Tag Archives: original

foto of the day. Vallelunga.

Before there was the Mangusta or the Pantera……there was the DeTomaso Vallelunga! gorgeous.

src:  best shed

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foto of the day. Bentley Boys.

One of these fine days, i’m going to get around to reading  more about the hardcore rock and roll stories of the original Bentley Boys.

In 1923, three dedicated automobile enthusiasts decided to create a competition based not only on speed, but also on endurance. This was the start of the Le Mans 24 Hours, destined to become one of the world’s most prestigious races. For Walter Owen Bentley and other manufacturers, the idea seemed pretty crazy, but that did not prevent him from rising to the challenge by sending one of his cars to take part in the first edition. 1924 witnessed a glorious triumph: the British firm won the Le Mans 24 Hours with a Bentley 3 Litres – a feat that it accomplished four more times, in 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930, the two latter victories being earned in a Speed 6.  This was the era of the legendary Bentley Boys: Benjafield, Birkin, Davis, Rubin, Kidston and above all Barnato, the most famous of them all, a multi-millionaire South African diamond merchant. Gifted sportsmen, authentic connoisseurs of life’s many pleasures and mostly fabulously wealthy, the Bentley Boys raced first and foremost for honour, fired by a taste for challenges.”

src: breitling

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first snow.

a couple of weeks ago on a beautiful saturday, we got our first snowfall of this winter! in October (!?).  Needless to say it was a beautiful day, and I played around with the TT all day through all sorts of weird streets, empty parking lots, and running errands for my wife who basically thinks i’m crazy for wanting to drive in the snow all day long.

For the first time ever, i will be putting dedicated snow tires on the A3 this year—mainly because I drive over 100 miles a day now for my job.  Once I get the snows on that, there will be plenty of photos this winter.

WINTER IS BACK! oh how i’ve missed you…


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foto of the day. Cougar.

I grew up in Detroit, and was surrounded by muscle cars growing up—-but my favourite ones were the ones i did not see that often; hence my liking of the 1967 Mercury Cougar, the understated brother to the Ford Mustang.  If i had to pick a muscle car for my dream garage, this would be the one!

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too tall, Tony….

the ‘new’ Fiat 500 is one ugly car……super tall, oddly out of proportion, and decorated like a child’s toy.  I only like the fact that it has a ‘Fiat’ badge on it; otherwise it sucks.   I parked next to one earlier today, and was appalled by the comparison of size.

 

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foto of the day. Type 64.

arguably the first Porsche developed as the VW “Aerocoupe” by Dr. Porsche shown here in 1939.

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foto of the day. 037.

photographer: Antonio Rodrigues

from the 1985 Portugal Rally.  Lancia 037.


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meet the original. 1959 Porsche T7 754/1961 695 (ur 911 concept)

I was interested to find out what the original concept car of the Porsche 911 looked like; and i have found it!  It is called the T7 754 (have also seen the number 695 used).  This was the original design proposed by FA Porsche but was rejected until until the rear end was changed, as explained the video below.  The front end is unmistakedly 911, however it is very interesting to see the original rear end proposed way back in 1959.  I was not familiar with this car before today;

some more info:

“The Porsche 695, also known as the T7 prototype, is an automobile from Porsche It was a prototype made in 1961 and later became the Porsche 911. The front end is very similar to the 911, but the rear is somewhat different. The 695 was developed from the Porsche 356 by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and has a wheel base that is 100mm longer (up to 300 mm longer in early designs). It has a top speed of 200km/h.

Designed in the late-Fifties, the 695 was intended to be a true four-seater sports car. It was with the 695 that Porsche decided upon the use of the flat-six powerplant which has been the mainstay of the 911 range ever since. However, despite the 695 having entered the test-driving and development stage, Porsche management decided against the four-seater arrangement, and demanded that the car be redesigned in traditional two-plus-two arrangement, with smaller rear seats.

The successer was badged the 901, and was unveiled in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. A year later, it was released onto the roads as the 911.”

Porsche 695 – Wikicars

a short video showing the car, with similar info:

BTW, the car is currently located inside the beautiful Porsche Museum in Stuttgart

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porsche classic restorations.

“Over 70% of all the Porsche vehicles ever built, are still on the road today”

What better place to get a 911 restored than AT Porsche.  They claim they do the work at ‘market’ prices…..very cool and a cool video.

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drive, Mini, drive!

 

This sort of reminds of WHY i wanted a Mini Cooper so badly during my teenage trips to London….cos they looked so tossable, and they ARE so tossable!

thanks to: Axis Of Oversteer

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foto of the day. Islero.

along with the Lamborghini Espada, this Lamborghini Islero is one of my absolute favourite Lamborghinis ever made.  It followed the original 350GT and 400GT as a reskinned version of those. The styling on this is gorgeous….the first time i saw one in person, i was blown away.   Gorgeous.  Ferrari? Who needs old Ferraris……i’d happily take me an Espada and an Islero for a fraction of the price…

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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supercar of the day. Mangusta.

one of the most evil, rare, influential, and fascinating supercars ever….the DeTomaso Mangusta (1966-1971)


401 Mangustas were built, about 200 of the european version, with 4 headlamps and Ford 289 Cu.In. engine, and the rest are USA version, with 2 “pop up” headlamps and less powerful Ford 302 engines. One car was built with Chevrolet engine. There are reported to be fewer than 120 left in existence, according to the 2 available registry databases.

more information on the Mangusta: http://www.mangustainternational.com/home.php

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foto of the day. 507 & Z8.

Two of my favourite  and MOST beautiful BMWs, together.  Striking, really….

BMW 507 & BMW Z8

(click to enlarge)

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lost concept: 2003 Lancia Fulvia

The Foto of The Day Lancia Fulvia reminded me of this lost 2003 Lancia Fulvia concept car…..it was a stunning concept, heavily derived from the original design, but modern in its interpretation.  I never understood why FIAT destroyed the Lancia name, instead of bringing cars like this Fulvia to production.  My friend Jim Hall has tried to explain this numerous times, but I will never understand…..

COME TO YOUR SENSES FIAT & Lancia!! MAKE IT!

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foto of the day. 12022009.

Porsche 356 Outlaw.

click to enlarge.


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