Short Wheelbase Sport – Delage D8S

After the successes of winning the 1927 World Manufacturers’ Championship with it’s D15 S8 model Delage urgently needed to turn it’s attention to it’s road car business in order to restore it’s finances.

Delage D8, Mike Hawley, Chateau Impney,

The outcome of it’s endeavors were the D8 available with three different wheelbases as chassis on to which, mostly Parisian, coach builders weaved their magic with exotic designs and the shorter wheelbase D8S optimised for sports car applications such as the example seen in these photographs.

Delage D8, Mike Hawley, Chateau Impney,

Power for all the D8 models came from a 4061 cc / 247.8 cui straight 8 which for the D8 S application was tuned to produce 120hp, the four speed gearbox had synchromesh on 3rd and 4th gear only.

Delage D8, Mike Hawley, Chateau Impney,

Top speed was dependent on the weight and drag of the body fitted, but 82 mph should have been possible for a D8 S.

Delage D8, Mike Hawley, Chateau Impney,

The D8 S like the D8 was manufactured from 1929 to 1933, the example driven by Mike Hawley in these photographs taken at Chateau Impney last year was built in 1930 and first registered in the UK July 1st 2001.

Thanks for joining me on this “Short Wheelbase Sport” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be visiting Queen Square in Bristol.

Don’t forget to come back now !

Noble Character And Distinction – Mercedes Benz W128 220SE Cabriolet

Looking through my picture library for cars to write about this month I came across Geoffrey Horton’s photograph’s of one more Mercedes Benz 220SE seen here at Palo Alto Concour’s d’Elegance a couple of years ago.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The strap line on the US sales literature for the 220SE Cabriolet and Coupé noted that these were “Two Personal Cars of Nobel Character and Distinction”.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

The literature drew attention to the unitised frame floor with a subframe for the engine, the recirculating ball type steering, which has since been almost universally replaced by rack and pinion steering, and the rear swing axle suspension.

Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance

UK sales literature concluded “… these modern cars with their perfect matching of beauty, power and roominess are rightly considered favourites in their class.”

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Noble Character And Distinction edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another Delage. Don’t forget to come back now !

Dropflow Coupé – Healey Sportsmobile #B 1760

In 1948 Donald Healey added three new models to his existing Elliot Saloon and Westland four seater roadster.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

All three new models like today’s featured Sportsmobile ran on the same chassis with independent front suspension as the Elliot and Westland.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

They also used the same Riley running gear with a 104hp twin cam 4 cylinder Riley engine.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

The “Dropflow Coupe” 2+2 drop head coupé body said to be influenced by contemporary American styles was made in aluminium by Sam Morris and Co.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

High end pricing aimed the Sportsmobile squarely at the exclusive end of the market and all Sportsmobiles were built only to order, hence the “Custom Built” legend on the model name badges and boot / trunk handle.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

World Land Speed record breaker John R. Cobb drove a Sportsmobile on the official circuit opening ceremonial lap at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire on the 20th of August 1948.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

It is believed by the Sportsmobile Register that 25 such cars were built, but only five are known to remain.

Healey Sportmobile, Silverstone Classic

I believe chassis #B 1760, featured in these photographs taken at Silverstone Classic was built in 1949, in 1951 it was with Shukers in Sheffied and moved to Germany in 1980 the current owner, who also owns a Healey Silverstone, bought #B 1760 in 2008.

Thanks for joining me on this “Dropflow Coupé” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Mercedes Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gemini’s Antecedent – Moorland BMC

My understanding is that Leslie Redmond of the Moorland Car Company, Southall, London built today’s unique Moorland Formula Junior car to a design laid down by Len Terry in early 1959.

The first documented appearance of the car I have been able to find is in the third BRSCC organised Formula Junior race which took place at Brands Hatch on August 3rd 1959.

Moorland, Bill Grimshaw, Silverstone Classic,

It would appear that Graham Warner of The Checkered Flag, a car sales, engineering and racing business that operated from premises on Edgeware Road and Chiswick High Street in London with a third on Arkright Street in Nottingham, bought the car and entered it for himself at Brands Hatch.

However Graham got stuck on his return from Germany, where the German Grand Prix had been run at Avus in Berlin the day before and called ahead to his mechanics to find a driver for the Speedwell BMC powered Moorland.

Ian Raby was given the job of driving the Moorland and after starting from the back of the grid, having missed practice, he scythed through the field recording the quickest lap in the five lap race on his way to eventual victory.

Graham Warner decided to acquire the rights, jigs, moulds and services of Leslie Redmond to put the car into production, naming it Gemini Mk2 after Gemini House on Edgeware Road where one of his businesses was based.

In 1960 the Moorland went to the USA where it remained until repatriated in 2001, current owner William, Bill, Grimshaw is seen at the wheel in this photograph exiting the pits at last years Silverstone Classic meeting.

On the 26th December 1959, at a rain sodden Brands Hatch, a Scotsman by the name of Jim Clark drove a Checkered Flag entered Ford powered Gemini Mk2 to an eighth place finish in the 10 lap John Davey Trophy.

Thanks for joining me on this “Gemini’s Antecedent” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at another Healey. Don’t forget to come back now !

Proving The Car’s Strength – FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye

When FIAT bought out Carlo Abarth in July 1971 it was looking for models to compete in the forth coming World Rally Championship that was inaugurated in 1973 with aim of “proving the car’s strength.”

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Abarth who’s reputation was primarily built on racing and hill climbing products was introduced to rallying with a Twin Cam FIAT 125 programme in 1970 and in 1972 the company started building and competing with a competition hardtop version 124 Spyder body, a model launched in 1966, for it’s Rally programme.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Initially the 124 Abarth Rallye was fitted with 1850cc / 112 cui versions of the FIAT four cylinder twin cam designed originally by former Ferrari man who became Abarth’s first President under FIAT management Aurelio Lampredi, a change in rules in 1974 permitted 16 valve heads to be fitted and engine sizes of 1850cc and 1756 cc / 107 cui were used in competition.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

Success for the 124 Abarth Rallye included Rafael Pinto’s and Maurizio Verini European Rally Championship wins in 1972 and 1975 respectively, two wins on the Portugese Rally for Rafael in 1974 when he led a Abarth Rallye sweep of the podium positions and for Markku Alen in 1975 who with Ilka Kivimäki in the passenger seat led home 2nd place finishers Hannu Mikkola who was partnered by current president of the FIA Jean Todt.

FIAT 124 Abarth Rallye, Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park

FIAT also finished second to Group stable mate Lancia in the 1974 and 1975 World Rally Championships, in all 1,013 hardtop FIAT 124 Abarth Rallyes were built between 1972 and 1975 when the programme was wound up to make way for the World Rally Championship winning FIAT Abarth 131 programme.

Today’s featured Abarth Rallye, appearing with 1981-’82 UK registration plates at Race Retro a few years ago, was originally supplied to a privateer for use in the Italian National Rally Championship, it is currently fitted with an ultimate works spec fuel injected engine.

Thanks for joining me on this “Proving The Car’s Strength” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a one off Formula Junior Car. Don’t forget to come back now !

Sixth Series – Packard 640 Custom Eight Roadster #168397

In 1924 Packard replaced it’s V12 powered top of the range Twin Six models with more powerful and economical straight eights.

Four years later Packard production peaked at 55,000 units in 1928 and in August of that year the company introduced it’s Sixth Series with either 140 inch wheel base 640 chassis as seen here or 145 inch wheel base 645 chassis.

Packard 640 Custom Eight Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge, California

Power for the sixth series came from a single block straight eight with side valves and a seven bearing crank with a capacity of 384.8 cui / 6.3 litres that produced 106hp at 3,200 rpm.

Today’s featured car is equipped with a three speed manual gearbox, semi eliptic springs and drum brakes for all four wheels.

Packard 640 Custom Eight Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge, California

A contemporary report in The Autocar noted “… the big car has the power for traveling right up to a high speed without fuss, without suggestion that the engine is doing much work, without harshness, yet with plenty still in reserve.”

Known history of this car starts with collector Richard C. Paine, Jr who owned from at least 1990.

Packard 640 Custom Eight Roadster, Bonhams, Quail Lodge, California

Mr Paine left instructions for this car an several others from his collection to be sold upon his passing to secure the future of the Seal Cove Auto Museum near Bar Harbor, Maine.

After being bought by a European Museum in 2008 the car is seen in these photographs by Geoffrey Horton waiting to be put under the Bonhams hammer for a second time at the 2013 Quail Lodge Auction where it sold for $126,500 including buyers premium despite requiring “mechanical re-commissioning”.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Sixth Series” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for FIAT Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

All Wheel De Dion Suspension – Bucher Guyer Duro

In the early 1990’s the Swiss Army put out a tender to supply a fleet of 2000 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles to replace it’s fleet of Austrian Steyr Daimler Puch Pinzgauer’s that went out of production in 1976.

Swiss Company Bucher, which traces it’s origins back to 1807, won the contract through it’s Geyer sometimes known as Guyer division with it’s Duro model supplying the initial order between 1994 and 1999.

Bucher Guyer Duro, Horfield, Bristol,

The Duro was originally powered by a 150hp VM EP638LI, 3749cc / 228 cui straight six turbo charged diesel engine that drives all four wheels through a four speed automatic gearbox with one central and two axle differentials.

To keep the wheels parallel and improve ground clearance the Duro employs a novel, for 4×4 and 6×6 applications, all wheel De Dion suspension with the dead axle De Dion tubes curved upwards.

The disc brakes are mounted in board to reduce unsprung weight and as in Unimog’s the hubs incorporate reduction gears.

Top speed of the aluminium bodied Duro on the road is 62.5 mph, in 2003 General Dynamics MOWAG division acquired the rights to build the Duro and has developed it from it’s original specifications out lined here.

Today’s featured right hand drive Duro was built in 1994 and first registered for civilian use in the UK on the September 1st, 2001.

Thanks for joining me on this “All Wheel De Dion Suspension” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a 1929 Packard. Don’t forget to come back now !