Tag Archives: Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

Lightening Maserati Wrap- Maserati GranCabrio

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Based on the same Maserati Quattroporte V as the Maserati GranTurismo Coupé the GranCabrio was launched in 2010 to become Maserati’s first four seat convertible.

Maserati GranCabrio, Andrew Philips, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The running gear is identical to the Maserati GranTurismo S which includes ZF 6-speed automatic transmission, Skyhook adaptive suspension, alternate under-door mini-skirts, non-black underlayed front lights, 20 inch wheel rims with “Trident” design, Bluetooth wireless technology and iPod interface all as a standard synthesis of Maserati performance and luxury components

Maserati GranCabrio, Andrew Philips, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Today’s featured car belongs to Mr Paul Hilton, owner of Cheshire Wellness, strap line “live life well”, a family firm specialising in the design and installation of swimming pools.

Maserati GranCabrio, Andrew Philips, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

I’m not sure if Mr Hilton uses his Maserati GranCabrio, seen here being driven by Andrew Philips at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, as a daily driver, but if he did I am sure his customers kids would have no trouble identifying with the man with the Lightening McQueen car.

The wrap was carried out by Wrap Vehicles of Sale, South West Manchester, surprisingly it is not the only Lightening Maserati as evidenced in this link.

Thanks for joining me on this Lightening Maserati Wrap edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another aero engined Edwardian car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Mavis – Packard Bentley

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Today’s featured vehicle Mavis is a creation of Chris Williams, the owner of The Ultimate Laxative Napier Bentley I looked at a couple of years ago.

Mavis, Packard Bentley, Chris Williams, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Mavis is built on a 1930 Bentley Speed 8 chassis which has been extensively modified to accommodate it’s 41.8 litre / 2563 cui V12 motor which was purchased by Williams at the suggestion of Duncan Pittaway.

Mavis, Packard Bentley, Chris Williams, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

This particular 1500 hp Packard 4M 2500 V12 is a marine variant of an aero engine that was orignally installed in a 45 mph 2nd World War PT, Patrol Torpedo, boat.

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The supercharged Packard M4-2500 has twin exhaust ports and hence is fitted with 24 exhaust pipes, the faux torpedoes are actually oil tanks.

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Up to 1500hp is transmitted to the rear wheels through a Bentley C type gearbox that has no synchromesh, note that this vehicle has no front brakes !

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The rear wheels can be spun in any gear and Chris Williams “drive it like you stole it” attitude ensures that spectators are entertained with copious quantities of fire from the exhaust and clouds of smoke from the rear wheels at every opportunity.

Mavis Packard Bentley, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Chris says that Mavis was once lightheartedly described as “biggest automotive waste of time, money and engineering expertise ever built”.

Thanks for joining me on this “Automotive Waste Of Space” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an event which returned Motorsport to Hullavington in Wiltshire. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Zeppelin Airship Power – Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen

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Today’s featured 1920 Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen like last weeks featured Brutus is run and operated by the Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

Maybach’s first car built in 1919 is said to have used a proprietary chassis, most likely from Daimler considering that Wilhelm Maybach was not only an almost life long friend of Gottlieb Daimler, but also his former assistant.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

If the 1920 date for today’s featured vehicle is correct then the this car was built before Maybach ever showed a vehicle in public, since that did not occur until the Maybach W3 appeared at the Berlin Show in 1921.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

My suspicion is that like Brutus, the Napier Bentley, the GN JAP and numerous other Curtiss engined specials, the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen is another creation made from an assortment of vintage parts.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The 6 cylinder engine for the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen is said to have been built for use in Zeppelin’s, Maybach’s Luftfahrzeug Motoren GmbH was founded as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH in order to build motors for airships in 1909.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

The engine size is quoted as 23 litres which is the same as the Maybach Mb IVa
motors built from 1916 to 1918 used to power the Zeppelin airships LZ 105 to 114.

Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle

In theory the Maybach Mb IVa could produce 300 hp at sea level but because the engine was designed for maximum power at high altitude the motor had to be restrained to producing just 245hp at sea level in order to enhance it’s longevity, this is still enough to easily propel the Maybach Spezial-Rennwagen seen in these photographs at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power to 100 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Zeppelin Airship Power” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at some of the competitors vehicles at the recent Great Western Sprint at Castle Combe. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Brutus – American LaFrance BMW

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Located in Summerville South Carolina the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company specialised in building equipment and vehicles for the emergency services, the roots of the company go back to 1832, the company announced it was ceasing operations in January 2014.

American LaFrance BMW, Herman Layher, Cholmondeley

Herman Layher and Dietmar Gulden from the Auto & Technik MUSEUM SINSHEIM built today’s featured American LaFrance, known as Brutus, in it’s current form between 1998 and 2008.

American LaFrance BMW, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power,

This two ton leviathan is powered by a 650 hp 47 litre / 2863 cui BMW VI a mid 1920’s V12 bomber engine that was used in a variety of applications by the Axis nations of Germany, Spain, Japan and the Soviet Union who built these motors under licence as the Mikulin M-17. This particular one was found in a Spanish scrap yard.

American LaFrance BMW, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power,

The LaFrance chassis is believed to have come from a 1908 fire engine, despite it’s phenomenal weight and power it is only fitted with puny rear wheel brakes, a fact that keeps the temptation to use full throttle far from the drivers mind….

American LaFrance BMW, Herman Layher, Cholmondeley

… as would the 2.8 mpg (UK) / 3.7 mpg (US) fuel consumption.

American LaFrance BMW, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power,

This car has no fire wall behind the engine and the driver is protected from the flywheel, that could spin at up to 2000 rpm, only by an industrial safety guard.

American LaFrance BMW, Cholmondeley Pageant of Power,

Brutus is considered by Herr Layher, seen at the wheel in these photographs at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, to be the most dangerous vehicle in the world.

With the motor turning at 800 rpm Brutus will reach 60 mph and at 85 mph it will spin it’s wheels in top gear, to date it has not been driven over 124 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Brutus” 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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Importing A Ladder – Maserati 250F #2530/32

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Somewhere around 1980 Pink Floyd Drummer Nick Mason entered into negotiations to purchase ERA 10B and found that he could only buy the car on condition that he bought a Maserati 250F, today’s featured car, as part of the package.

Maserati 250F, Rob Hall, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

Nick bought both cars and found that the 250F had a 1957 lightweight chassis which turned out to be #2530 to which people had fitted numerous incorrect parts including a Chevrolet V8.

Maserati 250F, Autosport International, NEC Birmingham

Nick described the car as a “basket case” and recalls the car being described as a ladder for import purposes.

Maserati 250F, Rob Hall, Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

#2530 was originally fitted with a V12 motor but never raced with it, later in 1958 #2530 was fitted with a six cylinder motor and sent to South America. It appeared in the 1960 Argentinian Grand Prix with the chassis number #2532 where Gino Munaron drove the car to a 13th place finish.

Maserati 250F, Autosport International, NEC Birmingham

To keep you on your toes Antonio Creus drove another 250F in the 1960 Argetinian Grand Prix this was chassis #2526 which carried the #2530 ID tag ! Antonio retired from with driver fatigue.

Maserati 250F, Autosport International, NEC Birmingham

Towards the end of 1960 Brazilian Rugeno Peruzzi bought the car and between 1962/64, according to David McKinney’s Maserati 250F, it appears to have been raced by Camillo Cristofaro with a Chevrolet V8 in the engine bay.

Maserati 250F, Autosport International, NEC Birmingham

Colin Crabbe found the car with out any identity in the early 1970’s and Nick had the frame replaced by a new one to the correct 1957 lightweight specification.

Maserati 250F, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Rob Hall is seen yumping #2530 at Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power at the top of the post while Charles Knill-Jones, a member of the Ten Tenths team which looks after Nick Mason’s many cars, is seen in period attire hustling Nicks 250F around Castle Combe at last years Autumn Classic meeting.

My thanks to Castle Combe historian Pete Stowe for letting me know who was driving #2530 at Castle Combe.

Thanks for joining me on this “Importing A Ladder” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a vintage Bugatti. Don’t forget to come back now !

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