These snaps from the Cobra “assembly line” have been bouncing around Tumblr this week and I couldn’t be more pleased to add them to our gallery of sports and racing factories, workshops, raceshops, and garages.
via T-Top Coupe
Bonus, Steve McQueen picking his Windsor block Cobra from the man himself.
You don’t often see color photography from the Carrera. I’d love to know more about this shot of Hans Hermann’s car for the 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Usually the car is seen with its iconic aluminum tonneau cover occupying the passenger seat. Was this part of a scouting run? A press event? I haven’t been able to find information on it—let me know if you do.
This remarkable set of shots below highlights the sheer variety of machines that competed in ’54 (and every year). It’s one of the things I most love about the Carrera.. Jaguars and Lincolns mixing it up? Sure. Ford and Ferrari going head-to-head a decade before that meant something? Why not.
This set is collected from a series shot by Ina Mae Overman and Stanley Dean Miller. See more of Ina Mae and Stanley’s photos at The Gentleman Racer.
Can you imagine a contemporary engine rebuilder breaking down their much-coveted and high-dollar Porsche Type 547 Carrera 4-cam “Furhmann” engine with it sitting on her side on the ground in the pits? These guys even have grease stains on their coveralls!
Perhaps more than anything, this tight little engine package earned Porsche her “Giant Killer” nickname. The high-revving little perfection box was complicated and notoriously finicky to tune. But when it was just right, it was just right—and has the very long list of victories to prove it.
Despite the difficulties of maintaining it, the cammer engine was reliable enough for an entire season of street driving to the track, capturing a trophy, and making the trip back home.
Besides, don’t these mechanics just look happy to be working on it?
via Hayburner Magazine.
Magnificent shot of racer and cofounder of the company that still bears his name, Louis Chevrolet in a Sunb(ḙ)am at the 1916 Astor Cup race.Â
Sebring. 1966. A place where these three cars could share a corner and not look odd.
The modern GoPro really is a minor miracle, isn’t it?
John Shea wrote in with another photographic head scratcher. Can anyone identify this Alfa-Romeo photographed at Sheppard’s Imports in Tampa, Florida in the mid-1950s?
I think we can all agree that the handwritten “Alfa Romero” isn’t exactly right. 🙂
Oh to visit this little garage and perch on a stool out of the way and watch these gorgeous machines get prepped for the upcoming season.
