Tag Archives: Cruise-o-matic

Everything You Could Ask For – Ford Mustang Hardtop

The 1966 Ford Mustang introduced minor detail changes to the original ’65 models including a simplified front grill.

 Ford Mustang, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Below the bonnet / hood there were not many changes except the availability of the Cruise O Matic three speed transmissions on the V8 models.

 Ford Mustang, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Chrome trim was also added to the faux intakes ahead of the rear wheels. Slightly different wheel trims were standard but this ’66 car seen at an Avenue Drivers Club meeting in Bristol appears to be fitted with out of period wheel trims.

 Ford Mustang, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

In the cabin the original Falcon derived interior instrumentation disappeared with a five dial cluster as standard and two in car entertainment options were offered AM/8 Track Stereo or AM/FM Mono radio.

 Ford Mustang, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Rear seat belts also became standard in ’66.

 Ford Mustang, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

This particular was imported in 2008 and is showing signs of not having been kept in a garage since.

 Ford Mustang, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The ’66 Mustangs were aimed at both the single girl on a secretaries salary and the man in his 50’s looking to add a little spring to his step.

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

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Fastest Four Seats – ISO Rivolta Fidia

The ISO Rivolta Fidia was designed with a body by Giorgetto Giugiaro then still working for Ghia, to compete with the Maserati Quattroporte first seen in 1963, and was first shown to the public at in 1967 at the Frankfurt Motor Show where it carried the S4 name.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

By the time of the 1969 press launch in Athens the S4 had been renamed Fidia after the artist “Phidias” who was responsible for the friezes that decorated the Parthenon that Lord Elgin controversially sent to England in 1802.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The choice of Athens for the press launch was not the wisest as the local petrol was not of sufficiently high octane to prevent “pinking” which where the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four-stroke cycle.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

At the time of the press launch, with the strap line “The Fastest Four Seats In The World” today’s featured car the second built and first with right hand drive, had already been built and delivered to it’s owner John Lennon for a price in excess of a comparable Rolls Royce.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Until General Motors demanded payment in advance of shipping the Fidia was powered by the 5.4 litre / 327 cui small block Chevrolet motor which gave the car an impressive rest to 60 mph time of 7 seconds.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

From 1973 on the Fidia was powered by Fords 5.8 litre / 352 cui V8 with either a 5 speed manual ZF transmission or Fords Cruise-o-matic automatic transmission.

ISO Rivolta Fidia, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Despite John Lennon buying three Fidia’s, with 192 built between 1967 and 1975 the Fidia never reached the production levels of the Quattroporte of which 776 had been built when production came to a stop in 1969.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fastest Four Seats” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at an Australian built Land Crab. Don’t forget to come back now !

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