Lancia Thema 8.32

So in the 80’s you wanted a Ferrari but needed something more practical but still with Italian flare hey well in 1986 Lancia had the car for you. The luxury came from the range topping executive car, the Thema, the flare the Ferrari engine under the bonnet. The 8.32 stood for V8 with 32 valves.

The Dawn of the Hypercar

Really it should read “The Demise of the Supercar” because that’s exactly whats happened over the last 10 or so years. I grew up in the 80’s which meant the poster of the white Lamborghini Countach on my wall or maybe the Ferrari F40, it was the golden time of the Supercar. It was an arms race to build the fastest car, with the main prize for breaking the 200mph marker.

Ferrari FZ93 Zagato

Well what can I say, when Zagato build a one-off Ferrari prototype they don’t hold back. Based on a Testarossa chassis and running gear, it’s not a bad way to start, Ercole Spada styled it in to something that forward thinking. Well in 1993 when it was shown at the Geneva Auto Show, this thing was aggressive and away from the sleek styling that had taken over the auto industry and supercar building.

Random Video: Thomassima III on 60 Minutes

Thomas Meade went to Italy to seek his car design fortune in the early 60’s by 1969 he’d had a styling and coachwork shop building outlandish sports cars using Ferrari and Maserati’s parts and chassis. Resulting in the Thomassima III a Ferrari chassis’d and V12 race engine powered, which was exhibited at the 1969 Turin Motor Show it created such a stir that it appeared on 60 Minutes below.

James Martin’s Supercar Sunday, Great Northern Square, Manchester

When I found out about this event in the centre of Manchester and that renowned celebrity chef and all round petrol head James Martin was hosting it, I knew the cars would be awesome and I wasn’t disappointed.

Ferrari 400 Straman Convertible

The Ferrari 400 wasn’t received well with its three box silhouette and lack of power it didn’t make the best sellers list back at the Italian’s factory. Personally I really liked it, a proper GT car for the 80’s but I suppose it was competing at a time of supercars. However if you wanted a Ferrari sports car that had four seats and let you enjoy the sun then Straman could help you out.

Ferrari F50

Following up to the outstanding F40 wasn’t going to be easy but 10 years later Ferrari gave it ago and unleashed the F50 on the works in 1995. So how do you make the ultimate road racer that has to replace the ultimate road racer? Well take a big dollop of F1 influenced design cues.

Ferrari F40

Back at the end of the 80’s with the now aging Lamborghini Countach still giving Ferrari a run for its money in the poster department, Ferrari unleashed the F40. Looking back it was the ultimate track car that was road legal with none of the luxuries normally associated with the prancing horse. This was a stripped out tub that was built with one goal in mind 200mph and came perfectly timed for Ferrari’s 40^th birthday.

 

Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show, NEC, Birmingham

Thanks to Lancaster Insurance I headed down to what is probably the largest indoor car show in Europe last Friday, the first time I’ve attended since 2008 and how it’s grown. Over those years it’s gone from filling three of the NEC’s massive halls to now spanning five. The quality and abundance of metal now on show has also improved from “just a classic car show that’s in doors” to showcasing the best of the best as well as club projects, rare gems and concept cars. Enough to make walking round this colossal show take six hours, and some of that was at some pace!!!!

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

One of the last truly beautiful Ferrari’s, possibly until the recent 458, Ferrari’s through the 80’s could be described as aggressive, purposeful, full of attitude but never beautiful with those angular body kits and wings. The 90’s were also a dark time with Ferrari building bland and safe cars. But back I the early 70’s before the time of the simple wedge there was the 365GTB, a car whose flowing lines and sheer presence were perfection from any angle. That interior shouts quality, performance and lets you know you’re not in just some sports car but a Grand Tourer capably of whisking you from London to the Italian Lakes in comfort and at speed. The only addition needed to enhance the experience would be aviator sunglasses, leather driving gloves and a manly moustache; okay the last one might be optional.

Ferrari Pinin

This is one of those “what if” concepts, what if Ferrari built a luxury four door saloon? This concept was built by Pininfarina to celebrate the design studio’s 50^th Anniversary, better than a cake I suppose!!! It was also Sergio Pininfarina dream to build an Italian car that could compete with the likes of Jaguar and Mercedes.

The car was built on the chassis of a 400GT but unfortunately only had a mock up flat 12 engine so it was show and no go. It was debuted at the 1980 Turin Auto Show and after Enzo Ferrari showed interest in it, it was toured around the world’s best car shows and even did a customer tour in the US. However this was to no avail and the Pinin remained a pure concept.

Manchester Classic Car, Eventcity

Although there had been indoor classic car shows staged at Eventcity in Manchester, Passion and Power was earlier this year, this was the first outing for the “Manchester Classic Car Show”. Looking at the adverts for it in the local press and on the web it looked like it was going to be a good inaugural event. Ran over the weekend I dropped in on the Saturday morning and I knew I was in for a treat when in a fenced off area six or so classic rally cars came driving past the entrance, including a shot wheel based Audi Quattro!!!!

ATS 2500 GT

This car is the result of disgruntled Ferrari engineers who became disillusioned with the family politics setting up a company, Automobili Turismo e Sport, to build a better car. To prove the point it was built on a space frame chassis, with double wishbone suspension, power brakes, electric windows and was one of the very first mid-engine sports cars.

Capesthorne Hall Classic Car Show

I had this on the radar for the last week but hadn't planned on going until Sunday evening when I saw some pictures of that days show over on Retrobeutes. With rare cars a distinct possibility, weather looking good for at least the morning (not bad for a Bank Holiday Monday in the UK) and my little one suitably bribed with the promise of ice cream and sweets we loaded the Scirocco and made the hours’ drive over to the stunning Capesthorne Hall first thing in the morning. This was not only a place I’ve never been too but also a show I'd never been too so I was looking forward to it.

Passion for Power, Eventcity

Now in its 3rd year, this indoor show has come a long way (2011, 2012). Now rebranded this classic car show now included for the cancelled "passion for power" event from late last year. What this meant was the usual classic car event with all the car clubs, traders and individual showers, all up on numbers from last year, now joined by some classic and modern day prestige machinery, by the likes of McLaren, Roll Royce, Lamborghini and Ferrari.

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!!!!!