I've been doing a bit of reading and apparently the production run was only about 5 or 6 vehicles but there were 30-odd prototypes. This is one of the prototypes.
Simon found this:-
Friday, October 30, 2015
Heard of this one?
A French car called a Monica.
(1975)
I've been doing a bit of reading and apparently the production run was only about 5 or 6 vehicles but there were 30-odd prototypes. This is one of the prototypes.
Simon found this:-
on the same page as the Monteverdi.
I've been doing a bit of reading and apparently the production run was only about 5 or 6 vehicles but there were 30-odd prototypes. This is one of the prototypes.
Simon found this:-
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Amphicar.
Good to see the Amphicar get a guernsey at this year's Motorclassica.
Their club rallies are a bit different.
Remember this?
Monday, October 26, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Sounds fair dinkum.
We all grow up digging around in sand boxes hoping to strike it rich and find some hidden
and valuable ancient treasures.
What we typically find is an old Matchbox car or a present left behind by a cat.
Either way, it’s very rare to find something desirable.
Well, that’s not quite the case with a young group of boys in California .
They were digging in their yard when they found something that would make anyone’s jaw drop and
their mouth start drooling.
These kids were digging in their yard when they came across something big, something metal, and something
very very valuable.
A buried Ferrari!
The boys actually discovered
a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
buried just a few feet under
the dirt in their yard.
The family had just moved into
the house and immediately called
authorities who came and
roped off the area.
A team of investigators arrived and
unearthed the very valuable rare car.
file:///Users/vidstud/Desktop/buried-ferrari-2.jpg
After exhuming the Italian sports car,
it was obvious that someone had planned
on returning to retrieve the vehicle.
It was very crudely mummified with towels
in the vents and tape on many of the seams
however the windows weren’t fully closed
causing a lot of interior damage.
Farmers Insurance was contacted and because
of the VIN number they traced the last owner. After the investigation,
it turns out that the owner of the car had
actually hired thieves to steal the car
and dump it in the ocean so he could
claim insurance on it. The thieves buried
the car with the intention
of returning to pick it up.
The buried Ferrari was then auctioned off
after being on display with the incredible story being reported across the nation.
It was purchased by a young mechanic
who owned his own shop in California .
The going price was estimated to be
between $5,000 and $9,000,
that he paid for the car.
He fully restored the buried Ferrari
and often enters the car into car shows.
Here are the pictures of the car
after the complete restoration.
His initial investment is now
worth in the millions!
Everything on the car has been restored
to the exact factory condition.
However, this car comes with some
incredible history and an awesome story.
The car even has a vanity plate which reads
“DUG UP”. How perfect is that?
Saturday, October 24, 2015
My kind of Kombi.
A batch of gearboxes for GT40 or Pantera done by Quaife.
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MM special auctioned tonight.
Conceived in the Molina Albert Park backyard the MM (Molina/Massola) Holden was indeed something special. It consisted of a Silvio Massola home made chassis, Standard 12 front end, H.R.G differential and gearbox, early 1948 Holden motor and a very attractive body by Brian Burnett.
The MM had its first serious outing (after having run at Fishermen's Bend on the 3rd October) on November 21st at the 1953 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Lou Molina piloting the car over the 64 lap 200 mile event finished in a remarkable 5th place. This was an even more remarkable feat considering this locally built race car was so new that it had only been run up and down some of the nearby streets in the dark of night before the 18th Australian GP meeting being held for the first time at Albert Park in Melbourne. The 2290cc MM Holden started at 30th place on the grid with the race including such legends as Stan Jones in the Maybach Mk 1, Jack Brabham who failed to start in his Cooper Bristol, Lex Davison in the HWM Jaguar and Bib Stilwell in an Austin Healey. The race was won by Doug Whiteford in his Lago Talbot T26C whilst 5th position for the MM secured 75 pounds prize money. The MM raced the following year at the 1954 New Zealand Grand Prix with Molina competing alongside other Australian drivers including Jack Brabham, Stan Jones, Tony Gaze, Alec Mildren and Maurie Stanton. January 9th 1954 was the first NZ GP at Ardmore south of Auckland but unfortunately on this occasion the MM was not so successful retiring early on with mechanical problems whilst a similar fate also befell 1951 Le Mans winner, England's Peter Whitehead with his V12 Ferrari 125. Amongst other notable runs, in1956 the MM Holden Special finished in the top six at the Argus Cup again at Albert Park and also clocked 15.3 seconds for the standing quarter mile at the Geelong Sprints.
According to John Blanden's definitive book 'Historic Racing Cars in Australia' first published in 1979 and in which this car features extensively the MM was destroyed by fire in 1963. "In the late 1990s CAMS was approached by Roy Williams of Geelong seeking to build a recreation of the original MM Holden." The project was approved "..with the construction with enthusiasm and with the assistance of Sil Massola, the Molina and Leech families."
This important piece of Australian motor racing history is a fast and competitive historic racer, its current owner of the last ten years now deeming it too speedy for his years and worthy of a new more daring owner in the cockpit to continue the legend. The car today can still be run as a either a racing car stripped for action or sports car with road equipment as it did in its heyday in the 1950s.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
UK news.
The yellow Nagari is in tear-down mode.
Things are progressing well, but this is a bit disappointing, the "new" engine is completely seized, the previous owner having let water into the cylinders 6 years ago and it's been that way ever since.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Eureka National Meet.
This year the Eureka owners (or Reek owners as they like to be called) descended on Ballina, NSW, this weekend just gone.
Ascort TSV 1300.
I'm very fond of the Ascort. 19 of them were built and at least 13 of them remain. Here's a project for sale. I'll let the owner tell you about it.
What I have for sale is a VW-based Ascort TSV-1300, there are only 13 Ascorts known to exist, and this example is one of less than six that still have its original Okrasa TSV-1300 crate engine. This is an extremely rare Australian coach built car and I’m very sad to see it go, I’m certain I’ll never have the opportunity to purchase another one. If you want to read up on the car, head to Mark Agnew’s great website dedicated to these unicorn cars here: http://www.ascort-tsv-1300.com/.
This Ascort is in need of a full restoration, although the body and pan is in sound condition and all the hard to find parts will come with the car:
- Original Okrasa engine with all the Okrasa parts (requires full rebuild)
- All original gauges that includes 3-in-1 motometer gauge, Lowlight Karmann Ghia trip speedo and tachometer (uber rare)
- Original Petri Banjo steering wheel with horn ring in beautiful condition
- Custom interior with period bucket seats and rear seat covers (will need a full resto)
- All glass including brand new front and rear windscreens
- Other parts in varying condition such as the headlights and tail lights, window winder mechanisms, etc
- Repop of original badges recut
The previous owner before last commenced a resto but did not complete it, he was the second owner and had the car from the 1970s. It comes with its original number plates, the hand-written owners manual and a heap of documentation, books and articles that have been written up on the Ascort. I have been stripping the car and in the process of getting it ready for primer. All parts have been removed and stored in boxes.
This is an ultra rare classic that deserves a thorough restoration, in the current climate of coachbuilt VWs and old speed fanaticism; this car will be very valuable once finished. If you have been following the prices on the parts included you’ll realise that there is over $10,000 in rare bits alone. With this in mind, I have listed the car for sale at $21,000 and will be giving local buyers the first opportunity to purchase the car before listing elsewhere.
The car is located in Northcote and can be viewable most days after work. There are many photos available but I would prefer prospective buyers to view in person. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an inspection, please contact me via phone on 0404 003 038.
Unfortunately, I have conceded that at this rate I will never get to finish this build, so I have decided to put it up for sale to fund another project which needs a tonne of money to get off the ground.
What I have for sale is a VW-based Ascort TSV-1300, there are only 13 Ascorts known to exist, and this example is one of less than six that still have its original Okrasa TSV-1300 crate engine. This is an extremely rare Australian coach built car and I’m very sad to see it go, I’m certain I’ll never have the opportunity to purchase another one. If you want to read up on the car, head to Mark Agnew’s great website dedicated to these unicorn cars here: http://www.ascort-tsv-1300.com/.
This Ascort is in need of a full restoration, although the body and pan is in sound condition and all the hard to find parts will come with the car:
- Original Okrasa engine with all the Okrasa parts (requires full rebuild)
- All original gauges that includes 3-in-1 motometer gauge, Lowlight Karmann Ghia trip speedo and tachometer (uber rare)
- Original Petri Banjo steering wheel with horn ring in beautiful condition
- Custom interior with period bucket seats and rear seat covers (will need a full resto)
- All glass including brand new front and rear windscreens
- Other parts in varying condition such as the headlights and tail lights, window winder mechanisms, etc
- Repop of original badges recut
The previous owner before last commenced a resto but did not complete it, he was the second owner and had the car from the 1970s. It comes with its original number plates, the hand-written owners manual and a heap of documentation, books and articles that have been written up on the Ascort. I have been stripping the car and in the process of getting it ready for primer. All parts have been removed and stored in boxes.
This is an ultra rare classic that deserves a thorough restoration, in the current climate of coachbuilt VWs and old speed fanaticism; this car will be very valuable once finished. If you have been following the prices on the parts included you’ll realise that there is over $10,000 in rare bits alone. With this in mind, I have listed the car for sale at $21,000 and will be giving local buyers the first opportunity to purchase the car before listing elsewhere.
The car is located in Northcote and can be viewable most days after work. There are many photos available but I would prefer prospective buyers to view in person. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an inspection, please contact me via phone on 0404 003 038.
Here's a few restored ones.
Mirek Craney, the designer, was supposedly inspired by the VW Karmann Ghia. Here are the 2 cars together. What do you think?
