Dark & Sinuous - TVR Tuscan

TVR Tuscans were manufactured in Blackpool in the UK from 1999 - 2006



This 2001 model will have been available with either 360 or 380 hp variation of a 3996 cc / 243 cui straight six engine.



The sinuous fibreglass body fits over a tubular steel chassis.



TVR's then Chairman Peter Wheeler was quite adamant that TVR's were safer without airbags, particularly in convertibles arguing that if somebody were to die in one of his cars as a result of an airbag he 'would not be able to live with himself'.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this Tuscan along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed today's dark & sinuous edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

The Bosses Car #2 - Aston Martin Rapide

Regular readers may remember a couple of months ago when i visited the Morgan factory I happened across Charles Morgan's limited edition Aeromax.



A couple of weeks ago I happened across Dave Richards, personal transport this fabulous 'large and in charge' Aston Martin Rapide while visiting Prodrive.



The Rapide is Aston Martin's top of the range 4 door saloon, a successor to the Aston Martin V8 based Series 1 Aston Martin Lagonda of 1974/74 of which just 7 were built.



The 2010 Rapide is powered by a 470 hp 5935cc / 362 cui V12 ...



that is shared in common with both the DB9 and V12 Vanquish.



This is only the second Rapide I have ever seen and it still surprises me how graceful this four dour DB9 looks.



Surprisingly this range topping model of of a well known British Marque is actually assembled at a dedicated Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria.



The standstill to 62mph performance time of 5.2 seconds and top speed of 184 mph will undoubtedly helped a near standard Rapide take second in class during the 24 hour race at the Nurburgring in 2010.

More on Aston Martin and the Rapide Luxe can be seen up the Drive Channel.

Hope you have enjoyed today's Austrian built edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres, and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

Rustproof & Secure - Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type UK

Top of the 2007 Subaru Impreza range was the WRX STi with 260 hp, considered at the time the default Rally Replica of Choice in some circles.



The STi Type UK was available with an optional 300 hp engine with Prodrive re engineered engine parts that were stronger and or lighter than the originals including a larger air intake and intercooler.



Unique to the Type UK is a Thatcham Category 1 alarm, satellite tracking system, enhanced rust proofing ...



and 10 spoke gold alloy wheels attached to a reengineered suspension which is more stable than the standard Subaru Impreza WRX STi.



Prodrives Driver Control Centre Differential System (DCCD) allows the driver to control the oversteer (loose) and understeer (push) characteristics of the car by adjusting the front to rear torque balance delivered to the four driven wheels.



Against the contemporary Mitsubishi Evo the STi Type UK appeared the the more reasonable value.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this Type UK along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed today's Type UK edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

105/115 Series - ALFA Romeo 2000 GTV

The ALFA Romeo 2000 GTV was part of the 105/115 Series Coupés in production from 1963 to 1977, it is thought that 37,459 2000 GTV variations were produced from 1971 to 1976.



The Bertone penned bodywork was built onto to shortened Giulia Berlina floorpan, all 105/115 Series Coupés used four cylinder all alloy twin cam engines, this particular one has the largest 1962 cc / 119 cui motor that came equiped with carburettors and was good for 150 hp.



An undetermined number of 105/115 Series Coupés were assembled near Petoria in South Africa allegedly alongside other knock down kits including Datsun's.

Date for your diaries Saturday April 16th Bristol City Centre will be hosting the Italian Auto Moto Festival, today's photo's as were many others featured here over the last 6 months were taken at this event last year.

E-mail me if your planning to attend it would be great fun to meet up.

Hope you have enjoyed today's all alloy twin cam edition of 'Getting a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

Body Kit Special - Ferrari 599tc GTB Fiorano

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was introduced in 2006 as the brands two seat flagship.



It was Styled by Pininfarina under the direction of Frank Stephenson who lists the new MINI, BMW X5 and McLaren MP4 -12C in his portfolio.



The 599 GTB is powered by a 612 hp 5999 cc / 366 cui V12 making it the most powerful road car to leave the Ferrari factory.



However for some that is not enough, so far as I can work out, from the silver body kit this example may have had some tuning by the Dutch Novitec Russo company who offer an 800 hp twin supercharger upgrade.




The standard 612 hp car will get from rest to 62 mph in 3.7 secs, reach 100 mph in 7.4 seconds



and 160 mph in 19 seconds.



Top speed for the standard car is 205 mph.



Presumably the 'tc' designation on the side of this car indicates this particular vehicle will represent an opportunity to improve on the standard performance figures.



Looking back, from my seat in the peanut gallery, it is hard to believe anybody would want such a car in any colour except Ferrari Russo, but I guess it takes all sorts.

Hope you have enjoyed today's body kit special edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

Rats Nest to Concours - Jaguar XK 140 FHC SE/MC

I'd like to welcome Geoffrey Horton a new contributor to 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres'. Geoffrey got in touch with me regarding research on my Carden blog, he is the grandson of George L Ward one half of Ward and Avery who some of my readers from rowdy.com may remember as being responsible for manufacturing the Carden designed AV Monocar.



For 13 years Geoff worked at an apartment complex where every day the 70 year old owner of a silver XK140 FHC/SE had promised Geoff his car.



When the owner died the promised car disappeared, still in shock some weeks later Jeff saw this particular car in the San Francisco Chronicle for $3,000 he did not hesitate to pick up the cash and take a his trailer along with a bottle of Jack Daniels to collect it.



The previous owner of this vehicle told Geoffrey it had been running fine prior to storage for 14 years in a barn. When Geoffrey purchased this car it was a rats nest, they had eaten the interior and were storing dog food in the wool headliner.



The condition of the car as we now see it is the result of a four year body off restoration. Since 1986 the car has won numerous awards at Concours events including Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Carmel by the Sea, Neillo Serrano and SF Presidio.



The car completed on the 21st September 1955 has it's original engine and gearbox. More information on the XK140 model can be found on the Big Cat in Northern Rhodesia - Jaguar XX 140 FHC blog.



I'd like to thank Geoffrey for taking the time to send me his photo's and look forward to sharing more of his concours photo's in the months to come.

Hope you have enjoyed today's concours edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

Integrated Nose - Porsche 944 S2

Porsche introduced the 944 model in 1982, it shared the same platform as the earlier 924 and latter 968 models. The 944 shares similar body revisions, wider wheel arches, of the earlier 924 Carrera GT.



In 1987 the 944 S2 broke new automotive design ground being the first example of a vehicle with an integrated front bumper where the wing and bonnet (fender and hood) blended smoothly with the bumper. This design feature is still much in evidence today.



The 944 S2 was also noted for carrying the largest 4 cylinder motor of it's day the then brand new 208 hp 3 litre / 183 cui engine was particularly smooth thanks to its counter rotating balance shafts.



Optimum front to rear weight ratio of the 924/944/968 design was achieved by placing the gearbox directly in front of the rear axle.



60 mph from rest could be reached in 6.6 seconds,



top speed for the 944 S2 was quoted as 150 mph.

My thanks to the Pistonhead who brought this 944 S2 along to the Sunday Service at the BMW plant back in January.

Hope you have enjoyed today's integrated edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !