Tag Archive: porsche

Aug
15

What Auto Is This? ..This Little Sports Car Was A Giant Killer

This South African sports car was built between 1958-1964. One of it’s founders “stumbled” upon fiberglass technology while visting England in 1957. The new process intrigued the man and he invited his soon to be partner to England to master the body building technique.  They came into contact with South African designer Verster de Wit (who was working on the Sunbeam Alpine) who helped them style their first car design and taught them the design process.

When they finally came upon a design they liked it was time to produce this lightweight sports car. So broke and wanting to return to South Africa they sold the first body mold in England for return plane tickets. In early 1958 they produced their first production car. Using the body molds they created and a ladder frame. Powered by a engines from either a Coventry Climax or Ford Anglia. Later models could be upgraded with 1100 cc 85 horsepower engine from a Ford Cortina

The interiors were spartan and simple. Featuring a center 3 gauge pod it offered no glove box and simple toggle switches. Early cars offered no heating system. No a problem in the blazing climate of South Africa. Later cars were exported to England and Canada so a basic heating system was offered. With its nimble suspension and light weight it was used for racing. That perfect combo made it a “Giant Killer” on the race track. Whipping heavy hitters from Porsche, Trumph and Austin Healey. Even today at Vintage SCCA events it still is a winning combo. Sadly this bargain basement racer was only made between 1958-1964 with less than 450 being made. Recently the company has been re-formed under another name and has started making this rare sports car again. What Auto Is This?

Feb
16

What Auto is This?? Das Luft Cooler All Terrain Vehicle

This terror of the desert was designed in 1938 by Ferdinand Porsche. Its name translated into English means “Bucket Seat Car”. A civilian version would become available to the USA market between 1974-1975. When first commissioned to build the vehicle Porsche had a prototype ready in one month. This all terrain vehicle would become Germany’s Jeep.

Testing and development was fast.When the German Army took delivery of the first vehicles they were as the saying goes.. “tested in battle”  Due to their lightweight and crisp handling they could out perform the larger vehicles. General Rommel “The Desert Fox” used this as his vehicle of choice. Its flat floor, cool running Air Cooled Engine and high ground clearance made it almost unstoppable in the desert

In November of 1943 the U.S.Army conducted tests on captured vehicles. A secret document concluded ” That the vehicle was simpler, easier to manufacture and maintain, faster, and more comfortable for four passengers than the U.S. Army’s Jeep”  This info was due to obvious reason kept from the US public to well after WWII. What Auto is This??

Dec
09

Rolling Sculpture ..The Porsche 911 ..Ferry Porsche’s Dream Machine

The Porsche 911 1963-1989. Very few cars can take your breath away like the original Porsche 911. The sound of the boxer flat six engine and the shape all say one thing..Sex. No matter who you are if your a car nut you have drooled over a 911 many times in your life..First penned by Ferry Porsche in 1959. The 911 was the replacement for the iconic but aging 356. First dubbed as the “901″ Porsche was forced to change the name to 911 due to complaints by Peugeot(similar model#s) Only 82 were built with the 901 on the trunk lid..Full production began in Sept.1964..The first 911s reached USA shores in Feb.1965 with a selling price of $6500.00..From the start 911s came with a flat or boxer 6 cylinder engine..The first ones were rated at 130 horsepower fed thru two three barrel Solex carbs..Handling was always interesting..Any normal thing you do in a non-911 such as slam the brakes hard when entering a sharp corner you do opposite..Enter a hard corner mash the throttle and hang on for your life..Racers at the time coined a phrase for early 911s. “Massive Torque Oversteer” Still with all the drama the wonderful sound of the whirling wonder of an engine behind you makes up for any shortcoming. 1966 Porsche imported the 911s with a 160 horsepower engine.That year also was the first for the now famous 5 spoke Fuchs wheels.1967 was the first year for the Targa model..Many improvements would follow. 1973 was the first year for the blazing fast RS model. Models years 1974-1977 saw 911s equipped with the much more powerful(but trouble prone) 2.7ltr with Bosch D-Jet type fuel injection system. 1978-1985 are considered the best by 911 fans. These cars were upgraded to 3.0ltr engines(1978-83) and 3.2ltr(1984-89) with much improved Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection..Porsche switched away from magnesium cases and improved engine life and performance..Our favorite 911 from this era is the 911 Turbo or 930..First introduced to the public in 1974 the 911 Turbo was as Car and Driver Magazine put it…”Like being shot out of a cannon. A very fast cannon” With wider wheel arches,bigger wheels and tires and whale tail the world knew this was a special sports car..Rated at 260 horsepower the 911 Turbo was considered a supercar of its day..The engines in the 911 Turbos were enlarged in 1978 to 3.3ltrs producing a whopping 300 horsepower..The term “turbo lag” was invented for this car but never boring..Early Turbos came with a 4 speed manual transmission..Porsche didnt have a 5 speed that could take the power..An upgraded 5 speed came in 1980 and top speed increased to 170 plus mph. If i was ever sentenced to only own one car for the rest of my life it would be an early 911 Turbo(woooossshhh!!) Porsche would remain till this day true to the original by Ferry Porsche. The original concept of a rear engine road warrior would never change.. In 1998 the 911 went from air cooled to water cooled and an era ended for me..I still swoon when I see an original 911 go by..If you see me standing on a corner with a glaze over my eyes staring into space I probably just spotted a 911 Turbo. Rolling Sculpture indeed..

Nov
16

“Did You know??”

Did You Know?? Ferdinand Porsche created the first “Hybrid” vehicle in 1900.He created it when he was an engineer for Hofwagenfabrik Ludwig Lohner & Co. The Lohner Porsche “Sempa Vivus” consisted of two internal combustion engines and a electric hub motor that stored energy in a battery..Very ahead of its time.

Oct
19

Todays “Junk I Have Owned”

1978 Porsche 911sc “Euro” Targa..My Mom said it best.”Your going to get in alot of trouble with that car!!” In 1978 Porsche brought out the SC model 911s. With an improved Jetronic Bosch fuel injection and the engine punched out ot 3.0ltrs it made for a dramatic improvement in horsepower. My 911 was a “Euro”version with no emissions or A/C..To add to the recipe for trouble I added a big ass rear wing from the Turbo model and an extra loud Ansa free flow exhaust. My Mom was right..I did get into alot of trouble with that car. Driving it was like being shot out of a cannon..I got a DWI with it..I remember the cop pulling me over and me thinking. “Oh no Im going to jail” So I figured I might as well make the best of it. As the cop approached my open window I said “Hand cuffs please” At least the cop told me I was “The nicest prisoner he ever had” I spent a night in jail in South Carolina. My dumb head friend Jamie talked me into taking a trip down South. New York plates and red Porsche with a big wing on the back driving south of the Mason Dixon line is NEVER a good idea..Add to the mixture us playing the theme to Miami Vice on the cassette player and doing 98mph in a 20mph zone..Well you have the right to remain silent..The rather large Trooper said it best. “Either you boys are drug dealers or assholes and I dont see any drugs in that car” With slingshot acceleration,slot car handling and an exhuast note better than any drug. The 911 has always been one of the best sports cars ever produced. Mom was right. It was trouble but the best trouble I ever got in..