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Apparently this is scrap...I thought it would look good as an Objet d'Art in the garden :-)
Spotted on visit to Bridport Porsche Specialists Marque 21. www.marque21.co.uk/
Many thanks to Kieron & Samie for organising the visit :-))
The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT-class car hand-built in the United Kingdom by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. The Interceptor name had been used previously by Jensen for an earlier car made between 1950 and 1957. The car broke with Jensen tradition by having a steel bodyshell instead of glass-reinforced plastic and by having the body designed by an outside firm, Carrozzeria Touring of Italy, rather than the in-house staff. The early bodies were Italian-built, by Vignale, before production by Jensen themselves began – with subtle body modifications – in West Bromwich.
(Wikipedia)
- - -
Der Jensen Interceptor war ein Sportwagen der GT-Klasse, den die britische Automobilmanufaktur Jensen zwischen 1966 und 1976 baute. Die Bezeichnung Interceptor hatte Jensen bereits 1950 für einen Vorgänger verwendet, der heute meist als Early Interceptor bezeichnet wird.
(Wikipedia)
Bodyshell of the 1/48th scale resin kit of the LCC Wandsworth London ambulance. Hope to get started on this kit very soon. I have waited a very long time to get hold of one of these models as it is a true favourite vehicle of mine and a real classic London vehicle.
The Austin Rover group badged some of their top of the range vehicles as Vanden Plas, a luxury car maker whose brand joined the Austin Rover group. Despite the standard bodyshell as fitted to the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 ADO16 range, this car has a luxury interior with walnut dashboard, leather seats and fold down coffee tables. Purchased new by a doctor in 1974, the car has remained in the same family and is now lovingly cared for by his son. The hubcabs have been removed in preparation for the drive home to Lanarkshire, where the car was first registered, as these hubcaps are easily lost and their centres with the Princess logo would be difficult to replace.
The production Riviera shared its bodyshell with no other model, which was unusual for a GM product. It rode a cruciform frame similar to the standard Buick frame, but shorter and narrower, with a 2.0 in (51 mm) narrower track. Its wheelbase of 117 in (3,000 mm) and overall length of 208 in (5,300 mm) were 6.0 inches (150 mm) and 7.7 in (200 mm) shorter, respectively, than a Buick LeSabre, but slightly longer than a contemporary Thunderbird. At 3,998 lb (1,813 kg), it was about 390 pounds (180 kg) lighter than either. It shared the standard Buick V8 engines, with a displacement of either 401 cu in (6.57 L) or 425 cu in (6.96 l), and Twin Turbine automatic transmission. Brakes were Buick's standard "Al-Fin" (aluminum finned) drums of 12 in (300 mm) diameter. Power steering was standard equipment, with an overall steering ratio of 20.5:1, giving 3.5 turns lock-to-lock.
The Riviera's suspension used the same basic design as standard Buicks, with double wishbones front and a live axle located by trailing arms and a lateral track bar, but the roll centers were raised to reduce body lean. Although its coil springs were actually slightly softer than other Buicks, with the lighter overall weight, the net effect was to make the Riviera somewhat firmer. Although still biased towards understeer, contemporary testers considered it one of the most roadable American cars, with an excellent balance of comfort and agility.
The Riviera was introduced on October 4, 1962 as a 1963 model, with the 325 hp (242 kW) 401 cu in (6.6 l) as the only available engine[3] and the Turbine Drive the only transmission, at a base price of $4,333; typical delivered prices with options ran upwards of $5,000. Production was deliberately limited to 40,000 or less to increase demand.
The Austin Maxi is a medium-sized, 5-door hatchback family car that was produced by Austin and later British Leyland between 1969 and 1981. It was the first British five-door hatchback.
The Maxi (code name ADO14) was the last car designed under the British Motor Corporation (BMC) before it was incorporated into the new British Leyland group, and the last production car designed by famed designer Alec Issigonis. It was the first car to be launched by British Leyland.
The new chairman Lord Stokes decided to also change the hatchback's name to the Maxi in homage to the Mini of 10 years earlier. All Maxis were produced at the Cowley plant in Oxford, although the E-Series engines were made at a new factory at Cofton Hackett in Longbridge.
Underneath the Maxi's practical and spacious bodyshell lay an all-new front-wheel drive chassis, which was interlinked with an innovative five-speed manual transmission; the fifth gear was another rarity on family cars in 1969 and one which many manufacturers did not adopt until more than a decade later.
Despite the new platform, the Maxi's styling suffered from the decision to save tooling costs by re-using door panels from the Austin 1800 "Landcrab", which gave the Maxi an unusually long wheelbase in relation to its length, coupled with the fact that the carried-over doors made the Maxi resemble a scaled down version of the 1800 (and the Austin 3-Litre, which also used the same doors).
2014 "Chevrolet Camaro" in the paddocks of the 2014 CRAA classic race in Aarhus.
Driver: Bjarne Nordal (N)
Racing class: Auto-G DTC
Race number: 42
Race results in 2014 event:
Training (fri.): 14 (of 18)
Qualifying (sat.): 17 (of 19)
Heat 1 (sat): 11 (of 19)
Heat 2 (sun.): 11 (of 18)
Heat 3, final (sun.): 18, RET (of 18)
Photo taken after heat 1.
DTC stands for Danish Thundersport Championship. The cars follow the CCR MkI and MkII regulations. They consist of a chassis built by Performance AutoMotive Scandinavian AB (PASAB) fitted with a clip-on bodyshell. The engines are 5,7 litre V8s, delivering 445 hp. The available bodyshells change a little from year to year, but in 2014 there were 3 options: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger.
Each race weekend consists of a free practice, qualifying and 3 heats, of which the last one is considered the "final"
After heat one, the top 8 will normally get reversed for the heat 2 starting grid, which often causes interesting results and is a guarantee for highly entertaining racing.
Races take place mostly in Denmark, but with occasional visits abroad. 2 races per year take place on street circuits: this one in Aarhus at the CRAA and one in Copenhagen during the Historic Grand Prix there.
Most drivers are danish, but there's always a few norwegians in the pack as well.
The driver line-up is incredibly mixed and features star drivers (past and present) like Jan Magnussen, "Super John" Nielsen, Ronnie Bremer and Casper Elgaard alongside some of Denmark's finest young racing talents with full backing from big teams, as well as a bunch of privateers, who primarily take part for the fun of racing.
At the end of each season, a driver's 3 worst results get discarded to get the final overall result.
The DTC class is widely regarded as the pinnacle of racing on danish soil and is followed intensely by media as well as spectators.
There have been some voices against the DTC being included in the CRAA, saying that this class is anything but "classic racing", which is, of course, true, but no class causes the stands to be as packed as DTC, so it certainly helps attract people (and media interest)
DTC may not be "classic racing", but it plays a major part in making the annual CRAA event so successful.
The classic cars I would most like to own are either a big Triumph or a Rover P6. This fine example of the former is an early 2.5PI, created in response to Rover's P6 3500 V8 by fitting the TR5 engine into the 2000 bodyshell. At the time these two were deadly rivals but just a few years later the creation of British Leyland would do the unthinkable and put them under common ownership; both would be replaced by the Rover SD1 in due course. GJH 490G has been unlicensed since 2011 so I wonder what happened to it?
The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT-class car hand-built in the United Kingdom by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. The Interceptor name had been used previously by Jensen for an earlier car made between 1950 and 1957. The car broke with Jensen tradition by having a steel bodyshell instead of glass-reinforced plastic and by having the body designed by an outside firm, Carrozzeria Touring of Italy, rather than the in-house staff. The early bodies were Italian-built, by Vignale, before production by Jensen themselves began – with subtle body modifications – in West Bromwich.
(Wikipedia)
- - -
Der Jensen Interceptor war ein Sportwagen der GT-Klasse, den die britische Automobilmanufaktur Jensen zwischen 1966 und 1976 baute. Die Bezeichnung Interceptor hatte Jensen bereits 1950 für einen Vorgänger verwendet, der heute meist als Early Interceptor bezeichnet wird.
(Wikipedia)
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.
I was expecting this to be basically the same as the 'Racing Version' of Skyline GT-R that I have, but it has a bodyshell with narrower arches.
No immediate plans to get it built, but one day its time will come.
Ford Lotus Cortina Mk.2 (1967-70) Production 4032 Engine 1558 cc S4 DOC Lotus twin cam twin carburettor
Registration Number RLX 624 E
FORD (UK) SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623665118181...
Top speed 105 mph Using the mark 2 Cortina bodyshell with uprated suspension and wider wheels than the standard. More comfortably equipped than the Mk.1 now built by Ford at Dagenham instead of Lotus at Cheshunt. Used as Fords mainline competition car for 1967.This car bears the decals of the London-Sydney Rally and names of all of its sponsors Shot at the National Heritage Museum, Gaydon, Warwks. 25.04.2010 Ref 51-30
Update of a 7mm Skytrex 31 bodyshell, Life Color acrylic Railfreight grey and Revell tar black applied.
Experimental Rover Gas Turbine car in the Motoring Heritage Centre at Gaydon. This is basically a P6 bodyshell with a different nose. I have a better picture than this from a film camera taken on a visit in '97 which I may upload at some point. A great looking car in my opinion.
Indian Railways air-conditioned chair car NR 97160. In the late 1990s Indian Railways tested some new designs for coaches (IRX, IRY, IRZ) of which only a small series of daytime coaches of type IRY, with IR20 bogies (related to the Fiat design of Eurofima coaches), went into production. They are recognizable by their corrugated bodyshells and doors at the ends (other series of Indian Railways have doors set back by about one meter, with toilets at the corners). They are only used in the New Delhi - Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi Express. Here this train (12029) is stopping at Jalandhar City Junction on 2012-12-30.
On this earth, I'm sure there are perfectly good reasons why a railroad wouldn't take a wrecked RS-11 and migrate the m-g set and controlling electronics to the carcass of a VO-660 with a broken crankshaft, but the Montreal Terminal Railroad (a) is a pure Alco joint, (b) with the technical skills to completely rebuild these things up to the day when emissions standards kill them dead, and (c) exists only in my mind.
So, an Athearn RS12 for the cab and frame (pretending to be a VO-660) and a long hood from an rs11 (or 32?) that I got as part of a big mess of rs11/32 shells and frames so I could get low short hoods for 578 & 576.
If I wanted the full SWBLW experience I'd take an Atlas RS11 frame, cut it down to size, then fit a pair of AAR-B trucks, but that's a bridge I can burn after I finish gluing this bodyshell together.
This Stingray was built for this years Bordeaux Vintage slot meeting. The theme was 1966 +67 Le Mans. This was my build using a Revell bodyshell which I modified like the real car.
Lancia Fulvia Sport (1967-76) Engine 1584cc V4 Production 134,035 (+ 6170 Sport models)
Registrtion Number TYD 888 M
LANCIA SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623795824232...
The Fulvia Coupe was originally launched in 1965 as a compact 2 dood, designed in house by Piero Castagnero with a shorter wheelbase than the Saloon and initially powered by a 1216cc, or 1231cc engine with 80bhp. Numerous versions followed powered by a variety of 1300 and 1600cc engines.
The Sport is a rebodied Coupe, with an aluminium bodyshell, the 1600 has an uprated 1584cc engine producing 115bhp, this version has electric front windows and was the fastest of the production Fulvia's with a top speed of 118mph
Shot taken 7:08:2011 at Prescot VSCC Hillclimb, Gothrington Ref: 77-442 .
The XR4Ti was the trim level given to the sportiest of the original release Ford Sierras. The XR4Ti differed from the other Sierra models principally in the adoption of the small side rear window of the 5-door liftback, in the 3-door bodyshell.
Apart from this excentricity, the XR4Ti displayed the usual go-faster styling of the period - big wheels, deep bumpers, red stripes and spoilers. One feature taken from the 'Probe' series of Ford concept cars was the use of a 'bi-plane' rear wing, the top section which biseced the rear window.
If all these styling diversions were not enough of a shock, the 1982 Ford Sierra range replaced the conservative, three-box, square-cut styling of the best selling Ford Cortina Mk V, with the new aerodynamic, slippery form, as pioneered by the Audi 100 of the same year. The media dubbed the styling 'jellymold' and were critical of the grille-less nose. This bold gamble would stand the Sierra on good stead toward the end of its product cycle, when it still looked modern, whilst many of its principle competitors were starting to look dated. At the time, however, it was widely reported (falsely) that Frd was readying to put the conservative Cortina back into production. The Sierra lost the Cortina's position as the top selling car in the UK to the Escort, but enabled Ford to be perceived as an innovative and contemporary company. The Sierra was replaced in 1993 by the dynamic handling Ford Mondeo, which returned Ford to a more conservative styling template for family cars in Europe.
This Lego Ford Sierra model has been created in Lego Difital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 43rd Build Challenge - 'Plus or Minus Ten' - celebrating vehicles built ten years before or after the birth year of the modeller - in this case the 1982 Ford Sierra.
I had never heard of the 228 model but this is apparently one of only four in the UK. It was created to replace the Kyalami and had a two-door bodyshell on the longer wheelbase of the Quattroporte, the designation meaning 2 doors and 2.8 litres.
The Series 2 version of the 127 debuted in May 1977. It featured a restyled front and rear, a new dashboard (although almost identical in layout to that of the Series 1), larger rear side windows (using rear quarter pressings derived from those used on the Brazil market Fiat 147) and the option of the 1049 cc engine - uniquely for the 127 this was the five-bearing OHC "Brazil" 124 series engine from the 147 rather than the Fiat OHC unit from the 128. The tailgate was extended and now reached nearly to the rear bumper, addressing complaints about the high lip over which luggage had to be lifted for loading into the earlier 127 hatchbacks.
There was also a "high-cube" panel van version, known as the Fiorino which was based on the Series 2 bodyshell, and this remained in production until 1984, when a new Uno-based Fiorino debuted.
In Scandinavia and the Baltic nations it was particularly successful, and there are still many in circulation today.
Concerned that the considerable price increase of a 911 over the 356 would cost the company sales and narrow the appeal of the brand, a decision was made by executives to introduce a new entry-level model. In 1964, with both the 356 and the 911 in production, Porsche engineers constructed a 912 prototype. Built on the 911's chassis and sharing its bodyshell, Porsche was able to offer the 912 for much less than a base-model 911 by using the four-cylinder engine from the 356 rather than the 911's "flat" six-cylinder powerplant and by reducing the number of standard features.
After production of the 356 model ceased in April 1965, in May 1965 Porsche began production and delivery of the 912. The proven reliability of the 356's engine combined with the 911 bodywork and powertrain yielded improved weight distribution, handling, and range. A lower price made the 912 a very attractive buy to both new and old customers, and it substantially outsold the 911 during the first few years of production: Porsche produced slightly more than 30,000 units during its five-year production run. 912s were also used as police (polizei) cars in Europe, including Targas (Porsche's patented variation of a cabriolet with lift-off folding top, rollbar, and an openable plastic rear window).
In April 1967, the Porsche factory's Christophorus magazine noted: "On 21 December, 1966, Porsche celebrated a particularly proud anniversary. The 100,000th Porsche, a 912 Targa outfitted for the police, was delivered."
After updating the 911 line-up to include both a more powerful 911S and a less expensive 911T, Porsche executives began to feel that the 912 had become redundant, that the 911 platform was sufficiently diverse and that pricing had largely come into line with market expectations.
Owing to this and the desire to introduce a new model, the 912 was discontinued and superseded as Porsche's entry-level model by the 914 in 1970; a vehicle which Porsche had thought would be less expensive for them to manufacture and sell than the 912. In practice, a deterioration in relationships between Porsche and Volkswagen - who had designed and planned to manufacture the 914 - severely curtailed the intended cost reduction, and the 914 was discontinued in 1976.
After a six year absence, the 912 was re-introduced to North America in 1976 as the 912E (internal factory designation 923) to occupy the entry-level position left vacant by the discontinuation of the 914, while the new 924 – the 914's official replacement – was being finalized and put into production. The new 912 featured the "G-Series" 911 bodywork and was powered by a 2.0 L version of the Volkswagen air cooled engine, previously used in late-model versions of the 914/4. 2,099 were manufactured in total, and were not officially sold outside the United States.
The 1957 Chevrolet is a car that was introduced by Chevrolet in September 1956 for the 1957 model year. It was available in three series models: the upscale Bel Air, the mid-range Two-Ten, and the One-Fifty. A two-door station wagon, the Nomad, was produced as a Bel Air model. An upscale trim option called the Delray was available for Two-Ten 2-door sedans. It is a popular and sought after classic car. These vehicles are often restored to their original condition and sometimes modified. The car's image has been frequently used in toys, graphics, music, movies, and television. The '57 Chevy, as it is often known, is an auto icon.[2]
History
Initially, General Motors executives wanted an entirely new car for 1957, but production delays necessitated the 1955–56 design for one more year.[3] Ed Cole, chief engineer for Chevrolet, dictated a series of changes that significantly increased the cost of the car. These changes included a new dashboard, sealed cowl, and the relocation of air ducts to the headlight pods, which resulted in the distinctive chrome headlight that helped make the 1957 Chevrolet a classic. Fourteen-inch wheels replaced the fifteen-inch wheels from previous years to give the car a lower stance, and a wide grille was used to give the car a wider look from the front. The now famous 1957 Chevrolet tailfins were designed to duplicate the wide look in the rear. Bel Air models, though maintaining the same chassis, powertrains, and body, were given upscale gold trim: the mesh grille insert and front fender chevrons, as well as the "Chevrolet" script on the hood and trunk, were all rendered in anodized gold. The 1957 Chevrolets did not have an oil pressure gauge or a voltmeter.[4] The base engine was an inline 6-cylinder called the Blue Flame Six. The engine was smoother running than the V-8. Carburetion came from a single one-barrel carburetor.
"Tri-Five" 1955–1957 V8
The 1955 model year Chevrolet introduced its now-famous small-block V-8 — the first V-8 available in a Chevrolet since 1918.[5] It has a displacement of 265 cu in (4,340 cc). Prior to 1955, Chevrolet offered a 235 cu in (3,850 cc) displacement in-line 6-cylinder engine only. The 1955 model, like its engine, was all new. The "shoebox" design, so named because it was the first Chevrolet to feature streamlined rear fenders, was a watershed for Chevrolet. The lightweight car, coupled with a powerful overhead valve V-8, became a showroom draw, but also thrust the company into the arena of competitive motorsports. 1955 Chevrolets went on to dominate drag racing and became a formidable force in circle track racing. In 1956, the design was lengthened somewhat in front and given a more squarish treatment; under the hood, engine power increased and a Chevrolet Corvette engine was available for the first time in a full-size passenger car. In 1957, the V-shaped trim on the tail fins was filled with a ribbed aluminum insert exclusive to the Bel Air's upgraded trim level. The fuel-injected engine represented the first time that an internal combustion gasoline engine in a passenger car reached an advertised one horsepower for each cubic inch benchmark, although the Chrysler 300B beat that by a year in its 355-horsepower, 354 c.i.d dual-carburetored engine, and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint was introduced a year earlier than that (1954), with a 79 cubic inch (1290cc) engine that produced 80 hp. In NASCAR racing, the 283 with its increased horsepower, gave the 1957 a dramatic advantage over the smaller 265 V8 the 1955 and 1956 cars had. NASCAR held the competition, especially the 1955-57 Chevrolet to a cubic inch restriction because of all the races the 1957s were winning. This restriction stayed with the 1955–57 until they were grandfathered out of the lower NASCAR divisions in the 1970s as the 1957 was still beating virtually all in their class.
Body styles
Body choices for 1957 included:
2- and 4-door sedans (identified by the "Pillars" between door windows)
2-door "Sport Coupe" (a two-door hardtop - the car has no pillar between the front and back window when the window lowered)
"Sport Sedan" (a 4-door hardtop)
2-door Utility Sedan, a two-door sedan with a package shelf instead of a rear seat
Delray "Club Coupe", which was a Two-Ten model 2-door sedan with a deluxe interior
The top-of-the-line 2-door Bel Air Nomad station wagon with a sloped pillar behind the hardtop door and sliding windows at the rear seat, unique ribbed roof sheetmetal and lower roofline height mimicking the hardtop models.
The basic 2-door Handyman station wagon with an upright sedan B-pillar and a C-pillar, where the four-door wagons have one, available only in One-Fifty and Two-Ten trims.
4-door, six-passenger station wagon (referred to as the Townsman; available in both the Two-Ten and Bel Air series)
4-door, nine-passenger station wagon (referred to as the Beauville; only available in the Two-Ten series)
Convertible
Unlike most competitors, the Chevrolet 4-door hardtop featured a reinforced rear roof structure that gave the car added rigidity and a unique appearance in silhouette. The 1957 Chevrolet was called by some a "Baby Cadillac", because of many styling cues similar to Cadillacs of the time. V8-optioned cars got a large "V" under the Chevrolet script on the hood and trunk lid; the "V: was gold for the Bel Air trim level, and silver-colored chrome for the 210 and 150 trim levels.
The 2-door Bel Air Nomad station wagon had its own distinctive styling, mainly in the roof line and rear deck.
1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty 2-door Sedan
1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty 2-door Sedan
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door Sedan
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door Sedan
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2-door 6-passenger Station Wagon
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2-door 6-passenger Station Wagon
1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten Townsman 4-door 6-passenger Station Wagon
1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten Townsman 4-door 6-passenger Station Wagon
1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty Sedan Delivery (non-standard wheels)
1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty Sedan Delivery (non-standard wheels)
Engines
For 1957 there were four standard engine options, a 235.5 cu in (3,859 cc) inline 6-cylinder producing 140 hp (104 kW), a 265 cu in (4,340 cc) V8 "Turbo-Fire" producing 162 hp (121 kW), and two 283 cu in (4,640 cc) V8s: a "Turbo-Fire" twin-barrel carburetor producing 185 hp (138 kW) and a "Super "Turbo-Fire" four-barrel carburetor developing 220 hp (164 kW).[6] To help mechanics distinguish the 265 cu in V8 engine from the red 1956 and 1955 265 cu in V8 engines and the orange 1957 283 cu in V8s, the early 1957 265 cu in V8 engines with manual transmissions were painted a bright yellow-green chartreuse. After November 1956, the 1957 265 cu in V8 engines were painted the same orange as the 1957 283 cu in V8s.
Another optional engine was offered with two four barrel carburetors, the legendary "Duntov" cam and solid lifters. This engine produced 270 hp. 1957 was the first year that Chevrolet ever offered fuel injection as an option. A 283 cu in (4,640 cc) engine fitted with solid lifters, the "Duntov" cam and fuel injection was rated at 283 hp (211 kW) and cost $500.[7][8] This was the first time in history that a General Motors vehicle achieved 1-hp-per-cu-in in a production vehicle. Fuel injection continued as an option throughout the early 1960s. However, most mechanics of the time didn't have the experience to keep the units running properly. This prompted most buyers to opt for conventional carburetion.
In a 1957 survey of owners, Popular Mechanics reported that 16.9% of owners complained about the fuel economy, while 34.4% wanted fuel injection.[9]
Options
There were many options available, most of which were designed to make the car more comfortable and luxurious. Air conditioning was offered though rarely ordered, as was a padded dash. Power steering and power brakes were available, as well as a signal-seeking AM[8] radio and power antenna. Power windows and power seats were also available. A rear speaker could be purchased which required a separate volume knob to be installed in the dashboard, beside the radio — this rear speaker was touted as providing "surround" sound. An "Autronic eye" was offered; it was a device that bolted onto the dashboard and sensed the light from oncoming traffic, dimming the headlights automatically.[10][11] One unique option was an electronic shaver, connected to the dashboard.[12] The 1957 radio used tubes that required only 12 volts of plate voltage and a transistor for the output stage. This lowered the power drain on the battery to an insignificant amount when the engine was off. Playing the radio with conventional tubes for extended periods occasionally drained the battery to the extent that it could not start the car. The clock was electrically self-wound and moving the hands to correct the time resulted in actually regulating the going rate. After a few corrections, the clock was remarkably accurate.
Another dashboard-mounted item was the traffic-light viewer, a ribbed plastic visor that was installed just above the speedometer. Because the roof extends so far forward of the driver, it is hard to see overhead traffic lights. The traffic light viewer captured the reflection of overhead traffic lights so that the driver didn't have to lean forward to see past the edge of the roof. A/C was also an option.[13]
In 1957, Chevrolet started to add safety features such as "crash proof door locks[14]" (first added in 1956), padded dash boards, safety-styled steering wheel with a recessed hub[15] (though not as much as Ford's), seat belts (also first in 1956[16]) and shoulder harnesses.[17][18] However, unlike Ford, Chevrolet did not promote these safety features heavily.
1957 was also Chevrolet's first offering of a turbine transmission, known as the Turboglide. It was a design concept that Buick had developed with their Dynaflow transmission. However, due to a reliability reputation caused by its complexity, most automatic transmission buyers shunned the Turboglide in favor of the two-speed Powerglide that had been offered since 1950. At the time the Turboglide casing was the largest cast aluminum component ever put into mass production, but it never recovered from the reputation in 1957 and the option was discontinued in 1961. Manual transmissions were limited to three-speed, column shifted units (with synchromesh in second and third gear only). The Powerglide's shifter went P N D L R while the Turboglide's was P R N D Hr (although the 'Hr' was changed early in the production series to 'Gr'-Grade Retarder because of drivers' mistaken belief that 'Hr' meant High Range instead of the correct Hill Retarder.) .[19][20] An overdrive unit was available as an option on the three speed manually shifted transmission cars. Starting at the end of May 1957, a four speed manual transmission was also offered at an over-the-counter price of $188.00 but no installation kit (shifter and linkage) was ever offered by Chevrolet and, while an owner may have jury-rigged an installation in their own car, there is no evidence that any dealer ever actually installed the transmission in any car in 1957. A 1957 equipped with this transmission mated to the 270 horsepower engine and limited slip differential was the one to beat on the drag strip and street into the early 1960s.
Post-production popularity
1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten 4-door Sedan
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Townsman 4-door Station Wagon
From a numbers standpoint, the 1957 Chevrolet wasn't as popular as General Motors had hoped. Despite its popularity, rival Ford outsold Chevrolet for the 1957 model year for the first time since 1935. The main cause of the sales shift to Ford was that the 1957 Chevrolet had tubeless tires, the first car to have them. This scared away sales to Ford as many people did not initially trust the new tubeless design. Also Ford's introduction of an all-new body styling that was longer, lower, and wider than the previous year's offerings helped Ford sales.[21]
However, the 1957 Ford — with the exception of the rare retractable hardtop model — is not nearly as prized by collectors today as the 1957 Chevrolet.[citation needed] Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the 1957 Chevrolet was a popular used car and highly prized "street machine" or hot rod in 1957 terms. It was the final year of the "shoebox" Chevrolet, as 1958 saw the introduction of a much larger and heavier "X" framed Chevrolet. The ideal size of the 1957, combined with its relatively light weight compared to newer full-sized cars, made it a favorite among drag racers. The engine bay was big enough to fit GM's big-block engines, first introduced in 1958 and popularized in the 1960s by the Beach Boys in the song "409". The relatively simple mechanical attributes of the car made it easy to maintain, customize, and upgrade with components such as disc brakes and air conditioning.
The big block, however, was not what put the 1957 on the map on the street scene; it was the introduction of the low-priced small-block, 365-horsepower 327 in 1962 that was the blockbuster that made both the 1955 and 1957 Chevrolet able to beat the Ford hotrods with their flathead V8s.[citation needed] This was a major turning point in American hot rodding: Chevrolet had claimed the street scene from Ford. The 1957 Chevrolet also won 49 Grand National "cup" NASCAR races (the most of any car in NASCAR history), won the Southern 500 (in 1957, 1958, and 1959); becoming the only car to win the 500 three times. The earliest victory for a 1957 Chevrolet in a titled NASCAR Grand National Series race was the 1957 Virginia 500.
The 1957 also won 26 NASCAR "convertible races," more than any make, and won all three possible driver's championships. The first in convertible class and winning car in the 1959 Daytona 500 was a 1957 driven by Joe Lee Johnson. The convertibles started on the outside row and were approximately ten miles an hour slower than the hardtops and sedans because of their aerodynamics. No one figured that a convertible would win the race and they didn't but wonder who was driving the top finishing convertible.
The 283 engine placed from the factory behind the centerline of the front wheels made the 1957 a superior handling car on the short tracks and the dirt tracks as well. This mechanical advantage, coupled with the high revving and reliable 283, earned the 1957 the nickname "king of the short tracks"[citation needed] With the fuel injected 283, the One-Fifty model two door sedan version, called the "black widow," was the first car outlawed (and quickly so) by NASCAR as it proved almost unbeatable on virtually all the NASCAR tracks in early 1957. After the 1957 was grandfathered out from the now "cup" division in 1960 and relegated to the lower local track sportsman divisions, they were still the car to beat for years. The 1957s subsequently were used up in stock car racing at a very high rate. Surprisingly enough, the 1957 Chevrolet also won a disproportionate amount of demolition derbies as well: With the radiator set back from the grille, the car was difficult to disable. The additional advantage of having the last double lined trunk, coupled with a strong frame, made it a surprisingly common winner in the demolition derbies during the late 1960s and early 1970s. By the 1970s, the 1957 Chevrolet became a collector car.
Companies such as Danchuk Manufacturing, Inc. and Classic Chevy Club International began selling reproduction and restoration parts. In the early 1990s, the value of a meticulously restored 1957 Chevrolet convertible was as high as $100,000.[citation needed] Although those peaks gave way significantly after 1992, the 1957 Chevrolet has held its value and is now poised to exceed the previous peak.
Although restored original examples are increasingly rare, modern customizers and restorers are creating fast, powerful, ultra-modern hot rods that are winning the 1957 Chevrolet a whole new generation of fans. As original cars become harder to find, fiberglass and all-steel reproductions (EMI in Detroit, Michigan was the first to build restoration bodies using original firewalls with VIN numbers - the steel reproduction bodyshells are manufactured by Real Deal Steel in Sanford, Florida, using reproduction sheetmetal) are making it possible for future generations to enjoy the 1957 Chevrolet. Wikipedia
Front wheel drive 1500 still available, alongside the rear wheel drive Dolomite and Toledo sharing the same basic bodyshell.
Built between 1947 and 1967, the Austin A40 was one of Britain's most iconic and popular family cars, and was unveiled throughout its production life in a variety of guises, including:
- 1947–50 Austin A40 Dorset 2-door saloon
- 1947–52 Austin A40 Devon 4-door saloon
- 1947–56 Austin A40 Countryman 2-door estate car
- 1947–56 Austin A40 Van 2-door panel van
- 1947–56 Austin A40 Pick-up 2-door pick-up truck
- 1948–56 Austin A40 Tourer 2-door, four passenger tourer built in Australia
- 1950–53 Austin A40 Sports 2-door, four passenger convertible with twin-carburetors and aluminium bodyshell
- 1952–54 Austin A40 Somerset 4-door saloon and 2-door convertible
- 1954–56 Austin A40 Cambridge 4-door saloon
- 1958–67 Austin A40 Farina 2-door saloon/hatchback
WH Davis site, Mansfield [UK], 7.2.2014
2. Generation Biomass Hopper
[D]: Hier wird ersichtlich, warum der Wagenhalter Drax Power Ltd. die Wagen mit Vinylfolien bekleben ließ: Die ersten Wagen wurden offensichtlich noch im unbehandelten Zustand "rostfreier Stahl" ausgeliefert....
[EN]: That is why the wagon keeper wanted the cars carrying these colourful vinyls: The first batch of Tafoos-biomass hopper were still delivered with the bodyshells in "pure stainless steel" condition...
All LBC resin kits except the East Kent double deck.
Chat. & Dist. Wey/K5G (GKE), M&D Wey/K5G (GKE), East Lancs/Bristol VR M&D NBC (OWE-K), East Lancs/Dominator M&D NBC (XRF-S), East Lancs/Dominator East Staffs. on hire to M&D (PRE-W), AEC Regent East Kent on loan to M&D (PFN) Fanfare bodyshell, AEC Regal M&D (JKM), AEC Regal M&D (KKK), AEC Regal M&D (KKK) later livery, Leyland TS7 M&D (CKO).
"The Great One" in action - '67 GTO. 1967 was the final year for the original 1964 bodyshell which was heavily facelifted in 1966 with new sheetmetal and rooflines with sail panels and tunned rear windows. It was also the first year for the 400 cid V8, Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, Rally II wheels and hood tachometer option. This year's Goat was also the first without the triple-carb Tri Power option available on 64-66 models as a result of a GM corporate policy banning multi-carb options on all cars except the Corvette.
Fifteenth in the Championship before the weekend at Pembrey.
Legends car racing is a style of race car, designed primarily to promote exciting racing and to keep costs down. The bodyshells are 5/8-scale replicas of American automobiles from the 1930s and 1940s, powered by a Yamaha motorcycle engine. The sanctioning body for Legends car racing is called INEX.
Legends Cars are a "spec" series, meaning all cars are mechanically identical, with the exception of 3 styles of car (Standard coupe, 34 Coupe, and Sedan) available with 10 types of body styles. (New cars are currently offered with only 7 body styles, however many used cars exist with the "older" styles)
The spare Class 321 bodyshell, which is being used as a source of spares, is seen at Doncaster Works on 7th April 2015.
Nissan 100NX (1991-96) Engine 1597cc S4
Registration Number L 881 WTN
NISSAN SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623814850528...
The Nissan NX was essentially a B13 platform Nissan Sunny with a different bodyshell in Europe the 100NX came with two engine options, a 1.6 L and a 2.0 L
With the a normally aspirated 90bhp 1.6 litre engine from 1990-93 being replaced with a fueal injected engine of 105bhp from 1993-96. and a 2.0 litre fuel injected 143bhp unit throughout production.
The 100NX was mainly sold with a T-bar removable roof in Europe
Shot 24:12:2011 in Canterbury, Kent. REF: 79-271
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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The CL Series Valiant was introduced in November 1976. Although it used the same bodyshell as the previous VK range, the front and rear ends were restyled. The front end used horizontally arrayed quad round headlamps flanking a central grille. The front guards and bonnet were also reworked accordingly. The new bootlid's curved leading edge flowed down to new taillights that sandwiched a simple centre garnish panel. The bumpers, however, were the same units as had been used on the 1969 VF series Valiants.
The 3.5 L (215 cu in) Hemi-6 and 5.9 L (360 cu in) V8 were dropped, and the only engine options were low- and high-compression versions of the 4.0 L (245 cu in) Hemi-6 and the 5.2 L (318 cu in) V8. The CL's introduction had closely coincided with that of the strict exhaust emission regulations contained in ADR 27A. With the 318 engine, a new emissions control system was introduced: Electronic Lean Burn.
Valiant and Regal sedans also benefited from the 1978 introduction of Radial Tuned Suspension in response to Holden's having marketed their suspension as particularly suited to radial tyres.
36,672 CL Valiants — including the last-ever Chargers — were built.
This Valiant wagon is created for the #mocaround49 challneg #vacationwagon
Cass 57 no 57309 "Pride of Crewe" passes Northampton on a Crewe Gresty Bridge-Wembley CS light engine move on 15 December 2016.
57309 was built in 2002 using the bodyshell of Class 47 no 47806 (which had been built at Brush Traction in 1966 as D1931).
In 1970 a new Taunus, the Taunus Cortina (TC), was introduced. Ford offered a two- or four-door sedan or a five-door station wagon/estate (identified like previous Taunus estates as the Turnier). Between 1970 and 1975, for the first Taunus TC, a fashionable fast-back coupé was also included in the Taunus range.
This model also formed the basis of the Cortina Mk.III, but with different door skins and rear wing pressings from the "coke-bottle" styling of the Cortina. In addition, there was never a Cortina III equivalent to the fast-back bodied Taunus TC coupé. The Taunus TC and Cortina Mk.III were both developed under the auspices of Ford of Europe, and most major components including key parts of the bodyshell were identical.
Isinglass are well known amongst LNER and BR(ER) modellers for their fine range of loco and coach drawings.
They have recently entered the field of 3D printing, and I bought this coach kit which is still under construction for an evaluation.
Unlike several 3D printed offerings, this needed little sanding work on the parts, and the quality of fit is very good indeed. I've used Araldite Rapid two part for glueing, which gives time to ensure that all is set up square and true.
To benefit from the way the kit is designed, I've departed from my normal route of a five part bodyshell with roof attached to sides and ends before painting. A bit of careful filing means the roof is a push fit and should be able to be fitted neatly after painting - see next picture.
FORD ESCORT MEXICO SHOOTING BRAKE
Date of first registration 15 February 1973
Year of manufacture 1972
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1601cc
Fuel type PETROL
Export marker No
Originally, there were three prototype MK1 Mexico estates built at Ford's AVO factory (PGU 97K, YNO 14L and VEV 678L). They were all made in 1972 although, in 1974, one of them (VEV 678L) returned and was changed into an RS2000 estate. The cars bodyshells were strengthened in a similar way to their rallying relations and everything ahead of the doors matched the sporting specifications of the saloon cars on which they were based. The rear end, however, was constructed from the more ordinary estate panels although beneath the surface there was the proper Mexico/RS2000 running gear.
Unfortunately, the cars never went into full production. They reached the press evaluation stage but went no further as the project was shelved.
All three cars are still in road going state, and can seen at shows in the UK.
*Info gleamed from RS2 Online website.
Taken 29/01/20: No. 800-306 is named after Allan Leonard Lewis and the following comes from Wikipedia "... Lewis was born in Herefordshire, but moved to South Wales to find work. On the outbreak of the Great War he was employed by the Great Western railway as a bus driver at Neath. he joined up in March 1915. The GWR has no record of Lewis on its Rolls of Honour or War memorials, and it may be that he joined up without the company's agreement, and thus lost his post and pension rights. By September 1918 he was 23 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the 6th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 September 1918 at Rossnoy, near Lempire, France, Lance-Corporal Lewis was in command of a section on the right of the attacking line, held up by intense machine-gun fire. He saw that two guns were enfilading the line and crawled forward alone, successfully bombed the guns and by rifle fire made the whole team surrender. On 21 September he rushed his company through the enemy barrage, but was killed while getting his men under cover from heavy machine-gun fire."
According to Wikipedia the Classs 800s are "... a type of electro-diesel train used in the United Kingdom, based on the Hitachi A-train design. They have been built by Hitachi since 2015. The first units entered service on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) in October 2017, and will enter service on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) from December 2018.
These trains are being assembled at the Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facility, alongside the related Class 801 electric multiple unit, from bodyshells shipped from the Kasado plant in Japan; no body construction takes place in the UK.
The Class 800 units are known by FirstGWR as IETs (Intercity Express Trains) and hhave been named Azuma, meaning East in Japanese, by future operator Virgin Trains East Coast. 'The 800/3 sub class is made up of the FirstGWR nine car units]"
First Greater Western Limited, trading as Great Western Railway (GWR), is a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that operates the Greater Western railway franchise
Ford Taunus TC Coupe (1972) Engine 1600cc S4
Registration Number WRV 346 K
In 1970 the new Taunus TC range was introduced in Europe. Very similar to the British Cortina Mk.III but without the coke bottle belt line. Both cars were developed by Ford of Europe and shared most components including key parts of the bodyshell. Developed under the code TC for Taunus,/Cortina. and conceived as a World Car by Ford.
The Coupe was only available on the Taunus and sold only in LHD markets.
Shot at the Classic and MPH Show, NEC, Birmingham 13.11.2010. Ref 66-109
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 very interesting non-factory car spotted in the back of a transporter. It was built by Roger Cowman as a Production Sports Car racer using various new and used parts including an old-stock chrome bumper bodyshell bought through a dealer's parts department, and has connections with many famous drivers.
I spotted this unique Volkswagen camper in East Brewton, Alabama.
The cab is made from the front of a T1 van. The camper is made from a T3 Westfalia bodyshell. This vehicle is powered by a modern, rear-mounted, VW TDI diesel engine. The owner says the camper body can be removed and the vehicle can be used as a flat-bed truck.
Die Karosserie des Audi R8 besteht aus Aluminium (ASF Audi Space Frame) und ist sehr leicht. Etwa siebzig Prozent der Rohkarosse besteht aus Aluminium-Profilen, der Rest aus Gussteilen und Blechen.
Porsche 911 Carrera RS (1973-74) Engine 2808cc Production 48
Race Number 31 James Bates
PORSCHE SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690528015...
The RS was built so that Porsche could enter racing formulae that demanded acertain number of road cars of the same specification were built for homologation purposes. The RS (Rennen Sport) was originally introduced with a 2687cc engine developing 210bhp with Bosch (Kugelfischer) MFI, revised and stiffened suspension, a "ducktail" rear spoiler, larger brakes, wider rear wheels and arches. In RS Touring form it weighed 1075 kg (2370 lb), in Sport Lightweight form it was about 100 kg (220 lb) lighter, the saving coming from the thin-gauge steel used for parts of the bodyshell and also the use of thinner glass. In total, 1580 were made, comfortably exceeding the 500 that had to be made to qualify for the vital FIA Group 4 class.
n 1974, Porsche created the Carrera RS 3.0 with K-Jetronic Bosch fuel injection producing 230 PS (169 kW).It was almost twice as expensive as the 2.7 RS but offered a fair amount of racing capability for that price. The chassis was largely similar to that of the 1973 Carrera RSR and the brake system was from the Porsche 917. The use of thin metal plate panels and a spartan interior enabled the shipping weight to be reduced to around 900 kg
49 Carrera RS cars were built with 2808 cc engines producing 300 PS (221 kW).
This car raced at Silverstone in the FIA Masters Historic Sports car Race
Thanks for 18.7 million views
Shot at The Silverstone Classic 28th July 2013 Ref 95-683
CGS Hawke (1992-99) Engine 2993cc S4 Ford Production 115 approx
Registration Number NKR 665 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.
Thanks for 19.1 million views
Shot at the VSCC Hillclimb, Prescot, Gloucestershire 03:08:2013 Ref 95a-889
W111
Chassis n° 111 027 12 002 266
- Mercedes-Benz's flagship model
- Matching numbers (Chassis, Engine and Gearbox)
- Only two owners and 71,800 kilometres from new
- Unrestored and outstandingly original
- Fully documented from new; all invoices available
Bonhams : The Zoute Sale
Important Collectors' Motor Cars
The Zoute Grand Prix Gallery
Estimated : € 260.000 - 280.000
Sold for € 258.750
Zoute Grand Prix Car Week 2025
Knokke - Zoute
België - Belgium
October 2025
'Exclusive' is a much bandied-about word in the classic car world, but it is a most apt description of the Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5. Why? Because at $13,500 in 1970 its price was not only $3,500 more than that of the equivalent Mercedes-Benz saloon but also more than double that of a Cadillac Deville Coupé! Commonplace it was not.
The 3.5-litre version of the 280 SE typifies the resurgence of larger-engined Mercedes-Benz models that began in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the progressive easing of fiscal constraints, which had dissuaded customers from buying cars with large capacity engines, encouraged the German manufacturer to offer bigger, more potent power units. Thus the ultra-luxurious 280 SE Coupé/Cabriolet and 300 SEL saloon were the models chosen by Mercedes-Benz to launch its magnificent new 3.5-litre V8 engine in September 1969. An over-square design featuring a cast-iron block and aluminium-alloy cylinder heads, each equipped with a single overhead camshaft, this all-new, state-of-the-art power unit produced 200bhp courtesy of Bosch electronic fuel injection and transistorised ignition.
The new V8 engine had particularly smooth running characteristics and endowed the 280 SE 3.5s with performance superior to that of many out-and-out sports cars. Thus equipped, the Coupé/Cabriolet was good for 125mph (200km/h) with 60mph (97km/h) reachable in 9.5 seconds, a substantial improvement on the six-cylinder version's figures. As befitted top-of-the-range luxury models, the 280 SE 3.5 Coupé and Cabriolet came equipped with automatic transmission, power windows, and a stereo radio as standard.
Although the equivalent SEL saloon used the 'New Generation' bodyshell, the 280 SE Coupé and Cabriolet kept the elegant coachwork that had debuted back in 1960/1961 on the 220 SE. Nevertheless, there had been some refinements made: the radiator shell was lower and wider, with a correspondingly flatter front end to the bonnet, a characteristic that has led to enthusiasts referring to these face-lifted cars as 'flat radiator' models, while the bumpers were now fitted with rubber strips. Significantly, the 280 SE 3.5 was to be the final model featuring this long-established and much admired body style. It was truly Mercedes-Benz's flagship model, representing status, luxury, and reliability. Only 1,232 Cabriolets were built, and today these last-of-the-line classics are highly sought after by discerning Mercedes-Benz collectors.
Offered with every single piece of paperwork accumulated since it left the Stuttgart factory on 21st August 1970, together with its original instruction manuals, this is without question one of the most fully documented cars Bonhams Cars has ever seen, and prospective purchasers should not miss the opportunity to inspect its exceptionally comprehensive history. A European car from new, this Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet was delivered new to Hamburg and remained in that city until 2025, enjoying only thwo owners in all that time while covering a relatively low 71,800 kilometres, which are believed to be correct. There is a list of the owners on file. The accompanying Mercedes-Benz Ausstattung reveals that this car was originally finished in white with a light red leather interior, and that it left the factory equipped with individual seats, seatbelts, fog lamps, halogen lighting, and a dark blue convertible hood. The leather of the interior and the carpets are in original, unrestored and very good condition.
According to our vendor, the Mercedes is highly original, unmolested and believed to be accident-free - while benefiting from a new soft-top. Its most recent service was carried out in 2024 and the car is said to be 'on the button'.
A rare and powerful four-seat open tourer, in a delightful colour scheme, this top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet is one of the finest currently available.
* The Ford Escort Mk I ~ (powered by a twin cam 1600cc - engine)
Won the tough London-Mexico Rally in 1970 ..
To capitalise on this success, Ford brought out a performance model,of the Mk I Ford Escort 'Mexico '
~ available to the general public
~ with a strengthened bodyshell, uprated suspension, 1,598cc Crossflow engine, sporty interior and Mexico decals.
Only 10,352 Mexicos produced (sounds quite lot to me )
Newlands Corner - Guildford
~7057