Tag Archives: Convertible

Classic Clubs – Silverstone Classic

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Today’s blog is dedicated to all the hundreds of car clubs and thousands of classic car enthusiasts who brought classic cars along to Silvertone Classic as we take a look at some of the clubs present.

Aston Martin Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

No less than three, from a total production of 100, of the 2002 limited edition Aston Martin DB7 Zagato’s headed the Aston Martin Owners Club parade.

Berkeley Enthusiasts Club, Silverstone Classic,

Celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary in style was the Berkeley Enthusiasts Club, above a Berkeley Foursome and B105 lap the Silverstone Circuit.

BMW Car Club, Silverstone Classic,

Complementing the 40 metre BMW wheel and Village Green the BMW Car Club was out in strength, above a Z3 and Z1 lap the circuit during one of the parades.

Classic Corvette Club UK, Silverstone Classic

Classic Corvette Club UK was celebrating it’s 35th anniversary, the ’78 Indy 500 Pace Car Limited Edition above was built a year before the formation of the club. This one has the desirable 220hp L82 motor option, the 1978 Indy 500 was won by Al Unser in his Cosworth DFX powered Lola T500.

Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club always have a fine display of SP250s at this event and this year was no exception.

Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain, Silverstone Classic

The Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Pony Car, above a ’70 convertible stands next to a ’69 Shelby GT 500.

Ginetta Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of the Ginetta G33, one day when I’m in a position to buy one I’ll become a member of the Ginetta Owners’ Club.

Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, Club, Silverstone Classic

John James of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club was able to help me out with an Otter Switch for GALPOT’s most famous XK140 owner Geoffrey Horton in California.

Lamborghini Club UK, Silverstone Classic

The original competition spec prototype Lamborghini Muira Jota burned to the ground on the, unopened, Brescia ring road in April 1971, a member of Lamborghini Club UK has built this wonderful replica of the Prototype originally built by Bob Wallace.

Mercedes Benz Club, Silverstone Classic

Amongst the Mercedes Benz Club members vehicles was this imperiously tailfined 1967 Mercedes Benz 200.

Morgan Sports Car Club, Silverstone Classic

Wecoming Morganeers was the Morgan Sports Car Club with 5,000 owners world wide.

Piper Sports And Racing Car Club, Silverstone Classic

Catering for just 80 examples ever built is the Piper Sports And Racing Car Club which is primarily concerned with preserving the marque for whom Tony Hilder designed the 30″ GT’s first seen in 1968.

Porsche Club Great Britain, Silverstone Classic


Porsche Club Great Britain is the UK’s only officially recognised club for the marque and has close links with Porsche AG and the marques official importer Porsche Cars Great Britain.

Stag Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Driven by a zest for life for those united by a common interest in the Triumph Stag classic car is the Stag Owners Club.

Karmann Ghia Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The Karmann Ghia Owners Club attempts to support all aspects of ‘KG’ ownership from purists who want to see original cars to those whose interests include customisation, lowering and performance modifications.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Classic Clubs’ edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Americana Thursday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Fasten Seat Belt – Ford Mustang 302 Convertible

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Seven years after the introduction of the original Mustang, Ford launched the forth and final face lifted version on the original 108″ wheel base chassis in 1971.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The model aimed originally at the youth market was now aimed at a far more affluent market that could afford to double the price of a basic model with sports packages.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

By 1972 however, when today’s featured model was built things were beginning to radically change. As an oil crises drove up fuel prices, sales of performance orientated models with high end 275 hp Boss 351 motors plummeted to just 351 units.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

With the increased perceived need for fuel conservation even the 140 hp 5 litre / 302 cui Windsor motor like the one above stood to be demonised as a gas guzzler against national interests.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

While performance was “out” safety was rapidly becoming the new “in”, the ’72 Mustang was the first to be fitted with a “Fasten Seat Belt” warning lamp on the dash panel.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

This particular ’72 model seen at Summer Classics in Easter Compton, fitted with a Mach 1 honeycomb sport lamp grill option was imported into the UK in May 2000.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

1972 saw Mustang sales dip below 130,000 for the first time since the models launch in 1964 to just 125,903, the forth face lifted Mustang continued to be built with minor revisions into 1973 when sales slightly picked up.

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

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Winning Pace Car ? – Ford Torino GT Convertible

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For 1968 Ford launched a new mid size model with a 116″ wheel base called the Torino which was placed over the previous Fairlane’s attracting a predictable price hike in return.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Concours d'Elegance

To promote the new model Ford did a deal with the organisers of the Indy 500 to provide a fleet of Torino GT Convertible pace cars for the use of event officials which included two 428’s, one 390 and one hundred and fifty six 302 Automatics known as ‘festival cars’.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Concours d'Elegance

Additionally Ford dealers could order a limited edition ’68 Pace Car spec Torino GT convertible. It is thought 709 of these limited edition vehicles were built with around 90% percent having the lower spec 302 motor fitted.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Concours d'Elegance

It is possible, with a little room for scepticism in the absence of any number of confirming details, that today’s featured example seen by Geoffrey Horton at last years Marin Concours d’Elegance is the 309 Pace Car used at Indy.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Concours d'Elegance

The give away evidence that this might be the 390 GT Torino Convertible used at Indy are the bonnet / hood pins which are unlikely to have been fitted to any of the Dealer ordered Limited Edition pace cars.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Concours d'Elegance

The ’68 Indy 500 was won by Bobby Unser driving a turbocharged 4 cylinder Offenhauser powered Eagle from team owner Dan Gurney in a Ford V8 powered Eagle. The ’68 race was also used as a backdrop for the film ‘Winning’ which introduced Paul Newman to Motorsport and led to his participation as a driver and successful team co owner.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Concours d'Elegance

‘Winning’ brought some no doubt welcome additional coverage for the GT Torino Pace Cars which also featured in the film. If you have evidence to either confirm or refute the notion that this car is one of the cars supplied to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1968 please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Winning Pace Car ?” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Squarebird – Ford Thunderbird Convertibe

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Despite the success of the original 2 seat personal luxury Ford Thunderbird launched in 1955 for 1958 at the insistence of Robert McNamara the second generation 1958 Ford Thunderbird was restyled as a 4 seat 2 door vehicle with coupé or convertible body styles.

Ford Thunderbird, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Larger and heavier second generation Thunderbirds with a 113 inch wheel base were switched to unitary body construction a technique which was still a novelty for the period.

Ford Thunderbird, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Overall the ’58 Thunderbird with all of it’s baroque chrome and tailfins maintained a boxy appearance from which it’s “Squarebird” nick name was derived among enthusiasts.

Ford Thunderbird, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The bomb sight motif seen on the front wings / fenders were echoed in the design of the rear view mirrors.

Ford Thunderbird, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

A fold away hard top had originally been envisaged as seen on the Ford Skyliner but this was abandoned in favour of a convertible roof operated by a hydraulic system powered by a complicated system of electric motors, switches and solenoids which opened a rear hinged panel ahead of the boot / trunk lid.

Ford Thunderbird, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The science fiction rocket pod styling of the tail lights appears to have been lifted by the Next Generation Start Trek design team for the Starship Enterprise NCC 1701-D.

Ford Thunderbird, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Of the, up until then, record 37,892 Thunderbirds built in 1958 only 2,134 were convertibles. Today’s featured ’58 Thunderbird has put in regular appearances at Avenue Drivers Club meetings at Queen Square in Bristol.

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

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Red Hot Convertible – Buick Special Convertible

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Today’s featured car is a 1958 Buick Special Convertible from the last year of manufacture of the second generation Specials which dated back to 1949.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

The grill looks vaguely similar to the keyboard of my G4 Power Book Steve Jobs however would have been all of three when these cars were new. Polishing the 165 1/2 inch chrome squares is an act of extreme endurance and dedication.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

Looking closely at the Special and it’s apparent acres of chrome detailing, with no less than three bombsight bonnet / hood ornaments it is hard to believe that the Special was in fact Buick’s base model.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

First seen on 1946 Buicks, the Bombsight ornaments were a huge hit in post war America.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

The sweepspear chrome body moulding was first seen, as an option, on the 1949 Buick Riviera and like the Bombsight it soon became a trade mark Buick item.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

Sitting on a 122 inch wheel base and with a 208 inch long body the Special is 5 inches shorter than the contemporary Buick Supers and Roadmasters.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

The interior is a upholstery is a combination of cloth cloth and vinyl with a nylon rug, the 2 speed Dynaflow is operated by the chromed column shifter on the right of the steering wheel.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

Scalloped rear wings / fenders were all the rage in 1958 …

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

but they were not a guarantee for success as demonstrated by marketing disaster known as the Edsel.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

With a top of the range 250 hp 6 litre / 365 cui nailhead V8 a model like this could reach 60 mph in under 11 seconds,

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

which would substantially reduce the average 8.6 miles to the US gallon fuel consumption.

Buick Special Convertible, Shakespeare County Raceway

5,502 of these 109 mph Buick Special Convertibles which weigh 4,165 lbs were built in for the 1958 model year, they retailed at US$ 3,041 and today can be worth in the region of US$ 70 – 80,000 at auction dependent on condition.

Wishing all GALPOT readers a Red Hot Valentines day.

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

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One Of Those Blue Italian Things – Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder #10691

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Way back when I was a teenager my folks took me to the Cinema to see a film staring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway called the Thomas Crown Affair, a story about a millionaire businessman, Thomas Crown played by Steve McQueen, who got his kicks by executing a near faultless bank robbery.

Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Concours by the Sea, Carmel

After the job a dirty thinking insurance investigator Vicki Anderson played by Faye Dunaway is sent to help squeaky clean Detective Eddie Malone solve the case, and after narrowing the list of suspects down correctly intuits that Thomas Crown is her man. She shows up in a high profile dark read Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder at a polo match in which Thomas is playing and starts to openly film with on a small movie camera, they inevitably meet and she introduces herself as an investigator and makes no secret of the fact that he is the person she is investigating.

Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Concours by the Sea, Carmel

Later on Thomas turns up at an auction room and parked outside is the dark red NART Spyder which catches his attention and his assistant remarks “isn’t that one of those red Italian things” to which Thomas responds in the affirmative.

Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Concours by the Sea, Carmel

After much cat and mouse Thomas decides to do one more job and lets Vicki in on the idea to see if she really loves him or wants to turn him in. I’ll leave it to you to see the film to find out what happens, here is a link to the trailer.

Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Concours by the Sea, Carmel

Luigi Chinetti had plans to have 25 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyders built with Pininfarina bodies in 1967. The first chassis 09437 was supplied with a 330 hp race motor, Chinetti had a roll cage fitted and entered it into the 1967 Sebring 12 hours for Marianne ‘Pinky’ Rollo and Denise McCluggage who finished a credible 17th overall and second in class behind a Ford Mustang. The car was later scouted for The Thomas Crown Affair and painted dark red for the film.

McQueen liked the car that Dunaway had in the film and ended up buying chassis #10453. Todays featured car is chassis #10691 which won the Carmel by the Sea Concours d’Elegance best in show award last August where these photographs were taken by Geoffrey Horton.

Despite the good performance at Sebring and the appearance in the Oscar winning, best original song, Thomas Crown Affair Chinetti had trouble selling ten NART Spyders with out heavy discounts and so only ten were built. They now change hands depending on history and condition for between US$ 3 to 4 million.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “One Of Those Blue Italian Things” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t for get to come back now !

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25th Anniversary Aero Airbag – Ford Mustang GT Convertible

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They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the few owners of third generation Mustangs, built from ’79 – ’93, that I have spoken too always rave about them, no matter that in some eyes they share the aesthetics with a family pack of lard with no knobs on, you either love these cars or hate them.

Ford Mustang GT Convertible, Portishead

Based on the Ford’s mid size Fox platform, around which contemporary classics as the Ford Granada (US), LTD and Thunderbird, Mercury Cougar and Capri, Lincoln Versailles and Continental Mark VII were also built, the third generation Mustang GT is fitted with a 5 litre / 302 cui V8 produced 225 hp. In 1987 third generation Mustangs received an “aero” style face lift which replaced the earlier 4 eyes look.

Ford Mustang GT Convertible, Portishead

Handling was improved over the other vehicles built on the Fox platform with Fords Quadra Shock rear suspension though the handling still takes some getting used to and is best not sampled in the snow. For 1990 when today’s featured car was built drivers airbags became standard.

Ford Mustang GT Convertible, Portishead

A school friend of mine who used to work in the oil industry out in Houston Texas had one of these 25th Anniversary Mustangs from new and said that the cost of keeping it maintained aside, there was no car he has owned before or since that has given him so much pleasure as his Mustang GT being driven out of Houston on a balmy evening with the hood down and the air conditioning on.

Thanks for joining me on this 25th Anniversary Aero Airbag 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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