Tag Archives: Race

Under Australian Influence – Lotus 41

Kiwi Adventures – Ferrari 246 #0007

A couple of weeks ago at Race Retro I caught up with the last front engined car to win a Grand Prix again. This car was originally given the chassis number #0007 and driven by Wolfgang von Trips, Oliver Gendebien, and Phil Hill in 1958 recording just one 5th place finish in Portugal with ‘Taffy’ von Trips at the wheel.

The following season it driven by Dan Gurney in 4 Grand Prix recording a best finish of 2nd on aggregate at Avus in the 1959 German Grand Prix.

In 1960 #0007 was wheeled out for Phil Hill again for five more Grand Prix appearing for the last time at the Italian Grand Prix which Phil Hill won, in a clean sweep of the podium for the Italian marque, ahead of Richie Ginther and the Belgian Willy Marisse who was a lap down.

The significance of the win the last ever in a championship Grand Prix recorded by a car with the engine in the front was a matter of complete indifference to Ferrari as evidenced by the fact that before the year was out the trusty 2.5 litre Dino V6 motor had been swapped for V12 250 TR motor by the factory. The whole car, renumbered at Maranello as chassis #0788, had been entrusted to New Zealander Pat Hoare who won in 1961 at Waimate and the 1962 New Zealand Gold Star Championship with it.

After the car proved no longer competitive and Pat Hoare had retired from racing Pat converted the single seater into a closed two seat GTO coupé replica which can be seen in this link.

The car was acquired by respected historic racer Neil Corner in 1978 and restored to it’s V12 open wheel chassis spec.

Today the car is owned and rock manager Tony Smith, who had a had a replica Dino V6 motor installed, raced #0007 at Goodwood Revival last year when I first saw it.

14/05/12 Ammended to read ‘and restored to it’s V12 open wheel chassis spec’ and ‘, who had a replica V6 motor installed, in the light of Charles Hollands comments below.

Not So Lightweight – BMW 3.0 CSL

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In May 1972 BMW launched the lightweight variant of the CS model based on the E9 platform known as the BMW 3.0 CSL with the L denoting ‘light’ = leicht in German.

The the CSL was a homologation special the purpose of which was to allow a higher specification racing cars to be built. It would appear the car shown here is one of the earliest CSL’s built fitted same 200 hp 2,986 cc / 182.2 cui motor as the CSi model. Over time the CSL was fitted with larger motors to be eligible for the over 3 litre / 183 cui class.

Light weight features included thinner steel body, deleting trim and sound proofing, using aluminium alloy doors, bonnet / hood, boot / trunk lid and perspex side window’s.

BMW’s UK importer however insisted that the 500 CSL’s imported to the UK retain the soundproofing, electric windows and bumpers from the stock CSi meaning UK CSL’s are a higher specification than all other CSL’s and also no quite so light weight.

The final version of the CSL from July 1973 featured a 3,153 cc / 192.4 cui six cylinder motor and a variety of aerodynamic aids both front and rear which led to the model being nicknamed the Batmobile.

In 1973 Dutchman Tonie Hezemans driving a BMW CSL was crowned European Touring Car Champion securing the manufacturers title for BMW. 3.0 CSL’s would continue winning European Touring car races every year all the way through to 1979 with eight drivers sharing championship spoils between 1975 and 1979 securing a further 5 European Touring Car Manufacturers Championships for BMW.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Not So Lightweight’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres. I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Wade In The Water – MGB Roaster DRX 256C

Meica Red 908 – Bertone X1/9

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Marcello Gandini working for the Bertone studio is credited with designing the FIAT X1/9 which was based on the futuristic boat inspired Autobianchi A112 Runabout of 1969.

FIAT launched the X 1/9 in 1972 with Bertone responsible for building the monocoque body at it’s Torino factory and FIAT’s Lingotto factory responsible for the final assembly.

With 140,500 units produced unto 1982, FIAT handed over the final assembly responsibilities and marketing for the X 1/9 to Bertone in 1982. Bertone continued to develop the X 1/9 applying rust protection and revised seating to accommodate taller driver. 19,500 X 1/9’s were manufactured with Bertone badges.

The X 1/9 featured a rear mounted 4 cylinder transverse motor and transmission taken from the 1970 European Car of the Year Award wining front wheel drive FIAT 128 featuring and iron block and alloy head with a single overhead camshaft.

This 1989 example would appear to be painted Meica Red 908 a paint code borrowed form the Volvo colour palate which was used on the rare Volvo 780 Coupé which was also built by Bertone at the same time.

The longitudinally compact transverse mid engine and transmission layout not only gave the car excellent handling characteristics but also luggage space under the bonnet hood in the front and in the boot / trunk behind the engine.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Meica Red 908’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Open Wheel Trainer – Lotus 31 Ford

Personal Luxury – Ford Thunderbird Continental

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Following the announcement of the Chevrolet Corvette sports car in 1953, Ford responded by developing the Ford Thunderbird which was differentiated from the Corvette by it’s emphasis on luxury and comfort over performance.

Former GM Executive Lewis D. Crusoe and Ford Stylist George Walker found inspiration for the Thunderbird design from a sports car they saw in Paris. They worked with Ford Designer Frank Hershey on the two seater.

Ford Stylist Alden Gibberson was given a Saks suit complete with 2nd pair of trousers as his reward for coming up with the Thunderbird name which was first seen in public at the Detroit Motor Show in early 1954 and went in to production for the 1955 model year.

Despite many competition features like the stone guard grill over covering the front head lights the original Thunderbird was not intended for competition use.

The intake on the bonnet / hood is just for show, as was the 150 mph speedometer fitted to the first series Thunderbirds which had a top speed of around 100mph.

The distinctive Thunderbird rocker covers belie the fact that the 190 hp 4.8 litre / 292 cui Y block V8 was sourced from Fords Mercury division.

The detailing is typical of 1950’s dream cars note the V8 badge incorporates the Y which denotes the engine type.

As I understand it the removable glass fiber hard top was part of the Continental option package …

as was the bumper mounted spare wheel.

The first series Thunderbird out sold it’s Corvette competitor 20 fold with over 16,000 unit’s produced in the first year of production.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Personal Luxury’ Edition of Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring