Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Tornado Typhoon (1958, England)

In 1958 the British company presents its new model Tornado Tornado Typhoon Sportbrake.
In addition to plug-in modules, the firm manufactured Tornado sports cars that date two and four parking spaces in the form of coupes and cabriolets. Its fiber-body cars have racks mounted on cash, the headlights are covered by a Plexiglas baffle while the intake manifold of two bodies the bonnet crown. The engines of 1,200 cc and 2,000 are provided by Ford and Triumph respectively.
Based on the model of fourth places Typhoon increased wheelbase, the model is developed Sportbrake combi. The roof is extended until the end of the body and a door as practicable to the top back. This vehicle is equipped with a four-cylinder engine line and lateral operated valves, provided by Ford.
With its 55 hp engine reaches 150 km / h. Sportbrake The model is manufactured until 1962 and became a model for a number of sports combined in subsequent years the market will draw other manufacturers.

Mercedes Benz 540K (1938, Germany)



The Mercedes-Benz 540K (K = compressor) is the successor to the Model 500 K. With its classic lines, this vehicle combines the best technology with the highest dynamic comfort.
because the firm takes into account the demands of their customers, each of the 447 vehicles produced is different. With the compressor connected, eight-cylinder engine generates an output of 180 hp and a top speed of 170 km / h, consuming 30 liters per 100 km is said that Adolf Hitler gave her a Mercedes-Benz 540K "Long", whose length exceeds 6m series models in 1m.


Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Porsche 356 (1950, RFA)




The Stuttgart Porsche starts mass production of the Porsche 356. The first units of this model were manufactured by hand in the Austrian town of Gmünd.
In 1944 the Porsche project office was moved to this place, housed in an old sawmill. For economic reasons, continued production in 1949 in a rented hall, next to the coachbuilder Reutter.
Porsche's new vehicle, with the project number 356, is based on the Volkswagen, also developed by Porsche. The first prototype of this series is a sports car with frame rails, equipped with a sleek aluminum body. The engine is a boxer with four cylinders and a displacement of 1.1 liters, air cooled, mounted in front of the rear axle, following the examples of some famous race cars. To reduce manufacturing costs, Porsche had to dispense with other vehicles of this type of frame, going to use a structure of box-shaped plate and the engine was at the rear.
At the factory are made solely Gmünd Coupe body type. The cabriolet bodies are carried out by Beutler in Switzerland and other bodybuilders Vienna. The bodies of the Porsche 356 are sheet steel. On March 21, 1951 porsche 500 leaves the assembly line.

Duesenberg J (1928, USA)





In late 1928 he launched the new model J Duesenberg Company. The eight-cylinder car is the most powerful, fastest and most expensive of all American cars of the time.

The brothers Fred and August Duesenberg Model J presented with their masterpiece. The engine of 6.8 liters and an output of 265 CV reaches high speeds, leaving all competitors in the U.S. market. The powerful motor shows that builders are more interested in a high performance model in a good vehivulo everyday.

The Duesenberg J engine with four valves and two camshafts in the head was developed by Luoming. Each vehicle is subjected to a long-term tests in Indianapolis, before ordering body-builders selected to manufacture the body, according to individual specifications by the customer.
However, this has its price. This luxury model is better than a Rolls-Royce. However, the company managed to sell about 470 units to 1937

Rolls-Royce Wraith (1938, UK)

The Wraith is the latest Rolls-Royce manufactured before the Second World War. In this model the experienced motor mounts Online 25/30 overhead valve and camshaft side, so a gravity Stromberg carburetor. The engine of 4.3 liters wonderfully quiet, generates an output shown as Rolls-Royce enough, but genuine "is estimated to reach 115 hp. The maximum speed is 135 km / h. The chassis, with independent suspension front wheels, is somewhat shorter than the predecessor model. The battle, reduced to 3.46 m, is the same as the Phantom III, which facilitates the mounting of various bodies. The same frame was used to model Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith of the war.
Despite having a weight exceeding 2.5 tonnes, the wraith is handled with ease, and lets the driver forget the large size of the vehicle. The fast acceleration, good performance of the brakes and steering and excellent balance on the road, providing a quick and safe driving.
With this feature set, the British brand offers a quality unattainable for many manufacturers.

Ford GT40 (1964, USA)



In 1963 Ford was interested in buying Ferrari. The purchase seemed immediately when at the last moment refused Ferrari and Ford executives went into a rage. He immediately decided to create their racing team and create their own cars to beat the Ferrari in the legendary career of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Eric Broadley, the head Lola company, is developing the GT40, which causes great impacts. Some models were manufactured road with a luxurious interior in 1965. The GT40 is moved V8 engine in central position of 4.7 liters and 380 hp in the most basic version. The prototype MK II reaches even 485 hp. The monocoque frame is reinforced with steel and the body is fiberglass.



In 1964 runs at Le Mans for the first time the GT40 but could not finish the race either, but the pilot managed to give Phil Hill set the fastest lap of the circuit. It was in 1966 and 1967 when the GT40 won victory in Le Mans.



After these victories, Ford decided to retire from competition but the president of Gulf Oil to convince Ford to continue in the competitions, winning also the evidence for the years 1968 and 1969.



Surprisingly hard time selling a GT40 and even more so when it became obsolete for racing. The GT40 was not cheap to maintain even in the road car version. In total, increased production to 133 units of this vehicle today are priceless.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Chevrolet Corvette StingRay (1968, USA)





The Corvette, which goes on sale for the first time in 1954, renewed in 1968 with the Corvette Stingray. The Stingray is the only pure American sports. The body is made entirely of fiber attached to a box chassis rails. In addition to the coupe version also offers a cabriolet version.
The impressive body "coke-bottle-shape (shape of a bottle of coca-cola) creates design school in the late '60s and prompted numerous imitators, including Opel.
The previous model, Chevrolet does not change much the chassis; The four wheels are suspended independently and have a set of disc brakes.
As powerful engines are mounted V8, with the largest displacement of 7.4 liters one that lets you accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 7.3 seconds.