For the third train, which was the DMU again back to Bishops Lydeard, we then had to go back to Williton. The class 115 DMU's were originally four-car suburban DMU's, but whils many cars are preserved, an original 115-combination is no longer possible to make. In general there are many carriages of the many types of first generation DMU's preserved, but a big problem is keeping all these in service as metal fatigue is very common and whidespread over all the classes, there repairs are costly and the units are never as popular as steam trains. As a result, many of these not historic kind of combinations are being used. It is not a very big deal, as a lot of the classes have fairly the same bodyshell and cab exteriors.

Looking a bit smarter these days in the latest Greater Anglia livery, Class 317 EMU's 317515 & 317654 pass Stratford with a 5V22 09.25 Liverpool Street to Ilford EMUD empty stock move.

The British Rail Class 317 A/C EMUs were built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works in two batches, from 1981–82 and 1985-87. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-steel Mark 3 bodyshell, departing from the "PEP"-aluminium design which had spawned the earlier Class 313 to Class 315, Class 507 and Class 508. The Mark 3 bodyshell was also the basis of Class 318, Class 455, and the diesel Class 150.

The Greater Anglia franchise is operated using 15 Class 317/5 units, 24 Class 317/6 units and 6 Class 317/8 units. They are mainly used on medium-distance services between London Liverpool Street / Stratford and Broxbourne / Hertford East and on longer distance services between London Liverpool Street/Stratford and Bishop's Stortford, Harlow Town and Cambridge. They are also used on some Bishops Stortford/Stansted Airport - Cambridge services. These trains are also being used on rush hour services from Liverpool Street to Witham and Ipswich due to the absence of some class 321s being refurbished. There is also one class 317/7 demonstrator unit 317722 which is the only Class 317/7 with Abellio Greater Anglia.

The Greater Anglia Class 317 fleet is due to be replaced with new Bombardier Class 720 Aventra EMUs. The first trains are due to enter service in 2019

N. 0/200 D.

Osi Bisiluro Prototype (1967).

Escala 1/66.

Penny Export.

Made in Italy.

Años 60.

More info:

www.hobbydb.com/catalog_items/osi-bisiluro

uno64.mforos.com/2094013/11048854-penny-politoys-polistil...

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Pennys from Italy - Much Admired Micromodelli

Posted by: Doug in Member Blogson Feb 18, 2009

This article was published in 2004, story and images by Doug Breithaupt, Rob Gras and Craig Mueller

(...) "In Italy the models of Mercury were industry leaders and they created Speedy. A relative new-comer, A.P.S. Politoys, founded in 1960, offered a new line of 1:66 scale models and used the Penny name.

Later the Politoys name was changed to Polistil to avoid potential confusion with a British firm named Palitoys.

By 1967, the first explosion of small-scale toy cars was well underway. These early years of 1:64 scale had a strong national flavor with most firms offering a primary selection of models based on the cars and trucks of their native country with a lesser selection of models based on vehicles from other countries.

Often, these models were initially offered for sale in the home country as well although the North American market provided a sales opportunity that could not be ignored."

(...)

"1967 was the initial year for Penny 'micromodelli' and the series only lasted until late 1969 or early 1970 when, like the whole toy car world, a response to Mattel's Hot Wheels was seen essential for survival.

As the packaging shows, a penny and checkered stripe was part of the box art along with illustrations of the model enclosed.

In just 3 short years, Penny produced less than 50 models but among them are some that have become favorites of collectors world-wide."

(...)

"Penny sorted their models into three categories.

- The first was 'Corse', a series of Formula 1 race cars. They created the F1 racing grid for 1967 with models 0/1 through 0/10. New F1 cars for 1968 were offered as 0/11 through 0/15. The rising success of F1 racing and the release of movies like Grand Prix were certainly an inspiration for these models, just as they were for Matchbox, Best Box of Holland and others. The Penny F1 models seem a bit more toy-like than some with large tires. Still, they offer correct colors and must have provided hours of play-time for the junior racing crowd. Polistil continued to offer grand prix cars in small-scale with more realistic models of the 1975, 1976 and 1982 F1 grid, in the later RJ series.

- The second series of models were identified as 'Berlina' and represented a mix of production and concept cars. The remainder of this article will focus on these 'Berlina' models.

- The third category was 'Veicoli Industriali' and included a variety of trucks a snowplow, minibus and tractor shovel in the series. These were numbered 0/110 to 0/122.

(...)

0/200D Osi Bisiluro

"This unique twin-boom concept car is easily the most unique model in the Penny line. While this design has advantages for a sailboat, it's hard to justify on a car."

(...)

0/205 Caravan Trailer

"This tear-drop caravan was the last of the Penny line.

After that, all models carried the Polistil name."

Source: www.planetdiecast.com/index.php?&option=com_myblog&am...

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OSI Silver Fox Prototype (1967)

"O.S.I. (Officine Stampaggi Industriali) Bisiluro “Silver Fox” – Catamaran sportcar (double trunk).

A strange body that resembled more to a nautical vehicle was introduced to the 1967 Turin Motorshow.

Conceived for a possible use in the race or for the attempts of record, it was equipped by a Alpine engine to four cylinders of 1000 cc., positioned behind the seats on the left side. Among the two interior prominences was positioned three wing-shaped aids that furnished an aerodynamic support.

The first one was usable to firm vehicle, the second, that central, with the vehicle in drive, while the third one, systematized on the back one it was fixed and it also included the brakes."

Source: oldconceptcars.com/exotic/osi-silver-fox-prototype-1967/

More info:

es.motors.wikia.com/wiki/OSI_Silver_Fox

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Officine Stampaggi Industriali

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"OSI, acronym for Officine Stampaggi Industriali (literally "Industrial Stampings Workshops") was a coachbuilding company founded in 1960 in Turin by former Ghia president Luigi Segre (1919–63) and Arrigo Olivetti (1889–1977) from the Fergat company, a manufacturer of automotive components.[OSI was intended to be an independent design branch of Ghia's, focussing on niche efforts.

The short lived company made some custom built cars based on Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Ford models.

One of their first contracts was to build the bodyshells of the 1960 Innocenti 950 Spider, designed by a young Tom Tjaarda at Ghia's behest.

Probably its best known model outside Italy was the Ford 20M TS Coupé based on the German Ford Taunus 20M. The car was designed by Sergio Sartorelli, better known as the designer of the Type 3 based Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34. Approximately 2,200 of the Ford 20M based coupés were produced, of which approximately 200 were thought to have survived through till 2010.

The company also built the Ford Anglia Torino designed by Giovanni Michelotti: 10,007 examples of this model were sold in Italy.

Segre died following appendicitis in 1963, leaving the rising company without its personal link to Ghia and Ford.

He was replaced by Giacomo Bianco of Fergat, but Bianco was unable to keep the company afloat as contracts began to dry up.

In 1966 2,000 employees had to be laid off, and OSI car production ended in December 1967.

Bianco was fired and Sartorelli was charged with winding up operations, incorporating the OSI design office with that of Fiat's in May 1968.

The company remained active as a producer of steel pressings and industrial equipment."

------------------------------

Some models by Osi:

- Alfa Romeo 2600 Berlina de Luxe 1965.

- Alfa Romeo Giulia Scarabeo 1966.

- Ford Anglia Torino.

- OSI-Ford 20 M TS.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officine_Stampaggi_Industriali

Ford Thames 300E Van (1954-61) Engine 1172cc S4 SV Production 196885 (comprising 139,267 5 cwt, 10,056 Standard 7 cwt and 47,562 Deluxe 7 cwt units.)

Registration Number BAS 810

FORD UK SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623665118181...

The 300E was introduced in 1954, based on the Ford Anglia and Prefect 100E saloon cars. It shared its bodyshell and 1172 cc sidevalve four-cylinder engine with the estate car versions of the line with shorter doors and a smaller overall length than thw Saloon. Initially only produced with a 5cwt (250kg) carrying capacity, the range was increased with the addition of Standard and Deluxe 7cwt (350kg) variants. All three offered the same 66-cubic-foot (1.9 m3) load volume.

Shot 25:04:2012 Chasewater Transport Show, Chasewater, Brownhills, Staffordshire. Ref: 84-051

Hot Wheels "Surfin' school bus" transformed into a rat rod bus.

Normally I've been a Matchbox or a dinky customiser, mainly because I normally cut them up, and those brands usually have a more industrial realistic feel to them.

With the exception of a few Peterbilt truck cabs from Hot Wheels, I haven't really delved into Hot Wheels street rods and more custom looking vehicles.

This was a project that my fiancee and I did together. She's kind of into Street rods and Rat Rods and when we saw the "Surfin school bus" as Hot Wheels call it, it looked like maybe it could actually exist, either as a seriously chopped bus body, or a custom made bodyshell. Either way, it looked fun.

The model was dirt cheap, and had the usual gouges in the paintwork that children's toy have. Every single one was left in situ,with the tampo printing removed. The paint was faded as though it's been in the desert sun too long, with the numerous paint chips and damage painted over and weathered, followed by detailing and a flat matte laquer.

I didn't have a chrome pen to repair the chrome damage to the engines, but in retrospect, the duller silver seems to work.

Either way, it was the first time Fiancee and I had actually done an art project with each other. It WAS fun, and now maybe we're looking for another one to make a little drag strip scene.

Carlos Antunes Tavares

Estimated : € 15.000 - 20.000

Sold for € 27.692

The Renault Icons

Auction - Artcurial

Renault Manufacture

Flins-sur-Seine

Aubergenville - France

December 2025

- Competed in the European Rally Championship in 1988, 1989 and 1990

- Incredibly well-preserved car, with documentation

- Ex-Carlos Antunes Tavares, future COO of Renault

This Renault 21 Turbo is remarkable above all for its authenticity, as it is exactly as it crossed the finishing line of the 1990 International Semperit Rally in Austria, the last event in which it competed, driven by Carlos Antunes Tavares with Jacky Racois as his co-driver. It finished 29th out of the 116 cars that started, and was the third-placed two-wheel drive car in its class. Remarkably well preserved, it still has the racing number 37 as well as advertising decals and various stickers from the scrutineering carried out for previous rallies. It entered the collection directly in January 1991 and was registered in Renault’s name. As can be seen from the transfer certificate, it had covered 17,818km at the time, and now has 17,821km on the clock!

Prepared for rallying in Group N and then Group A, it has a strengthened bodyshell with a roll cage and completely stripped-out interior, fitted with bucket seats, full harnesses and additional instruments.

With this specification, from 1988–1990 the car took part in several rallies in the European Championship, driven by Carlos Tavares, who was yet to become the business leader we know him as today, but rather a development engineer at Renault, working on the forthcoming Clio and Mégane. A motorsport enthusiast since he was a teenager, Tavares took part in various regional rallies from 1983 onwards, then in the European Championship, driving a Renault 5 Alpine and 5 GT Turbo before moving on to the 21 Turbo. Initially entered in in 1988 in Group N, for 1989 and 1990 the car ran in Group A, where the technical regulations were slightly less strict and where it developed nearly 220bhp. Tavares’ best result during this period was 13th overall on the Rali Vinho da Madeira in 1988, with Jean-Paul Retaillieu as his co-driver. In 1989, he also achieved fourth place in his class (and 15th overall) on the Arbö Rallye Steiermark in Austria, with Thierry Dubois, and third place in his class (in the promotional series) on the Rallye Alpin-Behra, with Retaillieu.

First presented in 1987, the 21 Turbo did not disappoint: with the help of a Garrett turbocharger, the output of its all-alloy four-cylinder SOHC engine went up to 175bhp, using a technology perfectly mastered by the company, thanks to its successes in Formula 1. With a top speed of over 220kph, the 21 Turbo was one of the quickest French saloons of its time, with a suitably aggressive appearance. In competition, it was particularly successful in 1988, dominating the Supertouring Championship that season, with Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Louis Bousquet behind the wheel. The car we are concerned with here competed in a more accessible category, where only a few modifications were allowed in the regulations, although this did not prevent the best engine tuners from extracting a little extra horsepower from it: as much as 230bhp for the 21 Turbo in Group A.

It is extremely unusual for a rally car to be stored away entirely unmodified at the end of its motorsport career. Still bearing the scars of its adventures in rallying, this example will not fail to appeal to fans of rally cars.

Estimated : € 6.000 - 10.000

Sold for € 44.548

The Renault Icons

Auction - Artcurial

Renault Manufacture

Flins-sur-Seine

Aubergenville - France

December 2025

- Replica inspired by the runner-up in the 1989 Supertouring Championship

- Displayed at the 1991 Bangkok Motor Show

Started in 1976, the Production, then Superproduction and Supertouring Championship quickly became very popular as the saloons competing looked similar to the standard production versions. In 1987, Renault decided to enter it with its newly introduced 21 Turbo. Totally modified, the car received a partly tubular chassis, a lighter body, four-wheel drive and an engine prepared by Sodemo, taking its power from 175 to 430 bhp. Driven by Jean Ragnotti and Jean-Louis Bousquet, the R21 brazenly dominated the 1988 season, Ragnotti winning the title and the two drivers together notching up six wins over the ten rounds that year.

The following year, changes to the regulations led to the engine being installed longitudinally rather than transversely. The car was no longer in Renault’s colours but those of Philips Car Stereo, and despite a difficult start to the season, it finished as the runner-up with 11 pole positions out of 14.

The car offered today is a display model inspired by car number 21 from the 1988 season, with a stripped-out steel bodyshell, roll cage, bucket seat and the running gear from a standard R21. It was displayed at the 1991 Bangkok Motor Show before joining the collection at a very early stage. With no engine, it represents an absolutely spectacular show car for any Supertouring fan.

A series of photographs documenting the release of GB Railfreight's Class 92, 92 044 "Couperin" from the Wabtec Brush works at Loughborough. 044 had spent exactly 14 months there for overhaul, reliability mods and new wheelsets. The assisting locomotive was a fellow Brush Traction machine, Class 60, 60 002 "Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020".

The 60 had also been out of traffic for more than a year after a turbo fire. The Covid-19 pandemic had delayed repairs and then some additional mods were done as well as its immaculate repaint - the first GBRf loco repainted at DB Cargo's Toton depot.

This was the 60's first working for GBRf after its long spell in Toton and also its first run on the main line sporting its recently received new name commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Graham Farish.

This was also the first time two of GB Railfreight's Brush "cousins" - the Class 60 and Class 92 - had been together. The locos share a common bodyshell design, built by Procor in Wakefield, and have other similar components.

Potentially most historically of all, though - with the subsequent announcement the Brush Traction works are due to close by the end of the year - there's a good chance this was the last time a Class 60 will visit the place where the 100-strong class were built in 1989-1993.

GB's sole active grey 92 had lost its tunnel rings and Crewe Electric depot plaques whilst in Brush, but there are rumours of a new livery to come in due course. However, that won't be before it gets back to earning some coin for its owners (and DB!) with a brief visit to Crewe for a test run, before heading to Dollands Moor to resume tunnel duties.

60 002 ran from Toton as 0Z60 08:45 Toton TMD to Loughborough Brush, then moved 92 044 to Crewe ETD on 0Z61 09:58 Loughborough Brush to Crewe ETD, before the 60 then ran on solo to resume biomass duties on 0Z62 13:09 Crewe ETD to Tuebrook Sidings.

The Austin-Healey Sprite is a small open sports car which was produced in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1971. The Sprite was announced to the press in Monte Carlo by the British Motor Corporation on 20 May 1958, just before that year's Monaco Grand Prix. It was intended to be a low-cost model that "a chap could keep in his bike shed", yet be the successor to the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin Seven. The Sprite was designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company, with production being undertaken at the MG factory at Abingdon. It first went on sale at a price of £669, using a tuned version of the Austin A-Series engine and as many other components from existing cars as possible to keep costs down.

In 1961 the Sprite was joined by a badge-engineered MG version, the Midget, reviving a model name used by MG from the late 1920s through to the mid 1950s. Enthusiasts often refer to Sprites and the later Midgets collectively as "Spridgets."

The little Sprite quickly became affectionately known as the Frogeye in the UK and the Bugeye in the US, because its headlights were prominently mounted on top of the bonnet, inboard of the front wings. The car's designers had intended that the headlights could be retracted, with the lenses facing skyward when not in use; a similar arrangement was used many years later on the Porsche 928. But cost cutting by BMC led to the flip-up mechanism being deleted, therefore the headlights were simply fixed in a permanently upright position, giving the car its most distinctive feature. The body was styled by Gerry Coker, with subsequent alterations by Les Ireland following Coker's emigration to the US in 1957. The car's distinctive frontal styling bore a strong resemblance to the defunct American 1951 Crosley Super Sport. 48,987 "Frogeye" Spriters were made.

The problem of providing a rigid structure to an open-topped sports car was resolved by Barry Bilbie, Healey's chassis designer, who adapted the idea provided by the Jaguar D-type, with rear suspension forces routed through the bodyshell's floor pan. The Sprite's chassis design was the world's first volume-production sports car to use unitary construction, where the sheet metal body panels (apart from the bonnet) take many of the structural stresses. The original metal gauge (thickness of steel) of the rear structure specified by Bilbie was reduced by the Austin Design Office during prototype build, however during testing at M.I.R.A. (Motor Industry Research Association) distortion and deformation of the rear structure occurred and the original specification was reinstated. The two front chassis legs projecting forward from the passenger compartment mean the shell is not a full monocoque. The front sheet-metal assembly, including the bonnet (hood) and wings, was a one-piece unit, hinged from the back, that swung up to allow access to the engine compartment.

The 43 bhp, 948 cc OHV engine (coded 9CC) was derived from the Austin A35 & Morris Minor 1000 models, also BMC products, but upgraded with twin 11⁄8" inch SU carburettors. The rack and pinion steering was derived from the Morris Minor 1000 and the front suspension from the Austin A35. The front suspension was a coil spring and wishbone arrangement, with the arm of the Armstrong lever shock absorber serving as the top suspension link. The rear axle was both located and sprung by quarter-elliptic leaf springs, again with lever-arm shock absorbers and top links. There were no exterior door handles; the driver and passenger were required to reach inside to open the door. There was also no boot lid, owing to the need to retain as much structural integrity as possible, and access to the spare wheel and luggage compartment was achieved by tilting the seat-backs forward and reaching under the rear deck, a process likened to potholing by many owners, but which resulted in a large space available to store soft baggage.

The V12 Coupé is probably the rarest XJ40 model ever built.

Designed and manufactured by Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department, this is a strict one-off.

The details on the car are great: the non-functional Perspex side windows, the hand-painted badge (Coupè instead of Coupé, by the way), the 'stretched' door veneers and sill strips all indicate this is not a production car.

The interior and bodyshell do look the bit: convincing enough to pass as a production car!

This rare masterpiece is owned by JDHT and was driven out of its shelter for the annual meeting of the XJ40 owners' forum, XJ40.com.

M94 FVC, a Jaguar XJ6 4.0, is the last XJ40 to come off the production line.

It is owned, like the V12 Coupé by JDHT, who incidentally use it to drive foreign visitors to/from the factories.

That most only happen rarely: this 1994 has covered only 5000 miles!

The Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina and Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina (both 105 series) were executive cars (E-segment) produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1968 to 1977. Berlina is the Italian term for a saloon car. Both cars had Alfa Romeo twin cam inline-four engines; the 1.8-litre 1750 Berlina was made between 1968 and 1971, when it was phased out in favour of the improved 2.0-litre 2000 Berlina.

The 1750 Berlina was based on the existing Giulia saloon, which continued in production. The 1750 was meant to top the saloon range, above the 1300 and 1600 cc versions of the Giulia. In the United States, however, the Giulia saloon ceased to be available and was entirely replaced by the 1750 Berlina. The 1750 entered full production in South Africa in early 1969, later complemented by the 2000.

In contrast to the Giulia, the 1750s had reworked bodywork and bigger engine, shared many parts with other concurrent models in the Alfa Romeo range, but sold many fewer units during their production span.

The 1750 bodyshell had a longer wheelbase than the Giulia, and revised external panels, but it shared many of the same internal panels. The windscreen was also the same. The revisions were carried out by Bertone, and while it resembled the Giulia some of that vehicle's distinctive creases were smoothed out, and there were significant changes to the trim details. The car's taillights were later used on the De Tomaso Longchamp.

The Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina was produced by Alfa Romeo between 1971 and 1977. The engine was bored and stroked out to 1,962 cc. A different grill distinguishes 2000 from 1750. Also, external lights were different between the models. The 1750 had 7 inch diameter outboard headlights, whereas the 2000 had 5 3/4 inch diameter in all four positions. The tail light clusters were also of a simpler design on the 1750.[8] With two carburetors, this 2 litre Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine produces 132 PS (97 kW; 130 hp). Top speed was 190 km/h (118 mph) and 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration took 9 seconds. Gearbox was 5-speed manual (also 3-speed automatic on some versions).

NCVA = Notre Chères Voitures D´Antan

Wikipedia>

The car started out as the René Bonnet Djet in June 1962. This model became known in retrospect as the Djet I. The car was named "Djet" because Bonnet thought the French would not pronounce the word "jet" correctly. It was powered by a 65 PS (48 kW) 1,108 cc engine from a Renault 8 in a mid-engine location mated to a gearbox from the Renault Estafette van. This power-train gave the car a top speed of 165 km/h (103 mph), or 190 km/h (118 mph) in the later Djet III with a Gordini engine. The fiberglass body was made by Matra, and was bonded directly to a steel chassis. The Djets were built in a factory in Romorantin owned by Matra. The competition Aérodjet of 1963 (pictured in the gallery) came with special long-tailed bodywork and bigger fenders to accommodate wider wheels.

The Djet's suspension was quite advanced for the time, being a fully independent system having upper and lower A-arms with coil springs and disc brakes at all four wheels. The car accommodated just two people, as the engine took the space where a rear seat would otherwise be. The Djet I was 3,800 mm (149.6 in) long by 1,400 mm (55.1 in) wide by 1,150 mm (45.3 in) high and weighed only 600 kg (1,323 lb). Announced in 1962, the Bonnet Djet was the world's first mid-engined production road car, beating the De Tomaso Vallelunga which was introduced in 1963, even though the first production Djets did not leave the factory until July 1963.[1] During the two years before Matra took over, 198 Bonnet Djets were produced, with all but 19 being built to the lower-powered Djet I specification. After becoming the Matra Djet in 1964 a further 1,491 cars were produced before production ended in 1968.[1] Fewer than 60 Vallelungas were built before De Tomaso replaced it with the Mangusta in 1967.

The Djet was priced at 20,000 French francs at launch, the same as its much larger and more luxurious contemporary, the Facel-Vega Facellia.[1] Bonnet believed that the competition record of the Djet and his company would be enough to convince the public to purchase the Djet, but this would not prove to be the case.

Matra takes control

When Bonnet got into financial troubles, Matra, who already supplied both the bodyshells and the factory for the Djet, took over René Bonnet Automobiles and its debts in October 1964. Production of the original Djet was stopped in December 1964. Matra's CEO Jean-Luc Lagardère considered this a great opportunity for Matra to expand into the automobile market. Former Simca designer Philippe Guédon was hired to modify the original Bonnet Djet. The car became slightly bigger, measuring 4,220 mm (166.1 in) long by 1,500 mm (59.1 in) wide by 1,200 mm (47.2 in) high and weighing 660 kg (1,455 lb). Production resumed in April 1965 with two new versions; the Matra Bonnet Djet V and the Djet V S, the latter having a Gordini-tuned engine.

During his 1965 tour of France, Yuri Gagarin was presented with a Matra Bonnet Djet V S coupé by the French government. The car was later photographed wearing Soviet license plates.[2]

After the Paris Motor Show in 1965, the Roman numerals and the Bonnet name were dropped. The car was now called the Matra Sports Djet 5. In 1966, a version with a bigger Gordini engine became available and the Djet name was dropped in favour of its original meaning: Jet. The model range now consisted of the Jet 5 (1,108 cc Renault 8 Major engine), Jet 5 S (1,108 cc Renault 8 Gordini engine) and Jet 6 (1,255 cc Renault Gordini engine).

1978 Range Rover with replacement 4-door bodyshell.

No DVLA records.

The Mazda Luce (Italian for 'light') was the largest Mazda model available, at launch in 1969, through to 1991. The second generation car was launched in 1972, the LA2.

The car was still compact by US standards, at 1660 mm wide and approximately 4500 mm long.

Mazda installed their 12A and 13B twin-rotor rotary engines to produce the Mazda RX4 performance coupe (using the Luce 2-door bodyshell).

Conventional Luces used a conventional 94 PS 1.8 L, or 103 PS 2.0 litre 4-cylinder engine.

The car received a more conventional styling update in 1976 (LA3), losing some of the period cool of the LA2. The overall body form though, still reflected a Japanese interpretation of the period coke-bottle styling.

The LA2 Luce Coupe is shown here.

The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat. The first Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 2003 with only a few changes. It is now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda".

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Panda was designed as a modern day "peasant car": a cheap, basic, no-frills utility vehicle that would be easy to use and maintain. The car can be seen as a later approach to the same niche the Citroën 2CV or Renault 4 were designed to serve. Introduced in 1980, the Panda was noted for its box-like styling, which would become the house style for Fiats throughout the 1980s.

The Panda 4x4 was launched in June 1983, it was powered by a 965 cc engine with 48 bhp (36 kW) derived from that in the Autobianchi A112. Known simply as the Panda 4x4, this model was the first small, transverse-engined production car to have a 4WD system. The system itself was manually selectable, with an ultra-low first gear.

Under normal conditions starting was from second, with the fifth having the same ratio as fourth in the normal Panda. Austrian company Steyr-Puch supplied the entire drivetrain (clutch, gearbox, power take-off, three-piece propshaft, rear axle including differential and brakes) to the plant at Termini Imerese where it was fitted to the reinforced bodyshell.

Minor revisions in November 1984 saw the range renamed "L", "CL" and "S". Specifications and detailing were modified across the range including the adoption of the Fiat corporate grille across all versions. Mechanically however the cars remained largely unchanged.

DB Schenkers class 92 number 92039 named "Johann Strauss" hauling 42 cargowaggons from Dollands Moor sidings to Wembley European Freight Operationss Centre in the mist on 21 January 2014.

92039 was assembled by the BRUSH Traction Company Loughborough in 1995, from sub-contracted components e.g. Procor UK bodyshell, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB Rail) traction converters and GTO (Gate Turn-Off thyristor) controlled via the MICAS-S2 electronics system, retractable third rail collector shoes and pantographs made by Brecknell Willis, the engraved aluminium BRUSH traction works plates made by J M Ranger Limited of Leicester and cast aluminium based alloy Crew Depot plaque produced by David Newton of Nottingham. For track to train communications class 92s were fitted with the Siemens International Train Radio (ITR) "chameleon" system which could automatically change over to match local ground systems e.g. at international boarders and allowed the driver to select from a range of language settings. STS Signals Ltd supplied electronic Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) control units for class 92s as an add on to the Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment. STS Signals Ltd also developed a twin-lightweight AWS receiver for use on class 92s so that only one receiver was needed to detect both standard strength magnets on lines powered by AC overhead wires (Rx1) as well as the extra strength magnets used on DC third rail lines (Rx2). All non-metallic components of the class 92 were either certified for Eurotunnels fire regulations by the manufacturers or where suppliers could not provide this information products such as the divers seat (made by Chapman Seating Limited) and plastic push buttons these were fire tested by BRUSH.

92039 was photographed by Nicolas B being dragged through Staple, France on 15 November 2015 by ECR 77 number 019.

92029 WFAC DOLLANDSM 894E26CB07 4 * SCUNTHPRS N 21D A

DB Schenker's class 92 number 92029 named "Dante" with EWS logo built by Brush Traction, Loughborough in 1995 works the Dollands Moor Sidings to Scunthorpe Redbourne sidings on an overcast 7 January 2014. 92029 was also photographed the day before at Dollands Moor yard with a similar train (www.flickr.com/photos/35502189@N03/11824080145/).

92029 was assembled by the BRUSH Traction Company Loughborough, from sub-contracted components e.g. Procor UK bodyshell, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB Rail) traction converters and GTO (Gate Turn-Off thyristor) controlled via the MICAS-S2 electronics system, retractable third rail collector shoes and pantographs made by Brecknell Willis, the engraved aluminium BRUSH traction works plates made by J M Ranger Limited of Leicester and cast aluminium based alloy Crew Depot plaque produced by David Newton of Nottingham. For track to train communications class 92s were fitted with the Siemens International Train Radio (ITR) "chameleon" system which could automatically change over to match local ground systems e.g. at international boarders and allowed the driver to select from a range of language settings. STS Signals Ltd supplied electronic Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) control units for class 92s as an add on to the Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment. STS Signals Ltd also developed a twin-lightweight AWS receiver for use on class 92s so that only one receiver was needed to detect both standard strength magnets on lines powered by AC overhead wires (Rx1) as well as the extra strength magnets used on DC third rail lines (Rx2). All non-metallic components of the class 92 were either certified for Eurotunnels fire regulations by the manufacturers or where suppliers could not provide this information products such as the divers seat (made by Chapman Seating Limited) and plastic push buttons these were fire tested by BRUSH.

Porsche 993 (911) Carrera (1993-98) Engine 3600cc Flat 6 268bhp

Registration NumberL 303 PMT (London NE)

Production 68,029

PORSCHE SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690528015...

The 993 designation is the companies internal name for this generation 911. The external design of the Porsche 993, penned by Englishman Toni Hatter, used the basic bodyshell architecture of the 964, but with changed external panels, with much more flared wheelarches and a smoother front and rear bumper design, an enlarged retractable rear wing, teardrop mirrors, but keeping the doors and roof panels.

The Carrera represented the "base model" of the 993, and was available in rear and all-wheel drive versions. It was equipped with the naturally aspirated 3.6 liter M64 engine, further developed from the 964 and combined with a new dual-flow exhaust system now incorporating two catalytic converters. In contrast to the 964 were the numbers Carrera 2 or 4 were used to differentiate between two and four wheel the numbers have been dropped and the models are simply referred to as C2 and C4.the cars can be distinguished by the Carrera 4 having clear front turn signals and rear red lenses instead of orange on the 2W

Diolch am olygfa anhygoel, 62,399,647 oblogaeth y Lloegr honno dros y Mynyddoedd

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Shot 30-07-2017 exiting the 2017 Silverstone Classic REF 129-584

CGS Hawke (1992-99) Engine 2993cc S4 Ford Production 115 approx

Registration Number FEP 990 W

GCS (Gary Colin Specialist) Cars was founded by partners Garry Hutton and Colin Puttock trading initially from Orpington, Kent, as part of a range of activities, they offered a ‘build service’ for customers of a variety of kit car manufacturers.

Their Hawke sportscar was developed in the early 1990s as a two door open top sportscar that bore a striking resembleance to the Morgan Plus 8though there are no common parts, unlike the Morgan which has an ash frame the Hawke has a one piece GRP bodytub with integral floor to which the nosecone, front wings, rear wheel arches, doors, bonnet, and windscreen are added. It was designed to accept Ford Cortina / Sierra donor vehicle running parts and this led to the bodyshell and wings being considerably wider than the plus 4 Morgan.

Early models used the Ford Cortina as donor for engine, gearbox, electrics, front and rear axles and suspension components. Kits were adapted to meet customer requirements and to take a variety of Ford engines, plus the Rover V8 and others, such as the Nissan 2.8 litre straight 6 and Fiat 2000. Continuous improvement saw the introduction of the Sierra as the donor vehicle with kit specific suspension components, wider wings, the use of Gel Coat on some kits and the introduction of Roll Bars to help meet SVA requirements and improve safety. With the introduction of Sierra based models, the +2 variant was quietly dropped.

CGS ceased trading in 1999, following the onset of ill health to one of the partners and the production rights, associated equipment and order book were sold to Jim Dudley of Tiger Racing. Despite input from Colin Puttock, to ensure a smooth transition of production, Tiger manufactured only a handful of vehicles before the model did not sit well with Tigers other products, In August 2003 Paul Chapman and Richard Laking of LCD purchased the Hawke project, but, after an enthusiastic start incorporating a number of improvements, notably the adaption of the kit to take the Ford Zetec range of engines, production stalled and no new kits have been produced since 2007.

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Shot at the VSCC Hillclimb, Prescot, Gloucestershire 03:08:2013 Ref 95a-888

Bonhams : The Autumn Sale 2020

Estimated : € 25.000 - 35.000

Sold for € 20.700

Autoworld

www.autoworld.be

Brussels - Belgium

September 2020

One of the most important developments in the evolution of the V12-powered Jaguar XJ-S was the introduction of the HE (High Efficiency) engine in 1981. Incorporating new 'Fireball' cylinder heads, designed by Swiss engineer Michael May, this more fuel-efficient unit enabled the top-of-the-range XJ-S to meet tighter worldwide emissions legislation. Combined with a higher (2.88:1) final drive ratio, the result was an improvement in fuel consumption of up to 20% at some engine speeds, a figure of 27.1mpg being claimed at a constant 56mph and 22.5 at 75mph. It's worth noting that these figures applied to the automatic transmission version, which with a top speed of 155mph was world's the fastest 'slush pumper'.

Jaguar's first response to demands for an open XJ-S was somewhat conservative in engineering terms. The XJ-S had not been designed with an open version in mind, so a Targa-style arrangement was adopted, which retained a substantial roll hoop in the interests of maintaining rigidity in the absence of a fixed roof. Two removable roof panels were stored in the boot, and the cabriolet did away with the coupé's two occasional rear seats in favour of a pair of luggage lockers topped by a parcel shelf. Essentially an exercise in niche marketing to test public reaction, the XJ-S cabriolet was assembled by outside specialist contractors, with bodyshells transported back and forth across the Midlands before returning to the Brown's Lane factory prior to final despatch. The cabriolet's favourable reception demonstrated that there was indeed sufficient demand to justify production of an open XJ-S, and Jaguar proceeded to develop a conventional full convertible. In total, 3,925 V12 cabriolets were built compared with 16,649 convertibles.

An increasingly rare and sought after model, this automatic transmission XJ-S V12 cabriolet was delivered new in Belgium via Garage Vandenplas in Tervuren on 28th June 1988. The car's first owners lived in Brussels and it is believed to have had only three owners from new. Driven sparingly, this XJ-S has covered only 51,725 kilometres and is presented in excellent condition having been regularly maintained. The last (stamped) service was carried out at 44,092 kilometres by Garage Franco Britannic in Levallois Peret, France on 25th February 2004. Finished in green with black interior, this rare soft-top XJ-S is offered with sundry maintenance bills, French Carte Grise, and its stamped service booklet.

Originally Charles Roberts & Company's wagon works was located at Horbury Junction southeast of Horbury, West Yorkshire, England. It became part of the Procor group in the 1970s as Procor Engineering Ltd. and, subsequently, part of Bombardier Inc.'s European railway businesses in 1990 as Bombardier Prorail, closing in 2005.

the plant produced bodyshells for the British Rail Class 60 during the Procor period, and British Rail Class 92 during Bombardier's ownership. During the Second World War the factory was involved in the production of the Churchill Tank.

The plant was involved in the passenger vehicle construction and refurbishment. In the 1950s tram bodies were constructed for Blackpool Tramways 'Coronation Cars', and Sheffield Tramways. In the early 2000s Bombardier Voyager trains were built at Horbury and at Bombardier's BN plant in Bruges, Belgium. Refurbishment of GNER's Mark 4 coach fleet took place at Horbury in the mid-2000s.

The 1956 Chevrolet was the middle year of what has come to be known as the 'tri-fives', as such, it was the first refresh of the 1955 bodyshell. Notably the radiator grille was now leaned forward at the top, producing a longer hood (bonnet) profile.

Models were again arranged 150, 210 and Bel Air. The 210 Sport Coupe shown here matched the sportiest bodystyle with mid-range trim. The car now wore a long arc chrome strip which drooped at the tail ans split the body in models with two-tone paint. The roof was paired to the lower bodysides, while the trunk and hood matched the upper bodyside.

A range of six and vee-eight engines were available, the V8 was a 265 CID (4.3 L) rated at 170 bhp (127 kW), 210 bhp (157 kW) or 225 bhp (168 kW) depending on the carburetor configuration. Power was to jump considerable the following year with the introduction of the 283 CID (4.6 L ) small block.

Other GM divisions, picked up new bodies for 1957, with the exception of Chevrolet and Pontiac. The 1957 was a hasty refresh of the 1955/56, the top Bel Air trim becoming one of the most famous and sought after Chevrolet models.

Wheels on Wednesday

WoW

Fitted with a Callaway 4.6L engine

GCS (Gary Colin Specialist) Cars traded initially from Orpington in Kent, UK and produced the Hawke. Although similar to the Burlington SS in some respects, the GCS Hawke was developed completely independently by the partners in GCS Cars with considerably different dimensions overall. The Dorian/Burlington was designed to fit on a Triumph chassis, although Dorian later developed a chassis that it is believed was using Escort parts. The GCS Hawke was designed to fit on a ladder-frame chassis to accept Cortina/Sierra parts. This led to the bodyshell and wings being considerably wider than the original Dorian/Burlington car. It is an open two seater modelled fairly closely, but differently enough, on the Morgan. Whereas the Burlington body tub was constructed of glass-fibre, wood and aluminium, the Hawke has a one-piece GRP bodyshell with integral floor. It can take a variety of engines from Ford and the V8 Rover. The company was founded by Garry Hutton and Collin Puttock.

The company was eventually sold to Tiger Racing but then sold to LCD (LC Developments Ltd founded in 2003 by Richard John Laking and Paul John Chapman) who currently both manufacture the car and supply the car as a kit.

The BMW Compact was a small family car which was basically a truncated hatchback version of the BMW E36 platform.

The car was available in 316i, 316g (compressed natural gas), 318ti and 318tds (diesel). The title Ti(Touring International) is unique to the Compact range and is used on the more powerful versions, harking back to the BMW New Class Tii models of the sixties and seventies.

From front bumper to A pillar, the Compact is identical to the BMW 3 Series (E36) sedan, sharing the front fenders, bumpers, lights, windshield, wing mirrors, and the hood. As with the entire E36 range, the E36/5 also shares an idential wheelbase. Similarities with the E36 sedan/coupe range end here; from the A pillar rearwards, the E36/5 is unique from others in the E36 range featuring unique framed doors, windows, roof, trunk pan, taillights, and suspension.

The BMW E36/5 Compact shares its suspension with the BMW Z3 and M Coupe/Roadster. The front employed the E36's standard MacPherson strut design. However the and rear suspension used a semi trailing arm from the previous model BMW 3 Series (E30) which allowed for more a lower trunk floor height, fold down rear seats, and an exterior undermounted compact spare tire.

The inherent design of the trailing arm suspension was that it favoured oversteer. It is the rarest and most sought after of the E36 318 lineup by enthusiasts, being the lightest, fastest, best handling and least expensive.

Apart from a simple one piece dashboard, the E36 Compact shared the same seats and trim as the full-sized 3-series. During 1993/4, BMW built several prototype 5-door compacts, which looked outwardly even more similar to the saloon right back to the C-pillar. However, following the initially disappointing sales response to the Compact (in comparison to the Saloon & Coupe models) BMW decided not to offer a 5-door variant. The prototypes were stripped and the bodyshells disposed of.

The E36 Compact was very popular in its home market in Europe, which prompted BMW to market the car to North America for the 1995 model year. The E36 Compact's front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout was unique for the segment, giving it no direct competitors in North America.

395 018

British Rail Class 395 is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) used by train operating company Southeastern for its services along High Speed 1 and onwards to the Kent coast.

The trains were built in Japan by Hitachi and shipped to the United Kingdom to operate new high speed domestic services.

The trains are among the fastest operating domestic service trains in the United Kingdom, capable of running at a maximum speed of 140 mph (225 km/h).

During the 2012 Summer Olympics, Class 395 trains will be used to provide the Javelin shuttle service for visitors to the Olympic Games' main venue in Stratford and so the name Javelin has become a common nickname.

An order worth £250 million was placed with Hitachi Europe for 28 high-speed ‘A-trains’ in 2004.

A twenty-ninth train was later added to the agreement in order to provide additional capacity.

The first train was delivered from Japan to Southampton Docks on 23 August 2007.

It was then hauled to Ashford in Kent for acceptance testing by Serco.

Three more trains were delivered in 2007, with the remainder of the fleet in 2008–2009.

The final unit arrived in Southampton on 17 August 2009.

The first of the trains to be delivered was present at the official opening of High Speed 1 and St Pancras station on 6 November 2007.

A regular service commenced on 13 December 2009, with 2 trains per hour serving Faversham via Chatham and Gravesend, and 2 trains per hour travelling to Ashford International, where 1 train continues on to Dover Priory, and the other to Margate via Canterbury West.

As of September 2011 extra services run in peak hours from London to Ebbsfleet and Maidstone West, and some Dover Priory trains are extended to Sandwich and Faversham trains to Broadstairs.

The trains run up to 140 mph (225 km/h) on High Speed 1, but are restricted to 100 mph (160 km/h) on the South Eastern classic main lines and are based at a £53m five-road depot south of Ashford International railway station in Ashford, Kent, with stabling also at Ramsgate and Faversham.

They are owned by HSBC Rail, and leased by Southeastern.

The Class 395 units incorporate design elements from Hitachi's A-Train family including friction stir welded aluminium bodyshells, as well as elements of the 400 Series mini-shinkansen's design, the bogies are derived from shinkansen bogies.

They are designed as true high-speed trains, capable of 225 km/h.

The cab designs bear a resemblance to the 885 series EMUs used on limited express services on Japan's narrow gauge network.

The units are dual voltage, able to operate on third rail 750V DC and 25kV AC 50 Hz overhead electrification systems.

The train is equipped with GPS positioning equipment and a database to calculate the train’s exact position.

The pressure-sealed doors on each car can only be opened with an exact alignment to the platform.

The 6-car trainsets consist of

2 Driving trailer cars each of length 20.65 metres (67.7 ft)

4 Standard motor cars of length 20.0 metres (65.6 ft)

In total the train is 121.8 metres (400 ft) long over the couplings.

The train is unusual for a high speed train in that the doors and vestibules are not set at the ends over the bogies as on most long-distance trains (e.g. Mk 4 carriages), but in order to reduce dwell times (i.e. the waiting time at the station) they are set at approximately ¼ and ¾ along the carriage, which allows for faster loading and unloading, like most commuter trains (e.g. Electrostar); this means that the ride quality for passengers sitting over the bogies is diminished (due to transmission of vibration through the floor), though the quality of track on High Speed 1 is relatively high and the trains will not be used at speed on other lines.

The 395 has internally-hung sliding pocket doors, rather than plug doors; this has meant the sacrifice of a smooth external profile.

The door system is identical to that in use on the Japanese Shinkansen or bullet train and has over 40 years of operational experience and development.

The Class 395's seating capacity is as follows: Each DPT (1) vehicle seats 28, has 12 tip up seats in the wheelchair parking area and one RVAR wheelchair accessible toilet, each MS vehicle (four per a six carriage EMU train) seats 66 and finally each DPT (2) vehicle seats 48 and has one standard toilet.

Unusually for a high speed passenger train, there is no first class accommodation.

The bodyshell of 86209 is lowered onto the special trailers for transport to Crewe after the derailment at Watford in Jan. 1975

Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT (1964-66) Engine 1570cc S4 DOHC Producion 1000

Registration Number DRS 135 D

ALFA ROMEO SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623759785842...

The Giulia Sprint GTC was a Cabriolet version of the Giulia produced in very limited numbers with a total production of around 1000, with only 99 for the British and South African market. Based on the Giulia Sprint GT with the Cabriolet conversion by Touring of Milan. Apart from the convertible top the model also has a black dashboard instead of the crackle grey of the GT.

To restore some of the bodyshell rigidity lost by removing the fixed roof and pillars, Carrozzeria Touring added reinforcement to several areas of the bodyshell. Through the production life of the model, several modifications to the reinforcement applied were made by Touring, apparently in an effort to improve the stiffening achieved.

Carrozzeria Touring was in financial trouble when the Giulia Spring GTC went into production. The company went out of business shortly after production of this model ended.

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Shot at The Silverstone Classic 28th July 2013 Ref 95-021

Morris Six MS (1948-53) Engine 2215cc S6 S6 OHC Production 12,400

Registration Number JWV 833

MORRIS SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690377489...

The Morris Six MS was a six-cylinder midsize car made from 1948 to 1953. It was the company's first post war six-cylinder car. At launch the car was priced at £671 on the UK market.

The car was very similar to the 1948 Issigonis designed Morris Oxford series MO sharing the same bodyshell from the windscreen backwards. The bonnet was lengthened to take the overhead camshaft, single SU carburettor, 2215 cc six-cylinder engine which produced 70 bhp.

The whole car was longer than the Oxford with a wheelbase of 110 inches Suspension was independent at the front using torsion bars and at the rear there was a conventional live axle and semi elliptic springs. The steering was not by the rack and pinion fitted to the Oxford but used a lower geared Bishop Cam system. The 10 inches (250 mm) drum brakes were hydraulically operated using a Lockheed system.

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Shot at the Catton Hall Transport Show, 5:5:2014 Ref: 98-187

Sold for £ 1.200

The Jaguar Land-Rover Collection

Brightwells Auctions

Bicester Heritage

Buckingham Road

Bicester

Oxfordshire

England

March 2018

Humber introduced the Super Snipe model in 1938, a big and impressive six-cylinder machine aimed at government officials, military top brass and upper-middle-class management types.

For 1958 it was restyled as the ‘New Super Snipe’, losing the big separate wings of old in favour of a more modern unitised chassis and body which was heavily influenced by the 1955 Chevrolet. Claimed to be the largest bodyshell being built in the UK at the time, it certainly looked the part, getting even more impressive in 1960 when the Series III version gained quad headlamps.

The Series IV of 1962 had a sleeker profile with a larger glass area and opening rear quarterlights to extract the Brigadier’s pipe smoke more efficiently. The rear compartment also gained picnic trays, four ashtrays and two cigar lighters! Under the bonnet lurked a more powerful 132,5 bhp 3-litre engine, while a higher ratio rear axle and a larger 16-gallon fuel tank extended the range between pit stops.

First registered in May 1964, this Series IV had just one owner from new until 2011 when it was acquired for the collection. While the last MOT expired in December 2012 (with no advisories recorded), it is not running at present and will doubtless benefit from some thorough recommissioning before use, a process which will be eased by the informative Olyslager manual which comes with the car.

Now looking somewhat down at heel with various loose wires under the dash, it could do with a bit of general tidying to bring it back to the standard that one’s commanding officer would expect.

The handrail poles are now in so I have made a start on the second stage of painting. The inside of the bodyshell needs doing before the bulkheads go in.

The Austin-Healey Sprite is a small open sports car which was produced in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1971. The Sprite was announced to the press in Monte Carlo by the British Motor Corporation on 20 May 1958, just before that year's Monaco Grand Prix. It was intended to be a low-cost model that "a chap could keep in his bike shed", yet be the successor to the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin Seven. The Sprite was designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company, with production being undertaken at the MG factory at Abingdon. It first went on sale at a price of £669, using a tuned version of the Austin A-Series engine and as many other components from existing cars as possible to keep costs down.

In 1961 the Sprite was joined by a badge-engineered MG version, the Midget, reviving a model name used by MG from the late 1920s through to the mid 1950s. Enthusiasts often refer to Sprites and the later Midgets collectively as "Spridgets."

The little Sprite quickly became affectionately known as the Frogeye in the UK and the Bugeye in the US, because its headlights were prominently mounted on top of the bonnet, inboard of the front wings. The car's designers had intended that the headlights could be retracted, with the lenses facing skyward when not in use; a similar arrangement was used many years later on the Porsche 928. But cost cutting by BMC led to the flip-up mechanism being deleted, therefore the headlights were simply fixed in a permanently upright position, giving the car its most distinctive feature. The body was styled by Gerry Coker, with subsequent alterations by Les Ireland following Coker's emigration to the US in 1957. The car's distinctive frontal styling bore a strong resemblance to the defunct American 1951 Crosley Super Sport. 48,987 "Frogeye" Spriters were made.

The problem of providing a rigid structure to an open-topped sports car was resolved by Barry Bilbie, Healey's chassis designer, who adapted the idea provided by the Jaguar D-type, with rear suspension forces routed through the bodyshell's floor pan. The Sprite's chassis design was the world's first volume-production sports car to use unitary construction, where the sheet metal body panels (apart from the bonnet) take many of the structural stresses. The original metal gauge (thickness of steel) of the rear structure specified by Bilbie was reduced by the Austin Design Office during prototype build, however during testing at M.I.R.A. (Motor Industry Research Association) distortion and deformation of the rear structure occurred and the original specification was reinstated. The two front chassis legs projecting forward from the passenger compartment mean the shell is not a full monocoque. The front sheet-metal assembly, including the bonnet (hood) and wings, was a one-piece unit, hinged from the back, that swung up to allow access to the engine compartment.

The 43 bhp, 948 cc OHV engine (coded 9CC) was derived from the Austin A35 & Morris Minor 1000 models, also BMC products, but upgraded with twin 11⁄8" inch SU carburettors. The rack and pinion steering was derived from the Morris Minor 1000 and the front suspension from the Austin A35. The front suspension was a coil spring and wishbone arrangement, with the arm of the Armstrong lever shock absorber serving as the top suspension link. The rear axle was both located and sprung by quarter-elliptic leaf springs, again with lever-arm shock absorbers and top links. There were no exterior door handles; the driver and passenger were required to reach inside to open the door. There was also no boot lid, owing to the need to retain as much structural integrity as possible, and access to the spare wheel and luggage compartment was achieved by tilting the seat-backs forward and reaching under the rear deck, a process likened to potholing by many owners, but which resulted in a large space available to store soft baggage.

Towards the end of the 1970's, British Leyland was in a state of absolute despair. Shoddy and dated car designs married to biblical unreliability meant the company was facing near meltdown, and obviously came to the conclusion that they needed someone else to take the helm before the ship properly sank. Enter the Japanese, more to the point, Honda!

Since the 1960's, the Japanese had shown the world that they can mass-produce reliable cars, and thus were raking in sales by the million as people turned from their flaky European models to the highly efficient Japanese alternatives. Desperate to stop their market being swept out from under them, European Manufacturers imposed heavy import taxes on Japanese imports so as to try and price them out of the market, which meant builders such as Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi were losing a fortune. The alternative past this blockade was to combine their efforts with some of the more struggling car companies of Europe so as to create hybrid cars.

And thus the Triumph Acclaim was born!

Based almost solely on the Honda Ballade, essentially all that differentiated it was the Triumph badge, and the fact that the car was built at the Cowley Plant near Oxford using the former production lines of the Austin Maxi. The intention largely was to replace the 10 year old Triumph Dolomite as the 4-door saloon of the company. Unlike the Ballade however, the car did come with much more luxury features as with a Triumph badge, the car was intended to be more higher market than the conventional Japanese equivalent. But most importantly, the car has the distinction of being the first truly reliable British Leyland car (and it only took them 12 years to get it right!)

Basically, the car's major components were built in Japan and shipped to Cowley, where they were placed into the locally built bodyshells. Build quality was very good too, with the leaky panels and rough ride seemingly absent, and holds the record for the fewest warranty claims on a British Leyland car. However, Japan may have shown Europe how to build a reliable car, but they didn't know how to build a car that didn't rust. Much like it's Japanese counterparts, the Acclaim rusted like crazy. In Japan this was seen as planned obsolescence, with the intention being that a new model would replace it in two or three years time. But in Britain, cars are built to last, with models going unchanged almost completely for years and even decades. Examples being the Mini, which didn't change in any way, shape or form between its launch in 1959 and its demise in 2000!

But still, despite the terrible rusting problem, the car's reliable nature resulted in 133,000 cars being sold, and became the first Triumph to be within the Top 10 highest selling cars since 1965. However, in the end the Acclaim's show of being a good, reliable car was merely a testbed for the variety of other Japanese style products British Leyland intended to push in the near future. After only 4 years of production, the Triumph Acclaim was shelved in 1984 along with many other British Leyland products such as the Austin Ambassador and the Morris Ital so as to rationalise the company into a small number of highly reliable machines based off the Triumph Acclaim's Japanese based success. From the Acclaim, the Rover 200 was a direct descendant, being based heavily on the next generation Honda Ballade, but also spurring from this plucky car was the mechanicals of the Austin Maestro and Montego.

The ending of Acclaim construction in 1984 also brought the end to the Triumph badge itself on motorcars. Although Triumph still exists on motorbikes, the car division has long since perished, together with Austin and Morris. As for the Acclaim itself, it is truly one of those rarities you won't find everyday. Today only 488 are left, which, although much more than the remaining Ital's and Ambassadors of the same period, is still a very low number. But even so, the Triumph Acclaim did show British Leyland how to make a reliable machine, even though it technically wasn't a British machine in the first place!

A true household icon, the Triumph Dolomite brought an end to years of ongoing automotive development, and would turn out to be the last traditional Triumph Saloon car before British Leyland destroyed the company.

The Dolomite was, as mentioned, part of an ongoing development scheme that began in 1965 with the Triumph 1300. The scheme was named Project Ajax, and was done to develop a selection of small family saloon cars to replace the Triumph Herald. All of the cars in this range were designed by Giovanni Michelotti, and were powered by a selection of small Triumph engines, ranging from the original 1,296cc to the later 1,493cc powerplant. Triumph were however dissatisfied with the market performance of the 1300; although it had been moderately successful, the higher price and greater complexity meant sales never reached the levels of the simpler and cheaper Herald which preceded it. In an attempt to improve matters, the car was comprehensively re-engineered. Launched in September 1970, the Triumph Toledo was a cheaper and more basic variant of the 1300, but with conventional rear-wheel drive. This new model was assembled alongside the now larger-engined front-wheel drive version (the Triumph 1500) which was launched at the same time as the Toledo.

The Dolomite was a combination of all things implemented on previous Project Ajax creations, a culmination of design methods to create a more upmarket and sporty car. The Dolomite made its debut at the 1971 London Motor Show, but wouldn't go into production for over a year due to strikes at the plant. The Dolomite comprised of a longer bodyshell than the previous 1500, although much of its running gear and rear-wheel drive transmission was carried over from the Toledo. Engines started with a Slant-4 1,854cc engine producing 91hp. Performance was a top speed of 100mph and a 0-60 of 11 seconds. An overdrive gearbox was also made available for fuel economy and relaxed motorway cruising.

The variant that's remembered the most though is the Dolomite Sprint, or more commonly known as the Dolly Sprint. The Sprint was built to compete with the likes of the BMW 2002, and was fitted with a 1,998cc engine with higher capacity carburettors producing 127hp, although it was originally desired to give the car at least 135hp. British Leyland however were able to get 150hp out of a test engine, but the industrial disputes and lack of quality meant that eventually only 125 to 130hp could be a realistic option. The result was a performance of 119mph, and a 0-60 of 8.4 seconds. The original price of the Sprint upon its launch in 1973 was £1,740 (£20,534 today), which put it in good price competitiveness with other cars of similar size.

However, the industrial relations disputes and continued poor quality meant that the Dolly and the Dolly Sprint both suffered heavily in the sales. Between 1972/73 and 1980, only 79,010 Dolomites and 22,941 Dolomite Sprints were built. Attempts at rationalising the range began in 1976, setting the Dolomite Sprint as the top of the range performance model, and the Dolomite 1850HL/1500HL as the luxury versions. This was done to replace the Toledo, which ended production the same year with 113,000 built. Changes as part of rationalisation were minor at best, and even the luxury models suffered heavily at the hands of poor quality. It was rumoured that British Leyland were so ham-fisted with their approach that the wood veneer inside the luxury versions was in fact made up of old floorboards from abandoned houses in the West Midlands, and there'd be every chance you'd get a splinter off them!

Sadly the poor old Dolomite's story had to come to a close, and in 1980 following falling sales, the car was replaced by the Triumph Acclaim, a badge engineered version of the Honda Ballade. Although these cars were initially malaigned for their fragile nature, today they're very much modern day cult cars with quite a strong following. Most people consider the Dolly and the Dolly Sprint the last true Triumphs before the Acclaim changed the game, but sadly the fragile nature of the Dolly's means that only about 1,300 of them are left, with only 300 to 400 Sprints.

The Dolly Sprint however did return to the frontline in 2008 as part of Top Gear's British Leyland challenge, being driven by Richard Hammond. Sadly the poor Dolly didn't fare well against James' Princess 2200, but certainly got away better than Jeremy's Rover SD1!

Humber Sceptre II (1966-67) Engine 1725cc S4 OHV

Registration Number MBF 816 D

HUMBER SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623665287863...

The Sceptre I was introduced in 1965 with a shape somewhere between the Hillman Super Minx and the Sunbeam Rapier, with the former's bodyshell and the latter's grille, quad head lights, dual overdrive and servo front disc brakes.

For 1966 the model was upgraded to the Sceptre II with a larger 1725cc engine and an Automatic option.

Shot at Cars in the Park, Lichfield 07:07:2013 REF: 89-593

The 1956 Chevrolet was the middle year of what has come to be known as the 'tri-fives', as such, it was the first refresh of the 1955 bodyshell. Notably the radiator grille was now leaned forward at the top, producing a longer hood (bonnet) profile.

Models were again arranged 150, 210 and Bel Air. The 210 Sport Coupe shown here matched the sportiest bodystyle with mid-range trim. The car now wore a long arc chrome strip which drooped at the tail ans split the body in models with two-tone paint. The roof was paired to the lower bodysides, while the trunk and hood matched the upper bodyside.

A range of six and vee-eight engines were available, the V8 was a 265 CID (4.3 L) rated at 170 bhp (127 kW), 210 bhp (157 kW) or 225 bhp (168 kW) depending on the carburetor configuration. Power was to jump considerable the following year with the introduction of the 283 CID (4.6 L ) small block.

Other GM divisions, picked up new bodies for 1957, with the exception of Chevrolet and Pontiac. The 1957 was a hasty refresh of the 1955/56, the top Bel Air trim becoming one of the most famous and sought after Chevrolet models.

Class 92 number 92003 named "Beethoven" in British Rail two-tone grey with EWS Red & Yellow logo, three 'O' shaped channel tunnel roundel logos and a Crewe Electric Depot eagle plaque travels light engine from Dollands Moor Sidings to Wembley European Freight Operating Centre on 5 April 2014. 92003 is famed for being the last British Rail train ever to run, just as this one running from Dollands Moor to Wembley at 23:15 on 21 November 1997.

92003 was assembled by the BRUSH Traction Company Loughborough, from sub-contracted components e.g. Procor UK bodyshell, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB Rail) traction converters and GTO (Gate Turn-Off thyristor) controlled via the MICAS-S2 electronics system, retractable third rail collector shoes and pantographs made by Brecknell Willis, the engraved aluminium BRUSH traction works plates made by J M Ranger Limited of Leicester and cast aluminium based alloy Crew Depot plaque produced by David Newton of Nottingham. For track to train communications class 92s were fitted with the Siemens International Train Radio (ITR) "chameleon" system which could automatically change over to match local ground systems e.g. at international boarders and allowed the driver to select from a range of language settings. All non-metallic components of the class 92 were either certified for Eurotunnels fire regulations by the manufacturers or where suppliers could not provide this information products such as the divers seat (made by Chapman Seating Limited) and plastic push buttons these were fire tested by BRUSH.

Ford Thames 300E (1954-61) Engine 1172cc S4 SV Production 196,885

Registration Number WXR 859

Ford UK/EUROPE SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623665118181...

Based on the Ford 100E cars the 300E was introduced in 1954 and it shared a bodyshell with the station wagon. Powered by a Ford 1172cc engine

Initially produced only as a 5cwt (250kg) carrying capacity, the range was later expanded with the introduction of the 7cwt (350kg) Standard and Deluxe variants. Total production 196,885 = 139,267 5cwt, 10,056 7cwt Standard and 47,562 7cwt Deluxe.

This van was purchased by London Transport, in June 1959 as one of a fleet of 13, to the Central Distribution Works. At the beginning of July 1959, it was transferred from Central Distribution to Lillie Bridge depot near Fulham and allocated to the Signals Engineers, remaining there until withdrawn from service at the beginning of December 1964. The unlicensed vehicle was then sold to a Mr C W Borgust of Shooters Hill, London, SW3 for private use.

Obtained and restored by Mr N Anscombe into its distinctive Chiswick Green service vehicle livery, the van was donated to the Trust and arrived at the Museum during May 1998.

Shot at the London Bus Museum Brooklands 22:10:2013 REF 79-098

Please do not forget to visit the Flag Counter on the link below to record a visit from your country. So far 52 countries (last new country Austria and 32 US states last new State Michigan) Last new overseas visitor Denmark last new US state visitor California

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Puma was a Brazilian specialist car manufacturer which built cars from 1967 until roughly 1997. High import tariffs effectively closed Brazil during much of this period to foreign-built cars. This limited the vehicles available to the average Brazilian to those built locally by foreign manufacturers such as Volkswagen and General Motors (which established Brazilian manufacturing plants), and the products of local companies.

The origin of what became the Puma was the DKW-Malzoni, built by Rino Malzoni of Matão in São Paulo (state) from around 1964. Malzoni was a keen auto racer and began building his own competition cars based around a DKW straight-3 two-stroke engine with a light, fiberglass-skinned bodyshell. The cars began to sell in quantities larger than he himself could build, and Malzoni founded a company with a group of other auto enthusiasts. Production started at approximately 35 cars a year, but increased to more than a hundred within a couple of years.

(Wikipedia)

- - -

In den 1950er- und 60er-Jahren versuchte Brasilien intensiv, den Anschluss an die westlichen Industrienationen zu gewinnen. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wurden auch Kooperationen mit großen Automobilherstellern eingegangen.

Der begeisterte Rennfahrer Rino Malzoni aus Matão (São Paulo) begann 1964 für den Einsatz auf der Rennstrecke seinen eigenen Wettbewerbswagen zu bauen. Basis war die Technik des „DKW 3=6“ mit Zweitaktmotor und dem DKW-typischen Frontantrieb. Diese frühen Fahrzeuge werden heute „DKW-Malzoni“ genannt, damals hießen sie schlicht „GT Malzoni“, ab 1966 „GT DKW“. Das Fahrzeug bestand aus einem Zentralrohrrahmen und einer GFK-Karosserie, eine Bauart, die seit der Einführung der Corvette von Chevrolet (1953) vor allem bei Kleinserienherstellern immer beliebter wurde. Aus der ursprünglich geplanten Homologationsserie entwickelte sich aufgrund starker Nachfrage bereits im zweiten Produktionsjahr eine kleine Serienfertigung. Im Jahr 1967 erfolgte ein erster Höhepunkt mit 121 produzierten Sportwagen.

Though filled with promise, sadly Triumph's tenure in cars was not meant to be after it had been ransacked by British Leyland and its poorly built TR7's. Here we have the end of their legacy, a 1984 Triumph Acclaim which slipped silently off the production line, no pomp, no ceremony, it disappeared out the door, taking the Triumph name with it.

Towards the end of the 1970's, British Leyland was in a state of absolute despair. Shoddy and dated car designs married to biblical unreliability meant the company was facing near meltdown, and obviously came to the conclusion that they needed someone else to take the helm before the ship properly sank. Enter the Japanese, more to the point, Honda!

Since the 1960's, the Japanese had shown the world that they can mass-produce reliable cars, and thus were raking in sales by the million as people turned from their flaky European models to the highly efficient Japanese alternatives. Desperate to stop their market being swept out from under them, European Manufacturers imposed heavy import taxes on Japanese imports so as to try and price them out of the market, which meant builders such as Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi were losing a fortune. The alternative past this blockade was to combine their efforts with some of the more struggling car companies of Europe so as to create hybrid cars.

And thus the Triumph Acclaim was born!

Based almost solely on the Honda Ballade, essentially all that differentiated it was the Triumph badge, and the fact that the car was built at the Cowley Plant near Oxford using the former production lines of the Austin Maxi. The intention largely was to replace the 10 year old Triumph Dolomite as the 4-door saloon of the company. Unlike the Ballade however, the car did come with much more luxury features as with a Triumph badge, the car was intended to be more higher market than the conventional Japanese equivalent. But most importantly, the car has the distinction of being the first truly reliable British Leyland car (and it only took them 12 years to get it right!)

Basically, the car's major components were built in Japan and shipped to Cowley, where they were placed into the locally built bodyshells. Build quality was very good too, with the leaky panels and rough ride seemingly absent, and holds the record for the fewest warranty claims on a British Leyland car. However, Japan may have shown Europe how to build a reliable car, but they didn't know how to build a car that didn't rust. Much like it's Japanese counterparts, the Acclaim rusted like crazy. In Japan this was seen as planned obsolescence, with the intention being that a new model would replace it in two or three years time. But in Britain, cars are built to last, with models going unchanged almost completely for years and even decades. Examples being the Mini, which didn't change in any way, shape or form between its launch in 1959 and its demise in 2000!

But still, despite the terrible rusting problem, the car's reliable nature resulted in 133,000 cars being sold, and became the first Triumph to be within the Top 10 highest selling cars since 1965. However, in the end the Acclaim's show of being a good, reliable car was merely a testbed for the variety of other Japanese style products British Leyland intended to push in the near future. After only 4 years of production, the Triumph Acclaim was shelved in 1984 along with many other British Leyland products such as the Austin Ambassador and the Morris Ital so as to rationalise the company into a small number of highly reliable machines based off the Triumph Acclaim's Japanese based success. From the Acclaim, the Rover 200 was a direct descendant, being based heavily on the next generation Honda Ballade, but also spurring from this plucky car was the mechanicals of the Austin Maestro and Montego.

The ending of Acclaim construction in 1984 also brought the end to the Triumph badge itself on motorcars. Although Triumph still exists on motorbikes, the car division has long since perished, together with Austin and Morris. As for the Acclaim itself, it is truly one of those rarities you won't find everyday. Today only 488 are left, which, although much more than the remaining Ital's and Ambassadors of the same period, is still a very low number. But even so, the Triumph Acclaim did show British Leyland how to make a reliable machine, even though it technically wasn't a British machine in the first place!

2007 #18/180 Custom ´64 Galaxie.

2007 New Models (18/36).

Hot Wheels.

Escala 1/64.

Made in Malaysia.

"Dark Red color, Chrome Plastic Chassis, Tinted windows and Black interior color."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Custom '64 Galaxie

Debut Series

2007 New Models

Produced

2007 - Present

Designer

Phil Riehlman

Number

K6150

Description

"The Custom '64 Galaxie is a Hot Wheels casting based on the production car of the same name, debuting in the 2007 New Models.

It was slated for use in the 2007 Ultra Hots Series , and a new tool was made with an opening hood and visible engine, but was never produced. Some newer versions of the casting use the new interior piece with the engine invisible underneath the body."

Source: hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/Custom_%2764_Galaxie

More info:

hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/2007_New_Models

twolanedesktop.blogspot.com/2014/09/hot-wheels-custom-196...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1964 Ford Galaxie

"The 1964 Galaxie was described by Ford as "a car bred in open competition and built for total performance".

For 1964, there were 16 models to choose from to include different varieties of sedans, hardtops, convertibles, and wagons. This Galaxie carried much the same lines as the 1963 with new distinctive styling through new trim moldings, grill and rear panel design, and all new interior trim styling.

Ford offered the Galaxie 500 in the sedan, hardtop and convertible body styles.

The Galaxie 500XL was offered in the sedan, hardtop, and convertible as well. The 500XL was the deluxe model with standard plush vinyl bucket seats with console, special XL trim moldings and ornamentation and standard equipment V-8 engine., and full wheel covers.

1964 was another year of awesome performance with six different engine choices. The most notable was the Thunderbird 390 V-8 engine at 300 horsepower, and two versions of the all powerful 427 power plant. Both a four barrel and dual carburetor version were offered at 410, and 425 horsepower respectively. For transmissions, Ford offered much the same as 1963. The four speed was standard euipment on 427 engine sizes and optional equipment on 390. Ford discontinued the 406 engine for 1964 which was now replaced by the 427. Ford also built a number of 427 Fiberglass race equipped Galaxies for 1964.

Many consider the 1964 the most attractive Galaxie ever built. The 1964 Fords are also legendary for their racing history as many of the factory lightweight cars were used by the Ford Motor Company extensively on the race track. This racing experience gave these cars instant popularity that continues to the current day."

Source: www.dearbornclassics.com/galaxie.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ford Galaxie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Ford Galaxie was a full-size car built in the United States by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1959 through 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford's full-size range from 1959 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race. In 1962, all full-size Fords wore the Galaxie badge, with "500" and "500/XL" denoting the higher series. The Galaxie 500/LTD was introduced for 1965 followed by the Galaxie 500 7-Litre in 1966. The Galaxie 500 part was dropped from the LTD in 1966, and from the XL in 1967; however the basic series structuring levels were maintained. The "regular" Galaxie 500 continued below the LTD as Ford's mid-level full-size model from 1965 until its demise at the end of the 1974 model year.

The Galaxie was the high volume counterpart to the Chevrolet Impala. Some Galaxies were high-performance, racing specification machines, a larger forebear to the muscle car era. Others were plain family sedans."

(...)

Second generation 1960–1964.

"The 1960 Galaxie was all-new in style, abandoning the ostentatious ornamentation of the 1950s for a futuristic, sleek look. A new body style this year was the Starliner, featuring a huge, curving rear observation window on a pillarless, hardtop bodyshell. The formal roofed 2-door hardtop was not available this year, but the roofline was used for the Galaxie 2-door pillared sedan, complete with chromed window frames."

(...)

1961

"For 1961, the bodywork was redone again, although the underpinnings were the same as in 1960.

(...) the 1961 Galaxie offered a new 390 CID (6.4 L) version of Ford's FE series pushrod V8, which was available with either a four-barrel carburetor or, for serious performance, three two-barrel carburetors."

(...)

1962

"For 1962, the Galaxie name was applied to all of Ford's full size models, as the Fairlane moved to a new intermediate and Custom was temporarily retired. New top-line Galaxie 500 (two-door sedan and hardtop, four-door sedan and hardtop, and "Sunliner" convertible) models offered plusher interiors, more chrome trim outside, and a few additional luxury items over and above what was standard on the plainer Galaxie models. Base Galaxie models were available in two- and four-door sedans as well as the plain Ranch Wagon.

(...) The 292 cu in (4.8 l) V8 was standard on the 500/XL. The XL had as sportier trim inside and out as part of the package. "

(...)

1963

"For 1963, Ford saw no reason to radically change a good thing, and the 1963 model was essentially unchanged save for some freshening and added trim; windshields were reshaped and a four-door hardtop 500/XL was added."

(...)

1964

"Model year 1964 was the fourth and final year of this body style. Interior trim was much altered, and the exterior featured a more sculpted look which was actually designed to make the car more aerodynamic for NASCAR. The formal-roof "boxtop" style was replaced by a slanted-roof design for all non-wagon or convertible models, including sedans. Ford's quality control, spotty when the first Galaxie was introduced, was now as good as it ever was, and many 1964 Fords passed the 100,000-mile (160,000 km) mark intact. The 1964 models gained an enviable reputation as durable, comfortable cars that offered decent handling and road-ability at a reasonable price, so it is no wonder they sold so well."

(...)

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Galaxie

Dynacorn 1967 Camaro Show Car l poster that I created for the company showroom. This was built from a Dynacorn Replacement Body Shell and other new components. This is a rust free brand new old car.

Class 45 45054

bodyshell only at Toton

18th May 1985.

The 1956 Chevrolet was the middle year of what has come to be known as the 'tri-fives', as such, it was the first refresh of the 1955 bodyshell. Notably the radiator grille was now leaned forward at the top, producing a longer hood (bonnet) profile.

Models were again arranged 150, 210 and Bel Air. The 210 Sport Coupe shown here matched the sportiest bodystyle with mid-range trim. The car now wore a long arc chrome strip which drooped at the tail ans split the body in models with two-tone paint. The roof was paired to the lower bodysides, while the trunk and hood matched the upper bodyside.

A range of six and vee-eight engines were available, the V8 was a 265 CID (4.3 L) rated at 170 bhp (127 kW), 210 bhp (157 kW) or 225 bhp (168 kW) depending on the carburetor configuration. Power was to jump considerable the following year with the introduction of the 283 CID (4.6 L ) small block.

Other GM divisions, picked up new bodies for 1957, with the exception of Chevrolet and Pontiac. The 1957 was a hasty refresh of the 1955/56, the top Bel Air trim becoming one of the most famous and sought after Chevrolet models.

Puma was a Brazilian specialist car manufacturer which built cars from 1967 until roughly 1997. High import tariffs effectively closed Brazil during much of this period to foreign-built cars. This limited the vehicles available to the average Brazilian to those built locally by foreign manufacturers such as Volkswagen and General Motors (which established Brazilian manufacturing plants), and the products of local companies.

The origin of what became the Puma was the DKW-Malzoni, built by Rino Malzoni of Matão in São Paulo (state) from around 1964. Malzoni was a keen auto racer and began building his own competition cars based around a DKW straight-3 two-stroke engine with a light, fiberglass-skinned bodyshell. The cars began to sell in quantities larger than he himself could build, and Malzoni founded a company with a group of other auto enthusiasts. Production started at approximately 35 cars a year, but increased to more than a hundred within a couple of years.

(Wikipedia)

- - -

In den 1950er- und 60er-Jahren versuchte Brasilien intensiv, den Anschluss an die westlichen Industrienationen zu gewinnen. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wurden auch Kooperationen mit großen Automobilherstellern eingegangen.

Der begeisterte Rennfahrer Rino Malzoni aus Matão (São Paulo) begann 1964 für den Einsatz auf der Rennstrecke seinen eigenen Wettbewerbswagen zu bauen. Basis war die Technik des „DKW 3=6“ mit Zweitaktmotor und dem DKW-typischen Frontantrieb. Diese frühen Fahrzeuge werden heute „DKW-Malzoni“ genannt, damals hießen sie schlicht „GT Malzoni“, ab 1966 „GT DKW“. Das Fahrzeug bestand aus einem Zentralrohrrahmen und einer GFK-Karosserie, eine Bauart, die seit der Einführung der Corvette von Chevrolet (1953) vor allem bei Kleinserienherstellern immer beliebter wurde. Aus der ursprünglich geplanten Homologationsserie entwickelte sich aufgrund starker Nachfrage bereits im zweiten Produktionsjahr eine kleine Serienfertigung. Im Jahr 1967 erfolgte ein erster Höhepunkt mit 121 produzierten Sportwagen.

Triumph GT6 Mk2 (1968-70) Engine 1998c S6 OHV

Production 12,066

Registration Number RUT 513 G

TRIUMPH SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623847263736...

Introduced in 1966 the first series of GT6 was introduced in 1966 as a six cylinder sports coupe based on the Spitfire. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti and based on the recently introduced Spitfire Mk. IV. The new body was a sleek fastback design with an opening rear hatch, In essence a two seater but with a small extra rear seat could be ordered, large enough for small children. The family resemblance to the Spitfire Mk II was strong, the longer 6-cylinder engine necessitated a new bonnet top with a power bulge and the doors were provided with opening quarter light windows and squared-off glass in the top rear corner. The 6-cylinder engine was, like the Vitesse 2 litre, tuned to develop 95 hp (71 kW) with a top speed pf 106mph

The Mk.II GT6 was launched in 1978 using a 104bhp version of the six cylinder engine, with optional overdrive as available on the Mk.1. Now fitted with lower wishbone independant rear suspension. The Mk.2 also got a new facia, better ventilation for both engine bay and cockpit and Rostyle wheels, though wires were a popular option. There were other changes for the Mk II; the front bumper was raised (in common with the Spitfire Mk 3) to conform with new regulations ecessitating a revised front end, and side vents were added to the front wings and rear pillars. Under the bonnet, the engine was the uprated Vitesse MkII unit developing 104 hp (78 kW) with a new cylinder head, camshaft, and manifolds Performance improved slightly to 107 mph

The third generation of 1970 was the GT6s last major facelift the entire bodyshell was revised to match the changes made to the Spitfire Mk IV: modifications included a cut-off rear end, recessed door handles and a smoother front end,and the deletion of the chrome stripes on top of the wings . Only detail changes were made to the mechanics, but in 1973 – close to the end of the car's production life – the rear suspension was changed again, this time for the cheaper "swing-spring" layout fitted to the Spitfire Mk IV. Engine output was simular to that of the Mark 2 but better aerodynamics led to a new top speed of 112 mph

Shot at Weston Park Car Show 25:04:2011 Ref 70-373

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Reliant Sabre Six 2S (1962-64) Engine 1703cc S6 OHV Production 208

Registration Number AFH 516 B

RELIANT SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623815081608...

Developed in collaboration with the Israeli motor company Autocars, the first Sabres appeared in 1961 as two-door convertibles, front-engined, rear-drive, with four-cylinder OHV Ford Consul (later "Zephyr 4") engines of 1,703 cc. They had front disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and a ZF all-synchro gearbox. The front suspension was an unusual leading-arm set-up. Power output was 73 bhp (54 kW) giving at least 90 mph (140 km/h). The bodyshells were originally based upon the Ashley 1172 to which Reliant had acquired the rights. Coupés were introduced in June 1962,

An update to the original Sabre with a restyled front end, and for 1964 wishbone front suspension. 109bhp Ford engine with electric fan cooling, triple overdrive option and a ZF gearbox.

Shot at Weston Park Car Show 25:04:2011 Ref 70-307

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Heading a train of hopper wagons a Class 66 locomotive in the livery of English, Welsh & Scottish Railways awaits the green light at Carlisle Citadel station before proceeding to Carlisle Kingmoor freight yard.

Following privatisation of British Rail's freight operations in 1996, EWS acquired the majority of them. Many of the locomotives that EWS inherited were either worn out or of dubious reliability. EWS approached General Motors, whose Electro-Motive Division (EMD) offered their JT42CWR model. This loco used the same bodyshell as the EMD built Class 59; and this gave the advantage of having a locomotive of known clearances.

The engine and traction motors were different models from those in the Class 59, whilst the newer locos incorporated GM’s version of a steering bogie. This bogie allowed the use of a 6-axle locomotive in territory ordinarily restricted to 4-axle types and also exerted lower curving forces than a conventional 3-axle bogie reducing the risk of derailment.

An initial order for 250 units was placed and these were built at GM’s Canadian plant in London, Ontario and shipped to the UK via Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In April 2005, EMD was acquired from General Motors by Babcock & Brown, a group of private investors. This new EMD has been renamed Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. and the plant in London, Ontario is now called EMCC (Electro-Motive Canada Company).

The 66s quickly became unpopular with many rail enthusiasts, not only due to their ubiquity but also due to their displacement of several older types of (mostly) British built locomotives. However their excellent reliability record has helped rail freight to remain competitive and more than 500 are now running in the UK (the engine overhaul period is ten years).

The EWS fleet includes five locomotives capable of banking heavy trains over the Lickey Incline. On these five locomotives, the knuckle coupler has been modified to allow remote release from inside the cab, whilst the train is in motion.

Following the recent takeover of EWS by the Berlin based DB Schenker operation these locomotives will be outshopped in that company’s red & grey livery. Other UK based operators running Class 66 variants include DRS, Freightliner, Jarvis Fastline and First GB Railfreight, whilst other variants of the type operate throughout Europe & Scandinavia.

Morris Six MS (1948-53) Engine 2215cc S6 S6 OHC Production 12,400

Registration Number JWN 833

MORRIS SET

www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690377489...

The Morris Six MS was a six-cylinder midsize car made from 1948 to 1953. It was the company's first post war six-cylinder car. At launch the car was priced at £671 on the UK market.

The car was very similar to the 1948 Issigonis designed Morris Oxford series MO sharing the same bodyshell from the windscreen backwards. The bonnet was lengthened to take the overhead camshaft, single SU carburettor, 2215 cc six-cylinder engine which produced 70 bhp.

The whole car was longer than the Oxford with a wheelbase of 110 inches Suspension was independent at the front using torsion bars and at the rear there was a conventional live axle and semi elliptic springs. The steering was not by the rack and pinion fitted to the Oxford but used a lower geared Bishop Cam system. The 10 inches (250 mm) drum brakes were hydraulically operated using a Lockheed system.

The design was shared with Nuffield Organisation stable-mate Wolseley as the 6/80

*Thanks for 6 million views

Shot at Cars in the Park, Lichfield 01:07:2012 Ref: 86-111

Puma was a Brazilian specialist car manufacturer which built cars from 1967 until roughly 1997. High import tariffs effectively closed Brazil during much of this period to foreign-built cars. This limited the vehicles available to the average Brazilian to those built locally by foreign manufacturers such as Volkswagen and General Motors (which established Brazilian manufacturing plants), and the products of local companies.

The origin of what became the Puma was the DKW-Malzoni, built by Rino Malzoni of Matão in São Paulo (state) from around 1964. Malzoni was a keen auto racer and began building his own competition cars based around a DKW straight-3 two-stroke engine with a light, fiberglass-skinned bodyshell. The cars began to sell in quantities larger than he himself could build, and Malzoni founded a company with a group of other auto enthusiasts. Production started at approximately 35 cars a year, but increased to more than a hundred within a couple of years.

(Wikipedia)

- - -

In den 1950er- und 60er-Jahren versuchte Brasilien intensiv, den Anschluss an die westlichen Industrienationen zu gewinnen. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wurden auch Kooperationen mit großen Automobilherstellern eingegangen.

Der begeisterte Rennfahrer Rino Malzoni aus Matão (São Paulo) begann 1964 für den Einsatz auf der Rennstrecke seinen eigenen Wettbewerbswagen zu bauen. Basis war die Technik des „DKW 3=6“ mit Zweitaktmotor und dem DKW-typischen Frontantrieb. Diese frühen Fahrzeuge werden heute „DKW-Malzoni“ genannt, damals hießen sie schlicht „GT Malzoni“, ab 1966 „GT DKW“. Das Fahrzeug bestand aus einem Zentralrohrrahmen und einer GFK-Karosserie, eine Bauart, die seit der Einführung der Corvette von Chevrolet (1953) vor allem bei Kleinserienherstellern immer beliebter wurde. Aus der ursprünglich geplanten Homologationsserie entwickelte sich aufgrund starker Nachfrage bereits im zweiten Produktionsjahr eine kleine Serienfertigung. Im Jahr 1967 erfolgte ein erster Höhepunkt mit 121 produzierten Sportwagen.