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Salmon Over Metallic Grey – Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé #0476AM

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In 1955 Ghia built the body work for a new Ferrari for the last time, and one might well wonder if this had anything to do with the salmon over metallic grey paint job.

Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé, Blackhawk Museum

Today’s featured Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé chassis #0476AM, photographed by Greoffrey Horton at the Blackhawk Museum earlier this year, is not only the last Ghia bodied Ferrari it is also the only Ghia bodied 375 MM chassis making it unique among the 23 street and racing versions of 375 MM.

Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé, Blackhawk Museum

This particular car was shown at the 1955 Turin Motor and New York Auto shows before it found a home with a family in Milwaukee, WI. By 1970 #0476AM had recorded just 12,000 miles, four years later it was sold to a Milwaukee doctor who kept the car for 10 years.

Ferrari 375 MM Ghia Coupé, Blackhawk Museum

In 1984 #0426AM appeared in the Blackhawk Museum for a couple of years before going on a sojourn to Switzerland which lasted at least until December 2002 when the car failed to sell at auction. I am not entirely sure when #0426AM returned to the Blackhawk Museum, if you happen to know please do not hesitate to chip in below.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton once again for saving Ferrari Friday.

Thanks for joining me on this “Salmon Over Metallic Grey” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an open wheel Formula 5000 car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Prick Up Your Ears – Wolseley 6/110 Mk II (ADO53)

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The Wolseley 6/110 replaced the similarly Farina bodied 6/99 in 1961 externally the two models are identical except the 6/110 has a two inch longer wheel base while internally the gear selection mechanism, for the 3 speed gearbox, moved from the steering column to the floor.

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The 2.9 litre / 177 cui C series straight six shared with the similarly bodied BMC Austin A110 Westminster and Van den Plas Princess 3-litre Mk II, Austin Healey 3000 and MG C was tuned to give 120hp.

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

In 1964 a MK II version of the 6/110 was introduced similar to the 1966 model seen here at last years, Bristol Classic Car Show at Shepton Mallet. The only external difference being the smaller 13″ wheels that carried wider tyres than it’s predecessor the Pinin Farina styled body work was left alone completely as it had been in 1961.

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Internally the 6/110 Mk II featured telescopic dampers which replaced the previous lever arm units, thicker disc brakes, a new exhaust system and a 4 speed gearbox which could be fitted with an optional overdrive for more economical motoring at speed on Britain’s emerging motorway network.

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Like the Wolseley 6/80 I looked at a couple of weeks ago the 6/110 in Mk I and Mk II form was a popular choice of police car with both film makers and television producers the 6/110 Mk II’s film credits include The Mind of Mr. Soames (1970), Prick Up Your Ears (1987) and The Bank Job (2008).

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

13,301 Woseley 6/110 Mk II’s were manufactured between 1964 and 1968 when it was replaced in the British Leyland range by the Austin 3 litre (Land Lobster) whose sales were so far off target that Wolseley and Van den Plas variants never got beyond the prototype stage.

Thanks for joining me on this “Prick Up Your Ears” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me tomorrow for a trip to Marin Sanoma California. Don’t forget to come back now !

Ralph Colmar on Formula One – Homeboy Rosberg Runs the Tables at the Grand Prix of Monaco today at Motorsports Unplugged.

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Palmers Parts Bin – Wolseley 4/44

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After designing the MG Y Type the 1939 – 1945 hostilities saw Gerald Palmer engaged in war work that included designing medical equipment for the front line the development of a two stroke motor and the production of de Havilland Tiger Moth flying training aircraft.

Wolseley 4/44, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet,

After the war Palmer was employed by Jowett to design what became the Jowett Javelin and in 1949 Palmer rejoined the Nuffield Organisation to design the Wolseley 4/44, MG ZA, the replacement for the MG Y type, and the Riley Pathfinder all three of which shared unique combinations of parts from the Nuffield Organisations parts bins.

Wolseley 4/44, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet,

Of the three new models launched in 1953, now under the merged with Austin British Motor Corporation (BMC) banner the Wolseley 4/44 was the least powerful being fitted with a detuned 46 hp single carburettor 4 cylinder XPAG motor first seen seen on the MG TB Type Midget dating back to 1939 and on the TC, TD, and least powerful of the TF models.

Wolseley 4/44, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet,

Fitted with modern rack and pinion steering, snuggle friendly 4 speed column change gearboxes the up market pretensions of the car were reaffirmed by leather seats and walnut veneer trim.

Wolseley 4/44, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet,

With the absence of a motorway network the 4/44’s top speed of 73 mph was matched by a rest to 60 mph time of 29.9 seconds which might be described as adequate.

Wolseley 4/44, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet,

Note that indicators were by door post mounted semaphore with only left hand drive models having indicators built into the rear light clusters.

29,845 Wolseley 4/44’s were built between 1953 and 1956 when the model was replaced by the similar 15/50.

Thanks for joining me on this “Palmers Parts Bin” 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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Cops Car – Wolseley Six Eighty

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The Wolseley 6/80 was introduced in 1948 as an up market verison of the Morris Six MS both of which also shared the same body work from the front windscreen back with the Morris Oxford MO.

Wolseley 6/80, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The Six Eighty like it’s Six MS sibling is powered by a 72hp overhead cam straight six motor which gave the car a tested top speed of 85 mph in ideal conditions.

Wolseley 6/80, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Due to export priorities the Six Eighty was a rare car on British roads in period. Wolseley Six Eighties became well known as the favoured mode of Transport of the men in blue in no small part thanks to the rapidly expanding medium of television for which shows including The Invisible Man and films like Gideon’s Day, The Naked Truth and Town on Trial, all made in 1957.

Wolseley 6/80, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The 6/80 came fitted with a heater, rear window blind and twin roof lights for rear seat passengers.

Wolseley 6/80, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Twice as many 6/80’s were built as Morris Six MS between 1948 and 1954 with the final total thought to be 25,281.

Thanks for joining me on this “Cops Car” 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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3/4 Task Force – Chevrolet Apache 32

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Today’s featured pickup is a 1959 Chevrolet Apache 32 Pick up.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

In most respects the Apache 32 Cab and motor options were similar to the Apache 31 Fleetside I looked at last week.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The ’58 and ’59 Apaches all shared twined front head lamps.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

This particular vehicle is registered with a non standard 3.5 litre 213 cui motor size, given that it is in the UK this may well be one of Britain’s popular all aluminium Rover V8’s that originated from Buick.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The big difference between the Apache 31 and 32 is the wheel base 114 inches on the ’31’ and 123 inches on the ’32’ which also had heavier duty axles and springs to allow for a 3/4 ton load in the six and half foot long cargo box.

Chevrolet Apache 32, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

353,509 Apache’s of all sizes were built in 1959 before they were replaced by the C/K series in 1960.

Thanks for joining me on this “3/4 Task Force” 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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Romano’s Granddaughter – Lotus Elise Series I

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In 1993 Lotus was purchased from GM by Romano Artioli chairman of the revived Bugatti manufacturer, and the following year the Type 111 was conceived by Julian Thompson with Richard Rackman and given the Elise name after Romano’s Granddaughter Elisa.

Lotus Elise Series 1, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The Series 1 Elise was launched in 1996 powered by a mid mounted 4 cylinder Rover K Series motor that produced just 118 hp, however thanks to the fiberglass body and bonded aluminium chassis the Elise only weighed 725 kg / 1,600 lbs so the car could accelerate from rest to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph.

Lotus Elise Series 1, Bristol Pegasus Motor Club, BAWA

Getting in and out of a Lotus Elise are probably the most difficult features of the car, the ergonomics are secondary to track day performance, but apart from that the Elise is said to be great fun to drive and economical to run thanks to the light weight and virtually non existent load capacity beside the passengers.

Lotus Elise Series 1, Bristol

In 1996 Romano had sold Lotus on to current owners Proton in order to fund the losses that had accumulated due to the insolvency of Bugatti.

Thanks to changes in crash sustainability regulations the Series 1 Elise was replaced in 2000 after more than 8600 had been built by the more sustainable and consequently slightly heavier Elise Series 2.

The top and bottom cars featured today are standard ’98 and ’97 1.8i models while the middle one is a later ’99 111S which came with variable valve timing 143 hp and a 130 mph top speed.

Thanks for joining me on this “Romano’s Granddaughter” 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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Call Me Shirley – Shirley Mk II

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In 1957 Monkspark Garage of Shirley, Solihull just outside Birmingham started to manufacture 2 and 4 seater fibre glass body shells known as Kenmar Mk I suitable for fitting to Ford Anglia and Ford Prefect chassis respectively.

Shirely MKII, Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Two years later a Mk II body was manufactured and marketed as the Shirley Mk II which cost just £89 with an additional £35 for the optional hard top.

Shirely MKII, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

The main body is a one piece molding with a reinforcing tubular framework and welded mounting points and the bonnet could be front or rear hinged to taste.

Shirely MKII, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

The shell for this particular vehicle was purchased in January 1997 and fitted to a 1949 Ford Anglia chassis and was ready to run in April 1998. This car has several period improvements including a boxed chassis, fluid cushion suspension, Aquaplane cylinder head, twin carburetors and an additional fuel pump along with 12 volt electrics.

Shirely MKII, Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham

Of the 50 shells thought to have been built only 4 Shirley Mk II’s are thought to remain.

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