Triumph Italia / 2000

Between 1959and 1962 Triumph sent 329 TR3 chassis’s, engines and running gear were sent over to Italy and coachbuilder Vignale dressed it in this fantastic body. The car was originally commissioned by Triumph for the 1958 Turin Motor show and was produced by Michelotti.

Random Video- Down the Gasoline Trail

Another one of those educational films from the 30's, 1935 in this case, that show how the fuel goes from your tank, through the carburetor and into the engine, nice and simple and easy to understand-

Principal Insurance Manchester Bike Show

Thanks to Andrew Greenwood Classicshows I headed over to Event City. Now in its 3^rd year, this indoor show has once again grown snowballingfrom last year with more manufacturers, dealers, clubs, vendors and space.
 
On entering your in the mix of the manufacturers and dealers with Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki Suzuki showing off all there wears from race bikes to scooters.

Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition

After nearly 25 years both in production and at the top of its game, Lamborghini decided on last furore with the Countach with a new full body kit to ensure it went out with a bang. I was privileged enough allowed to photograph this one at last year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Car at the NEC, with the owner letting me get up close. The first thing you notice about the Countach is how relatively small it is when compared to say the Murciélago.

Daimler SP250 / Dart

The 60’s produced some of the most beautiful sports cars of any era, as well as some of the worst, but the SP250 is one of the most stunning. Built by Daimler in its Coventry factory the SP250 came as a result of a few company upheavals in the way the company was heading, and was debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1959.

Manchester Bike Show

Well thanks to Andrew Greedwood Classic Shows we’ll be heading over to the Manchester Bike Show at Event City next to the Trafford Centre next Sunday (23^rd March)

This is a great that really has come a long way in its short life. To wet your whistle check out last year’s show-

http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2013/03/the-manchester-bike-show.html

Also if you see me walking round in my Petrol Stop hoody don’t forget to ask for some stickers.

For more information-

http://www.classicshows.org/manchester2013/

 

Volkswagen ARVW

I first spotted this in a recent copy of Top Gear magazine in the “Concept Cars that Time Forgot”, I hadn’t seen anything like it before and had to find out more. The “Aerodynamic Research Volkswagen” was conceived in the late 1970’s to develop the correlation between body shape and fuel consumption. This though wasn’t powered by some new-fangled petrol engine, far from it, sat in the back was a tweaked 2.4ltr, 6 cylinder, 175bhp diesel engine from a lorry. This was then covered in a streamlined aluminium and composite body with a drag coefficient that would make any modern racer jealous.

Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Spur II

Built by  Carrozzeria Touring as possible way to seal the deal with Lamborghini to build the 400’s replacement, it made its debut in 1966 at the Turin Motor Show. Designed to be the ultimate way for 2 people to travel in luxury with luggage, this Grand Tourer was certainly different.

Hofstetter Turbo

When Mario Richard Hofstetter saw pictures of the Bertone Carabo something must have stirred within him. Living in Brazil at the same time that import on cars was severely restricted he decided to build the car he’d dreamed off. In 1982 the design and prototype process began and resulted in him setting up the Hofstetter Company in 1984. Over the next 7 years until 1991 18 or so cars left the factory, initially powered by Passat engine and later a Santana one, all of which had a Garret turbo strapped to them.

Ledl AS

Taking on the same styling cues as the Nova and Avante as well as being VW Beetle based this was a kit car offered by Gunter Ledl from Austria. Production started in 1981 with the car offered with a 4 cylinder Ford engine under the rear of that fibreglass wedge body, producing about 100bhp. They were sold all over the world but strangely due to the laws in Austria registering them there was very difficult. In fact only 17 were sold to domestic customers out of the 249 manufactured up to 1987.