Tag Archives: Marek

Sherborne Details – Classics At The Castle

Last weeks Classics at the Castle threw up plenty of details and here is a small selection I managed to capture.

De Dion Bouton 10hp, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

It looks like this De Dion Bouton has been around for sometime it was offered for auction around 8 years ago it is thought to be a 10hp model from 1910, suitable for a DIY enthusiast with an aptitude for woodwork, as the saying goes.

Aston Martin DB4, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Looking pretty in light blue was this 1958 Aston Martin DB4 powered by a 6 cylinder 3670 cc / 223 cui motor designed by Tadek Marek.

Porsche 911R R, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

The most obvious give away that this Porsche 911R was a replica of the car Gérard Larrousse & Maurice Gélin won the 1969 Tour de France with was that it is a right hand drive model, apart from that it was convincing in many details including the lightened filler cap.

Sunbeam 16/20 Cabriolet, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Cool brass fittings for cockpit ventilation circa 1914 on a Sunbeam 16/20 Cabriolet.

Mazda MX5 BBR, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Not sure how distracting speakers built in to the headrest of a 1991 Le Mans Special edition Mazda MX5 BBR Turbo would be, but they were dropped from later models.

Lamborghini Aventador, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

With a zero to 100 km/h time of just 2.9 seconds tail lights are all one is likely to see of a 2012 Lamborghini Aventor.

Thanks for joining me on this “Sherborne Details” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow for some Chrome, Stripes and a Sheriffs Car. Don’t forget to come back now !

Standard Fire Extinguisher – Aston Martin DB5 Convertible

Aston Martin, DB5 Convertible, Race Retro, Stonebridge

The Aston Martin DB5 billed as a luxury Grand Tourer was introduced in 1963, it was an evolution of the DB4 models that preceded it.

Aston Martin, DB5 Convertible, Race Retro, Stonebridge

Standard on the DB5 were the faired in headlights first seen on some DB4 and DB4GT models.

Aston Martin, DB5 Convertible, Race Retro, Stonebridge

Mechanically the the DB5 received a 240hp 4 litre version of the straight six designed by Tadek Marek for the DB4, fitted to a new ZF 5 speed synchromesh gearbox. With three carburetors the enlarged engine produced 280 hp enough to give the DB5 a top speed of 145 mph. Operation of the disc brakes was aided by twin servo’s.

Aston Martin, DB5 Convertible, Race Retro, Stonebridge

The the body work again designed by Carrozzeria Touring and used the Superleggera tube frame to attached the panels to the chassis.

Aston Martin, DB5 Convertible, Race Retro, Stonebridge

The 1964 convertible seen here in the car park, at last years Race Retro exhibition in Stonebridge, is one of just 123 DB5 convertibles built between 1963 and 1965.

Aston Martin, DB5 Convertible, Race Retro, Stonebridge

In all 1,023 Aston Martin DB5’s of all types were manufactured which included 13 that were built or modified into shooting brake / estate / station wagons which came fitted with a fire extinguisher as standard.

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

Longer Taller – Aston Martin DB4 Series V

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The Aston Martin DB4 launched in 1958 was an all new car that would be updated and modified through the DB5 and DB6 models built up until 1971.

Aston Martin DB4, Brooklands, Double Twelve

The all aluminium six cylinder Tadek Marek designed motor featured twin overhead cams and produced 240hp. Enough to propel the car from rest to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 139 mph. DB4’s were fitted with servo assisted disc brakes.

Aston Martin DB4, Brooklands, Double Twelve

The superleggera body was designed by Carrozzeria Touring in Milan and could be ordered with the headlights faired in.

Aston Martin DB4, Brooklands, Double Twelve

DB4’s were built in five distinct series, the model seen here at Brooklands Double Twelve meeting last year is a 1963 Series V, first seen in 1962, which is distinguished by having a longer and taller body on smaller diameter wheels than the first four DB4 series.

Aston Martin DB4, Brooklands, Double Twelve

In all 1,110 DB4’s were built with 2+2 coupé, 2 seat Coupé or 2+2 drophead bodies, additionally 75 DBGT’s were built on a shorter wheel base shared with 19 DB4GT Zagato’s and one DB4GT with bodywork by Bertone known as the Bertone Jet.

Thanks for joining me on this “Longer Taller” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an Aston Martin DB5 Convertible. Don’t forget to come back now !

Unique Among Rare – Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato #0188/L

In 1958 Aston Martin launched it’s all new DB4, which owed very little to the Claude Hill designs that spanned the 1939 concept Atom through the; DB2, DB2/4 and concluded with the 1957 Mark III. In September 1959 a short wheel base of the DB4GT was announced of which 75 were built and in October 1960 a DB4GT with light weight body work and further weight saving by Ercole Spada at Zagato was shown at the London Motor Show.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

The DB4GT Zagato was powered by a Tadek Marek designed 314 hp, 3670 cc / 223 cui, all aluminium straight six motor fitted to a 4 speed all synchromesh gearbox that could push the car from rest to 60mph in just 6.1 seconds, 3 seconds faster than a standard DB4, and on to a top speed of 154mph. The disc brakes however did not have servo assistance.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

The plan was to build 25 DB4GT Zagato’s however at £5,470, they were not a fast seller and production was halted with just 19 original cars built. Today’s featured car is unique among the 19 because it does not feature the faired in front head lights common to it’s 18 siblings.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

With the relative rarity of these cars pushing up prices and numerous of the 75 DB4GT’s being converted to Zagato specification, in 1988 Aston Martin approved the uprating of four DB4 chassis to DB4GT specification and for these chassis to be sent to Zagato in Italy to be built into works approved replica’s known as Sanction II’s, which were outwardly similar to the original but in no way identical. These four cars sold for over US$ 1,000,000 … each !

In 2000 Aston Martin sanctioned two further DB4’s to be similarly upgraded by Zagato and this pair of cars are known as Sanction III’s.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photograph’s taken at Danville Concours d’Elegance last year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Unique Among Rare” edition of Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Aston Martin DB4. Don’t forget to come back now !