Tag Archives: Sport

Dual Cowl – Packard 1104 Super Eight Sport Phaeton

Production of Eleventh Series Packards commenced August 1933 with 120 hp Eight, 145hp Super Eight and 165hp Twelve engine options available on three different chassis lengths with 17 custom body options by LeBaron and Dietrich.

Packard 1104 Super Eight Phaeton, Niello Concours at Serrano

The Super Eight powered 1104’s were all built on the 141 7/8ths inch wheelbase chassis and were available with 11 different body styles.

Packard 1104 Super Eight Phaeton, Niello Concours at Serrano

New features for the 11th series included and oil cooler and fuel filler hidden in the tail light assembly, while a vacuum tube radio was offered as an option.

Packard 1104 Super Eight Phaeton, Niello Concours at Serrano

Today’s regular Concours award winning featured 1104 was built with a rare, now most highly collectible, dual cowl Sport Phaeton body.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing these photographs taken at last years Niello Concours at Serrano.

Thanks for joining me on this”Dual Cowl” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a modified FIAT 500. Don’t forget to come back now !

Tre Porte – FIAT 128 3p Belinetta

3 years after FIAT launched it’s 128 Sport Coupé model Volkswagen responded with a competitor in the form of the Scirroco which was launched several month’s before the introduction of the Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit upon which it was based.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

The Scirroco differed from the Sport Coupé having a large hatchback door in place of the Coupés more conventional small boot.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

FIAT responded to Volkswagen’s challenge in 1975 with the introduction of the tre porte FIAT 128 3p Berlinetta which replaced the Sport Coupé in the manufacturers model range.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

Where the Scirroco had four engine options from 1.1 litres / 67 cui to 1.6 litres / 97.6 cui the 3P like it’s Sport Coupé predecessor was only available with either a 1.1 litre or 67 cui or 1.3 litre / 79 cui motor.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

These were still good enough to give the 3p rest to 62.5 mph times of 15 seconds and 13.5 seconds and top speeds of 150kph / 93 mph and 160 kph / 99 mph respectively.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

Never as popular in competition as it’s lighter predecessor the 128 3p only remained in production until 1978.

FIAT 128 3P, Middle Barton Garage, Oxon

The pristine 1976 1.3 litre example seen in these photographs at a Middle Barton Garage gathering in Oxfordshire a few years was first registered in the UK on September 13th 1976.

Thanks for joining me on this “Tre Porte” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another hill climbing special. Don’t forget to come back now !

Short Chassis – FIAT 128 Sport Coupé SL

In 1971 FIAT launched the Sport Coupé SL variant of the FIAT 128 on a shortened chassis platform.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The Coupé was available with either a 1,116 cc / 68 cui or 1,290 cc / 78.7 cui four cylinder motor with iron block and aluminium head., the one seen in these photographs taken at Auto Italia Brooklands a couple of years ago.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

When photo upload Mario Andretti tested one on the 13th of November 1972 at Pocono he was impressed with the under steering, tight, front wheel drive handling, braking, interior size and styling.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

The only thing he thought was missing was a couple of hundred horsepower with which to scare the guy’s in Ferrari’s at Pocono.

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL, Auto Italia, Brooklands

Sport Coupé’s were popular cars for touring car racing with Hans Hettelder and Freek Plasmeijer recording over 50 race appearances between them in Europe, slightly better known Italian racer Lella Lombardi recording at least seven appearances in 128 Sport Coupés starting in 1977.

Today’s featured car, seen in these photographs taken at Auto Italia Brooklands a couple of years ago, is powered by the larger engine and was first registered in the UK on October 1st 1974.

Thanks for joining me on this “Short Chassis” edition “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow.

Electric Love – Renault DeZir

In 2010 Renault announced that the direction of their next series of concept cars would reflect six stages of life; falling in love, discovering the world, starting a family, working, having fun and becoming wise that a Renault customer might encounter.

Renault DeZir , Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Renault DeZir first shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show reflects the falling in love stage.

Renault DeZir , Goodwood Festival of Speed

It’s sensual coupé body with red leather interior is fitted with a pair of butterfly doors, the drivers opening to the rear with the passengers opening to the front.

Renault DeZir , Goodwood Festival of Speed

Power comes from a 148hp mid mounted electric motor that gives rest to 60 mph in five seconds performance and a top speed of 112 mph.

Renault DeZir , Goodwood Festival of Speed

While no plans have been announced for the DeZir to go into production the design of 500hp twin turbo V6 Renault Sport R.S. 01, which will compete for the Renault Sport Trophy, took the Dezir Concept as the starting point for it’s body.

Renault DeZir , Goodwood Festival of Speed

Since the 2010 DeZir Renault has shown concept cars representing; discovering the world – 2011 Captur, starting a family – 2011 R-Space and working – 2011 Frendzy, but there has been no sign of any concepts representing the having fun or becoming wise stages.

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

Not A Mopar – Renault Magnum

Since 1956 the commercial and military vehicle of arm has undergone many transformations from nationalised industry to stand alone privatised business in 1996 to most recently in 2001 an arm of the Volvo Group.

Renault Magnum, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Renault launched it’s stylish Magnum range of rigid and semi rigid trucks in 1990, they were availble with either 6 x 4, 6 x 2 or 4 x 2 axle / drive configurations.

Renault Magnum, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Power for the European version of the Magnum was derived from a 12 litre / 732 cui straight 6 cylinder Volvo motor fitted with fuel injection and engine management system co developed with Delphi, note Australian versions of the Magnum used the European Magnum cab and chassis equipped with a Mack Trucks motor, Roadranger 18 speed transmission and Rockwell or Dana drive axles.

Renault Magnum, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The European Magnum could be ordered with either 440hp, 480hp or 500hp and either a ZF servoshift air-assisted 16-speed manual, or Optidrive II 12 speed automated, with 4 reverse gears, transmissions.

Renault Magnum, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The keys to the last Magnum were presented to hauliers Robert Chabbert on Wednesday 26 June 2013.

Renault Magnum, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Renault Sport F1 4 x 2 Magnum in these photographs was seen at Goodwood Festival of Speed a couple of years ago.

Formula One Power – Ferrari 342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet #0234AL

In 1950 Ferrari began building a series of 23 340 America’s powered by his 4.1 litre / 250 cui long block V12’s designed by Aurelio Lampredi initially for Ferrari’s 375 Formula One programme.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

1952 the 342 America was introduced 5 of which were fitted with an improved version 4.1 litre / 250 cui V12 and one, today’s featured chassis #0234 AL, was fitted with 4.5 litre / 274 cui V12 which technically makes it a 375 but for some reason is known as a 342.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

#0234AL has an even chassis number, usually reserved for works team racing cars, as do all the other twenty three 340’s and five 342’s unlike the 11 375 America’s built from 1953 to 1954 which all have the usual odd chassis numbers used for Ferrari road cars.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

On the 6th of November 1952, coincidentally sixty three years ago to the day, chassis #0234AL was delivered to Carrozzeria Pininfarina where the Cabriolet body was fitted.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

In May 1953 King Leopold III. of Belgium took delivery of the car and is believed to have kept it for only two years before selling it to Garage Francorchamps in Brussels, Belgium.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

John Mastroianni of Armonk, NY founder of Auto Torismo Sport now in New Milford Conneticut owned #0234AL from somewhere in the 1960’s to 1998 alongside his 250 GTO and a 500 Superfast and numerous other desirable vehicles mostly of Italian origin.

342 America Pininfarina Cabriolet, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

#0234AL has resided in California since October 1998 and has won numerous awards at Concours d’Elegance events ever since.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs of #0234AL taken at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance earlier this year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Formula One Power” edtion of “Getin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Chevron. Don’t forget to come back now !

Monterey ALFAs – Rolex Monterey Motorsposts Reunion

For our fifth visit to this years Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion I’ll be looking at some of the ALFA Romeo cars present snapped by kindly snapped for us by Karl Krause.

ALFA Romeo Monza, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,

From 1932 the battle worn 8 cylinder ALFA Romeo Monza, of the type that won the 10 hour 1931 Italian Grand Prix driven by Giuseppe Campari and Tazio Nuvolari, the #31 seen here is owned and driven by Peter Giddings.

ALFA Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,

Seven years later ALFA Romeo built the 120 hp 6C 2500 Super Sport owned and driven by Conrad Stevenson, the development and production of the 6C 2500 continued after the 1939-’45 hostilities until 1952.

ALFA Romeo Guilia Spyder, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,

ALFA Romeo introduced the Giulia Spyder alongside the Giulia Saloons / Sedans in 1962 although they were actually more closely related to the Giulietta’s that remained in production from 1954 to 1965, the 1963 Giulia Spyder above is owned and driven by Peter Inshaw.

ALFA Romeo TZ1, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,

In 1963 ALFA Romeo launched the Giulia TZ also known as the TZ1 to replace the Giulietta SZ, unlike the Giullia Spyder the Giulia TZ was based on the chassis pan and running gear of the Giulia Saloons / Sedans, pay attention at the back I shall be asking questions later ! The #3 ’63 Giulia TZ is owned and driven by Joe Colasacco.

ALFA Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,

The sinuous curves and dihedral opening butterfly doors all made the 1968 ALFA Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale one of the worlds most expensive cars in 1968, which maybe why the one seen above is one of only 18 built.

ALFA Romeo GTV, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,

Jon Norman started racing ALFA’s in 1968 and in 1971 started racing this 1971 ALFA Romeo GTV in the Trans Am series 44 years later he is still racing it in historic events.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for organising these photographs for me and to Karl Krause for their execution.

Thanks for joining me on this “Monterey ALFAs” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a turbocharged Formula One Lola. Don’t forget to come back now !