Here are some of the shots taken by Peter G at the Motorclassica the other week.
First up the Hurricane.
Peter doesn't recall the car being so "metalflakey" in 1969. Then again, he was a 13 year old viewing it in a tin shed at the Bendigo Show.
Did you know there were 3 Hurricanes? There was also a red one and a white one. These two were developed in Adelaide. The engineering was a joint effort between GMH Woodville North and Carr Fasteners. One of the projects Carr Fasteners were charged with was the hydraulics for the lift up canopy. When the red car arrived there, there was no way of getting out of the car unless there were 2 big strong blokes to lift the canopy up from outside. The car also had conventional rear wheel arches without the skirts. The pivoting steering column was from a Cadillac of the time. The gold car never came to Adelaide in those initial stages. Its first appearance was at the motor show. By the way, that new Holden engine was a development of a Repco industrial engine.
The mighty Charger! Was that Hemi Orange or Vitamin C? And look how tiny the Matra is.
The Muira, a thing of great beauty.
Look who owns and drives the Repco Brabham now. His name is prominent above former drivers Jack Brabham and Bib Stillwell.
This is Peter's rare E-Type, below, parked outside.
*****
Another Australian motorsport icon, a Matich SR4.
1 comment:
I have tried to not respond to this blog but I'll bite: I think I have a pretty good handle on Holden history and have no recollection that the 253 was ever designed or evolved out of a Repco industrial motor. The 253/308 range was designed by 2 GMH engineers as a design project to fit RHD cars better - the RH cylinders are placed forward of the LH bank which is the direct opposite of any American V8 and the design allowed clearance for our steering boxes. Because the engineers were Pontiac enthusiasts the 253/308 has the Pontiac firing order which gives them their unique sound. Because it was lighter and as powerful as the Chevy small block they were given the nod to go into production. I would love to know about any Repco connection. PT would know but my only recollection of a Repco 308 connection was the 305 or 306 CI blocks built for Formula 5000 racing - no engine numbers either which required a Police engine number when fitted into a road car as evidenced by PT's road registered Formula 500 powered XU1 Torana all those years ago. Colin
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