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Mercedes-Benz 300 S

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

The Mercedes-Benz ‘W188’ Type 300 S was first introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1951 and came as a 2+2 coupé, cabriolet or roadster.

This was one month before the serial production of the W186 started and enabled Mercedes-Benz to offer two top models at the same time.

Even though the W188 mechanically was similar to the contemporary W186, the largely hand-built care was marketed as one of the top luxury cars in the world.
The wheel base of the W188 was shortened by 140 mm compared to the W186 and the output of the 2996 cc engine was raised by 7.8:1 compression and triple Solex carburettors to 150 PS (110 kW/150 hp) at 5000 rpm. The top car‘s speed was 175 km/h.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 S was equipped with either 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic, had front and rear drum brakes.

From July 1952 to August a total of 216 coupés, 203 cabriolets and 141 roadsters were manufactured.

The W188 was modified in 1955 and named Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc. The 300 Sc now had a “low-pivot” independent suspension in the rear and the addition of fuel injection. The inline-six now delivered 175 PS (129 kW/173 hp) at 5400 rpm. The top speed was 180 km/h. Additional chrome stripes on either side and chrome rims denoted the ‘Sc’ model. From 1955 to 1958 a total of 98 coupés, 49 cabriolets and 53 roadsters were built. The price rose by DM 2,000 to DM 36,500 (today that would be about EUR 83,000).

More specifications of the Mercedes-Benz 300 S:

Wheelbase: 2,900 mm (110 in)
Length: 4,700 mm (190 in)
Width: 1,860 mm (73 in)
Height: 1,510 mm (59 in)
Kerb weight: 1,760 kg (3,900 lb)

Tags: Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz 300 S, W188
Posted in German Cars | No Comments »

Frazer Nash ‘Chain-gang’

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

When production of the Frazer Nash ‘Chain-gang’ started in 1925, it was pretty obvious, that a very special car had come to existence.

The first cars had an overhead-valve engine known as ‘Powerplus and later The British Anzani side-valve engines and Meadows overhead-valve engines followed.

The Frazer Nash models with Azani engine had three-speed (optional four) and reverse chain drive and the same Quarter elliptic springs that were used on the GN. The coachwork was made of light aluminium. It had a very snappy performance and would carry on all day at 40 mph. normally it would cruise at 60 or 65 mph and was even tested by the motoring press at 70 mph and the top speed was said to be 85 mph. With the low price of £315 it was a good value for money.

Thanks to the solid rear axle the Frazer Nash ‘Chain-gang’ was very stable under the most difficult conditions and the chain drive and smooth plate clutch gave a very rapid gear change. The steering was very high-geared and of highest quality and required highly responsible handling.

Because of the fact that it was light and handled so well its competitive potential was quite obvious even though it had a pretty poor aerodynamic shape.

Like the ‘TT Replica’ or the ‘Boulogne’ many models of the Frazer Nash were named after sporting successes.

The first cars were sold in 1924 and the last in 1939, when their popularity had ended.

Tags: Boulogne, car, Cars, Frazer Nash, Frazer Nash Chain-gang, TT Replica
Posted in British Cars | No Comments »

The Singer Chamois

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

The Singer Chamois, based on the Hillman Imp, was first introduced in 1964.

It was produced from 1964 to 1970 and 97,567 cars were built. They had a beautiful walnut veneer dash, the seats were larger and much more comfortable, the instrumentation was better with temperature and oil pressure gauge being standard as well as a heater blower.

When the Chamois was introduced most of the Imp’s teething problems had been sorted and it was a reliable car. But reliability alone wouldn’t sell. The Chamois also had a better sound damping, a heavier clutch and had Dunlop SP41 radials fitted to wider (1/2″) rim wheels that improved handling. And after all these improvements it received a very favourable press and was an immediate success. It was said to be better than the competition including the Riley Elf, the Wolseley Hornet, the Ford Anglia Super and the Triumph Herald 12/50.

In September 1965 the Mark II was launched but only minor changes had been made. Next was a limited edition of Chamois Spring specials in April 1967 but in 1968 the Mk II type designation discontinued.

The Chamois then was given a new dashboard layout with full width facia and round dials, new seats and upholstery and different external trim. They lost their beautiful veneer trim and had to make do with plastic ‘wood’ trimming instead. Both the Chamois and Chamois Sport were equipped with four headlights.

The Chamois Sport was introduced in 1966, together with the Sunbeam Imp Sport. And when in 1970 Rootes dropped the name of Singer only the Sunbeam Sport remained.

In January 1967 the Hillman Californian was announced, and the Chamois coupé followed in April. Both of them didn’t live a long life and even though they came through a major face lift in 1968 they didn’t sell very well.

In autumn 1965 a limited production of the Singer Rallye Chamois was made at the same time as the Hillman Rallye Imp.

Tags: Cars, Hillman Imp, Singer, Singer Chamois
Posted in British Cars | No Comments »

Classic Car Events in August

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

1 Aug, 2010 – Ashlyns Hall Car Show, classic and vintage cars, award for best car in show, food, stalls and entertainment. Admission free for exhibitors and public.
Ashlyns Hall, Chesham Road, Berkhamsted HP4 2ST, UK
For more information: http://www.bmcare.co.uk/corporate/Car_Show

7-8 August, 2010 – Woodvale Rally, more than 1200 vintage and classic cars and motorcycles and 70 clubs are part of a large weekend event for the entire family taking place at Woodvale Airfield near Southport, Merseyside, L37 7AD. There will be a model flying display, model boats and railways, children’s entertainments, a fair, live Music and a car boot.
Website: http://www.woodvale-rally.org.uk

8 Aug, 2010 – Faversham Charity Car Show & Bootfair in support for Help of Heroes is a car show with classic and sports cars, bikes and military vehicles and a giant bootfair. There will also be life music and a children’s fun fair. Abbey School Field, London Rd (A2), Faversham ME13 8RZ, Kent, England Email: Ian.tarrant@dsl.pipex.com

8 August, 2010 – Locke Park Classic Car Rally & Summer Fair, all classic and modern classic vehicles are welcome at Locke Park, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Website: http://www.ytcc.co.uk

14-15 August, 2010 – Motormania 2010, a new car show to be held at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, Northants, NN15 6NJ, UK.
More information: http://www.motormania2010.webs.com/

14-15 August, 2010 – Classic Motorshow with classic cars, bikes, vans being part of the charity motorshow. A family day out with stalls amusements, entertainment, and refreshments at Old Forde House, Newton Abbot, Devon.
Website: http://www.classicmotorshow.org

15 August, 2010 – Cranleigh Lions Classic Car Show & Autojumble, classic car show and autojumble to be held at Cranleigh Showground. With Mark Evans and Ian Wren running arena events.
Website: http://www.cranleighlions.org/classiccarshow

21 August, 2010 – the 5th Annual Blast To The Past Car & Truck Show is a free registration classic car and truck show with live music and food & fun.
Located on Hwys 412 & 59S on the stateline of Oklahoma & Arkansas, USA
For more information: gale.bushyheadrowley@cnent.com

22-25 August, 2010 – Disneyland Paris Car Rally, there you can combine the wonders of Disneyland Paris and your love of cars on a 4 day trip.
Website: http://www.southquaytravel.com/rally
Email: Rhubbard@ictsqt.co.uk

30 August, 2010 – Kent Chrome n Cruisers is a classic car and bike show with auto jumble and will be held at Central Park Stradium, Sittingbourne, Kent, England.
Email: maggsian@hotmail.com

Tags: Cars, classic car, Classic Cars
Posted in Events | No Comments »

Citroën 2CV

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

Even though the first prototypes of the car were already built in 1939 the Citroën 2CV wasn’t introduced to the public before October 1948.

From 1949 to 1990 3,868,631 limousines and 1,246,335 vans were built. The vans were never officially sold in the UK but a few right hand drive examples do exist. They were originally built for the Belgian post office whose postmen preferred them to left hand drive cars as they could step straight out onto the pavement.

Right from the beginning the 2CV was a commercial success and already a few months after it went on sale there was a two-year waiting list. Second-hand 2CVs were even more expensive then because the buyers didn’t have to wait to get one.

The low-priced car was designed to enable two peasants to drive about 220 lb (100 kg) of goods to the market across muddy unpaved roads and to use no more than 3 litres of petrol to travel 100 kilometres (62.14 miles). Besides that the 2CV should be able to drive across a field without breaking the eggs it was carrying in a basket. And it should be a fairly cheap car.

The early cars had a 375cc engine developing 9 bhp, from 1955 on the 2CV was supplied with a 425cc engine producing 12 bhp and from 1963 on even 16 bhp. The most powerful 2CV came on the market in 1986 and produced 29 bhp.

In the Citroën factory in Slough the glass fibre coupé ‘Bijou’ was built as an attempt to satisfy British buyers who found the 2CV too radical. The attempt failed and only 211 cars were produced.

Due to the low price and the fairly low tax, the 2CV soon became very popular with university students in Germany.

In 1981 the 2CV Charleston in dark red and black came on the market as a limited edition. It was the first 2CV with front disc brakes.
As the Charleston was a great success it became a full model in 1982 in different colour schemes.

In 1961 the four-wheel drive 2CV Sahara was first sold it was equipped with a second engine in the rear also having a separate fuel tank. The 2CV Sahara could be driven with either the front or the rear engine or with both engines and became very popular with off road enthusiasts. Only 694 cars were built.

Tags: 2CV Bijou, Cars, Citroen, Citroen 2CV
Posted in French Cars | No Comments »

Muscle Car Auction, San Diego, California

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

There will be a Muscle Car Collection for sale at RM Auctions in San Diego, California, USA on June 19, 2010.

The auction is announced as Classic Muscle and Modern Performance sale with more than 80 cars and all offered at no reserve.

Most of these cars going under the hammer are the property of one prominent Southern California collector. There will be no fewer than 18 Corvettes, on of them a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88, fully documented, with low mileage and about 430bhp and another one a 1965 Chevrolet Fuel-Injected Corvette.

Other cars will be two 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28s, a 1970 Pontiac GTO Convertible, a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Convertible, possibly the only red/black model made and one of only 18 left throughout the world.

‘RM is delighted to have been chosen to present this outstanding group of cars at auction,’ said Ian Kelleher, RM’s chief operating officer.

Muscle Car enthusiasts who don’t live in the San Diego area don’t need to worry because RM Auctions will take written bids (submitted one week prior) and telephone and internet bids (registration required). So anyone will get a chance.

Location:

Town and Country Resort & Convention Center
500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, California
92108

Preview:

June 18, 2010 9:00 am – 6:00 pm PST
June 19, 2010 9:00 am – 6:00 pm PST

Auction:

June 19, 2010 11 am – 6:00 pm PST

Admission:

Admission to this sale requires the purchase of the official auction catalog for $80. The catalog will admit two to the preview, reception and auction.

For more information click here.

Tags: Cars, Muscle Cars
Posted in Events | No Comments »

Techno Classica 2010 Essen

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

From 7th to 11th April, 2010 there will again be the Techno Classica in Essen.

It is a world show for classic and vintage cars, motorcycles and you can get spare parts as well as model cars.
In 20 halls and 4 open air areas more than 1,000 exhibitors from 28 countries are expected.

You can see the 75 year old Volvo PV 36 “Carioca” of which only about 25 still exist. From 1935 and 1938 500 cars were produced. Mercedes-Benz will show sports cars of more than 100 years and in hall 7 Volkswagen will show many different cars.

And visitors who come to the Techno Classica should not forget that Essen as well as 52 other cities in the region are European Capital of Culture this year and many events take place. Don’t miss them.
Opening hours:

7th April 2010: Preview, Trade and Press Day 2 pm – 8 pm
8th April 2010: 10 am – 6 pm
9th April 2010: 10 am – 7 pm
10th April 2010: 9 am – 6 pm
11th April 2010: 9 am – 6 pm

Entrance Prices:

Premium Day Ticket: 30,00 €
Adults: 20,00 €
Teenager and puplis (15 – 17 years), students, unemployed and handicapped people (on presentation on an ID-Card): 16,00 €
Children and Teenager (8 – 14 years): 10,00 €
Children under 8 (accompanied by an adult): free admission
Family ticket – parents with 2 children (up to 17 years): 50,00 €
Groups of 10 and more: 18,00 € per Person

The address is: Messe Essen GmbH, Norbertstraße 2, 45131 Essen
You can get to Essen by car or train. The nearest airport is the Rhine-Ruhr airport at Düsseldorf.

Tags: Cars, Essen, Techno Classica
Posted in News Facts | No Comments »

Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the readers of this page.

This is a video I recently found. London in 1927, even in colour and with a few classic cars of course .

Tags: Cars, Classic Cars
Posted in Universal | No Comments »

The Opel Kapitän

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

The Opel Kapitän was the last Opel model produced before the outbreak of WW2.

It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 1939. The pre-war Kapitän was available as a 2-door saloon, a 4-door saloon, and a convertible. The most popular though was the 4-door saloon.

The Kapitän inherited the 2.5 L engine from the Opel Super Six with a maximum speed of 118 km/h (73 mph) and a 3-speed manual. Before the civilian Opel production stopped in 1940 25,371 units were produced, and in 1943 three more followed to make a total of 25,374 units.

In 1948 after WW2 the Opel Kapitän was produced again with little changes and only as a 6 cylinder 4-door saloon, with a maximum speed of 126 km/h (78.3 mph). The design changes were round headlights and different bumpers and hubcaps. From 1948 to 1951 30,431 cars were built. The car produced from 1951 to 1953 had a slightly modernized design but was technically much the same. 48,563 cars were produced.

At the end of 1954 a completely new Kapitän was introduced. It was longer and wider but still had a 6-cylinder engine. From 1957 on a 4-speed overdrive was optional.
In 1958 the P1 Kapitän came to market followed by the P2 in 1959, the Kapitän A in 1964, and the Kapitän B in 1969. Production ended in 1970.

Tags: 3-speed manual, 6-cylinder, Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Kapitän, maximum speed, mph, Opel, Opel Kapitän
Posted in German Cars | 3 Comments »

Volvo Amazon

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The Volvo Amazon, designed by Jan Wilsgaard, was a mid-size car produced by Volvo in Sweden from 1956 to 1970. 667,323 cars were produced during that time. The car was first called Amason, the name was then changed to Amazon and later it became known as the 120 Series. It is said that the rights to the name Amazon belonged to a German two-wheeler manufacturer. The design of the Amazon was more or less resembling the American cars of the 1950s.

From 1962 to 1969 73,000 estate cars were manufactured.

Specifications of the Volvo Amazon

Class – mid-size
Body styles – 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, 5-door estate
Engines – 1.6 L 1583 cc I4 B16, 1.8 L 1778 cc I4 B18, 2,0 L 1986 cc I4 B20
Transmissions – 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, 4-speed manual with overdrive, 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase – 102.0 in (2,590 mm)
Length – 173.0 in (4,395 mm)
Kerb weight – 2,400 lb (1,100 kg)

About 60 % of the cars produced were sold abroad.

Tags: Cars, Sweden, Volvo Amazon
Posted in Swedish Cars | No Comments »

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