Tag Archives: Series 2

Get Smart – Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series 2 #2943GT

It’s been a couple of years since I looked at a Pininfarina bodied Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series 2 in any detail, since then I have found out one such car was used by Maxwell Smart in the pilot episode of the Get Smart television comedy.

Ferrari 250 GT PF S2 Cabriolet, VSCC, Prescott

Chassis #2943GT was built in October 1961 the 148th of 204, painted red with a black interior. After spending it’s first couple of years in Italy #2943 was acquired by Prince Joackim Zu Furstenberg who kept it at Schloss Donaueschingen in Southern Germany until 1972.

Ferrari 250 GT PF S2 Cabriolet, VSCC, Prescott

The current Norwegian owner bought the car from Germany’s preeminent Ferrari dealer Auto Becker in 1972 and exported it to Norway where it remained, until it was offered for sale at the upcoming Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Revival next week.

Ferrari 250 GT PF S2 Cabriolet, VSCC, Prescott

The car, seen here at last month’s Prescott’s VSCC meeting, is said to have approximately 38,500 miles on the clock, an average of just 745 miles a year over it’s entire life and is estimated to fetch up to £500,000.

Ferrari 250 GT PF S2 Cabriolet, VSCC, Prescott

The downside is that the 3 litre / 183 cui Colombo Tipo 125 V12 motor has not been started for 4 or 5 years and is said to have a problem with the fuel pump, so some expense will be incurred to recommission the car.

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

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2ZZ-GE – Lotus Exige Series 2

While the Lotus Elise had to be updated to Series 2 spec to meet in order to safety requirements in 2000, the Lotus Exige Series 2 was not updated until 2004.

Lotus Exige Series 2, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

The Exige Series 2’s combination of air splitter, hard (fibreglass) top, engine cover and rear spoiler are enough to give the car 100lbs of aerodynamic down force when travelling at 100 mph as opposed to just 13lbs of aerodynamic down force for the soft top Elise Series 2 at the same speed.

Lotus Exige Series 2, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

The big mechanical difference between the Exige Series 1 and Series 2 is that the Rover K Series motor has been replaced by a 190 hp 2ZZ-GE motor designed by Yamaha and built by Toyota which provides power for the rear wheels through a close ratio 6 speed gearbox.

 Lotus Exige Series 2, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

From rest an Exige like the 2006 example seen here at last years Race Retro will accelerate to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, reach 100 mph in 12.9 seconds and has a top spedd of 147 mph.

Lotus Exige Series 2, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Since 2006 several supercharged variants of the Exige S2 have been manufactured topped by the 158 mph 265E which has an engine mapped to run on 85% ethanol.

Thanks for joining me on this “2ZZ-GE” 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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