Showing posts with label Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Museum. Show all posts
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Friday, 15 April 2016
Thursday, 31 March 2016
Monday, 28 March 2016
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Friday, 8 January 2016
Friday, 1 January 2016
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
Sunday, 16 August 2015
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Friday, 15 May 2015
Sunday, 1 April 2012
GALPOT Weekly #24
Welcome to GALPOT Weekly #24, this weeks posts have covered a classic car museum, big bumper MG B and a 4 wheel drive Ford. For Americana Thurdays blog I found out about a Ford I'd never heard of before and on Ferrari Friday I looked at a static show version of the F310 of the same type that Micheal Schumacher raced during his first two seasons at Maranello.
Among many interesting and storied vehicles at the Malta Classic Car Museum which I in Qawara, silent Q, which I looked at on Monday was this oddly named Austin Somerset Coupé which was driven by the Queen of England during her visit to the Island in her Coronation year.
This big bumper MG B MK III was built to meet the 1974 US Federal safety standards you can fin out these cars were known as Sabrina's on Tuesdays blog linked here.
Wednesdays blog featured the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 which was built primarily for Ford to keep their hand in on the Rally scene, however it's size meant that it struggled to be competitive against the pint size hatch backs like Lancia Delta.
I'd never heard of a Ford Business Coupé which was in production from 1937 to 1940 until researching the vehicle featured in Thursdays Americana blog.
Micheal Schumacher moved to Ferrari on 1998 in a two year deal worth an estimated US $60 million. The Ferrari F310 designed by John Barnard gave him 3 wins in 1998, on Friday I looked at a static show version of the F310 which is on display at the Haynes Motor Museum.
Yesterdays featured car the Lotus 41 was designed for a variety of second and third tier open wheel formula in 1966. Despite the fact 61 of these cars were built, Piers Courage French Formula 3 Championship victory was the cars only major success.
Nissan recently announced a slight reprise of the Datsun name in Russian, Indian and Indonesian markets commencing 2014, today's featured car is a mid seventies Datsun 129A - FII was also known in Japan by the Cherry name.
Thanks for joining me on GALPOT Weekly #24, I hope you will enjoy catching up with the full blogs on the featured cars using the links.
Coming up in the week ahead at 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' featured cars will include a pick up the brainchild of John Crosthwaite who worked with Lotus, Mickey Thompson, BRM and Reliant during his career. On Tuesday I'll be looking at an MG limited edition three quarters of which were exported to Japan. Wednesday I'll be looking at a hot hatchback from Ford.
I hope you will join me at 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' during the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !
Among many interesting and storied vehicles at the Malta Classic Car Museum which I in Qawara, silent Q, which I looked at on Monday was this oddly named Austin Somerset Coupé which was driven by the Queen of England during her visit to the Island in her Coronation year.
This big bumper MG B MK III was built to meet the 1974 US Federal safety standards you can fin out these cars were known as Sabrina's on Tuesdays blog linked here.
Wednesdays blog featured the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 which was built primarily for Ford to keep their hand in on the Rally scene, however it's size meant that it struggled to be competitive against the pint size hatch backs like Lancia Delta.
I'd never heard of a Ford Business Coupé which was in production from 1937 to 1940 until researching the vehicle featured in Thursdays Americana blog.
Micheal Schumacher moved to Ferrari on 1998 in a two year deal worth an estimated US $60 million. The Ferrari F310 designed by John Barnard gave him 3 wins in 1998, on Friday I looked at a static show version of the F310 which is on display at the Haynes Motor Museum.
Yesterdays featured car the Lotus 41 was designed for a variety of second and third tier open wheel formula in 1966. Despite the fact 61 of these cars were built, Piers Courage French Formula 3 Championship victory was the cars only major success.
Nissan recently announced a slight reprise of the Datsun name in Russian, Indian and Indonesian markets commencing 2014, today's featured car is a mid seventies Datsun 129A - FII was also known in Japan by the Cherry name.
Thanks for joining me on GALPOT Weekly #24, I hope you will enjoy catching up with the full blogs on the featured cars using the links.
Coming up in the week ahead at 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' featured cars will include a pick up the brainchild of John Crosthwaite who worked with Lotus, Mickey Thompson, BRM and Reliant during his career. On Tuesday I'll be looking at an MG limited edition three quarters of which were exported to Japan. Wednesday I'll be looking at a hot hatchback from Ford.
I hope you will join me at 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' during the week ahead. Don't forget to come back now !
Monday, 10 October 2011
Forward Control Flathead - Fordson 7V
The Fordson 7V truck built in Britain from 1937 to 1948 had two enduring innovations.
The first was it's flathead V8 the first Ford V8 which was originally built in the USA in 1932. This motor in various guises from 136 CUI / 2.2 litre to 337 CUI 5.7 litre was in production until 1973 when German built trucks with a variation of this motor ceased production. This easy to maintain and upgrade motor was popular with hot rodders and racers alike, indeed Allard amongst other special builders also installed a variation this motor in some of its most successful competition models.
The second innovative feature of the Fordson 7V was the forward control cab which placed the driver alongside the motor which improved the drivers vision of the road and allowed for greater maneuverability in congested urban environments. This particular feature did not take off until the 1960's Ford having taken a step back placing the driver in the traditional position behind the motor with it's 1950's Trader models. Note the cab also has an unusual for the period one piece windscreen.
Fordson 7V's like this particular one were the vehicle of choice for Britain's National Fire Service during the 2nd World War and painted grey they were an all to familiar sight during the Blitz Krieg. The Fordson 7V chassis was also adapted during the 2nd World War to build the armoured flathead V8 powered tracked Loyd Carrier.
With the cessation of hostilities and the post war boom in motor racing Fordon 7V's fitted with Flathead V8's were much in demand for use as racing transporters giving many fire tenders a second lease of life.
The Clarke family use this 1937 example, seen at the Rare Breeds Show, to transport their collection of replica Stock Cars as raced in the 1950's.
Thanks for joining me on today's transporter edition of 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I'll be looking at British built variations of one of the worlds most popular cars. Don't forget to come back now !
The first was it's flathead V8 the first Ford V8 which was originally built in the USA in 1932. This motor in various guises from 136 CUI / 2.2 litre to 337 CUI 5.7 litre was in production until 1973 when German built trucks with a variation of this motor ceased production. This easy to maintain and upgrade motor was popular with hot rodders and racers alike, indeed Allard amongst other special builders also installed a variation this motor in some of its most successful competition models.
The second innovative feature of the Fordson 7V was the forward control cab which placed the driver alongside the motor which improved the drivers vision of the road and allowed for greater maneuverability in congested urban environments. This particular feature did not take off until the 1960's Ford having taken a step back placing the driver in the traditional position behind the motor with it's 1950's Trader models. Note the cab also has an unusual for the period one piece windscreen.
Fordson 7V's like this particular one were the vehicle of choice for Britain's National Fire Service during the 2nd World War and painted grey they were an all to familiar sight during the Blitz Krieg. The Fordson 7V chassis was also adapted during the 2nd World War to build the armoured flathead V8 powered tracked Loyd Carrier.
With the cessation of hostilities and the post war boom in motor racing Fordon 7V's fitted with Flathead V8's were much in demand for use as racing transporters giving many fire tenders a second lease of life.
The Clarke family use this 1937 example, seen at the Rare Breeds Show, to transport their collection of replica Stock Cars as raced in the 1950's.
Thanks for joining me on today's transporter edition of 'Gettin' a li'l psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I'll be looking at British built variations of one of the worlds most popular cars. Don't forget to come back now !
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Perfect Car For A Wedding #6 - Rolls Royce Corniche
I am off to a wedding today, the first one I have attended where my friends children are the ones getting married, so it seems appropriate to feature another Perfect Car for a wedding on today's blog.
Today's Rolls Royce is known as the Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Drop Head Coupé which first appeared in 1967 was renamed Corniche in 1971 when this model scene at the Haynes International Motor Museum was built.
The Corniche assembled and finished in London by Mulliner Park Ward is based on the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow / Bentley T floor plan with the same 'adequate' aluminium 6230 cc / 380 cui Rolls Royce motor.
The Corniche name was first used by Rolls Royce in the 1930's for a Mark V prototype with Parisian coach work by van Vooren, legend has it that after 15,000 miles of Continental testing in Europe was awaiting repatriation to England when it was hit by a bomb at Dieppe docks.
In the UK it would probably take a particularly brave couple to opt for a convertible on their wedding day but then as they used to say in Rome 'Fortes fortuna adiuvat'. For the brave this Corniche can be hired from the Haynes International Motor Museum.
Wishing Lotti & Ronnie and all those getting married today all the best and many happy years together.
Thanks for joining me on this Corniche edition of 'Gettin a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Today's Rolls Royce is known as the Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Drop Head Coupé which first appeared in 1967 was renamed Corniche in 1971 when this model scene at the Haynes International Motor Museum was built.
The Corniche assembled and finished in London by Mulliner Park Ward is based on the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow / Bentley T floor plan with the same 'adequate' aluminium 6230 cc / 380 cui Rolls Royce motor.
The Corniche name was first used by Rolls Royce in the 1930's for a Mark V prototype with Parisian coach work by van Vooren, legend has it that after 15,000 miles of Continental testing in Europe was awaiting repatriation to England when it was hit by a bomb at Dieppe docks.
In the UK it would probably take a particularly brave couple to opt for a convertible on their wedding day but then as they used to say in Rome 'Fortes fortuna adiuvat'. For the brave this Corniche can be hired from the Haynes International Motor Museum.
Wishing Lotti & Ronnie and all those getting married today all the best and many happy years together.
Thanks for joining me on this Corniche edition of 'Gettin a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you'll join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Friday, 16 September 2011
Two Time World Champ - Ferrari 500 #005
In 1951 there was a close fought contest for the World Drivers Championship between the Alfa Romeo drivers in old pre war 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui supercharged cars and Ferrari drivers in new 4.5 litre / 274.5 cui normally aspirated cars. Juan Manuel Fangio won the title but a run of three straight victories by Ferrari drivers González and Ascari was enough to convince Alfa Romeo that they could not hope to be so competitive with their old cars and so with no money to fund the building and development of new machines they quit Grand Prix racing as two time champions.
Alfa Romeo's withdrawal left the FIA, organisers of World Championship Grand Prix Racing, with a shortage of entrants for the 1952 season only the up and coming Ferrari and brand new BRM team, who had built a beautiful sounding, but hideously complicated and unreliable 1.5 litre 91.5 cui supercharged V16 vehicle being prepared to enter events run to the existent formula one regulations.
The FIA decided that they would run the 1952 and 1953 World Championship for cars built to Formula 2 regulations with normally aspirated 2 litre / 122 cui engines while new formula one regulations would be introduced in 1954. Ferrari had all the bases covered for 1952 as he had coincidentally just instructed Aurelio Lamperdi to design a 4 cylinder 2 litre / 122 cui engine that was powerful and extremely efficient.
For 1952 Ferrari built six type '500' Formula 2 Cars cars to compete in the World Championship and they won all of seven races into which they were entered missing the Indy 500, run to different regulations in which Alberto Ascari competed with a Ferrari 375.
On his return from the 1952 Indy 500 Alberto Ascari won the six remaining World Championship races with the car, seen here at Donington Park, on his way to capturing the 1952 World Championship. Ascari retained the title using the same chassis in 1953 with another 5 victories.
The Ferrari '500' design is one of the most successful of all time only the McLaren MP4/4 which won 15 races out of 16 in 1988 as against 7 out of 8 eligible events in 1952 for the '500' is statistically more successful, though it could be argued that since the Indy 500 was not run to the same regulations as the rest of the 1952 World Championship the Ferrari '500' has a 100 % winning record for the 1952 season.
This particular #005 chassis won an unequalled 7 straight World Championship Grand Prix races from 1952 to 1953, and 9 straight world championship races entered again the 1953 Indy 500 counted as a World Championship Grand Prix in 1953, and is credited with a total of 11 World Championship Grand Prix wins in total. As the highly regarded Doug Nye says of chassis #005 "Possibly the most successful chassis in Grand Prix history."
The 4 cylinder engine went on to have a hugely successful career in sports car racing when installed in the 500 Mondial and 500 Testa Rossa's.
Thanks for joining me on this Ferrari Friday edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Alfa Romeo's withdrawal left the FIA, organisers of World Championship Grand Prix Racing, with a shortage of entrants for the 1952 season only the up and coming Ferrari and brand new BRM team, who had built a beautiful sounding, but hideously complicated and unreliable 1.5 litre 91.5 cui supercharged V16 vehicle being prepared to enter events run to the existent formula one regulations.
The FIA decided that they would run the 1952 and 1953 World Championship for cars built to Formula 2 regulations with normally aspirated 2 litre / 122 cui engines while new formula one regulations would be introduced in 1954. Ferrari had all the bases covered for 1952 as he had coincidentally just instructed Aurelio Lamperdi to design a 4 cylinder 2 litre / 122 cui engine that was powerful and extremely efficient.
For 1952 Ferrari built six type '500' Formula 2 Cars cars to compete in the World Championship and they won all of seven races into which they were entered missing the Indy 500, run to different regulations in which Alberto Ascari competed with a Ferrari 375.
On his return from the 1952 Indy 500 Alberto Ascari won the six remaining World Championship races with the car, seen here at Donington Park, on his way to capturing the 1952 World Championship. Ascari retained the title using the same chassis in 1953 with another 5 victories.
The Ferrari '500' design is one of the most successful of all time only the McLaren MP4/4 which won 15 races out of 16 in 1988 as against 7 out of 8 eligible events in 1952 for the '500' is statistically more successful, though it could be argued that since the Indy 500 was not run to the same regulations as the rest of the 1952 World Championship the Ferrari '500' has a 100 % winning record for the 1952 season.
This particular #005 chassis won an unequalled 7 straight World Championship Grand Prix races from 1952 to 1953, and 9 straight world championship races entered again the 1953 Indy 500 counted as a World Championship Grand Prix in 1953, and is credited with a total of 11 World Championship Grand Prix wins in total. As the highly regarded Doug Nye says of chassis #005 "Possibly the most successful chassis in Grand Prix history."
The 4 cylinder engine went on to have a hugely successful career in sports car racing when installed in the 500 Mondial and 500 Testa Rossa's.
Thanks for joining me on this Ferrari Friday edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Monday, 12 September 2011
Rare Breeds - Haynes International Motor Museum
Last Sunday I made a 'little' detour to the Rare Breeds Car Show at the Haynes International Motor Museum on the way to the airport to pick up some friends.
Among the 70 odd vehicles on display were half a dozen Formula 500's some 50's (UK) Stock Car replica's, for those in the US these are more like 1/4 mile paved and dirt Late Sportsman race cars than NASCARs Stock Cars, and a number of interesting vehicles one is unlikely on an average everyday commute.
Around 10,000 Austin 3 litre vehicles nicknamed 'Land Lobsters' were built between 1968 and 1971 which though well appointed were no competition for the similarly sized Triumphs, Rovers and Jaguars which would soon all become merged into the same nationalised British Leyland conglomerate. There are thought to be around 60 of these vehicles left and this one has been in the Stephen's family since new.
Some of you may remember my blog on the wreck of a Bowden Super Two I wrote some months ago, this is an Austin 7 Hamblin Cadet with the smaller body that the Bowden Super Two bodywork was based on. At £34.10/- this was the cheapest bodywork on the market, it was made to fit pre war Austin 7's. The owner of this car is the son of Sid Hamblin who founded the SE Hamblin company and personally built this car.
The Austin Mini Wildgoose RV has also featured on GALPOT before, this is a 1967 model with larger wraparound cabin windows and a tilting roof incorporating canvas sides, looks a little less like an airport control tower than the original. This particular vehicle has had the original 850 cc / 51.8 cui motor replaced with a 1275 cc / 77 cui unit and gearing to match so that it can easily cruise above the minimum motorway speed limit of 50 mph.
My Uncle in Germany had a DKW 1000S before he swapped it for a more versatile square back. These two stroke powered cars were relatively expensive in the UK so not many were in imported although Jim Clark made his racing debut driving a DKW before going on to win two World Championships and the Indy 500. This Left Hand Drive (LHD) model was imported from Sweden via Norway.
From 1933 - 1939 Ford commercial vehicles in the UK were badged Fordson. This Fordson 7V served as an auxiliary fire tender during World War 2. Because of it's relatively powerful V8 motor 7V's were much in demand for use as racing car transporters after hostilities ceased.
E691 is a replica of Nev Hughes 1935 Model 48 Ford raced, in 1955, built by Keith Barber. Current owner Roy Clarke rescued it in 2006 and it recently featured, as did several of the vehicles seen in the back ground in an advertisement for the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. It can be seen painted black with red stripes under the 'B9' at 1m 01 secs in this clip.
Also featured in an earlier post has been a GAZ M21 Volga this 1962 model one of only two known to be in the UK is in considerably better condition than the one I featured on the former East German border in 2006.
Described as very difficult to drive this RHD Lafitte 5CV Cycle Car is positively bristling with innovative technology starting with an inverted Y 3 cylinder air cooled radial engine that tilts with a hand mechanism in order alter to the friction driven gear ratio. The Lafitte has way ahead of it's time independent front suspension but no foot brakes ! This car has recently been certified as roadworthy for the first time since 1964 but the owner thought discretion was the better part of valour and brought this amazing device to the show on a trailer.
There seems to be a lot of interest in triking at the moment stimulating no doubt Morgan's recent return to the manufacture of trikes. For those who cannot afford Morgan's starting price their are plenty of alternatives. The front wheel drive Spirit Gordini M3 started life as two separate front wheel drive Renault 5 / Le Car models one '79 tother '85.
Another new manufacturer to me is Tornado apparently founded in 1957 in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire by Bill Woodhouse and Tony Bullen. Amazingly this car had lain awaiting restoration when it's owner passed aeay and thanks to the Faithorpe Sports Car Club it was passed on to Bill Woodhouse who did not know what to do with it until two gap year students the Hillier brothers took it upon themselves to rebuild the car in order to gain engineering experience under the guidance of the current owner and founder of the company Mr Woodhouse. The Talisman is one of 186 Ford powered examples made.
Finally my car of the day award goes to this Triumph Spitfire based Special made by Martin Harcourt using an English Wheel and alot of effort to make the polished aluminium panels on this unique single seater. When it's complete Martin hopes to use his shiny special in sprints and hill climbs. I am sure he will have plenty of fun with it.
Thanks for joining me on this Rare Breeds edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Among the 70 odd vehicles on display were half a dozen Formula 500's some 50's (UK) Stock Car replica's, for those in the US these are more like 1/4 mile paved and dirt Late Sportsman race cars than NASCARs Stock Cars, and a number of interesting vehicles one is unlikely on an average everyday commute.
Around 10,000 Austin 3 litre vehicles nicknamed 'Land Lobsters' were built between 1968 and 1971 which though well appointed were no competition for the similarly sized Triumphs, Rovers and Jaguars which would soon all become merged into the same nationalised British Leyland conglomerate. There are thought to be around 60 of these vehicles left and this one has been in the Stephen's family since new.
Some of you may remember my blog on the wreck of a Bowden Super Two I wrote some months ago, this is an Austin 7 Hamblin Cadet with the smaller body that the Bowden Super Two bodywork was based on. At £34.10/- this was the cheapest bodywork on the market, it was made to fit pre war Austin 7's. The owner of this car is the son of Sid Hamblin who founded the SE Hamblin company and personally built this car.
The Austin Mini Wildgoose RV has also featured on GALPOT before, this is a 1967 model with larger wraparound cabin windows and a tilting roof incorporating canvas sides, looks a little less like an airport control tower than the original. This particular vehicle has had the original 850 cc / 51.8 cui motor replaced with a 1275 cc / 77 cui unit and gearing to match so that it can easily cruise above the minimum motorway speed limit of 50 mph.
My Uncle in Germany had a DKW 1000S before he swapped it for a more versatile square back. These two stroke powered cars were relatively expensive in the UK so not many were in imported although Jim Clark made his racing debut driving a DKW before going on to win two World Championships and the Indy 500. This Left Hand Drive (LHD) model was imported from Sweden via Norway.
From 1933 - 1939 Ford commercial vehicles in the UK were badged Fordson. This Fordson 7V served as an auxiliary fire tender during World War 2. Because of it's relatively powerful V8 motor 7V's were much in demand for use as racing car transporters after hostilities ceased.
E691 is a replica of Nev Hughes 1935 Model 48 Ford raced, in 1955, built by Keith Barber. Current owner Roy Clarke rescued it in 2006 and it recently featured, as did several of the vehicles seen in the back ground in an advertisement for the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. It can be seen painted black with red stripes under the 'B9' at 1m 01 secs in this clip.
Also featured in an earlier post has been a GAZ M21 Volga this 1962 model one of only two known to be in the UK is in considerably better condition than the one I featured on the former East German border in 2006.
Described as very difficult to drive this RHD Lafitte 5CV Cycle Car is positively bristling with innovative technology starting with an inverted Y 3 cylinder air cooled radial engine that tilts with a hand mechanism in order alter to the friction driven gear ratio. The Lafitte has way ahead of it's time independent front suspension but no foot brakes ! This car has recently been certified as roadworthy for the first time since 1964 but the owner thought discretion was the better part of valour and brought this amazing device to the show on a trailer.
There seems to be a lot of interest in triking at the moment stimulating no doubt Morgan's recent return to the manufacture of trikes. For those who cannot afford Morgan's starting price their are plenty of alternatives. The front wheel drive Spirit Gordini M3 started life as two separate front wheel drive Renault 5 / Le Car models one '79 tother '85.
Another new manufacturer to me is Tornado apparently founded in 1957 in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire by Bill Woodhouse and Tony Bullen. Amazingly this car had lain awaiting restoration when it's owner passed aeay and thanks to the Faithorpe Sports Car Club it was passed on to Bill Woodhouse who did not know what to do with it until two gap year students the Hillier brothers took it upon themselves to rebuild the car in order to gain engineering experience under the guidance of the current owner and founder of the company Mr Woodhouse. The Talisman is one of 186 Ford powered examples made.
Finally my car of the day award goes to this Triumph Spitfire based Special made by Martin Harcourt using an English Wheel and alot of effort to make the polished aluminium panels on this unique single seater. When it's complete Martin hopes to use his shiny special in sprints and hill climbs. I am sure he will have plenty of fun with it.
Thanks for joining me on this Rare Breeds edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
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