ALFA ROMEO

When manufacturers try to create the glories of their past, the results are often surprising.

The Jaguar F-type is, for example, not quite destined to be the enduring classic of automotive history as is the E-Type it reflects – but it is an amazing car in its own right. When Citroen relaunched the DS range of compacts a few years ago we sneered immediately. But the latest generation is a little goddess in its own right, we think.

One of the most successful of these nostalgic recreations came in 2010 when Alfa Romeo unveiled their TZ3 – to commemorate a hundred years of the Alfa Romeo brand – and evocative of their Tubulare Zagato series of sports cars.

The nitty gritty of the spaceframe and other lightweight tech.

As the name suggests, the TZ were made out of lightweight materials, including a tubular space frame, and its body was designed and built by our favourite craftsmen at Carrozzeria Zagato. With punchy six cylinder engines and weighing in at only 650 KG, these were produced in both Stradale and Corsa versions between 1963 and 67 – with the TZ2 versions coming with an even lighter fibreglass body.

To celebrate Alfa’s 100 years, Zagato designed a one-off car that was first presented and won the 2010 edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy.

This unique car, based on the 8C Competizione, was made for German collector Martin Kapp and is not intended for sale or for competitions.

The car weighs 850 kg (1,874 lb) thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has 420 hp (313 kW) dry sump V8 4.2 litre engine. The car has a 6-speed sequential gearbox, it reaches a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph) and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds.

Almost breadvanish, but in race trim no wagon

Zagato designed a one-off car that was unveiled and in the 2010 edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy. It weighs just 850kg, thanks to its carbon fiber frame and hand beaten aluminium body and has 420 hp (313 kW) dry sump V8 4.2 litre engine and is good for 180 MPH and a blistering pullaway of 3.5 seconds – a year later Zagato unveiled a TZ3 Stradale version of the car, which was based on the Dodge Viper ACR-X. It is powered by the Viper’s 8.4 litre 640 hp V10.

We think this is a rare occasion when the modern version outstrips the classic in its pure carnal appeal – though the tubular details of the original will never be beaten by CAD assisted pixels.

The evolution is smooth and fluidBut the tubular details of the original TZ1 are impossible to beatThe nitty gritty of the spaceframe and other lightweight tech.
Conceals a supremely attractive bodyAlmost breadvanish, but in race trim no wagonAnd these Zag lines are some of the prettiest they’ve ever penned…

2014 DTM JDM Machines SuperGT

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (Nismo) today unveiled the new-for-2014 rules’ compliant GT500-class spec. SUPER GT machine, the “Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500”.
From 2014, cars in the GT500 class of SUPER GT will be developed based on the same new technical regulations (except for engine-related regulations) as the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), ensuring that the battle among SUPER GT machinery will be intensified.

#911 #964

Not sure why, but the 964 variant of the 911 has been a particular favourite of ours.

Perhaps it’s because we like the underdog. And the glorious history of Zuffenhausen-wrought auto loveliness this is probably the designation of the totemic brand that is least loved by the rank and file.

According to many it has a myriad of faults in the mechanics – the height of which was the acknowledged fact that in the earlier (pre 1991) models, they were fitted without a head gasket. This bright idea backfired, apparently, when heat caused the engine seals to warp and oil weeped out liberally.

There are loads of other myths, legends and scare-stories about these 911s – but for us they are all transcended by the classic bug-eyed steez.

After the 964 the 993 came along – with that slightly rounded out form (still lovely, particularly the Turbo)- but in the name of progress 911s, in our honest opinion, haven’t been quite as ‘911-ish’ since.

The video below is the perfect illustration of how that original profile is retained in the 964 – even alongside a seventies classic.

And what’s more – they are relatively affordable. The perfect entry level automotive icon.

ZENDER FACT BITURBO

It was obviously heavily influenced by the aesthetic of the Lamborghini Countach, but the strangely named 1989 Fact BiTurbo concept from tuning company Zender was much more of a homespun phenomenon.

Using a carbon fibre shell and casing a turbocharged V8 from Audi, the ugly bug Zender Fact BiTurbo would have punched through the five second pullaway barrier easily.

If it had ever lapped a circuit it may have been rather svelte too, having tipped the scales at only a shade over 1000KG.

Able to produce around 450 horsepower it would have been a beast – and actually recalls the bug-eyed intensity of a Pagani in its hand-wrought magnificence.

Apparently there was a spyder version too – but neither made it to full time production.

We reckon the dream of privateer success on the streets of the eighties would have been harpooned by rising interest rates!

#porsche #911 #carrera