Monthly Archives: October 2012

Scavenged and Salvaged – Trabant P60

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VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke in Zwickau, Sachsen, East Germany was named after the Sachsenring race track and made use of manufacturing plants that had once belonged to Horsch and Audi before the 1939/45 war.

Trabant P60, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

East Germany’s need for agricultural equipment led VEB Sachsenring to making tractors before moving into the automobile market with a variety of water cooled 2 stroke and 4 stroke vehicles.

Trabant P60, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

The P60 was the second Trabant to be powered by an aircooled 594 cc / 36 cui 2 stroke motor which produced no more than 20hp.

Trabant P60, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

Like all Trabants the petrol tank was mounted above the motor and used only gravity to feed the two stroke mixture to the engine. The fuel gauge was a piece of graduated wood which acted as a dip stick.

Trabant P60, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

This particular 1962 P60, seen at the Rare Breeds show held at Haynes International Motor Museum, was rescued in 1996 from atop a pile of cars in Gatebeck, Cumbria, after it had been scavenged for parts for another P60 that resided in the Isle of Man.

Trabant P60, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

P60’s were in production from 1962 to 1964 when they were replaced by the Trabant 601 that remained in production until 1991.

Thanks for joining me on this “Scavenged and Salvaged” edition of ‘Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow when I’ll be honoring the first man to record a 200 mph lap in an Indy Car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Some Synchromesh – MG VA

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In 1937 the MG VA succeeded the MG N-type I looked at in last weeks MG Blog.

MG VA, Goodwood Revival

VA’s were fitted with a twin carburetor 54 hp 1548cc / 94 cui straight 4 motor that sans twin carburetors was shared with MG’s parent companies Morris 12 and Wolseley 12/48 models.

MG VA, Goodwood Revival

The motor was attached to a four speed gearbox some of which had synchromesh on the top two gears but most of which had synchromesh on the top three gears.

MG VA, Goodwood Revival

The VA was available with either four door saloon, 4 seat tourer, like the 1938 model seen here or drophead coupé bodies, further Tickford drophead Coupés and 4 seat tourers, distinguished by spare wheels mounted ahead of the passenger door were also offered.

MG VA, Goodwood Revival

With the windscreen folded down a tourer could accelerate to 50 mph in under 16 seconds and reach a top speed of over 80 mph.

MG VA, Goodwood Revival

MG ceased production of the VA in 1939 and it was replaced after the 1939/45 war by the Y-type in 1947.

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Annual Face Lift – Vauxhall Velox Series E Pick Up

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The Velox Series E was launched in 1951 with 4 door saloon/sedan, 2 door tourer and Coupé pick up versions.

Vauxhall Velox Pick Up, Goodwood Revival

In 1955 Vauxhall owners General Motors mandated annual face lifts for it’s Vauxhall models and the car seen here is a 1955 model with a less clumsy front grill than it’s predecessors.

Vauxhall Velox Pick Up, Goodwood Revival

Power came from a six cylinder motor that produced 64 hp or 68 hp if specified in high compression spec. Note the faux sculpted chrome bonnet trim, a throw back to Vauxhalls built in 1911.

Vauxhall Velox Pick Up, Goodwood Revival

Velox’s were assembled in Vauxhall’s home town of Luton, Australia and New Zealand. Utility pick ups were and are particularly popular in the farming communities of Australia where they were sold with Vauxhall badges by Holden.

Vauxhall Velox Pick Up, Goodwood Revival

The Series E Velox was phased out in 1957 to make way Velox and Cresta PA models introduced for 1958.

Thanks for joining me on this “Annual Face Lift” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for a look at an MG tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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