot.

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Following on from yesterdays dream pick up, earlier this year Bristol hosted a classic car show in the middle of town where I saw for the first time up close my all time favourite 2 + 2 sports car and by far my favourite Lamborghini.

Powered by a 3929 cc / 239 cui 325 hp 60 degree V12, this gorgeous if monstrous vehicle measures is 186 inches long, 73 inches wide and is 46 inches high, that’s just six inches higher than a GT 40 !

1217 Espada models were built from 1968 to 1978, the name refers to the sword used by Spanish bull fighters .

The Espada was designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone and reminds me of the vehicles from the 1960’s sci fi puppet tv series “Thunderbirds”.

Late Kudos

To Alsatian Sebastian Loeb on lifting his all time record seventh World Rally Drivers Title !

And to Greg Biffle on winning at Kansas, looks like Jimmy is the target again huh ?

Go Happy ! Go Harvick ! Go #29 !

Thanks for dropping by on this “Sorry I’m late. Some idiot in a red Lamborghini parked in my spot” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow don’t forget to come back now ! Hear ?

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I JUST WANT ONE ! – Maloo R8 !

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The odd Latvian Lada Zhiguli notwithstanding it’s not everyday I amble along the streets of Bristol and get stopped dead in my tracks on seeing a vehicle and think WTF is that I want one and want it now !

Such was the case with this vehicle, which oozes refinement and speed by the bucket load yet looks like a pick up. Turns out the Maroo R8 is manufactured by Holden Special Vehicles in Australia and has it’s origins in the humble Holden Ute – pick up.

This Maloo R8 would appear to be the latest E series introduced in 2007, which features a 412 hp 6 litre / 366 CUI LS2 V8 from the Corvette parts bin.

This pick up does not just look fast either, it holds the record for being the worlds fastest pick up timed at 168 mph / 271 kph a staggering 13.5 mph / 22 kph faster than its closest competitor the Dodge Ram SRT-10.

I don’t think its a stretch to say the Maloo R8 is a considerably better looker than the Dodge either.

For a long time the 1970 Chevrolet El Camino has been my dream pick up, my dream just took a turn for the Australian outback 🙂

Hope this Antipodean Stunner leaves you in good spirits for the week ahead, Don’t forget to come back now ! Hear ?

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