Tag Archives: VSCC

Supercharged Six – Amilcar CO

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The Amilcar CO was a production two seat racing car, very much in the mould of the contemporary but larger Bugatti Type 37, designed by Edmond Moyet and put into production in time for the 1926 racing season.

Amilcar CO, Matthew Blake, VSCC, Prescott,

Power came from a development of the Amilcar C6 models 1094 cc / 67 cui six cylinder motor which in this application featured a twim cam hemi head, crankshaft running on roller bearings, dry sump lubrication and two stage Roots supercharger which added up to over 100hp.

Amilcar CO, Matthew Blake, VSCC, Prescott,

Despite costing more than the larger capacity Bugatti Type 37 it is believed 40 CO’s which were capable of over 170 kmh / 10 mph were built.

Amilcar CO, Matthew Blake, VSCC, Prescott,

During 1926 it is said that the C6 and CO models recorded over 70 victories with works driver André Morel leading the way winning the 1100cc race (Gran Premio del Vetturette) run concurrently with Italian Grand Prix and Charles Martin finishing 4th overall and first in the 1100cc class in the JCC 200 mile race at Brooklands.

Indeed an even faster single seat MCO variant of the CO would continue winning 1100cc events well into the 1930’s with Le Havre Amilcar agent José Scaron being a regular winner.

Seen in these photographs is the 1926 CO, first registered in the UK on October 24th 1938, driven by Matthew Blake at Prescott.

Thanks for joining me on this “Supercharged Six” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at Shaun The Sheeps Land Rover. Don’t forget to come baahck now !

08/02/15 Thanks to Tim Murray for pointing out the 1100 cc race at Monza was run concurrently with the Italian GP over the first 40 of the 60 laps run for the Grand Prix and that Charles Martin did not win the JCC 200 mile race at Brooklands as originally stated.

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La Bugatti du Pauvre – Amilcar CGSS

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In 1924 Amilcar started manufacturing its doorless CGS (Grand Sport) model with a boat tail body, front and rear brakes, powered by a 30hp 1,074 cc / 65 cui 4-cylinder engine that featured an aluminium cylinder head, to compete against the similar but rear wheel brake only Salmson VAL 3.

Amilcar CGSs, Terry McGrarth, VSCC, Prescott,

The front wheel brakes of the CGS were particularly innovative and advantageous because they featured a sliding rod system within the front kingpins that allowed the driver to keep a constant pressure on them.

Amilcar CGSs, Terry McGrarth, VSCC, Prescott,

Two years later Amilcar introduced a lowered GSSs, surbaisse, variant which featured larger brakes, a bigger oil sump and an increased power output to 35hp thanks to the development of a new camshaft.

Amilcar CGSs, Terry McGrarth, VSCC, Prescott,

The CGSs is said to have been very successful on the track, the only results I have been able to confirm are three third places on the Mille Miglia recorded in 1927,28 and ’31.

Production of the CGSs continued until 1929 with around 4,700CGS models of both types built, Terry McGrath’s example seen here was built in 1928.

Thanks for joining me on this “La Bugatti du Pauvre” 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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Splash Lubricated Cyclecar – Amilcar CC Sport

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In June 1921 Joseph Lamy and Emile Akar founded Amilcar building cycle cars, 2 seaters weighing less than 350 kgs and powered by motors of less than 1100cc / 67 cui, designed by Jules Salomon and Edmond Moyet at their works in central Paris.

Amilcar CC Sport, Lady Carolyn Venables Llewelyn, VSCC, Prescott,

The initial Amilcar CC model, as seen above, was powered by a side valve splash lubricated 4 cylinder motor with a displacement of 903 cc / 55 cui which produced 18 hp.

I believe the mahogany boat tail styling may have been the work of Parisian bespoke coach builder Jean Henri-Labourdette.

Lady Carolyn Venables-Llewelyn, wife of VSCC club President Sir John Venables-Llewelyn, is seen braving inclement conditions driving today’s featured 1923 Amilcar CC Sport at Prescott.

Thanks for joining me on this “Splash Lubricated Cyclecar” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting the first Avenue Drivers Club meeting of the year for Coffee Croissants and Cars. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Six Carb Option – Ferrari 275 GTB #07597

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Today’s featured Ferrari 275 GTB chassis #07597 was delivered to Maranello Concessionaires, GB in 1965.

Ferrari 275 GTB, VSCC, Spring Start, Silverstone

This right drive car was delivered with the 6 x 40 Weber DCN/3 carburetor option fitted to the motor which produces around 280 hp, six carburetors were only fitted as standard to the later 300hp 4 cam 275 GTB/4.

Ferrari 275 GTB, VSCC, Spring Start, Silverstone

Like the 275 GTB I looked at last week this one is fitted with a short nose body built by Scaglietti

Ferrari 275 GTB, VSCC, Spring Start, Silverstone

The history I have been able to find on this car, seen at last years VSCC Spring Start meeting at Silverstone, beyond the delivery details are brief, in 1980 it is believed to have belonged to someone known only as “Bridges” in the UK.

Ferrari 275 GTB, VSCC, Spring Start, Silverstone

#07597 was also seen at the Brooklands Auto Italia International Weekend, in July 1996.

Thanks for joining me on this “Six Carb Option” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I be looking at a newspaper boys Rolls Royce. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Methanol Motion – Delage SS Special

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Rod King’s potent Delage SS Special featured in today’s blog is built on a 1938 Delage chassis.

Delage Special, Rod King, VSCC, Loton Park,

The 2664 cc / 162 cui straight 6 motor appears to have been donated from a contemporaneous Jaguar SS100.

Delage Special, Rod King, VSCC, Prescott,

Unlike most Jaguar SS100 motors, which produced 100 hp when new, the one in the SS Delage Special has been supercharged.

Delage Special, Rod King, VSCC, Prescott,

The orange dot on the side of the car indicates to safety marshals in the event of an emergency that the motor runs on performance enhancing methanol which burns without visible flames.

Delage Special, Rod King, VSCC, Prescott,

Almost exactly a year ago Rod King’s Delage SS Special had a minor part in the second series finale episode of Father Brown called The Laws of Motion.

Thanks for joining me for this “Methanol Motion” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be reviewing my Christmas reading. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Straddling Hostilities – Delage 3 Litre Course

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In 1932 Delage launched it’s D6 series which featured independent front suspension, hydraulic front brakes and a six cylinder motor of 2.1 litres / 128 cui.

Delage 3 litre Course, John Warden, VSCC, Loton Park.

Like the Delahaye 135 series, which initially used cable operated brakes, the Delage D6’s were available with a variety of chassis lengths onto which coach builders, like Charon would build a body in what ever style a customer required.

Delage 3 litre Course, John Warden, VSCC, Loton Park.

By 1936 D6’s were available with motors just over 3 litres / 183 cui when Delage started building the 3 Litre Course model for competition.

Delage 3 litre Course, John Warden, VSCC, Loton Park.

Records show that one such car entered by Ecurie Walter Watney driven by Louis Gérard and Georges Monneret finished second at the Le Mans 24 Hours and on the other side of the hostilities in 1949 entrant and driver Henri Louveau sharing a 3 litre D6S with Juan Jover from Spain repeated the feat at the same venue.

John Warden’s 3 Litre Course shown in these photographs taken at a VSCC meeting at Loton Park is listed in the programme as a 1937 model, the DVLA records show the car as being built and imported to the United Kingdom in 1949, their are myriad reasons for such a discrepancies arising, if you happen to know the real reason please do not hesitate to chip in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Straddling Hostilities” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psychoontyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Huge Torque – Hispano Delage 500CV

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Today’s featured car, like Cristopher Williams Napier Bentley, is a VSCC special, a car assembled from period parts that were not necessarily assembled in the current combination back in the day.

Hispano Delage 500CV, Anthony Howart, VSCC Loton Park

The chassis for Anthony Howart’s Special comes from a 1926 Delage. I suspect, though it is unconfirmed that this is the type of chassis fitted with a 10.5 litre / 640 cui Delage V12 that 4’10” Canadian Mrs Kay Petre used to set a fastest ladies lap around Brooklands of 134 mph in 1935.

Hispano Delage 500CV, Anthony Howart, VSCC Loton Park

The 27 litre / 1,647 cui Hispano Suiza V12 Type H.S. 57 12 Mb motor for this car was built in 1930 and produces well over 500hp at 2000 rpm it was most commonly found in French built aircraft like the military; Blériot-SPAD 91-7, Nieuport-Delage 622 and 629 aircraft.

Anthony who has owned the one and a half tonne special since 2007 says the motor has huge torque and requires a soft touch on the accelerator if one is to avoid taking off.

Thanks for joining me on this “Huge Torque” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Coffee, Mince Pies and Cars. Don’t forget to come back now !

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