Month: December 2010

Factories at Work: Reventlow Automobiles

Post author By Harlo
Post date December 7, 2010
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Ok, maybe I’m being overly generous calling it a “factory”, but I’ve not seen this shot of the Reventlow Automobiles workshop showing a pair of Scarabs under construction. Life magazine photographer Bill Bridges captured this shot in October 1958. Chassis #001 had already been racking up victories since February of that year, but Numbers 002 and 003, although they would have both had their debut races by October, might still have been in development. Is this Scarab #002 and #003 we’re looking at here? What a treat it must have been to be hanging out with the boys that afternoon.

I’m not enough of a trainspotter to be able to identify the individuals in the shot here, let us know in the comments if you have a better eye than I do.

Tags Factories at Work

Automotive Art Historic Racing Photos

Christopher Wilson's Unearthly Bonneville Shots

Post author By Harlo
Post date December 6, 2010
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Images of the salt flats always have an other-worldly air about them. The landscape is so emphatically surreal. When combined with very recognizable icons in the form of 1930s coupes, the effect is almost always unsettling: Reminiscent of some of the best aspects of the visuals of THX-1138. These shots though, by Christopher Wilson elevate it to something entirely new. They are haunting; at once real and unreal, sterile and weathered. Amazing.
Via A Time to Get, which has a few more shots that will have to tide you over while Christopher’s site is under maintenance.

Vintage Racing Advertising

Observation Deck or Flight Line?

Post author By Harlo
Post date December 4, 2010
No Comments on Observation Deck or Flight Line?

Flight 427, now departing through gates 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Pardon the word play, but Flight 427 is our way of informing you that Corvette can now be ordered with a 427-cubic-inch Turbo-Jet V8. We threw in the bit about the gates just to let you know our fully synchronized 4-speed’s a must with this rig.
The regular-version 427 dispenses 390 jp and 460 lbs-ft of torque on hydraulic lifters, while the special-cam edition turns out 425 hp and the same amount of torque on solid lifters. Which one you order depends on whether you spend your time on the observation deck or the flight line.
Otherwise, we recommend our trusty 327 cubic-incher, available at ratings of either 300 or 350 horsepower. More than enough to slip the surly bonds with, eh, Orville?
You’d better believe it.
Corvette Performance The Chevrolet Way.
’66 Corvette. Fasten your seatbelts. They’re standard.
I love that they openly mock anyone who would even consider the standard 427, or—heaven forbid—the 327. Wusses. We need more open mockery of potential consumers in today’s advertising.
via Voiture-Jaune

Grand Prix Video

Clark Takes a Drive Through Bologna

Post author By Harlo
Post date December 3, 2010
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Matt at Hell For Motors hipped us to this marvelous clip of Clark at Imola. The lack of audio is heartbreaking, but you’ll make it through somehow.

A local commenter on YouTube points out what should be obvious, but always seems to be overlooked: How startlingly different from the modern Imola this is—which has just undergone another round of updates in the past few years. Much more like a drive in the country than the contemporary, sterile, track. When does the movement to backdate racetracks start? Where can I sign up to help?

Ferrari Grand Prix

1964 F1 Cockpits Compared

Post author By Harlo
Post date December 2, 2010
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In October 1964, Road & Track published a marvelous comparison of the season’s Grand Prix cars as the drivers see them. It’s interesting to see the variety of subtle differences in both instrument layout and the hints at differences in construction. Notice the cramped quarters of the Ferrari 156 with it’s aluminum fuel tanks encroaching closely on the drivers hips versus the relatively roomy frame of the Cooper. Similarly, check out the even spacing between instruments in Clark’s Lotus 24, each with a small attached label versus Gurney’s Brabham tighter, more random, cluster with hand painted instrument labels looking very low tech, shade-tree hot rodder. As pointed out in the original article, it’s interesting that John Cooper seems to have greater trust in his drivers than the other teams, as indicated by the lack of a shift gate (although I don’t see one on the Brabham either).

Scans of the complete article at Manitouguy’s Blog.

Ferrari Video

A GTO, a Cobra, No Big Whoop.

Post author By Harlo
Post date December 2, 2010
No Comments on A GTO, a Cobra, No Big Whoop.

Sound engineer turned Ferrari restorer Tom Yang visited Monticello Motor Club with his friends Jim and Sandy. Tom says, “Jim and Sandy prepared to do some exploratory laps in their cars. We were surrounded by modern GT3 Porsches, and some newer street cars taking their laps around the track, but when the GTO and Cobra were unloaded from the transporter, people stopped to watch!”

I should hope so. Shall we take a lap in the GTO? Probably.

More photos (in heartbreakingly small sizes) at Tom Yang’s Ferrari Restoration (careful or you’ll lose a few hours digging through his archives).

Video

2CV 24Hr

Ed Foster from MotorSport took part in August’s Citroen 2CV 24 Hour race at Snetterton. MotorsTV just posted the footage and it looks like a whole lotta fun.