Non-Volvo car chat megathread

Post by **BlackBart** » 22 Sep 2023, 13:27

It's Friday Italian exotics day!

Alfa Romeo 6C-2500, 1940's. Body by Touring.

: on-the-road-to-kyoto-for-the-third-concorso-d-eleganza-in-japan-1jujkdfko-3-780x520.jpg (111.18 KiB) Viewed 363 times

Ferrari Daytona coupe - Body by Pininfarina

: 5-collector-cars-to-put-in-your-garage-this-week-1jnr7r1bo-2-990x660.jpg (146.13 KiB) Viewed 363 times

: 5-collector-cars-to-put-in-your-garage-this-week-1jnr7r1bo-15-990x660.jpg (97.44 KiB) Viewed 363 times

: 5-collector-cars-to-put-in-your-garage-this-week-1jnr7r1bo-19-990x660.jpg (131.55 KiB) Viewed 363 times

I think this is a Monteverdi 375 with a Chrysler 440.

: 5-collector-cars-to-put-in-your-garage-this-week-1kff4rsco-1-480x320.jpg (67.32 KiB) Viewed 363 times

: 5-collector-cars-to-put-in-your-garage-this-week-1kff4rsco-13-lg.jpg (140.44 KiB) Viewed 363 times

Lamborghini Miura prototype (different headlights and nose details, extra vents) Designed by Marcello Gandini, head designer for Bertone.

: pb_20200610_006.jpg (173.38 KiB) Viewed 363 times

Post by **BlackBart** » 22 Sep 2023, 13:45

Ferrari 250 LM "Stradale" (or"street")

"This 1965 Ferrari 250 LM Stradale was debuted by Pininfarina in 1965. The white and blue stripes had been chosen to appeal to American consumers. By the close of the show, Pininfarina claimed they had received orders from customers to produce the car but this example was the only one to ever be created.

"This one-off creation with chassis number 6025 was created by Pininfarina as a road car. The wheelbase was lengthened to 2600 mm allowing more interior space for its occupants. This was untraditional for a Ferrari automobile since even their road-worth cars were still intended to be raced. By expanding its wheelbase, Pininfarina was well on the way to producing a luxury automobile. Extra space was cut into the roof allowing more head room for the passengers as they entered and exited the vehicle.

"After its inaugural debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1965, Pininfarina and Ferrari had hoped for more interest in the car, but with only 16 solid requests, the idea to create this version of the 250 LM was abandoned. The 250 LM Competition continued to be produced, amassing a total of 32 examples."

: F 250LM Stradale Speciale #6025 front.jpg (227.4 KiB) Viewed 353 times

: F 250LM Stradale Speciale rear.jpg (159.75 KiB) Viewed 353 times

I actually saw this very car once. It just happened to be stored in a facility in my little city, and as I happened by one morning, they were pulling it out of the shop and loading it on a transport, to be flown to France for some show. I couldn't believe it. I said to these guys, Isn't there only one of these?? They said, Yep, this is it.

And they didn't roll and push it, they started it up and drove it into the truck. Closed off a side street for a few minutes. I just stared at it and shook my head. What a car and what a sound. It was surprisingly small.

The story is that old Enzo Ferrari wanted to win the GT class at Le Mans with his brilliant new mid-engine 250LM. You have to build enough street versions to homologate a car to be a "production car" so you can race it in GT class. The world racing organization said, There's only one. He said, I'll build more after you approve it. They said, Uhh, no. So he stomped off and canceled the Stradale version, which was very expensive to build with a hand-built aluminum body, leather interior, and that impossibly curved rear window.
His 250 LM was forced to compete in the prototype class with the big dogs. It did win Le Mans once, before the Ford GT40 steamroller.

This would have been the first real "supercar" on the market, with a mid-engine V12 and incredible luxury. As it was, Lamborghini beat him to it with the Miura.

Post by **BlackBart** » 22 Sep 2023, 14:36

In 1965, the 250 LM in the prototype class got 3rd overall and class win at Sebring, 1st at Spa, and the win at Le Mans. The last Ferrari overall win at LeMans until this year.

: 1965_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_Start_2048x2048.jpeg (153.5 KiB) Viewed 346 times

: 1965LeMans-Ferrari250LM_1.jpg (125.12 KiB) Viewed 346 times

: Ferrari_250_LM_1965_NART_2_2048x2048.jpeg (83.49 KiB) Viewed 346 times

: Finish_of_1965_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_2048x2048.jpg (129.62 KiB) Viewed 346 times

: Ferrari250LM-chassis5893_4.jpg (118.96 KiB) Viewed 346 times

Post by **BlackBart** » 24 Sep 2023, 17:18

There was a time when Fiat built badass luxury sports cars. True! Fiat!

This is the Fiat "Supersonic" 8V Ghia. About 1952. Supersonic 'cuz it obviously looks fast, and rockets and jets were all the rage mid-50's. 8V because they assumed Ford had patented the "Ford V8." Ghia designed and built it. Other coach builders did their own version. Funny that it has an early appearance of a little tailfin - a look still on the way.

It's a small, light coupe with a 2 liter aluminum V8 and a single Weber carb. Some will say they recognize the roof shape as coming from the Karmann Ghia. That car was 10 years later. That clean curvy roof with the thin window posts was a Ghia trademark.

: Fiat Supersonic Ghia 8V.JPG (52.46 KiB) Viewed 313 times

: Ghia-Supersonic-Overhead-740x558.jpg (74.84 KiB) Viewed 313 times

: Ghia-Supersonic-Headlight-740x494.jpg (43.82 KiB) Viewed 313 times

: Ghia-Supersonic-Fiat-8V-740x494.jpg (94.05 KiB) Viewed 313 times

: Ghia-Supersonic-Engine-740x494.jpg (86.75 KiB) Viewed 313 times

Interesting that the headers go up and out the fender well, similar to a lot of V8 swaps you see around now.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 24 Sep 2023, 19:22

Thanks BB. I had never heard of or seen a Fiat like that one.
volvolugnut

Post by **BlackBart** » 25 Sep 2023, 11:20

1954 Dodge Firearrow IV concept car -

: 1954 dodge_firearrow_iv_convertible_concept.jpg (117.71 KiB) Viewed 286 times

Post by **BlackBart** » 03 Oct 2023, 10:33

I used a trick I read about in the Alfa forum to get the rear transmission mount out. Big steel sleeve bushing in an aluminum hoop at the back of the transmission. You don't want to crack that alum case or you're in trouble.

So, you heat up the alum ring evenly with a torch, it expands faster than the steel, a 1 1/2" cast iron plumbing cap is the exact diameter of the bushing (!), give it a few taps with a dead blow hammer, and it (usually) slides right out! People sometimes drill a divot in the top of the plumbing cap and use a 2-jaw puller to push it out, and to pull the new one back in. I may try that.

Someone long ago (38+ years) put steel dowels in the voids to stiffen it up. It's also installed upside down so maybe that was a band-aid!

: IMG_4229.jpg (118.53 KiB) Viewed 248 times

: IMG_4239.jpg (100.58 KiB) Viewed 248 times

The reason for all this is to replace the rear main seal and clutch, refinish the flywheel.
It was grimy and the clutch was soaked.

: bell housing grime RMS.JPG (679.46 KiB) Viewed 248 times

My friends are giving me crap about cleaning and painting everything underneath this car (so it won't rust!), so I need to hurry up and polish the inside of the transmission to impress them! (Dawn and scrub brushes and brass brushes)

: IMG_4244.jpg (102.67 KiB) Viewed 248 times

Post by **matthew1** » 12 Oct 2023, 14:27

BB, I saw a 70s V8 Alpha Romeo on FB the other day and meant to post the photo here. It was beautiful, and in the US. Did we get those or was it a grey market import?

Post by **BlackBart** » 16 Oct 2023, 14:14

Maybe a Montreal? They made a sleek prototype for the Montreal Show (1967??) based on the coupe and spider chassis, but with an aluminum 2.5L V-8. Had some elements from the Miura, but not near as good.

Post by **scot850** » 21 Oct 2023, 17:34

Keep on cleaning, polishing and painting if you enjoy it and you feel the end product is better for it! That's the enjoyment of having old cars and working on them as long as it is mostly fun!

You are welcome to come north and clean and polish my cars anytime!

Neil.

Non-Volvo car chat megathread

Re: Non-Volvo car chat megathread