Monthly Archives: October 2010

Move Over – Rover P6… Cabriolet !

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The other day I was ambling along to the shops in the bright sunshine and I caught a glimpse of an old school chrome bumper through a hedge, it was attached to a Rover P6 (marketed as a Rover 2000) I didn’t think much of it till I got around the corner and it registered there was something odd, the roof was missing.

I went back to check and sure enough this is a Rover 2000 4 door cabriolet. I have no idea where or when the conversion was done, probably when the car was at least 12 months old to avoid attracting additional car purchase tax.

The Rover P6 Series 1 was in production from 1963 – 1973. This particular model was relatively underpowered by a 104 hp single carb, 1978 cc 120 CUI Heronhead (flat head / combustion chamber in the piston) overhead cam four cylinder engine. 208, 875 examples were produced of which between 160 to 170 are thought to have been converted post registration (to avoid additional car purchase tax) into estate / station wagon types by HR Owen and Crayford Engineering. Crayford are well known for Cabriolet conversions and possibly may have done this one.

If you know anything about Convertible P6’s please tell us about them ?

Slightly off topic tonight (UK time) is the night Happy Harvick and anyone else interested in lifting the NEXTEL CUP surely has to beat Jimmy Johnson to be considered a contender, if the #48 leaves California with the win then I’d say the Chase and the Drive for Five is all over bar the shouting. Fingers crossed Go Happy ! Go Harvick ! Go #29 !

Wishing everybody a sunny Sunday. Don’t forget to come back know !

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Column Shift Racer – Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint 2

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Today’s featured car is a 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint Series 2 powered by a 1975 cc / 120.5 cui 4 cylinder engine.

This particular car featuring a 5 speed column shift was delivered on the 31st March 1954.

Vehicles of this type are known to have competed in events like the Targa Florio & Mille Miglia .

I am not sure if these vented rear window’s were part of the original specification, but they would indicate this particular car might have a competition history, if you know anything about it leave a comment below.

The body work is made by Touring of Milan using their trade mark Superleggera (Super light) Duraluminim construction technique featuring a light steel frame covered in aluminium panels.

Anyone who has seen Goldfinger might remember James Bond telling one of his molls about his ‘Aston Martin DB5 Superleggera’ in that fabulous Scottish brogue.

Aston Martin bought a licence from Touring to use the Superleggera technique which has one major flaw other than being very expensive, steel and aluminium when they come into contact suffer galvanic corrosion.

Galvanic corrosion occurs between aluminium alloy wheels and steel hubs making it difficult to remove aluminium wheels after they have remained bolted to a vehicle after long periods of time.

A similar problem often occurs between steel screws and aluminium licence plates.

Allegedly Bristol Cars with their experience in the aircraft industry are the only manufacturer to have satisfactorily minimised the problem of galvanic corrosion by using a special paste twixt aluminium and steel.

The sunken rear lights on this car look particularly fetching though the heavy duty steel bumper rather spoils the effect IMHO.

Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend, 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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