Author Archives: psychoontyres

Replica or Fake – CMT

I have to admit this one had me fooled until I did an HPI check, regrettably after I had posted my original blog, apologies for any distress I caused with my initial posting.

Turns out today’s car is not one of the 50 Jaguar XJR 15’s I first thought it was but something called a CMT.

CMT is a manufacturer so low on the grapevine that it does not even have a website, in fact this blog could well be an internet scoop since there is not so much a single photo of a CMT that I could find on the web.

All that is known about this vehicle is that what ever it is based on dates back to 1996.

The motor size quoted in the HPI check is 3.9 litres / 237 cui so it might have it’s origins in the ubiquitous Rover / Buick all alloy V8, but I do stress the ‘might’.

Like a couple of manufacturers of replica Lancia Stratos vehicles this car was goal hanging outside the Race Retro exhibition, why CMT did not simply hire a stand in the exhibition proper like a number of other replica manufacturers is hard to fathom, but there you go I’ll leave you dear reader to make your mind up if this is a good replica or bad fake.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s internet scoop edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’, and that you’ll join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t for get to come back now !

The Real McCoy – Mini Cooper S

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Mini Cooper S, Prodrive

The 1964 Monte Carlo Rally boasted a superb entry including factory backed vehicles from Citroen, Ford, Mercedes, Saab, Volvo, Volkswagen and a fleet of 6 works Mini Coopers.

Starting from Athens, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Lisbon, Minsk, Monte Carlo, Oslo, Paris and Warsaw, the field converged on Rheims in France and from there on to 5 competitive stages and a couple of laps of the Monaco Grand Prix track.

The Ford Falcon Sprint of Bo Ljungfeldt won every stage of the rally including the laps around Monaco but in those days the overall results were determined by a handicapping system which translated stage times and engine size into points which meant Ljungfelds 305 hp 4.7 litre 289 cui Falcon did not have a sufficient time margin over the 70hp 1071cc / 65 cui Mini Cooper S seen here crewed by Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon which was declared the winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally.

33 EJB is thought to have been built in 1963 and crewed by Hopkirk and Liddon to 3rd overall and 3rd in class in the 1963 Tour de France prior to winning the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally.

The car belongs to the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon and is seen here at the Prodrive workshops because the engine was not running properly.

Like the Revenge Mini Replica I blogged about some months ago 33 EJB also has it’s Replica’s like this one built in the USA.

Finally I’d like to correct an oft repeated error reference the registrations of the works Mini’s on the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally seen in the 5th paragraph of this link.

What ever BMW or anyone else may say the registrations of the works Minis on the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 were as follows :-

33 EJB #37, Hopkirk/Liddon, Cooper S, 1st overall/1st in class.
570 FMO #182 Makinen/Vanson, Cooper S 4th overall/2nd in class
569 FMO #105 Aaltonen/Ambrose, Cooper S 7th overall/3rd in class
477 BBL #39 Baxter/McMillan, Cooper 43rd overall/2nd in class.
18 CRX #187 Thompson/Heys, Cooper S crashed
277 EBL#189 Mayman/Domleo, Cooper S crashed

My thanks to Alan, Tim, Stephen, Darren, Fred at The Nostalgia Forum who helped me out with the registration numbers.

Hope you have enjoyed to days Handicap edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Dark & Sinuous – TVR Tuscan

The Bosses Car #2 – Aston Martin Rapide

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Regular readers may remember a couple of months ago when i visited the Morgan factory I happened across Charles Morgan’s limited edition Aeromax.

A couple of weeks ago I happened across Dave Richards, personal transport this fabulous ‘large and in charge’ Aston Martin Rapide while visiting Prodrive.

The Rapide is Aston Martin’s top of the range 4 door saloon, a successor to the Aston Martin V8 based Series 1 Aston Martin Lagonda of 1974/74 of which just 7 were built.

The 2010 Rapide is powered by a 470 hp 5935cc / 362 cui V12 …

that is shared in common with both the DB9 and V12 Vanquish.

This is only the second Rapide I have ever seen and it still surprises me how graceful this four dour DB9 looks.

Surprisingly this range topping model of of a well known British Marque is actually assembled at a dedicated Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria.

The standstill to 62mph performance time of 5.2 seconds and top speed of 184 mph will undoubtedly helped a near standard Rapide take second in class during the 24 hour race at the Nurburgring in 2010.

More on Aston Martin and the Rapide Luxe can be seen up the Drive Channel.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s Austrian built edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres, and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Rustproof & Secure – Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type UK

105/115 Series – ALFA Romeo 2000 GTV

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The ALFA Romeo 2000 GTV was part of the 105/115 Series Coupés in production from 1963 to 1977, it is thought that 37,459 2000 GTV variations were produced from 1971 to 1976.

The Bertone penned bodywork was built onto to shortened Giulia Berlina floorpan, all 105/115 Series Coupés used four cylinder all alloy twin cam engines, this particular one has the largest 1962 cc / 119 cui motor that came equiped with carburettors and was good for 150 hp.

An undetermined number of 105/115 Series Coupés were assembled near Petoria in South Africa allegedly alongside other knock down kits including Datsun’s.

Date for your diaries Saturday April 16th Bristol City Centre will be hosting the Italian Auto Moto Festival, today’s photo’s as were many others featured here over the last 6 months were taken at this event last year.

E-mail me if your planning to attend it would be great fun to meet up.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s all alloy twin cam edition of ‘Getting a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you’ll join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Body Kit Special – Ferrari 599tc GTB Fiorano

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The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was introduced in 2006 as the brands two seat flagship.

It was Styled by Pininfarina under the direction of Frank Stephenson who lists the new MINI, BMW X5 and McLaren MP4 -12C in his portfolio.

The 599 GTB is powered by a 612 hp 5999 cc / 366 cui V12 making it the most powerful road car to leave the Ferrari factory.

However for some that is not enough, so far as I can work out, from the silver body kit this example may have had some tuning by the Dutch Novitec Russo company who offer an 800 hp twin supercharger upgrade.

The standard 612 hp car will get from rest to 62 mph in 3.7 secs, reach 100 mph in 7.4 seconds

and 160 mph in 19 seconds.

Top speed for the standard car is 205 mph.

Presumably the ‘tc’ designation on the side of this car indicates this particular vehicle will represent an opportunity to improve on the standard performance figures.

Looking back, from my seat in the peanut gallery, it is hard to believe anybody would want such a car in any colour except Ferrari Russo, but I guess it takes all sorts.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s body kit special edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring