BMW Nazca C2

Designed by Italdesign as a possible replacement for the M1 for BMW as well as get them back into the supercar business, they produced 3 prototypes/concepts between 1992-93. All fitted with a 5.7ltr V12 derived from the current 850 CSI with some tweaks that resulted in 350bhp with a top speed of 185mph this was no show queen. The first 2 built having a combination of gulwing  and normal doors, the last one though had a roof chop resulting in a stunning Spyder.

Not your average F1 car!!!

I’ve already covered some unusual F1 cars on here like the 6 wheeled ones but this time it’s a little different. From a marketing point of view the best way to get sponsors is to let them experience the race usually this is from the hustle and bustle of the pit to give a true feel for the team etc, at one point that was all you could do, the ultimate way would be to take an F1 car out on the track. But that would probably end up with either a damaged car or at worse having to look for another living sponsor!!!!!

Sir Vival

What can I say, you can see this thing is crazy!!! So where to begin, this car was designed by Walter C. Jerome to be the safest car possible. The most striking feature of the cars safety features is the articulated arrangement. The reason was to split the engine and drive train from the occupants in order for the front engine part to absorb any impact. That though is just the start of the safety features added to the car, the driver is sat high with a panoramic windscreen around them which constantly rotates in order to keep it clean and dry at all times.

We're 3 years old today :)

We’re 3 years old, over the last year I think you’ll agree we’ve covered a variety of cars, vans, trucks and everything in between, totalling up another 138,000 hits on the year before. We’ve even started doing interviews (Gilbern T11 Prototype / Segrave Jensen Interceptor), which I hope will continue into the future, so if you have something unusual and you want it featuring then please get in touch via Facebook or Twitter.

Thanks to all those who have joined the Facebook and more recently the Twitter pages, if you haven’t the links are top right, usually once a week I delve into the archive as well as linking to new articles on the site so it’s the best way to keep up to date.

Plans for the next year are more car shows, more museums, and a trip to Nurburgring, lots of more unusual vehicles and interviews.

Remember if you like what you see, then pass the links on and share us.

Thanks

Heath (eefy)

Dubfreeze 2013: Car Show

Well I’ve not been to this for a few years (last one being in 2011) and have been looking forward to it for months. For those who don’t know Dubfreeze marks the opening of the VW show season in the UK even though it’s not really a car show!!!! It’s more an autojumble with a small show and shine, but it’s used as an excuse to blow the cobwebs off the cars that have been in hibernation over winter or get some much needed parts or inspiration, particularly with a walk through the car park, but more on that later.

Herzog Conte Scwimmwagen

I first saw one of these over on the Dep-o Facebook page and just had to find out more. Debuted in Frankfurt Saloon in 1979 I would have imagined to gasps from the audience was this amphibious car. I’ve not been able to find out much about it apart from it has Ford Taunus running gear and 2.3ltr V6 engine fitted producing 135bhp. It seems to be a go at producing a luxury boat/car, as it came with all the creature comforts of the time, including power steering and that removable hard top!!!!

Fuel Magazine: Review

I’ve known about this magazine for a few years, with it showing up in RetroCars Magazine (UK) and on Speedhunters.com, but it wasn’t until last week with the awesome news that it was now being stocked in the UK at selective newsagents. From the list there was a local WH Smiths on it and I dispatched the otherhalf to pick me up a copy (she works in the same shopping centre).

With anticipation I got the text "got your magazine", I then had to wait will 10pm that night before she was home. When I finally got a copy in my hand it turned out it was a double issue (07,11), I just hoped that it lived up to the expectations I had put on it.

Prototype re-building the Gilbern T11: Interview

Gordon Johnston got in touch via the Facebook page asking if I would like to feature his car, after seeing his profile picture and a quick Google the answer was a resounding "YES".

First off a little history about the car. Gordon gave me a full rundown of the cars production/history through and beyond Gilbern-

"In 1969 Gilbern started to get drawings and plans prepared at the factory for a new car, they got designer Trevor Fiore (who designs include the Trident Venturer and Clipper, Monteverdi 450 SS, Citroen Karin, and still designs car for Citroën) to come up with the design for the body, he even made the clay model himself.

Marmon-Herrington “The Rhino”

In 1954 this strange vehicle rolled out of a factory unit after 5 years of development in Indiana, the brainchild of Elie Agnides. Designed to be a go anywhere vehicle, it was at home on the road, mud and even water, yes it’s amphibious. To top it all off its also got switchable 2 and 4 wheel drive and will cruise at up to 45mph thanks to its 110bhp diesel engine. On the water thrust was provided by a rear pump system with a nozzle that can be rotates 360 degrees. Check out the link below to the Popular Science magazine write up on this beast.

Sante Fe Trailways “Victory Liner”

There are two unusual things about this bus, one you’ll see in the pictures is rather odd articulated front wheels arrangement, the other was the body was made of plywood!!!! The timing though may have something to do with the latter. Built during the war it was designed to transport up to 117 factory workers, therefore to help the war effort. The use of plywood was simply as any metal would have been too valuable at the time. The advert below also states that it was built in house by Sante Fe Trailways own engineers.