Tag Archives: Roadster

Rudge Wheel Roadster – Mercedes Benz (W198) 300 SL

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In 1955 Mercedes Benz introduced it’s 300 SL Gullwing Coupé, at the behest of their American agent Max Hoffman, and over the next 2 years built 1400 examples.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Danville Concours d'Elegace

For reasons that are not entirely clear to me Mercedes Benz did not introduce the almost mechanically identical roadster version until 1957.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Danville Concours d'Elegace

The major difference between the two models is that the space frame required lower sills than the gull wing to permit front hinged doors.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Danville Concours d'Elegace

The fuel tank and rear axle were also redesigned which allowed the spare wheel to be taken out of the boot /trunk and mounted beneath the floor panel.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Danville Concours d'Elegace

With the space between the boot / trunk lid freed up Mercedes offered it’s customers bespoke suitcases to fill the space up, as there was no storage in the cabin area as there had been in the Coupé.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Danville Concours d'Elegace

From 1957 to 1963 1,858 Roadsters were built, the example seen here has been in the same family since it was purchased from the used lot of a Chevrolet dealer in 1965.

It is one of less than 50 Roadsters, all built in 1957, to be documented as supplied with Rudge Wheels from the factory.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs, taken a couple of years ago at Danville Concours d’Elegance.

Thanks for joining me on this “Rudge Wheel Roadster” 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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Four Cylinder Zenith – Plymouth PB Sports Roadster

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Six months before production of the Plymouth PA came to an end production of the PB commenced on February 4th 1932.

Plymouth PB, California,

The PB would be the last 4 cylinder model using the same 196 cui / 3.2 litre 4 cylinder motor inherited from both the PA and earlier U series Plymouths, though now with oil filters fitted as standard equipment.

Plymouth PB, California,

The 109″ chassis was the same wheel base as the PA and U series to but with X pattern cross bars for additional chassis rigidity.

Plymouth PB, California,

The hydraulic brakes were also upgraded to a centrifuse type featuring steel drums with fused cast iron friction surfaces.

It is believed that 2,163 PB Convertible Coupés were built like the example seen here in a California car park, though they were only available new from the factory painted; Black with either Black or Casino Red mouldings, Limousine Blue No. 4, Uhlan Gray, Merrimac Beige, or Biscay Sand, bodies, the 4 cylinder PB’s would be replaced by 6 cylinder PC’s and PD’s in 1933.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

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

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145 Inch Prototype – Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster Prototype

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In July 1930 Chrysler launched the second generation CG Imperial referred to in the sales literature as the Imperial 8.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

The 8 referred to the new L head 6.3 litre 384.8 cubic-inch, nine-main bearing straight 8 motor which developed 125 horsepower in it’s original incarnation.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

The CG’s chassis has an imposing 145″ wheel base, the same as a contemporary Duesenberg.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

Imperial 8’s could be ordered with either roadster, coupé, saloon / sedan or limousine bodies, the latter could be ordered with a way ahead of the curve dictaphone.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

This particular car photographed by Geoffrey Horton at the 2013 Desert Classic meet in Palm Springs is a 1931 CG with a prototype body by LeBaron.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

Unusually this roadster, which is believed to have been taken to the Chicago Auto Show, has no running boards.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

When the current owner bought this car he it restored in burgundy and silver in the absence of any knowledge as to the cars original colour scheme.

Chrysler Imperial 8 CG LeBaron Roadster, Desert Classics, Palm Springs,

The 145″ CG Imperial 8’s were only manufactured for one year the succeeding CL only had a 133″ wheel base.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “145 Inch Prototype” 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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Guaranteed 80mph – Chrysler Imperial 80

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A year after founding Chrysler in 1925 and launching the first Chrysler cars Walter P Chrysler moved into the prestige segment of the automobile market occupied by Cadillac and Lincoln.

02 Chrysler Imperial 80_0192sc

The Chrysler Imperial 80 was first shown at the 1926 New York Show, the 80 signifying that the car was guaranteed to reach 80 mph.

Chrysler Imperial 80, Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

To meet the guaranteed top speed the Imperial was fitted with a 4.7 litre / 288 cui straight 6 which produced 92 horsepower, enough to propel the car from rest to 60 mph in less than 20 seconds with a gearbox that featured only 3 forward speeds.

Chrysler Imperial 80, Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

The first generation Imperial was offered with a variety of bodies that included; roadster with rumble seat, four-seat coupé, five-passenger sedan or phaeton, and a seven-passenger limousine.

Chrysler Imperial 80, Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

Motor cycle racer and later publisher Floyd Clymer drove a Chrysler Imperial 80 in 1926 from Denver to Kansas in just under 14 hours to average just over 51 mph over 700 miles, astonishing given that only 200 miles of the route was on paved roads.

Chrysler Imperial 80, Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

The first generation Chrysler Imperial remained in production until 1930 by which time a four speed transmission was available.

Chrysler Imperial 80, Classic Run, Chipping Sodbury

The Imperial 80 Roadster seen in these photo’s taken at last years Classic Run in Chipping Sodbury was first registered in the UK on the 23rd of October 1926.

Thanks for joining me on this “Guaranteed 80mph” 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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Customising Crocodiles – Bugatti Type 57SC Roadster #57593

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In 1938 a British Colonel G.M. Giles bought a supercharged Bugatti Type 57 chassis #57593 sans body the unique design of which he entrusted to his brother Eric Giles and Jean Bugatti.

Bugatti Type 57SC, Giles Corsica Roadster, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The Corsica Coachworks in London were entrusted with the realisation of the body which was painted light blue and trimmed with Connolly leather “imprinted with a crocodile texture”.

Bugatti Type 57SC, Giles Corsica Roadster, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Colonel Giles kept the car until 1939 after which it’s history is well documented all the way to the present owner Californian Property Developer and founder of the Mozart Foundation Automobile Museum in Mountain View California, John Mozart.

Bugatti Type 57SC, Giles Corsica Roadster, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

John drove the car for many miles before undertaking a restoration of the car which was completed in time to be awarded the best in show accolade at the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Bugatti Type 57SC, Giles Corsica Roadster, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

It would appear the restoration and subsequent award ruffled a few feathers causing one European hack to comment “Dismay has greeted news that a customized Bugatti was the shock ‘best of show’ winner of this year’s prestigious Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance…”

Bugatti Type 57SC, Giles Corsica Roadster, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

It would appear that a rather antagonistic and possibly xenophobic minority in the old car community took a disliking to John’s choice of colour for the vehicle, which discretely hides some of it’s clumsy finish, the use of chrome stone guards on the leading edges of the rear wings / fenders, which are a vast improvement on the original and unsightly black rubber items, or the use of real crocodile hide in place of the Connolly leather “imprinted with a crocodile texture”.

For my money John has done a great job improving on the original intention of the Giles brothers vision and certainly kept to the spirit of the vision, personally if I had the cash and the choice I’d much rather own the Corsica Roadster #57375, but a Bugatti is a Bugatti and I doubt Mr Mozarts example will be turning any fewer heads than my personal favourite.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs which he took at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance in 2011.

Thanks for joining me on this “Customising Crocodiles” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at what has been happening at the Avenue Drivers Club this year. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Razzle Dazzle – Mazda MX5

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Hard to believe that the Mazda MX5 celebrates it’s 25 anniversary this year, but it’s enduring qualities are no accident the idea behind the MX5 was first discussed in 1976 by Motor Trend journalist Bob Hall and Mazda’s Research and development heads Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai.

Mazda MX5, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Sq, Bristol

13 years later the lightweight sports car which took it’s styling queues from the 1960’s icon the Lotus Elan was launched and many accolades and three generations of MX5 later over 900,000 units have been sold to make the model the most successful sports car of all time.

Mazda MX5, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Sq, Bristol

Today’s featured first generation NA model, distinguished by the pop lights, was built in 1993. This car is powered by a 1.6 litre / 98 cui motor twin cam motor which produces 115 hp.

Mazda MX5, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Sq, Bristol

The owner of this car used to own a Mazda MX5 Le Mans Special which was painted in the Renown colours which were carried by the rotary powered Mazda 787B that won the 1991 Le Mans 24 hours.

Mazda MX5, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Sq, Bristol

Having bought a white car the new owner thought it would be cool to find a paint shop to put some Martini® stripes on it and when he eventually found someone to take on the job he was not disappointed, of course he now has extra kudos because Martini® have returned to Formula One™ with Williams Grand Prix Engineering after a 35 year absence.

Mazda MX5, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Sq, Bristol

The original NA MX5 could reach 60mph in 8.1 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph, Japanese market NA MX5’s, known as Eunos Roadster’s were restricted to 112 mph by the Manufacturer.

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Floating Power – Plymouth PA Rumble Seat Sport Roadster

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In July 1931 Chrysler announced a new Plymouth model for 1932 the PA which apart from dimensions like the 109″ wheel base and 196 cui 4 cylinder motor size shared little with the Model U which it replaced.

Plymouth PA, California,

Despite being Chryslers budget brand the PA model featured a flying lady sculpture adorning the radiator, the item was designed by Herbert V. Henderson and manufactured exclusively for Plymouth by the Jarvis Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Plymouth PA, California,

One significant difference between the Model U and PA was the “Floating Power” mountings for the latter which were developed by Owen Skelton to minimise the inherent vibrations caused by a 4 cylinder motor. Owen found that by using rubber and affixing the mountings along the motors center of gravity axis which slopes from front to rear he could significantly improve the comfort for occupants of a vehicle.

Plymouth PA, California,

Within months of being patented Floating Power was adopted by all Plymouth and Chrysler models and would remain a feature of MOPAR vehicles over the next 28 years.

Plymouth PA, California,

Production of the PA came to an end in July 1932 with 106,896 examples including a variety of 2 and 4 seat body styles.

Plymouth PA, California,

Floating Power and a commitment by former Ford employee, now head of the Plymouth brand Fred L. Rockelman to give his customers more car for their money helped Plymouth reach No:3 in the sales charts replacing Buick in 1931, a position it would only relinquish in 1954 when Buick recaptured 3rd spot.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing these photographs, of a 1931 rumble seat “sport” roadster,which he took in a California car park in 2012.

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

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