Showing posts with label Martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin. Show all posts
Saturday, 20 February 2016
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Sunday, 30 September 2012
GALPOT Weekly #50
Welcome to GALPOT Weekly #50 a review of the last seven posts at "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres".
The week started with a trip to Danville Concours d'Elegance with Geoffrey Horton where this Aston Martin DB2/4 with coachwork by Serafino Allemano was one of several one off vehicles on display.
The MG NA which I looked at on Tuesdays blog features a hidden rear petrol tank making it easy to distinguish from it's K-Type predecessor.
On Wednesday it was a huge thrill to welcome Jay 'California Streets' Wollenweber to the GALPOT contributing team, Jay also attended the Danville Concours d'Elegance where he met Geoffrey and his XK140 FHC SE MC.
Jay's photographs also featured on Americana Thursdays Land Yacht blog which included this 1957 pillarless estate / station wagon Buick Century Caballero.
Ferrari Friday's blog overdosed on California Sunshine and also included an error, I erroneously had the spyder above down as a 330 GTS, it has since transpired that the car is one of just 20 365 GTS models, essentially a slightly updated 330 GTS body with faired headlights and a larger 4.4 litre /267 cui motor.
Yesterdays blog featured a couple of 1958 Lotus 16's with oblique mounted motors.
Today's Sunday Special feature is about a six cylinder Aston Martin DBS that outwardly appears to be a V8 DBS for the benefit of viewers of the television series "The Persuaders".
I hope you have enjoyed catching up with the last seven "Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres" posts using the links in this 'GALPOT Weekly #50' edition of "GALPOT" and that you will join me daily in the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !
The week started with a trip to Danville Concours d'Elegance with Geoffrey Horton where this Aston Martin DB2/4 with coachwork by Serafino Allemano was one of several one off vehicles on display.
The MG NA which I looked at on Tuesdays blog features a hidden rear petrol tank making it easy to distinguish from it's K-Type predecessor.
On Wednesday it was a huge thrill to welcome Jay 'California Streets' Wollenweber to the GALPOT contributing team, Jay also attended the Danville Concours d'Elegance where he met Geoffrey and his XK140 FHC SE MC.
Jay's photographs also featured on Americana Thursdays Land Yacht blog which included this 1957 pillarless estate / station wagon Buick Century Caballero.
Ferrari Friday's blog overdosed on California Sunshine and also included an error, I erroneously had the spyder above down as a 330 GTS, it has since transpired that the car is one of just 20 365 GTS models, essentially a slightly updated 330 GTS body with faired headlights and a larger 4.4 litre /267 cui motor.
Yesterdays blog featured a couple of 1958 Lotus 16's with oblique mounted motors.
Today's Sunday Special feature is about a six cylinder Aston Martin DBS that outwardly appears to be a V8 DBS for the benefit of viewers of the television series "The Persuaders".
I hope you have enjoyed catching up with the last seven "Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres" posts using the links in this 'GALPOT Weekly #50' edition of "GALPOT" and that you will join me daily in the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !
Sunday, 17 June 2012
GALPOT Weekly #35
Welcome to GALPOT Weekly #35 where I am reviewing the last seven posts to appear on the "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres blog".
The week started with reviews of two events run over the Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend, first, as seen above, a Banger and Demolition Derby event at Aldershot Raceway which introduced me to the delights of 7.5 tonne Truck 'racing'
and second the Jubilee Raceday held at Castle Combe which saw Steven Jensen, seen above driving his Spectrum 011b winning the Formula Ford race and the Driver Of The Day award.
On Continental Wednesday the 1964 CD 3 Le Mans car, seen above, was featured, a car which although ultimately unsuccessful anticipated some revolutionary aerodynamic developments that were first seen in Formula One in 1978.
Americana Thursday's post featured a 1964 Prototype Ford GT which was built on the Slough Trading Estate in the UK by Ford Advanced Vehicles, after Eric Boradley of who was originally contracted to build the cars fell out with Ford in a disagreement over the materials from which the car should be built.
For Ferrari Friday the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, above, was featured which played a minor role, along with the rest of 1964 Le Mans grid, in the French film Un Homme et Une Femme.
Yesterday's post featured the Ark Racing Lotus Elan Group 5 World Endurance Championship race car seen above it's penultimate 'period' race at Silverstone in 1982, a privateer effort that added welcome variety to the Group 5 silhouette scene.
Today's post looks at 007 of the 50 exhibits on display at the 'Bond in Motion' exhibition currently showing at Beaulieu National Motor Museum. The original Aston Martin DB5, similar to the one seen above, borrowed for the production of Goldfinger, was converted back to road spec use when it was returned to the manufacturer and sold as a used car, such was the dire financial position of Aston Martin at the time.
Thanks for joining me on this GALPOT Weekly #35 edition, I hope you have enjoyed catching up with the last weeks posts with the links provided and that you will join me at "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' again tomorrow when I'll be revisiting the Avenue Drivers Club at Queens Square in Bristol. Don't forget to come back now !
The week started with reviews of two events run over the Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend, first, as seen above, a Banger and Demolition Derby event at Aldershot Raceway which introduced me to the delights of 7.5 tonne Truck 'racing'
and second the Jubilee Raceday held at Castle Combe which saw Steven Jensen, seen above driving his Spectrum 011b winning the Formula Ford race and the Driver Of The Day award.
On Continental Wednesday the 1964 CD 3 Le Mans car, seen above, was featured, a car which although ultimately unsuccessful anticipated some revolutionary aerodynamic developments that were first seen in Formula One in 1978.
Americana Thursday's post featured a 1964 Prototype Ford GT which was built on the Slough Trading Estate in the UK by Ford Advanced Vehicles, after Eric Boradley of who was originally contracted to build the cars fell out with Ford in a disagreement over the materials from which the car should be built.
For Ferrari Friday the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, above, was featured which played a minor role, along with the rest of 1964 Le Mans grid, in the French film Un Homme et Une Femme.
Yesterday's post featured the Ark Racing Lotus Elan Group 5 World Endurance Championship race car seen above it's penultimate 'period' race at Silverstone in 1982, a privateer effort that added welcome variety to the Group 5 silhouette scene.
Today's post looks at 007 of the 50 exhibits on display at the 'Bond in Motion' exhibition currently showing at Beaulieu National Motor Museum. The original Aston Martin DB5, similar to the one seen above, borrowed for the production of Goldfinger, was converted back to road spec use when it was returned to the manufacturer and sold as a used car, such was the dire financial position of Aston Martin at the time.
Thanks for joining me on this GALPOT Weekly #35 edition, I hope you have enjoyed catching up with the last weeks posts with the links provided and that you will join me at "Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' again tomorrow when I'll be revisiting the Avenue Drivers Club at Queens Square in Bristol. Don't forget to come back now !
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Who Said A Spider Couldn't Fly ? - Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark II Touring Spider AM/300/1161
The Aston Martin DB2/4 launched in 1953 was a 2+2 hatchback based on the Aston Martin DB2 dating back to 1950.
In 1953 David Brown the owner of the marque sent several bare chassis to a variety of Italian styling houses and coach builders and presented the finished cars at the great motor shows of the day where orders were taken for limited production runs.
The Mark II DB4/2 was launched in 1956 with a 140 hp 3 litre / 183 cui straight six motor. Three of these new chassis were sent to Carrozzeria Touring to have flamboyant Spider bodies designed by Signor Formenti fitted.
Formenti's design was a clean break from what had gone before with exceptionally clean lines for the period with unusual twin air scoops on the bonnet
and further air scoops ahead of the rear wheels.
Sales of the vehicle did not materialise as expected after the first car, seen here at the recent Silverstone Classic, was displayed at the 1956 Turin Motor Show and the second car had appeared at the Paris Motor Show.
After it's launch in Italy this particular vehicle was acquired by Associated Newspapers in London who ran a competition in the Daily Express in which the winner who could best sum up the drophead would take it home.
Mr Alexander Smith, entry "Who Said A Spider Couldn't Fly ?" was adjudged the winner, and took the, then left hand drive, car home.
AM/300/1161 remained in England and was converted to right hand drive while the two remaining examples were sold to customers in the United States where they remain to this day.
Although the first collaboration between Aston Martin and Carrozzeria Touring was not an immediate success the two companies worked together on a long line of vehicles that included the DB4/2's successors the DB4, DB5 and DB6.
Thanks for joining me on this twin air scoop edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
In 1953 David Brown the owner of the marque sent several bare chassis to a variety of Italian styling houses and coach builders and presented the finished cars at the great motor shows of the day where orders were taken for limited production runs.
The Mark II DB4/2 was launched in 1956 with a 140 hp 3 litre / 183 cui straight six motor. Three of these new chassis were sent to Carrozzeria Touring to have flamboyant Spider bodies designed by Signor Formenti fitted.
Formenti's design was a clean break from what had gone before with exceptionally clean lines for the period with unusual twin air scoops on the bonnet
and further air scoops ahead of the rear wheels.
Sales of the vehicle did not materialise as expected after the first car, seen here at the recent Silverstone Classic, was displayed at the 1956 Turin Motor Show and the second car had appeared at the Paris Motor Show.
After it's launch in Italy this particular vehicle was acquired by Associated Newspapers in London who ran a competition in the Daily Express in which the winner who could best sum up the drophead would take it home.
Mr Alexander Smith, entry "Who Said A Spider Couldn't Fly ?" was adjudged the winner, and took the, then left hand drive, car home.
AM/300/1161 remained in England and was converted to right hand drive while the two remaining examples were sold to customers in the United States where they remain to this day.
Although the first collaboration between Aston Martin and Carrozzeria Touring was not an immediate success the two companies worked together on a long line of vehicles that included the DB4/2's successors the DB4, DB5 and DB6.
Thanks for joining me on this twin air scoop edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Monday, 5 September 2011
Gold Cup Classic - Oulton Park
Oulton Park circuit is one of Britain's more difficult tracks, while attending racing school there I spun off on two separate occasions, located near Little Budworth in Cheshire.
The last time I was spectating at Oulton Park in Cheshire then future world champion Damon Hill was given a one off drive in the British Formula 3000 Championship race by Colin Bennett and future Oulton Park circuit owner Dr Jonathan Palmer had a one off drive in the Celebrity car that featured in the Honda CRX championship in 1989.
On Bank Holiday Monday I got to the track for the second day of the Gold Cup Classic meeting, just as qualifying got under way for the Sir Stirling Moss trophy race. Former FIA Historic Formula One Champion Bobby Verdon Roe, seen here driving a 1957 Aston Martin DBR1, going through a much altered Druids Corner on his way to qualifying on pole.
Oulton Park now has a tarmac Rally Stage and an interesting variety of vehicles were to be found trying to navigate the slippery conditions, including this Surprising Skoda Estelle, keeping spectators entertained with numerous 360 degree spins.
The Historic Formula Ford race for Ford Kent powered single seaters built from 1969 - 1972 was highly entertaining with Rob Wainright piping Ben Mitchell and Benn Simms in a three way last lap shoot out. Former Grand Prix driver Ian Ashley driving the #62 Lola T200 is seen here passing Stuart Baird in the #6 Merlyn MK11A for fifth prior to Ian's early retirement.
I missed the Historic Touring Car race won by Mark Jones in favour of having lunch with friends from The Nostalgia Forum, afterwards the Derek Bell Trophy race for a mixture of open wheel cars was run. Richard Evans in a Formula Atlantic March 79B snatched a last lap victory from Michael Lyons Formula 5000 Lola T400. I did not realise it at the time I took the photograph above but this is a recreation of the Lotus Martin built to Formula One regulations in 1966.
Judy Lyons, Michael's mother, driving the #33 Lola T332 above, gambled on rain returning during the race and opted for intermediate tyres, at the end of the race she showed no sign of disappointment that her strategy had failed or that she was not classified in the final results.
The small grid of Group 6 2 litre / 122 cui cars for the Martini Trophy race included this Martini liveried Chevron B31 belonging to Graeme and James Dodd which failed to finish.
Charlie Kemp did his best to make a race of it driving the 1970 vintage #10 Lola T210 but was eventually unable to keep up with John Burton who took the Martini spoils driving a Chevron B26.
The E Type challenge was probably the race of the day helped by tricky weather conditions, earning my personal vote for driver of the day was Jon Minshaw who worked through the field from the back of the grid to second place behind Martin O'Connell in a race filled with lurid 'moments'.
John Ure and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards won the Woodcote Trophy driving a Cooper Bristol finishing ahead of the #57 Allard J2 seen here of Malcolm Verey and Dennis Welsh after Stephen Bond, who had rarely been more than a few car lengths behind the Cooper, lost up to a minute making his mandatory pit stop.
Benn Simms made up for his disappointment in the Formula Ford race by winning from the back of the grid in the Classic Formula 3 race driving the #1 March 803B seen here lining up
to pass the Keith White in the blue Ralt RT1.
Brian White and Keith Stantton drove their Triumph TR2 in both the Stirling Moss and Woodcote Trophy races, Brian is seen here exploring the outer limits of the track at Old Hall during Woodcote Trophy on his way to a 19th place finish.
Jon Minshaw teamed up with John Stretton to win the Woodcote Trophy in the #133 'Knobly' Lister Jaguar above lapping the D-Type of Ben Eastick which finished 7th.
Final race of the day was the 'Amitsead Barnet Financial Services' Historic Formula Ford 2000 championship race for Pinto powered cars circa 1978 - 1981 which was won by Nelson Rowe. Nelson Duke, in the yellow helmet above driving a Reynard SF79 about to pass the Delta T79 of Robert Trusting, impressed the event race sponsor 'Mallory Dan' sufficiently with his drive from the back of the grid to 13th place to win the FF2000 driver of the day award.
In between races and watching the rally car demonstration there was a feast of classic cars on display including my personal nomination for car of the day this Piper GT
After a great day out all too soon it was time to say 'until next time' to Barry, Roger, David, Mallory Dan, Alan, Phil and Simon from the Nostalgia forum and head for home.
Thanks for joining me on this Gold Cup edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
The last time I was spectating at Oulton Park in Cheshire then future world champion Damon Hill was given a one off drive in the British Formula 3000 Championship race by Colin Bennett and future Oulton Park circuit owner Dr Jonathan Palmer had a one off drive in the Celebrity car that featured in the Honda CRX championship in 1989.
On Bank Holiday Monday I got to the track for the second day of the Gold Cup Classic meeting, just as qualifying got under way for the Sir Stirling Moss trophy race. Former FIA Historic Formula One Champion Bobby Verdon Roe, seen here driving a 1957 Aston Martin DBR1, going through a much altered Druids Corner on his way to qualifying on pole.
Oulton Park now has a tarmac Rally Stage and an interesting variety of vehicles were to be found trying to navigate the slippery conditions, including this Surprising Skoda Estelle, keeping spectators entertained with numerous 360 degree spins.
The Historic Formula Ford race for Ford Kent powered single seaters built from 1969 - 1972 was highly entertaining with Rob Wainright piping Ben Mitchell and Benn Simms in a three way last lap shoot out. Former Grand Prix driver Ian Ashley driving the #62 Lola T200 is seen here passing Stuart Baird in the #6 Merlyn MK11A for fifth prior to Ian's early retirement.
I missed the Historic Touring Car race won by Mark Jones in favour of having lunch with friends from The Nostalgia Forum, afterwards the Derek Bell Trophy race for a mixture of open wheel cars was run. Richard Evans in a Formula Atlantic March 79B snatched a last lap victory from Michael Lyons Formula 5000 Lola T400. I did not realise it at the time I took the photograph above but this is a recreation of the Lotus Martin built to Formula One regulations in 1966.
Judy Lyons, Michael's mother, driving the #33 Lola T332 above, gambled on rain returning during the race and opted for intermediate tyres, at the end of the race she showed no sign of disappointment that her strategy had failed or that she was not classified in the final results.
The small grid of Group 6 2 litre / 122 cui cars for the Martini Trophy race included this Martini liveried Chevron B31 belonging to Graeme and James Dodd which failed to finish.
Charlie Kemp did his best to make a race of it driving the 1970 vintage #10 Lola T210 but was eventually unable to keep up with John Burton who took the Martini spoils driving a Chevron B26.
The E Type challenge was probably the race of the day helped by tricky weather conditions, earning my personal vote for driver of the day was Jon Minshaw who worked through the field from the back of the grid to second place behind Martin O'Connell in a race filled with lurid 'moments'.
John Ure and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards won the Woodcote Trophy driving a Cooper Bristol finishing ahead of the #57 Allard J2 seen here of Malcolm Verey and Dennis Welsh after Stephen Bond, who had rarely been more than a few car lengths behind the Cooper, lost up to a minute making his mandatory pit stop.
Benn Simms made up for his disappointment in the Formula Ford race by winning from the back of the grid in the Classic Formula 3 race driving the #1 March 803B seen here lining up
to pass the Keith White in the blue Ralt RT1.
Brian White and Keith Stantton drove their Triumph TR2 in both the Stirling Moss and Woodcote Trophy races, Brian is seen here exploring the outer limits of the track at Old Hall during Woodcote Trophy on his way to a 19th place finish.
Jon Minshaw teamed up with John Stretton to win the Woodcote Trophy in the #133 'Knobly' Lister Jaguar above lapping the D-Type of Ben Eastick which finished 7th.
Final race of the day was the 'Amitsead Barnet Financial Services' Historic Formula Ford 2000 championship race for Pinto powered cars circa 1978 - 1981 which was won by Nelson Rowe. Nelson Duke, in the yellow helmet above driving a Reynard SF79 about to pass the Delta T79 of Robert Trusting, impressed the event race sponsor 'Mallory Dan' sufficiently with his drive from the back of the grid to 13th place to win the FF2000 driver of the day award.
In between races and watching the rally car demonstration there was a feast of classic cars on display including my personal nomination for car of the day this Piper GT
After a great day out all too soon it was time to say 'until next time' to Barry, Roger, David, Mallory Dan, Alan, Phil and Simon from the Nostalgia forum and head for home.
Thanks for joining me on this Gold Cup edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Bespoke Luxury Shopping Trolley - Aston Martin Cygnet
A couple of weeks ago, returning from a trip to the Cotswold Motoring Museum, I was playing I spy with an auto knowledgeable Italian 13 year old as we drove through Cheltenham looking at the back of this car it was my turn to say I spy something beginning with C, we dispensed with the manufacturers initials after only a coupe of rounds.
C-Max he said pointing to the Ford in front of us, no I replied, he gave up quickly and I pointed to the back of this Aston Martin and said 'Cygnet'.
No no he appealed Toyota iQ just like my Auntie in Milan. I pulled over at the next junction parked the car and we went to have a look.
To stay ahead in the automotive industry just like in motor sport one has to think laterally, so when the European Union announced regulations that car manufacturers had to reduce the average fuel consumption across their fleet average Aston Martin wasted little time in finding a partner making low emissions vehicles.
Settling on a partnership with Toyota to make a high end, at £30,000 that is the extremely exclusive high end, version of the Toyota iQ a vehicle that will cost as little as £10,000.
From the rear the two cars, apart from the badging and diffuser are identical, while the front get the Aston Martin look with grills and trim that is with out doubt not from the Toyota parts bin.
The interior is also bespoke Aston Martin customers choosing abundant stitched leather in a variety of two tone colour combinations.
Performance is quoted as 107 mph with the CVT (constant velocity transmission) automatic being 0.2 secs faster than the 6 speed manual in the 60 mph dash that takes 11.6 seconds.
Aston Martin hope to sell 4000 Cygnets, which went on sale in the UK earlier this year, annually.
Thanks for joining me on this I Spy edition of Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
C-Max he said pointing to the Ford in front of us, no I replied, he gave up quickly and I pointed to the back of this Aston Martin and said 'Cygnet'.
No no he appealed Toyota iQ just like my Auntie in Milan. I pulled over at the next junction parked the car and we went to have a look.
To stay ahead in the automotive industry just like in motor sport one has to think laterally, so when the European Union announced regulations that car manufacturers had to reduce the average fuel consumption across their fleet average Aston Martin wasted little time in finding a partner making low emissions vehicles.
Settling on a partnership with Toyota to make a high end, at £30,000 that is the extremely exclusive high end, version of the Toyota iQ a vehicle that will cost as little as £10,000.
From the rear the two cars, apart from the badging and diffuser are identical, while the front get the Aston Martin look with grills and trim that is with out doubt not from the Toyota parts bin.
The interior is also bespoke Aston Martin customers choosing abundant stitched leather in a variety of two tone colour combinations.
Performance is quoted as 107 mph with the CVT (constant velocity transmission) automatic being 0.2 secs faster than the 6 speed manual in the 60 mph dash that takes 11.6 seconds.
Aston Martin hope to sell 4000 Cygnets, which went on sale in the UK earlier this year, annually.
Thanks for joining me on this I Spy edition of Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Powered Under Licence - Rover P5B 3.5 litre Coupe
In September 1960 the author of a technical review on the then new all aluminium 185 hp Buick 215 V8 engine could have had little idea of how prophetic for the British automotive industry his following words would be, "We will wager that the most widely copied engine of the next 10 years will be the superb new aluminium V8 by Buick."
Despite it's glowing press the Buick V8 and various Oldsmobile and Pontiac variants these motors were only in production from 1961 to 1963, after 750,000 units had been produced the Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac switched back to cheaper to manufacture iron blocks which were cast with thinner walls than had hitherto been possible.
Rover managing director Bill Martin-Hurst was on a sales mission trying to get Mercury Marine in Wisconsin interested in Rover gas turbine engines for marine applications when he stumbled across a Buick V8 being prepared for power boat racing on the Mercury Marine shop floor.
Bill realised immediately that such a motor might have a future in several Rover car projects and had the motor on the shop floor shipped to England and made enquires at GM about making their recently discontinued aluminium motor under licence.
Somewhat disbelieving GM agreed a deal which eventually included the soon to retire designer of the aluminium Buick 215 Joe Turley who would help prepare the V8 for production in a market that put engines under more stress, no speed limit at the UK at the time, than encountered in its original US application.
The Buick V8 was first tested in a P6 prototype, but the final iteration of older P5 design seen here, with a B for Buick designation, was the first Rover to be offered to the public with an aluminium Buick 215 V8 derived motor in 1967.
Four successive British Prime Ministers and the Queen of England used P5B's, so impressed was the British government with these vehicles that they bought the last batch of them for future government ministers to use in 1973. Indeed Prime Minister Margret Thatcher was often seen in one as late as 1979, before switching to a Jaguar.
A Rover P5B featured alongside a Lamborghini Islero in 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' starring Roger Moore, Olga Geoges-Picot and Hildegard Neil.
Vehicles featured on GALPOT that are powered by variations of the aluminium Rover V8 include :-
CMT
Reliant Scimitar GTE V8
Triumph TR7 Rally Sprint Replica
Triumph TR8 Convertible Replica
Triumph TR8 Twin Turbo
Further examples of Rover V8 powered vehicles can be found in these less specific blogs :-
GMC Suburban
Darian Wildcat T89 GTR
MGB Kayne Special
Rover SD1
Thanks for joining me on this Powered Under License edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again for a Scandinavian Edition tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Despite it's glowing press the Buick V8 and various Oldsmobile and Pontiac variants these motors were only in production from 1961 to 1963, after 750,000 units had been produced the Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac switched back to cheaper to manufacture iron blocks which were cast with thinner walls than had hitherto been possible.
Rover managing director Bill Martin-Hurst was on a sales mission trying to get Mercury Marine in Wisconsin interested in Rover gas turbine engines for marine applications when he stumbled across a Buick V8 being prepared for power boat racing on the Mercury Marine shop floor.
Bill realised immediately that such a motor might have a future in several Rover car projects and had the motor on the shop floor shipped to England and made enquires at GM about making their recently discontinued aluminium motor under licence.
Somewhat disbelieving GM agreed a deal which eventually included the soon to retire designer of the aluminium Buick 215 Joe Turley who would help prepare the V8 for production in a market that put engines under more stress, no speed limit at the UK at the time, than encountered in its original US application.
The Buick V8 was first tested in a P6 prototype, but the final iteration of older P5 design seen here, with a B for Buick designation, was the first Rover to be offered to the public with an aluminium Buick 215 V8 derived motor in 1967.
Four successive British Prime Ministers and the Queen of England used P5B's, so impressed was the British government with these vehicles that they bought the last batch of them for future government ministers to use in 1973. Indeed Prime Minister Margret Thatcher was often seen in one as late as 1979, before switching to a Jaguar.
A Rover P5B featured alongside a Lamborghini Islero in 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' starring Roger Moore, Olga Geoges-Picot and Hildegard Neil.
Vehicles featured on GALPOT that are powered by variations of the aluminium Rover V8 include :-
CMT
Reliant Scimitar GTE V8
Triumph TR7 Rally Sprint Replica
Triumph TR8 Convertible Replica
Triumph TR8 Twin Turbo
Further examples of Rover V8 powered vehicles can be found in these less specific blogs :-
GMC Suburban
Darian Wildcat T89 GTR
MGB Kayne Special
Rover SD1
Thanks for joining me on this Powered Under License edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again for a Scandinavian Edition tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
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