Tag Archives: Zagato

To Finish First – Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato #0180/L

Heading the entry list of the 1961 Le Mans 24 Hour race was the 4 litre / 244 cui GT class made up of three entries all of which were privately entered Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato’s including the left hand drive chassis #0180/L entered and driven by Jean Kerguen and Jacques Dewes, the latter appears to have also been known by the pseudonym “Franc” or “J Franc”.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Hillsbrough Concours d'Elegance

The other two DB4 GT Zagato’s were the lightweight right hand models of the Essex Racing Stable best known by their registration numbers ‘1 VEV’ driven by Jack Fairman and Bernard Consten and ‘2 VEV’ driven by Australians Lex Davison and Bob Stillwell.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Hillsbrough Concours d'Elegance

During the 1961 Le Mans Test weekend Jean recorded 9th fastest time driving #0180/L, but during qualification for the race Jean and Jacques could only manage 13th fastest time, right behind ‘2 VEV’ and two spots ahead of ‘1 VEV’.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Hillsbrough Concours d'Elegance

During the race the Essex Racing Stable Zagato‘s ‘1 VEV’ and ‘2 VEV’ retired early on laps 22 and 25 respectively both with blown head gaskets. #0180/L recorded 286 laps enough to be classified 9th overall and class winners, had it not retired in the final hour with a broken starter motor.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Hillsbrough Concours d'Elegance

#0180/L is known to have made at least three further race appearances with Jean recording a best 4th place finish driving the car in the 1961 Coppa Inter-Europa run at Monza.

Gwen and Tom Price from Larkspur CA were the owners of #0180/L when Geoffrey Horton took these photo’s of it at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance last year.

My thanks to Geoffrey for sharing his photo’s and to you for joining me on this “To Finish First” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me for Maserati Monday tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 1962 Le Mans competitor. Don’t forget to come back now !

Clash Of The Eccentrics – Bristol 412 S1

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In 1975 Bristol replaced it’s 411 model with the 603 featuring a completely new body, a second new car was scheduled to appear on Bristol’s Earle Court Motor Show stand in October 1975 however despite pre event publicity the targa topped 412 model featured today was not ready and so did not appear as promised in the press.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The 412 has been described as a clash of automotive eccentrics by some commentators because the body was designed and built by no less an eccentric company than Carrozzeria Zagato wih whom Bristol’s Tony Crook had earlier worked as their UK Concessionaire and Importer. The distinctive head light clusters appear to have been sourced from the second generation Opel Commodore.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The first Series 412’s were built with the 300 hp 6.6 litre / 400 cui Chrysler B series V8’s but the second series introduced in late 1977 were fitted with the smaller 5.9 litre / 361 cui Chrysler motor.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

Series 2 412’s have front suspension modifications as a result of the lighter motor, improved ventilation for the cabin and redesigned seats. From the date of first registration, March 1977, and engine size it would appear today’s car, seen at a Pistonheads Sunday Service meeting held at the BMW Plant in Cowley a couple of years ago, is a Series 1 412.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

Apparently when Tony Crook went to see the the prototype 412 at Zagato it featured an even bluffer front end and was some 18 foot long, before Tony intervened.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The appearance of the 412 divides opinion like few others, as can be seen on this linked Pistonheads thread, one either gets Bristol ethos or one does not their is little middle ground.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

In 1982 the 412 was fitted with a turbocharger and slightly face lifted which included twinned headlight clusters and called the Beaufighter production of around 27 of these continued until 1993. It is thought just one export only fully convertible versions of the Beaufighter with an electric roof, known as the Beaufort were built along with two non turbocharged US spec 412 known as the 412USAs.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

It is thought 24 412 Series 1’s were built and 34 Series 2 412’s. Of the 88 Targa tops and one Convertible it is thought 76% are still extent.

Thanks for joining me on this ” Clash Of The Eccentrics” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at something a little more agricultural. Don’t forget to come back now !

Automotive Treasure – Blackhawk Museum

While showing his Jaguar at the Danville Concours d’Elegance last month Geoffrey took a wonder around the automotive treasures at the Blackhawk Museum and kindly sent today’s photographs.

Mercedes Benz S Tourer, Blackhawk Museum

In 1927 Mercedes Benz replaced it’s Model K with the Model S which among it’s innovations introduced a chassis that was lowered between the front and rear axles, which dramatically lowered the cars wind resistance and lowered it’s center of gravity which improved the handling. 146 Model S vehicles were built, this 1928 example was bought new by the entertainer Al Jolson.

Minerva Type AM, Blackhawk Museum

Minerva was a Belgian manufacturer started by Dutchman Sylvain de Jong, like many motor manufacturers de Jong started building bicycles and by 1928 when he died had graduated to manufacture high end automobiles. The 1929 Minerva Type AM seen above was supplied as a chassis to which coach builbers Walter M Murphy of Pasadena, CA fitted a “Clear Vision” Convertible Sedan body. The six cylinder car would have been a little cheaper than a contemporary Rolls Royce.

Packard 120 Darrin Convertible Victoria, Blackhawk Museum

After a career working for European coach builders Howard “Dutch” Darrin set up a showroom and bodyshop in Hollywood California called Darrins of Paris to restyle automobiles for Hollywoods rich and famous. Among the cars he restyled was Preston Fosters 1939 Packard 120 seen above with Darrin Convertible Victoria bodywork. This car was later updated with 1941 Packard Super Eight grill, bumpers and headlights.

Fraser Nash 328 Sports, Blackhawk Museum

Fraser Nash were the British importers of BMW cars into Britain prior to the 1939-45 war. Of the 464 BMW 328’s the 1939 example seen above is one of six known to survived the war, it was fitted with a custom Sports 2 seater body by Fraser Nash and driven by Dickie Stoop and Peter Wilson in the 1949 24 hour race at Spa in Belgium where it came home 12th overall sixth in class.

Aston Martin DB 2/4 Mk 1 Bertone Coupé, Blackhawk Museum

The body of the red gem above is by Bertone of Italy while the chassis and engine is 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4. The Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Coupé is a one off prototype, no more were built because Aston Martin refused to supply any more DB2/4 chassis though it is by no means the only DB2/4 to feature unique Italian bodywork.

ALFA Romeo 1500 SSZ, Blackhawk Museum

When ALFA Romeo wanted a 4 cylinder 2 litre 122 cui motor in 1950 they redesigned their twin cam 6 cylinder 6C 2500 with two fewer cylinders and called it the 1900. The 1955 1900 Sprint Speciale SSZ seen above is one of around 40 thought to have been built with coachwork by Zagato featuring a double bubble roof.

Maserati 3500GT Vignale Spider, Blackhawk Museum

The 140 mph 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spider, above, is one of 243 built between 1957 and 1963. Fitted with drum brakes and a four speed gearbox it was more luxuriously appointed than the Ferrari 250 GT’s against which it competed in the market.

Jaguar XK-E Lightweight, Blackhawk Museum

In 1963 Briggs Cunningham entered 3 factory built Jaguar XK-E’s with hard top alloy bodies in the Le Mans 24 hours. One, 5115 WK qualified 20th and finished 9th, 5116 WK qualified 18th and was destroyed by fire after an accident on lap 40 while the car above driven by Augie Pabst and Walt Hangsen qualified 13th and retired in lap 8 with a broken gearbox.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs, more of which from the Blackhawk Museum will be seen on Friday.

Thanks for joining me on this “Automotive Treasure” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Americana Thursday when I’ll be looking at a Ford Thunderbird. Don’t forget to come back now !

Unique Among Rare – Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato #0188/L

In 1958 Aston Martin launched it’s all new DB4, which owed very little to the Claude Hill designs that spanned the 1939 concept Atom through the; DB2, DB2/4 and concluded with the 1957 Mark III. In September 1959 a short wheel base of the DB4GT was announced of which 75 were built and in October 1960 a DB4GT with light weight body work and further weight saving by Ercole Spada at Zagato was shown at the London Motor Show.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

The DB4GT Zagato was powered by a Tadek Marek designed 314 hp, 3670 cc / 223 cui, all aluminium straight six motor fitted to a 4 speed all synchromesh gearbox that could push the car from rest to 60mph in just 6.1 seconds, 3 seconds faster than a standard DB4, and on to a top speed of 154mph. The disc brakes however did not have servo assistance.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

The plan was to build 25 DB4GT Zagato’s however at £5,470, they were not a fast seller and production was halted with just 19 original cars built. Today’s featured car is unique among the 19 because it does not feature the faired in front head lights common to it’s 18 siblings.

Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, Danville Concours d'Elegance

With the relative rarity of these cars pushing up prices and numerous of the 75 DB4GT’s being converted to Zagato specification, in 1988 Aston Martin approved the uprating of four DB4 chassis to DB4GT specification and for these chassis to be sent to Zagato in Italy to be built into works approved replica’s known as Sanction II’s, which were outwardly similar to the original but in no way identical. These four cars sold for over US$ 1,000,000 … each !

In 2000 Aston Martin sanctioned two further DB4’s to be similarly upgraded by Zagato and this pair of cars are known as Sanction III’s.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photograph’s taken at Danville Concours d’Elegance last year.

Thanks for joining me on this “Unique Among Rare” edition of Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another Aston Martin DB4. Don’t forget to come back now !

Mr Consistency – Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance

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Last month Geoffrey Horton trailered his immaculate Jaguar XK140 FHC SE/MC over to Hillsborough for the Concours d’Elegance, while he was there he kindly took today’s photographs to share with us.

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Among the many participants was this magnificent supercharged Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport of the type than won the Mille Miglia in 1929 an 1930 and the Spa 24 Hours race, so far as I know no one has ever come up with a definitive reason why these cars raced with front red light covers, if you know please chime in below.

Cadillac V16,Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Another car from 1930 was this Cadillac V16, first V16 powered car to enter production in 1930, which lasted until 1940.

Bentley 3 1/2 litre, Thrupp & Maberly,Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

The plaque in front of this 1934 Derby built Bentley 3 1/2 litre with coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly says that it was built for Lord Feversham, I believe he may also have been known as the 3rd Earl of Feversham a politician who served as the Conservative government whip in the House of Lords at the time the car was built.

Jaguar XK120 DHC, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Among the stuff competition in Geoffrey’s class was the Jaguar XK12O DHC.

Allard K2, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Only just noticed this 1951 Allard K2 has appeared on this blog before, Jay Wollenberger snapped it at last years Danville Concours d’Elegance.

Ford 500 Sunliner, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

In my mind, anyone driving around in a gargantuan land yacht like this 1957 Ford 500 Sunliner just has to have a smile on their face, if they don’t it should be made compulsory.

AC Bristol Ace Zagato, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Several vehicles with Zagato bodies were present like this 1957 Bristol powered AC Ace. This unique car, as in only one, with trade mark Zagato double bubble roof apparently counts Grand Prix race winner Jo “Seppi” Siffert amoungst it’s previous owners.

Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Despite having covered enough laps to finish 9th at Le Mans in 1961 Frenchman Jean Kerguen and Jacques Dewes retired from the race and therefore recorded a did not finish in this 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT one of only 19 built with a Zagato body.

ALFA Romeo, Giulietta Sprint Special, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Launched in 1959 the ALFA Romeo Giulietta Sprint Special was built as production racing car to compete against the likes of Porsche’s 356, the example seen here was built in 1966.

Jaguar XK140 FHC SE, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Finally our man Geoffrey got to drive up the ramp of honour to collect a second place finish with his Jaguar XK140 FHC. Belated congratulations and many thanks to him for sharing his photographs.

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

Continental Curiosities – Danville Concour’s d’Elegance

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It’s a great thrill to welcome Jay Wollenweber to ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’. Jay has been running a blog called ‘California Streets‘ since 2009 and has kindly sent me some of his photo’s from the recent Danville Concours d’Elegance and a lot of information to use in today’s “Continental Curiosities” blog.

H Mann Esq lost an arm in the 1914/18 Great war and so when he ordered his 1937 Rolls Royce 23/30, seen above, with James Young coachwork he had the gear stick mounted on the floor in the center of the car instead of it’s usual position between the driver and the drivers door.

Jay tells me the 1939 ALFA Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Touring Berlinetta seen above won the Best In Show Award the weekend before last, chassis #915030 also won the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1998.

In 1950 Allard introduced the K2 to replace the side valve V8 Ford powered K1. 118 similar K2 cars were built with the very first one having an earlier K1 body fitted as part of a rush order making 119 K2’s in all. This particular car is fitted with a 5424cc / 331 cui Cadillac V8.

The Bentley above started life as a four seat 106 mph 1954 R-Type. Chassis #B77ZX was modified for competition with a new coupé body by Robert Peel for Bob Gooda with the registration RG27, that number plate now hangs on a Mercedes. Brian Dumps can be seen racing the car at Silverstone in this linked photograph.

Above is an Austin Healey 100/6 2+2 BN4, distinguished by the smaller distance between the rear of the cockpit and the boot / trunk lid.

In 1962 Chris Lawrence and Richard Shepherd-Barron won their class at Le Mans in a hard topped Triumph powered Morgan +4 similar to the 1962 model above.

The 1965 Lotus Elan S2 was a slightly more refined, quieter and more docile, model of the first series of Elans introduced in 1962. Average Joe motorist would have been put off the fun little car by the price, if he had not one Lotus representative at the time is alleged have said “we’re in big trouble!”

The black London Cab is an icon of London in much the same way as the bright red double deck buses and Buckingham Palace. I do not ever recall seeing one like this 1967 Austin FX4D with white wall tyres, the narrow London streets of 1967 would have made a mockery of the additional expense.

1n 1969 Zagato began manufacturing the ALFA Romeo Junior Zagato based on a shortened 1300 GT Junior chassis pan with a steel shell, aluminium bonnet / hood and door skins. The 1972 model above appears to be one of the last of the 1,108 cars built, before production switched for 12 months to a similar but longer car built on a full length 16 GT Junior chassis of which 402 examples were built.

The Rover 2000 TC above is a one owner car that has lived in San Francisco since new in 1969, you can see more photographs and find out more about this particular car on this link.

The first patent for an exhaust driven turbocharger to force air at more than atmospheric pressure into the cylinder head of an internal combustion motor was awarded to Swiss Engineer Alfred Büchi, who was head of diesel engine research at Gebruder Sulzer, in 1905. Despite the significant increases in performance seen in both commercial diesel and piston powered aircraft. General Motors is credited with bringing turbo technology with first the Oldsmobile F85 Jetfire and a month later on Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spider in 1962. BMW was the first European manufacturer to use a turbocharger for a passenger car application in 1973, the 170 hp BMW 2002 above dates from 1975, not the reverse 2002 turbo stickers on the airdam, a crude attempt to inject the car with ‘eingebaute vorfahrt’ a ‘built in right of way’ normally the preserve in Germany for the 3 pointed star of Mercedes Benz.

Finally it is always great to hear about two GALPOT regulars meeting up, especially on the far side of another continent as Jay did with Geoffrey Horton and his Jaguar XK140 FHC SE MC seen above.

My thanks to Jay Wollenweber for his photographs and the information about today’s featured cars. More of Jay’s photographs will feature in tomorrow’s Americana blog while Geoffrey’s photographs will feature on Ferrari Friday’s blog.

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

Parkinson’s Research And Care – 8th Danville Concours d’Elegance

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The weekend before last saw the 8th Danville Concour’s d’Elegance take place, organised to raise funds for research into Parkinson’s desease. Thanks to photographs by Geoffrey Horton here are a few of the cars that took part.

The USA’s first World Champion driver Phil Hill is said to have been the first owner of this Aston Martin DB2, in 1951 a decade before he won the World Championship driving for Ferrari.

One of the worlds rarer Aston Martins is the DB2/4 with Italian coachwork by Serafino Allemano. This 1953 chassis #LML/761 was ordered by a customer in Casablanca who used it in local races.

Another mouth watering example of the Aston Martin marque was this DB5 1023 of these classic ‘James Bond’ models were manufactured between 1963 and 1965, most of them with out the swiveling number plates, bullet proof rear screen, ejector seat, machine guns smoke screen and oil slick that the handsome man with the Edinburgh brogue found useful until he crashed avoiding a mirror in Gold Finger.

Both yesterday and the day before saw the first ever Trofeo Maserati races taking place at Sanoma using racing versions of the Gran Turismo MC as seen above. Venezuelan debutant Alex Popow won Saturdays race with Grey’s Anatomy guest star Patrick Dempsey claiming 6th. Sunday’s results were unknown at the time of writing.

Fisker Automotive was founded in 2007 in Anaheim California, but has the hybrid Fisker Karma vehicles it markets manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Among the novel features are a solar panel roof which contributes to the climate control system.

The McLaren MP4-12 C is the racing car manufacturers third road car after the 1969 M6GT (3 possibly 4 built) and 1992/98 F1 (106 built), like all McLaren’s road car projects the MP4-12 C draws heavily on it’s racing technologies which in this case includes a second brake pedal which acts on the inside rear wheel to minimise understeer.

From 1957 to 1963 Mercedes Benz manufactured 1,858 300 SL Roadsters, this one comes complete with the optional factory luggage cases and is one of less than 20 1957 vehicles fitted with Rudge wheels.

Since the 1920’s ALFA Romeo had offered straight six powered vehicles to it’s customers the 2600 or 106 series manufactured from 1961 to 1968 was the last of this line. Above is 1964 2600, one of 2,255 Spyders built, powered by a 145 hp twim overhead cam version of the straight 6.

So far as I have been able to discern the Iso Grifo A3/L above ‘might be’ the 1963 prototype shown by Bertone at the 1963 Turin Auto Show. Clues are the given 1963 date of the car and it’s current location. Sales of the 395 hp Chevy V8 cars did not begin until 1965.

Getting seriously psycho on tyres is Dennis Varni who on the 14th of September recorded a two way speed of 334.360 mph in this Chevrolet Streamliner powered by a turbocharged straight 6 motor at Bonneville.

Geoffrey was fortunate to get to the Danville Gala Dinner where this 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato was on display, it is the only one of the 19 original cars that still exist that has non faired-in headlights. The UK plate ’29 ALY’ has been reasigned to a 2002 Ford Ka.

Finally this 1955 Pegaso Tipo Z with a Saoutchik Coupé body is one of only two identical cars for international car exhibitions, at a cost of between US$15 to 35,000 they were amongst the most wildly expensive vehicles of their time.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photograph’s, there will be further blogs from Danville in the week ahead.

Thanks for joining me on this “Parkinson’s Research and Care” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I shall be looking at an MG. Don’t forget to come back now !