FACEL VEGA MERCEDES-BENZ 600 PULLMAN E-TYPE JAGUAR
R47.00 incl VAT • October/November 2014
THUNDERSTRUCK! CHEVROLET’S BRUTAL V8-POWERED FIRENZA CAN-AM
SUNBEAM TIGER FORD GT40 Celebrating 50 years A race car for the road
STEPHEN LINE | MILLE MIGLIA | BRIAN GUSH
FOR BOOKINGS 0861 11 9000 proteahotels.com IF PETROL RUNS IN YOUR VEINS, THIS IS A SIREN CALL TO THE OPEN ROAD...
TO BOOK THIS & MANY MORE GREAT MOTORING SPECIALS VISIT proteahotels.com
GEAR UP FOR THE GEORGE OLD CAR SHOW
DATE: 14 - 15 FEBRUARY 2015
George lies in the heart of the Garden Route at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains. This sleepy town comes to life with the beautiful noise of purring engines once a year at one of the biggest Classic Car events in South Africa, the George Old Car Show. We invite you to be our GUEST with these all inclusive value for money packages.
PROTEA HOTEL KING GEORGE PROTEA HOTEL OUTENIQUA This hotel offers you luxury 4-star accommodation with a Enjoy the hospitality in this national heritage site: fantastic package deal including: Car wash on arrival. Full English Breakfast every morning. Car wash on arrival. Welcome Braai on Friday night. Full English Shuttle to the show with a weekend pass. VIP access to the Breakfast every morning. Shuttle to the show with a weekend Protea Hotels VIP hospitality Marquee overlooking the show. pass. VIP access to the Protea Hotels VIP hospitality Marquee overlooking the show. *R950 *R675 per person sharing per person sharing
*Terms and conditions apply. PHDS 30745/14 CONTENTS October/November 2014
HIGH OCTANE BIKES TO BENTLEYS 04 Robert Coucher drives old and 62 Brian Gush, Bentley Director of new Porsche 911 Targas Chassis, Powertrain and Motorsport
NEWS & EVENTS SCANDINAVIAN FLICK 10 Latest from the classic scene 66 Taking a Volvo 144 back home
THUNDERSTRUCK DREAMS & NIGHTMARES 18 South Africa’s brutal Chevy Can-Am 70 The ups and downs of the Mille Miglia EXPORT APPEAL 22 Facel Vega, French fl air with MOMENTUM! American muscle 76 Part 8 of our BMW fi rst car project
A TYPE OF ENDURANCE TRACKING RECORD 28 Perhaps the only Jaguar E-Type 78 Les van Breda’s Suzuki TR500 Twin with a tow bar WINGING-IT STATELY AT A STRETCH 80 Wings & Slicks racing action 32 An ex-government Mercedes-Benz from Kyalami 600 Pullman Landaulet READER RIDES SA’S EYE ON THE TIGER 84 A pristine Triumph TR5 36 Fifty years of Sunbeam Tiger GEARBOX ON THE LOW DOWN 92 Classifi ed adverts 42 Cruising country roads in a genuine Ford GT40 LETTERS 93 Have your say MISSING CATS 48 Jaguar fi nally builds six lightweight E-Types as promised
MIXING POTS 42 50 Jake Venter continues looking into engine layouts and cylinders
TRACTION ATTRACTION 52 Citroën’s game-changer Traction Avant
FIELD OF MEMORIES 56 Stephen Line, a world-class karter
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 1 KEEP YOUR JAGUAR 100% JAGUAR.
IT’S A PEDIGREE CAR. KEEP IT THAT WAY.
Only allow a Jaguar Approved Service Centre to fit Jaguar Genuine Parts and keep your Jaguar as alive as the day you got it. In the hands of our highly trained and qualified technicians, Jaguar Genuine Parts will always meet our uncompromising standards for quality, fit and durability. In addition, every Jaguar Genuine Part fitted by an approved Jaguar dealer comes with the peace of mind of a 12 month unlimited km warranty.
For details, visit your Jaguar Approved Service Centre.
JAGUAR.CO.ZA
HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?
86002004_Genuine_210x276_CLASSIC-PERFORMANCE-CAR_v1.indd 1 03.09.14 10:13 EDITOR’S POINT OF VIEW
Publisher Zig Zag Publishing
Editor Stuart Grant [email protected]
Sub-Editor Thora Paver
Art Director Ronel van Heerden www.nineninetynine.co.za
Contributors Robert Coucher, John W Smith, Graeme Hurst, Mike Monk, Rob Reneson, Jake Venter, Greg Mills, Gavin Foster, Howard Bates, Mandy da Nicola, Adrian Burford, Mick Russell, Dave Hastie, Johan Venter, Colin Black, Ilani Vonk, Darren Epstein. Advertising Sales APPRECIATING CLASSICS Derek Hulse [email protected] ecent international auction South African production. 082 451 3899 results show that classic South African specials continue with Marketing/Subscriptions & cars and bikes continue to the manic Chevy Can-Am homologation Accounts be sound investments. But units and Gavin Foster and Greg Mills [email protected] 082 921 4583 this is not the only reason talk about special South Africans in the Rfor owning an older vehicle. One only form of Bentley man Brian Gush and Northern Regions Sales has to see how many shows and events world-class karter Stephen Line. Dave Hastie [email protected] line the spring calendar locally to realise High-end luxury is covered by Mike 083 418 0372 that the main reason for ownership is the Monk’s feature on a presidential use and enjoyment of machines, and the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman and John Subscriptions, Advertising & Editorial mates that we meet along the way. Smith tracks down a very rare Facel Vega. [email protected] This month we feature two readers’ Perhaps not luxury but definitely high- Stuart: 082 921 4583 Fax: 086 568 0193 cars that have enjoyed some serious end on the price scales, Rob Reneson use lately with Howard Bates taking takes one of only seven GT40 road cars P.O. Box 987 his South Africa Volvo on an 8 000km for a spin on public tarmac. Jukskeipark 2153 trip through Scandinavia, while Arthur Of course the usual classified adverts, Wassenaar conquered the Mille Miglia readers’ letters, news and events pages in a Johannesburg-based Triumph. find a home and we’ve introduced a Graeme Hurst looks at a Jaguar E-Type ‘Reader Rides’ page, so feel free to send in that has not only done regular trips a brief story and images on your car, or a from Zimbabwe to the South Coast trip you’ve done with your car. Send this of KwaZulu Natal, but could well be and any classified adverts or letters to me The publishers makes every effort to ensure this magazine’s contents are correct. All material the only E-Type with a tow bar and at [email protected]. published in Classic and Performance Car Africa the accomplishment of towing a full Please enjoy, and with the weather is copyright and unauthorised reproduction is forbidden. The opinion of contributors, as household content, including a 21-foot turning, the blossoms flowering and published, are not necessarily the opinions held by the publishers or editors of Classic and yacht and two goldfish. While doing this temperatures rising, get out there and Performance Car Africa. The publishers and editors make no representations, nor do they give story he stumbled across the owner’s make use of your appreciating investment. any warranties, guarantees or assurances, for any goods or services advertised herein. Sunbeam Tiger and celebrates the brutal Brit’s 50th in fine style with a look at Stuart
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 3 High octane
For some years Porsche’s Targa versions of the pre-‘73 911s were regarded as being somewhat lesser than the more sporting coupé models. That’s no longer the case as Robert Coucher discovers.
nevitably, motor cars are as the sporting option although the Unsafe at Any Speed published in 1965. affected by fashion, both hood arrangements were rudimentary Fortunately, it didn’t happen. modern and classic alike. Here and not particularly effective. Sports Porsche unveiled its first 911 model in Britain, in the Thirties, big cars of the Fifties and Sixties continued at the Frankfurt Motor Show in engined motor cars were all the the tradition but automobiles in 1963, as a coupé. But Porsche’s first Irage and heavy, standard saloons were the biggest car market in the world, 356 No. 1 was in open configuration chopped to become open sports cars so America, had generally morphed into and the German engineers wanted to wealthy ‘chaps’ could indulge in a bit large two- or four-door sedans. Open continue this tradition. So in 1965 it of light motor racing at Brooklands or cars were becoming rarer because launched its ingenious Targa, an open over on the Continent. American legislators were planning car with fixed roll hoop. Initially the After World War II, motor cars to ban automobiles without a roof Targa featured a removable vinyl roof became smaller and lighter by as ‘unsafe’, helped along by anti-car and soft plastic zip-out rear window. In necessity but open cars were still seen campaigner Ralph Nader and his book 1968 the fiddly and leak-prone soft rear
4 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Robert Coucher was born in Cape Town but has lived in London since 1988. Previously the editor of Classic Cars and the Bentley magazine, Robert started Octane magazine ten years ago and it now sells around the world to discerning motoring enthusiasts and racers. www.octane-magazine.com
window was replaced with fixed glass. sporting car driver wants. But most of the Fifties and Sixties. But there are The Targa models were always all, the new 991 Targa is one of the best- precious few decent classics of the ‘70s, popular but expensive and ran through looking Porsches. Ever. apart from Porsches. The Ferraris of the the Porsche range over the decades. As most of you probably know, period, like Dinos, are too expensive; Porsche recently launched its new 991 the values of early Porsche 911s have Aston V8s are too ponderous; BMW Series Targa 4 and 4S to much acclaim. jumped significantly over the past two CSLs too rare; Ford Capris are okay The new car is an unashamed, retro nod years. They have come into focus as the if a bit ‘orange on the aerial’; Jaguars at the Targa style of the Seventies, with younger demographic enters the classic were too badly built and unreliable its polished aluminium roll over hoop. car market, able to afford the cars they and Lambos plain scary. But now also The styling has been very well received wanted when they were growing up. too expensive as Countach prices have and the fully electrically operated To a forty-something, a classic car hiked some 300% in three years! hood, which retracts in 19 seconds, of the Seventies is spot on. Vintage Of course, the younger generation is just what the modern, hassle-free, cars are too ancient, as are classics of of classic car enthusiasts want even
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 5 High octane
later cars, those of the ‘80s… but that’s The vagaries of fickle fashion. But coupé but you don’t feel it on the road. another discussion. No, it’s the Porsche not surprising because, seemingly, The suspension set up is softer and 911 for the savvy, younger-middle-age every poor early 911 had been dressed so much better over rough surfaces. enthusiasts and the recent jump in up to resemble something it was not. I don’t see the need for the heavy, prices reflect this huge demand. Original is best. complex four-wheel drive system, (the Lead by the fabulous Porsche And with the launch of the beautiful car weighs 1 575kgs) but that’s what 911 2.7RS, enthusiasts began new 991 Targa, early Targas are back the wealthy customer in the northern converting early, ropey 911s to RS spec, in fashion. The thinking used to be snow belts of Europe and America two decades ago. It is cheaper and easier that Targas were soft, ‘creak and leak’ want, apparently. Expect a lightweight, to fit simple, painted, aftermarket hairdresser’s cars. The classic car two-wheel drive soon. glassfibre front and rear I also drove a beautiful bumpers to a stock ‘70s 911 little ’73 2.4S Targa and it is than have to re-chrome But the market has changed and a revelation. Fingertip light everything and fit new collectors now want their early, pre- – at 1 085kgs it is only 15kgs rubber details, etc. Stripping heavier than a coupé – it’s out the interior to ape the ’73 911s in original condition responsive, delicate, refined RS is similarly cost effective and damn fast. Beguilingly and easier than a full re-trim. Over world has grown up and the uber- gorgeous. Interestingly, the early the last decades Porsche specialists sophisticated Porschephiles now Targa is better with the roof removed, in the UK and USA (and I am sure in realise that is a load of rubbish! Sure, as it is actually quieter than the new SA) have done a roaring trade in hot- if you are going to race the nuts off Targa. The new version is best with the rodding 911s. your 911 at Killarney, Kyalami or electronic roof erected at motorway But the market has changed and Zwartzkops circuits then you might speed, which is again unsurprising as collectors now want their early, pre- want a coupé. But, as enjoyable open this is a Porsche designed to be used ’73 911s in original condition, so those road cars, the Targa’s time has come as an everyday sporting machine. For same Porsche specialists are now busily and the market knows it. fun – dropping the electric hood is a undoing their cheap cut-and-shut Recently I drove the new 991 Targa real crowd stopper – but also for the replicas and hastily returning the cars and it’s fabulous. Apparently it weighs daily commute. Indeed, the Targa is to full road trim specification. some 110kgs more than the lightest back, and in tremendous ‘70s style.
6 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Classic and Performance Car Africa is the only bring back the memories of motoring times gone by. dedicated historic motoring magazine in the Whether your heart fl utters for pre-war engineering, country. From racing, to personalities, to some of or brute-force muscle, gentle drives in scenic places the most special vehicles ever produced, we are or screaming tyres and a whiff of Castrol R, we have continually unearthing great stories, illustrating them something in every issue that will appeal. Subscribe, with a mixture of old photos and new, and helping and never miss another issue.
START YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! Get one year (6 issues) of Classic and Performance Car Africa for just R250
LAND ROVER JAGUAR SIMOLA HILLCLIMB DKW MUNGA LAND ROVER JAGUAR SIMOLA HILLCLIMB DKW MUNGA WHY SUBSCRIBE? ∙ Save R32 off shelf price.
R47.00 incl VAT • August/September 2014 R47.00 incl VAT • August/September 2014 ∙ Get your magazine delivered to your door before it hits the shelves UGLY UGLY ∙ Avoid future price increases DUCKLING DUCKLING ∙ Guaranteed access to the best BMW’S 2000C ODD BALL BMW’S 2000C ODD BALL DEVELOPED INTO THE DEVELOPED INTO THE JAW-DROPPING CS JAW-DROPPING CS classic, historic and performance motoring content in South Africa
CONTACT US P.O. Box 987 Jukskeipark 2153 E-mail: [email protected]
CHEVROLET APACHE YAMAHA RD350 CHEVROLET APACHE YAMAHA RD350 Stuart: 082 921 4583 Stock look, hot under the hood A fast appreciating 2-wheeler Stock look, hot under the hood A fast appreciating 2-wheeler Fax: 086 568 0193 BRIAN FERREIRA | MILLE MIGLIA | AL GIBSON BRIAN FERREIRA | MILLE MIGLIA | AL GIBSON
Yes! Please start my subscription with your next issue
TITLE...... FIRST NAME...... SURNAME...... POSTAL ADDRESS...... POSTAL CODE...... TEL (H)...... TEL (W)...... CELL No...... EMAIL......
PAYMENT OPTIONS CHEQUES Made payable to Zig Zag Publishing CREDIT CARD Visa Master Card
Name on card...... Card No Expiry date M M Y Y CVV Number (Last 3 numbers on the back of your card)
Please debit my account for the full sum of R250 Date...... Signature......
BANKING DETAILS FOR EFT: ZigZag Publishing; Nedbank, Hout Bay Branch Branch Code: 167 609; Account Number 1676040021 UNIVERSAL EFT CODE: 198765 PRINT_CW_ClassicCar-DPS_12Sept2014_420X276mm.ai 1 12/09/2014 16:25 PRINT_CW_ClassicCar-DPS_12Sept2014_420X276mm.ai 1 12/09/2014 16:25 News & Events Distributor distributors Spannerworx is the new South African distributor of 123ignition. The 123 electronic ignition system has become the replacement distributor of choice the world over, easing classic car ownership for many enthusiasts. Classic car owners tired of worn distributor shafts, cracked and brittle caps, and inconsistent running now have a reliable solution that still looks correct under the bonnet. 123ignition eases starting and improves engine performance throughout the range. 123ignition distributors are designed with respect to the originality of your classic. While the outside still looks like an original distributor, the inside hides a lot of electronic technology that performs its task without at Gauteng altitudes or at the coast with the flick of a switch. The two any wear. The distributors run off the original mounting and drive, but the curves also allow classics to run on a variety of fuels without chance rotor distributes spark from an adjustable advance curve electronically. of detonation. A complete range of two-, four-, six- and eight-cylinder 123ignition The unit also includes a rev limiter and vacuum advance functionality distributors is available for most classics, including Alfa Romeo, Aston for turbocharged classics. The computer-based dashboards include fun Martin, BMW, Citroën, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, MG, facilities like a stopwatch to measure acceleration through the rev range Mini and Triumph amongst others. Most Lucas distributor-equipped cars when tuning. are also catered for. Historic racers will enjoy the 123\TUNE ignitions The distributor should ensure engine longevity and ease of that are compliant with regulations for Pre-66 Legends of the Nine Hour maintenance. Prices range between R5 000 and R7 000. For more and Historic Racing South Africa Pre-77 Touring Cars for 2015. USB information visit www.123ignition.nl. The 123ignition distributors are compatible, the distributor can be tuned according to specific individual imported exclusively to South Africa by Spannerworx and can be ordered requirement and has the advantage of two available curves for running from [email protected]. WINGS WHEELS The Kitty Hawk Aerodrome east of a safety officer visits during the Pretoria played host to a fly-in of building process to approve what 45 RV kit planes to meet an equal has been done at given stages. number of visiting Lotus kit cars Even the rivet holes are machine &for their annual RV day. It was a marked off a CAD-type drawing. huge success and the similarities This ensures that all components between the planes and the cars are perfectly aligned, a bit like are quite remarkable.The RV getting the suspension pickup kit plane originates in America points aligned! The RV comes where the kits are supplied in in 2-seater as well as 4-seater various forms, from a scratch- models and with the evolution build, a quick-build version and of time the product has become then a type of rolling chassis a highly professional piece of version where finishing touches work. Power plant is normally a are required. The build can take 180bhp Lycoming 4-litre number, approx. 7 000 weekend hours but alternatives can be used. Like in a normal size garage and the Lotus 7 it is basic, very simple comes with a detailed instruction and a huge amount of fun. manual. It is a requirement that - Dave Hastie
10 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za BMW SHINERS The annual BMW Car Club Concours d’Elegance was held at the Montecasino Piazza, highlighting the Bavarian classics under perfect sunny skies. The Piazza was stretched to the very limit and could not accommodate one more BMW without infringing on municipal safety regulations. It wouldn’t be a Concours without the South African specials, which were all present and accounted for: the E12 530 MLE, E23 745i, E30 333i and the E30 325iS. With only five M1s that I know of in South Africa it was a real privilege to have two at the Concours, both having been driven there - nice to see that these are no trailer queens. Other rarities included the 700 Hans Stuck replica and a 2000 Cheetah. Evolution 2 Motorsport displayed Batmobile, the Tony Viana Winfield E30 325i Shadowline and a replica Group A Schnitzer BMW 635CSi. Jack Kaplan’s 2002 Turbo cleaned up nicely taking the following classes: d’Honneur Modified, Best Classic and Best 2002. It also happens to be the only running 2002 Turbo on the African continent. Robin Sadler’s Z3 M Coupe took a well-deserved win in the d’Etat class as well as in the Best M class. Bilaal Mia took the d’Elegance class with his white E30 318i Coupe and Gerhard van Niekerk’s 1995 E36 325i convertible nabbed d’Honneur Stock class. The prize for the biggest South African BMW Icon, the E30 325iS, went to Mike Salt for the Best E30/325iS. Another first-time entrant, Alex Johnstone, took the Show & Shine class with his 2004 E46 330i. – Johann Venter
Hamptons in Randburg has added collectable BUYINGBI KE S motorcycle sales to its repertoire making it a one-stop shop when buying or selling both classic cars and bikes. For more information and stock lists visit www.hamptons.co.za or pop in for a coffee at 5 Main Road, Sandton.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 11 News & Events
MINI HITS
The National Monument in Pretoria was the venue chosen by MOCSA to celebrate the 55th birthday of the Alec Issigonis revolution in automotive innovation. Previous Mini birthday celebrations had a competition element of driving tests and races whereas this year the competitions were of a more social nature that allowed for full family participation. They included fun events with a modified version of Jukskei, where a fan belt improvised as a skittle. This event was called fan belt tossing. Others were a rocker cover race, a cake-baking contest and a blindfolded driving test. The fan belt tossing competition was won by 12-year-old Aidan Viljoen, Daniela Everts nabbed the rocker cover race, and Nicky Potgieter won a cake-decorating kit and book after taking the Best Mini Cake honours. The Best Period Dress competition was won by the members from OMC (Our Mini Club) who really were superb in their ’60s and ‘70s garb, and Johann van den Heever Jnr scored victory in the Blind Driver skill test. – Dave Hastie
BATTLE OF THE
The one thing that unites all the so-called ‘Petrolheads’ is the love of BRHealey, Sunbeam and aAND Wild Card crew. S their particular brand of car but occasionally, these types gather to do Sitting there, anxiously awaiting George to fire the first question at us, my battle of the brains and brands during the Classic and Performance memory once more drifted back to those very early days when the ‘Martini’ Car Africa Inter Club Quiz. Planned by the MG Car Club the competition, Inter-Club Quiz was held at the Alba Hotel in Braamfontein, and the wonderful Quiz-Mastered by George Shipway and Clive Winterstein, got the times spent in the company of members of other car clubs. I remember a show on the road. This year saw new question formatting and invited much younger Norman Ewing of the Octagon gang vehemently protesting audience participation. Teams consisted of four members from about some trivial aspect of an ancient MG. Ah what memories! Anyway back each of the participating clubs namely Alfa Romeo A, Alfa Romeo B, to the present and reality. After three question rounds, the pecking order saw Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, MG, Rootes, Triumph, Lotus, Morgan, Austin Lotus leading Alfa and Jaguar followed by Triumph. The final rounds were contested eventually by Alfa A, Jaguar, Lotus, Triumph and Wild Card and when all was said and done the Lotus team stood on the highest tier of the podium with runners-up Jaguar and Triumph (Pretoria) in third. – Colin Black (Alfa Romeo Club of SA)
12 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za FERRIS News & Events
LEARNERS The social side of the Lotus Register of South Africa, who host the popular Lotus Challenge Club racing series, came out to play on 10 August with a Driver Coaching Day that gave members, wives and children free reign of the Zwartkops Raceway. What we saw was a mix of machinery ranging from Marnus Bronkhorst in his mother’s one-owner Datsun 1200, to some high-powered sportscars such as a McLaren and Porsche Boxster. Other cars included a few Volvos, Lotus Exige and Elise and a beautiful James Bond reminder Lotus Esprit of Jo dos Santos. The current racing competitors also enjoyed a few fast laps in their competition 7s to test before the upcoming round of the Historic Tour. A brilliant day and education for all those involved. – Dave Hastie
PACKED IN THE PARK One could suggest that POMC have become a victim of their own success with the running of their Cars in the Park event as the roads leading into and out of Zwartkops blocked up. Older generation cars need little provocation to boil easily in the African sun, but it was nonetheless a feast for the eyes with something for everyone. With several hundred Clubs and interest groups requiring the simple necessities in life, the vendors parked around the race track did a roaring trade and desperate measures were needed to secure more stock of rolls, boerewors and drinks. It was another tough day in Africa. – Dave Hastie
14 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za ADVERTISEMENT FOCUS ON...HOUSE OF CLASSIC & SPORTS CARS, KNYSNA... Franschhoek Motor Museum News
Sarel oiled up The Franschhoek Motor Museum played host to an unveiling of a new painting by world-renowned artist Nicholas Watts. The painting features SA racing hero Sarel van der Merwe driving the Dunlop-sponsored works Porsche 962C at the 1988 Le Mans 24 Hour. The image, painted in oils, depicts Sarel in car number 8 heading the sister car and, in the background, the race-winning Jaguar, down the Mulsanne Straight during the twilight hours. The fine art study is the first in a series by Watts that will highlight “South Africans who have lit up the racing circuits and humorous style. John also presented Sarel with a 1:43 of the world,” said UK-based Watts’ local representative scale model of the car. Wine, coffee and snacks were served John Dalton at the unveiling, held in the Museum’s Hall D as attendees milled around recalling great moments in SA appropriately enough close to FMM’s own Porsche 956 Le motorsport history. Mans car. Sarel himself was present to reveal Watts’ work Only 40 individually numbered 700 x 600mm prints of the and was honoured to receive a framed print for his personal original will be made and all available only in SA. Prices are collection. Sarel then entertained the audience with his R2 850 (framed) and R2 250 (unframed) and available from memories of the race, delivered in his usual straightforward [email protected]. SEFAC Cape visit The Cape chapter of the Ferrari owner’s club SEFAC visited FMM in September. No less than 31 cars arrived at L’Ormarins where a start-up and running display of a few of the museum’s special Ferrari’s took place including the 250 Lusso Competition, 275GTB, F50 and the Enzo, as well as the McLaren F1 just to keep things well rounded... The 71 attendees enjoyed a wine tasting tour around the farm followed by lunch and a big-screen viewing of the Italian GP, which, sadly for the gathered tifosi, was not one of the Scuderia’s better races.
Jaguar D-Type presentation Cape Town’s newest classic car Museum’s Jaguar D-Type XKD573 to showroom, Crossley and Webb, is an appreciative audience. The D-Type fast becoming a focal point for local is the most successful Jaguar ever enthusiasts. The expansive building is to enter Le Mans, winning in 1955, tucked away in an historic part of the 1956 and making a clean sweep city’s CBD and apart from the mouth- of the top four places in 1957 with watering display of classic and exotic XKD573 finishing fourth. “It was a cars on the floor, there is an elegant great evening spent looking at the coffee shop where a continual stream wonderful array of Jaguars on display, of visitors chill out and soak up the kicking tyres and sharing stories with atmosphere. The company organises Big Cat owners of the Cape,” said ‘storytellers evenings’ and recently FMM’s curator and presenter on the FMM was invited to present the evening, Wayne Harley.
Where, what times and how much For more information about the Franschhoek Motor Museum, view galleries of the collection and learn more about forthcoming events, logon to www.fmm.co.za The Franschhoek Motor Museum is situated on the L’Ormarins Estate along the R45 in the Franschhoek Valley in the Western Cape. The opening hours are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 17h00 (last admittance 16h00), Saturday and Sunday 10h00 to 16h00 (last admittance 15h00), and the museum is open on most public holidays. Admission prices are R60 adults, R50 pensioners, R30 children. An on-site delicatessen offers refreshments and tasting of L’Ormarins estate wines is also available.
16 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za ADVERTISEMENT FOCUS ON...HOUSE OF CLASSIC & SPORTS CARS, KNYSNA... CHEVROLET FIRENZA CAN-AM
THUNDERSTRUCK! ‘You and 99 others’ was what the advertising department came up with for the Chevrolet Firenza Can-Am. This was because it was yet another small car fi tted with a big heart by South African shoe-horners, and needed that number manufactured to get the go-ahead to take part in local racing. Stuart Grant looks at the brutal ‘Little Chev’ that arrived and dominated like a Highveld thunderstorm.
18 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za asil van Rooyen, top-drawer saloon car racer and the man behind tuning company Superformance is where the story begins. Van Rooyen, who had raced a Capri Perana, saw the benefits of tying up with General Motors on the racing front. In order to convince the powers-that-be, Bhe took a pair of Firenza GT coupés (originally designed to run a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder) and squeezed a 307 cubic inch GM lump under the hoods. From there it was off to head office in Port Elizabeth for approval. With the heavy honchos suitably impressed, plans were set in motion to build 100 units for homologation purposes, kicking off in 1972. The 307 motor had to make way for a 302 cubic inch small block unit as the Argus Production Car championship rules stipulated a maximum capacity of 5 litres, although Van Rooyen thought he’d spotted a loophole in the form of an over-bore clause. Fate played a hand when GM America built 302 CI engines for its Z28 Camaro to compete in the Trans-Am series but withdrew the idea, leaving a stockpile of hot motors ready and available. Specs saw that the big-valve engine with four-bolt main bearing blocks, running an 11:1 compression ratio and with an 800 CFM Holley carb mixing the juice and air was good for 290 horses and around 400Nm of torque. In road guise weighing in at only 1 100kg the Can-Am combined lightness with oodles of grunt to gallop from standstill to 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds and would reach a top speed of 225km/h. Power went via a Muncie M21 four-speed manual box to a locally developed Borg-Warner limited slip differential and was delivered to the black stuff by some Personal 13-inch alloys (in a smokey fashion if not gentle on the loud pedal). A Personal 3-spoke leather-rimmed steering wheel fed the driver inputs to the front wheels and if you still weren’t convinced you were piloting something special, Superformance painted road Can-
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 19 Ams white, added a black fibre-glass In an interesting move the Can- In total 100 road units bonnet featuring a pair of air-scoops, Ams went racing as the ‘Dealer Team’ made it into showrooms Koni shock absorbers and an adjustable which saw the funding coming from American Racing Equipment Chevrolet dealers countrywide. For and sold at around aluminium wing on the boot lid. Other every vehicle sold at dealership level a double the price of a unique-to-Can-Am features included portion of the profit went to the team larger brakes, racy seats (borrowed to run the programme. Of course when 2.5 Firenza. 6 full blown from an Opel GT) and different rev talking Can-Am we can’t forget Geoff counter markings from those found Mortimer, who not only piloted these race-prepared cars hit the on the tame Firenza. In total 100 road brutal racers but also played a huge role national circuits and rally units made it into showrooms and in the development and engineering of sold at around double the price of a them. All in all the package worked tracks bringing the total 2.5 Firenza. 6 full blown race-prepared from the outset with Van Rooyen and cars hit the national circuits and rally Mortimer finishing 11th in the ’72 Can-Am count to 106 tracks bringing the total Can-Am count 9 Hour before Van Rooyen claimed to 106. It is estimated that in the region victory on Production Car debut at of 30 still are accounted for with a few Kyalami in January 1973. Van Rooyen having even left our shores. nailed 11 wins in a row through 1973
20 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za while Paddy Driver, Eddie Keizan and department, so disaster struck with the Nols Niemann piloted the second oil crisis and the implementation of Van Rooyen nailed 11 Dealer Team car on occasion. fuel rationing and ban on motorsport wins in a row through For the 1973 9 Hour it looked likely events. Can-Ams continued to sell that Chevy would steal the show through to 1975 but any thoughts of 1973 while Paddy Driver, with three cars entered but sadly that extending production further were Eddie Keizan and Nols was not the case, with the first Can- canned as the public sought more Am (Van Rooyen/Frank Gardner) economical rides. Niemann piloted the retiring with gearbox troubles, the Like a Highveld thunderstorm the second piloted by Jan Hettema being Chevrolet Firenza Can-Am arrived second Dealer Team car crashed and the final one falling off the in a flash, shook the atmosphere up on occasion trailer before even turning a wheel at and then cleared off into the distance. Kyalami. Victory went the way of the For local Chevrolet and saloon racing international Jacky Ickx/Hans Stuck fans a genuine car is akin to the Holy BMW 3-litre CSL, which also became Grail. As and when one crops up it is the first saloon to lap at over 100mph. worth seizing it on the spot, but do Just as the Can-Am gained your homework, as there are likely to momentum on track and in the sales be more fakes than originals lurking.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 21 Facel Vega
22 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za APPEAL By John W Smith
y the mid-1950s, the great French ‘Grand Routiers’ were a dying breed. World War II had not been kind to the French Bmotor industry and while companies like Peugeot, Renault and Citroën were able to attract capital to produce modern cars for the bourgeoisie, the aristocrats like Bugatti, Delage and Delahaye could only update their pre- war products. Added to their woes was an onerous taxation system on large capacity cars with even a super-tax on overhead camshafts! Bugatti ceased car production in that decade and the merged Delage/Delahaye company
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 23 amalgamated with Hotchkiss, resemblance to the Simca Comete, first model designated the ‘FV’ was eventually making only military a 2-door pillarless coupe whose introduced in 1954. vehicles. One could say that the market bodywork Facel was producing in some A 2-door pillarless coupe, it was was wide open for a French supercar quantity. The engine and automatic capable of nearly 200km/h with the with export appeal. gearbox were sourced from Chrysler, so 4.5-litre de Soto Hemi engine. The Into this breach stepped the Facel- ample power and ease of driving would FVS that followed benefited from the Metallon company horsepower race in the of Jean Daninos. The FVS that followed benefited from USA; a succession of ever Specialists in steel more powerful engines pressings to others in the horsepower race in the USA; a was offered including the motor industry, succession of ever more powerful engines the 5.8-litre (354 Hemi) particularly Simca, unit from the Chrysler the company was well was offered including the 5.8-litre (354 stable. Similar engines placed to enter into the powered the famous manufacture of a car of Hemi) unit from the Chrysler stable Chrysler 300 ‘letter cars’ its own design. be assured by this reliable powertrain. in the late 1950s which were arguably A modern, luxury, high performance For those who desired a manual the fastest production cars in America at car sporting French design flair that transmission, the superb French-made the time. Interestingly, the French-built would appeal to an international Pont-a-Mousson all-synchromesh 4-speed manual gearbox crossed the clientele was drawn up on a completely 4-speeder was available. The cars wore Atlantic to become an extra-cost option new chassis. Its styling had some the badge Facel-Vega, Paris and the on these cars. By comparison, Facel
24 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za production figures were small: 357 FV/ Interceptor and de Tomaso Mangusta et the European upright radiator-grille FVS models were made of which 6 were al followed Facel’s example. tradition. A contemporary Bentley or convertibles. Just over 840 of the more A four-door saloon was shown at Mercedes 300D looked a decade out of powerful 6.4-litre HK 500 found buyers the Paris Motor Show in October 1956 date by comparison; indeed the fin-tail among the movie stars, pop musicians, which reached production in 1958 as Benzes from the 1960s look remarkably leaders of industry and racing drivers the FV ‘Excellence’. (French accent similar. The most interesting design like Stirling Moss. The latter apparently required!) The chassis, designed by feature has to be the 4-door pillarless preferred to drive his car from event to Lance Macklin, was an elongated roofline. The rear doors open in reverse event rather than fly! No wonder, with version of the FV’s tubular frame, with fashion, like the so-called ‘suicide’ doors the 392 Hemi grinding out 360Bhp and double wishbone, coil sprung front found on early Fiat 500s. Not having a 425ft/lb of torque, the magic ‘Imperial suspension and a solid axle at the rear pillar against which to lock closed, the ton’ (100mph) was reached in third located only by leaf springs. Today, rear doors are secured by huge latches gear with fourth giving at least another this specification would be considered mounted on the floor-pan inner sill. 40mph or so. City-to-city times would antiquated, but it was conventional With the windows rolled down, the have rivalled that of a light-plane at the time for American cars. Jean side aspect is satisfyingly clean with charter, taking airport transfers into Daninos reputedly did the styling the rakish roof pillar edging out the account! Facel Vega had truly ‘arrived’ himself, and the result was a remarkably need for a cluttering rear vent window. on the world market, pioneering an modern, almost futuristic car from a The front vent window snugs up to American-engined/Euro-engineered European perspective. The fins at the the dogleg pillar of the wraparound genre of cars for the following decade. rear deferred to American fashion, but windshield, under a lashing of polished The Gordon-Keeble, Iso Grifo, Jensen the frontal styling owed nothing to stainless steel.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 25 The interior detailing is superb. Chrysler Corporation V8s were offered, with that, some of the car’s character The dashboard shows some cockpit with push button TorqueFlite automatic too. The good news was the engine design inspiration, with generous or the French-built manual box from upgrade to the famous 383 Wedge instrumentation housed in the rather 2-door FV series. The early production motor (6.3-litre), which restored some convincing fake wood appliqué. The cars were equipped with the 392 Hemi performance. Sales were slow and only seats and door panels are exquisitely engine (6.4-litre) punching out 360Hp. 11 were completed before Facel closed. trimmed in top quality leather befitting These cars could run 220km/h with Despite costing the price of 12 Renault a car that cost four times the price of a a suitable axle ratio; on the French Dauphines in that year, every car was Citroën DS, not a cheap car in itself. Autoroutes of the 1950s one would need built at a net loss to the Facel company. The electric windows glide up and a 300SL to stay with a 4-door Facel EX , Profit came from doing ‘outsourcing’ down on a mechanism that could have never mind a 300 Dora! The chances work for other manufacturers, but the been used by Otis Elevators. A vanity of finding one to dice would have been red ink really started to flow when a kit is concealed in the centre armrest, slim; only 11 were made. Unfortunately, smaller sports car, called the ‘Facellia’, and chromed reading produced to compete lamps peep from the … on the French Autoroutes of the 1950s with the likes of Alfa rear roof pillars, which one would need a 300SL to stay with a Romeo, was a disaster. in turn offer a measure Due to warranty claims of privacy to the 4-door Facel EX , never mind a 300 Dora on its French-built occupants. Prestige comes as a standard the Hemi engine was discontinued and engine and loss of public confidence, the feature, air conditioning was optional. so the 361 Wedge motor (5.9-litre) was small-car venture sank the company, For a car with a 3 meter wheelbase, substituted. It could not have been for and the big Chrysler-powered cars from the interior is not as roomy as that of reasons of cost! From 1959, disc brakes France were no more. a contemporary Buick. It’s definitely a appeared on the front wheel hubs of the The featured car, an EX1, was found in narrower car, and a lot lower, giving it EX1 - no guesses why in this case. While South Africa and restored by Frederick that classy European look which eludes it could accelerate to 100km/h as quickly Booysen. A 383 Wedge motor does the American car. There is the aura of as one could light a cigar, it could at least the honours through a push button a hand-finished product all over the stop as quickly as one could extinguish TorqueFlite 3-speed auto. It has finned Facel Vega, much like that of a Rolls the match, so they said! They were also aluminium drum brakes and power Royce; it would be equally at home in slightly more plentiful: 137 were built steering. The finish is completely Monaco or Hollywood. in all. authentic with all the unique and Out on the open road, there would By 1961, a re-style was called for difficult-to-find trim in place. The have been few Fifties cars that could stay and the ‘unfashionable’ wraparound car is currently for sale. Enquiries to the course with the Excellence. Various windscreen and tailfins were lost, and [email protected]
26 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za R395 000 R699 000 R249 000 R169 000 1988 BENTLEY TURBO R 2011 BMW 6 SERIES 640 F12 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE 2010 AUDI A3 1.8 TFSI AMBITION S-TRONIC 87 000km. Absolutely superb example of the Bentley 40 000km. Twin Turbo, heads up display, reversing 14 000km! Repeat 14 000km. Check the rest then 109 000km. Magnificent specimen of the most camera, balance of motorplan. At last, a good looking come and buy the best. This baby is going to get Turbo R. This example has covered a genuine 4-seater convertible. Lets be honest, the Chris Bangle popular model from Audi. Factory sunroof, leather, 3000kms per year from new with a comprehensive school of origami styling did an injustice to the previous snapped up by some savvy buyer before you can zenon lights. The gearbox is a revelation, so smooth service history to support it. Balmoral green with tan 6 series with its over exaggerated rear end. The colour say “ Nkandla is an outrage “!! Full leather , Xenon yet sporty. It is easy to understand the popularity as leather piped green. Beautiful. combination on this example is superb in ice white with a lights, balance of service and maintenance plan it has everything in one package. rich saddle brown interior. until 2015 with a further extension available.
R665 000 R165 000 R199 000 R245 000 2001 PORSCHE 911 TURBO 2008 BMW Z4 2.0M 2007 AUDI TT 2.0 TFSi S-LINE 2012 VOLVO S60 T4 62 000km. Right hand drive, very desirable 6-speed 83 000km. Outstanding example of the successful 119 000km. Stunning example of the TTS in a 59 000km. Great example with factory extras such manual, full service history example of the bargain sports car from ze clever chermans yah. Sporty spectacular combination of ice white with red leather. as a glass sunroof, xenons, park distance control, yet economical 2 litre four cylinder unit. The colour This car is so good looking in this combo, matched with and the balance of the service and maintenance supercar in the range. Factory sunroof and 450bhp exquisite wheels, almost brand new tyres, black soft top. conversion complete the picture of this, the lowest combination is just unbeatable. I would strongly plan to 2017 or 100 000kms. It is a handsome car in If the last TT i had in stock is anything to go by you have ice white with soft black leather. mileage Turbo currently available. recommend this example to you. precisely 72 hours to make it your own.
R245 000 R509 000 R319 000 R365 000 2006 BMW Z4 M 3.2 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ A250 SPORT AMG 2007 BMW 3 SERIES 335I CABRIOLET 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS E 350 COUPE 103 000km. THE ultimate sports car from BMW. An 3 months old, 3000 kms from new and the very best 51 000km. Climate and Cruise control, Electric 60 000km. Beautiful example of the most elegant M3 engined convertible, the Z4M was brought in spec. Panoramic glass roof, Nightline spec, black mirrors, roof, windows and seats. Full service coupe from Mercedes. Zenon intelligent lighting leather with red stitched finish and red seatbelts. history, phone prep, Navigation, PDC. Twin turbo very limited numbers. This black beauty is in good ideal for the Highveld. The finest deal in the country. package, front and rear PDC, navigation. Long condition, runs very very strong and has a very low Balance of the 6 year fully comprehensive service Superb colour combination of midnight blue with balance of its mobilo plan to 120 000kms. A new and maintenance contract. mileage for the year. light grey interior. one costs R850K. There isn’t a better deal out there.
R125 000 R265 000 R499 000 R1 095 000 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS 300 2007 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG V10 TDI 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS ML 350CDi 2013 G-Class G350 CDi Bluetec 195 000km. It’s hard to believe that this is a classic 100 000km. Wonderful example of the top of the 79 000km. Superb low mileage example with 42 000km. New spec G-wagon which means a far car and approaching a quarter of a century old but range Touareg with a full service history. Glass factory extras such as lane assist, Xenons, comfort superior interior to the older spec but the same sunroof, rear wheel carrier, roof rails, factory tow package, sunroof, tow bar and the big wheel legendary off-road ability. Kitted out with a host of it is and they are beginning to become sought after. bar. Immaculate, and a legend for its reliability, option. Balance of service and maintenance plan to non-standard extras including tow bar, bull bar and This is entry level money for a very tidy example. comfort and towing ability. It is a million rand vehicle 120,000 or the year 2017.Compare this mileage to suede headlining. Near impossible to find one of Electric soft top and factory hard top. to replace. others currently available. this specification. We stock a range of classic and collectable cars – for more info on these visit our website JAGUAR E-TYPE TRAVELLER A Type of
Jaguar’s E-type is an undisputed icon of the classic car world but most have been enjoyed for their show and go rather than as everyday transport. Except this 1969 2+2 which has been driven through a war zone, towed a keel yacht and been drag-raced over the last four decades. Graeme Hurst gets to meet the machine. Photography: Darren Epstein
21ft yacht jerry-rigged 1960s and thought I must have one. manager so I got straight on to him and to a trailer behind it, a At that stage there was no chance!” stopped the cheque even though it was grenade launcher and explains Roger who was living in then bank guaranteed!” Sten gun, a helicopter, Rhodesia. Fast-forward to the mid- Despite the mishap, Roger persisted a 130+mph dice with a 1970s and Roger, by then working as in his quest. “I posted adverts in the Amotorbike and … er ... two prized fish in a meteorologist in Victoria Falls, was newspaper and left a note under the a goldfish bowl … you could be excused in a position to scratch the itch. And windscreen of any E-type I saw.” Cue for thinking this is the prop list for the despite being stuck out ‘in the colonies’ round two of the purchasing saga latest Indiana Jones film sequel, but there wasn’t a shortage of them. “I tried when a Coupé bought over the phone these are just some of the highlights out a Roadster that was on offer for turned out to be a rust bucket. “When of 38 years of Jaguar ownership for $2 500 Rhodesian dollars but I decided I went to collect it, I found the dreaded Capetonian and former Zimbabwean, that as I had a young family, it wasn’t lurgie under the doors,” recalls Roger. Roger Wood. too practical,” he recalls. “Then I saw “The bloke was seriously unimpressed As in so many cases of E-type a Coupé in Bulawayo and bought it when I cancelled the deal!” Then this ownership, the seed for this car’s but I got 30 miles outside the town 2+2 turned up at a dealer in 1976. “I unusual script was sown when the and it started overheating so I took tracked the owner down to Umtali and model was launched. “As a schoolboy it right back,” he adds. “In those days managed to do the deal privately,” adds I’d seen them come out in the early you were friends with your bank Roger, who paid $5 000 for it. It was a
28 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za 1969 Series 2 model in Primrose Yellow another 1 100km ahead of them to Just as well Roger bought a 2+2 or he that had just 30 000 miles on the clock at Durban before heading down the coast. may have struggled to accommodate the time. “That was the colour to have, But the Jaguar took it in its stride. “We that arsenal which, thankfully, was especially with black upholstery.” must have done that trip at least six or never needed. “We drove through a few With his dream realised, Roger didn’t seven times.” situations but never had any trouble waste time when it came to enjoying his Towards the late ’70s the Jaguar’s ourselves.” In later years the E-type was purchase with wife Lorraine and their commuter role saw it loaded up – part of a secure convoy on a daily basis. two small children. “It was my daily literally – to combat the threat of the “The SAP were up there and escorted drive and our family car. Whenever we country’s civil war to road users. “I was us daily with a helicopter and an Eland went anywhere we went in the E-type,” working at the airport outside Victoria armoured vehicle.” he recalls. And that meant it was also Falls and the air traffic controller and I A move to Salisbury brought the the Wood family’s holiday transport. used to commute 30km to work in the daily gauntlet to an end. By then the “We used to go down to the (then) E-type,” explains Roger. “As employees E-type shared Roger’s garage with a Natal South Coast every year and the in essential services we were issued Triumph TR4a and a Sunbeam Rapier, E-type towed a Sprite trailer with all with weapons. He had an FN rifle with although the Jaguar still featured our luggage in it.” Quite an epic trip a grenade launcher attached to it and a heavily – again quite literally – as it considering the distance: Victoria Sten gun while I had a regulation issue hauled the loaded Sprite trailer as the Falls to Beit Bridge is all of 750km with .38 revolver and my own 9mm pistol!” family moved to the bright lights of
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 29 Salisbury (now Harare). The 700km+ car’s torquey XK engine. “Above that, it business venture. Naturally the E-type trip was a precursor for what was to started to wobble as I couldn’t load the featured in the journey, only this time undoubtedly become the car’s biggest weight on the back of the car for fear with just the Sprite trailer in tow. Over and surely unique (even among the of damaging the E-type’s suspension,” the ensuing years it’s been a regular circa 72 000 examples made) role: recalls Roger. After overnighting at the fixture on various classic car runs helping the Wood family emigrate to border, the Wood family headed for and even been used for his daughter’s South Africa in 1982. Johannesburg with a police inspection wedding, when he took the passenger “Back then, the Zimbabwean along the way. “We were pulled over seat out so the bridal couple could sit government had a rule that you could but the police didn’t have a problem together. The E-type has also shared take only one of everything with you. with the trailer towing a trailer. They Roger’s attention for various classics. One car, one boat, one motorbike and so just looked around the car and then “I’ve had an Austin-Healey 100/6, on.” So Roger got to work to maximise wished us a good journey.” several Sunbeam Rapiers, a Jaguar his chances. “I bought a 21ft keel boat The Woods then settled in Durban MKII and an earlier MKV saloon plus with a trailer. I wasn’t into yachting but where Roger went into business with a Ford Capri although that wasn’t it was a way to move money.” Naturally his old school mate and well-known really a classic at the time.” Today the Sprite trailer came too, only this club racer Ashley Ellis. “He ran Blair his fleet includes a well-known (on time on a hitch on the back of the Atholl Motors, selling Alfa Romeos the racing scene) Sunbeam Tiger and yacht’s trailer! And on the back seat of and I ran the workshop.” With another MKII but the E-type, now the E-type sat 10-year-old son Guy with another family car to use, the Jag with over 120 000 miles on the clock, the family dog – along with 12-year-old became more of a hobby car, featuring is the most cherished. “It’s the one daughter Heather who had a goldfish in various club concours events and I’ll never sell,” he admits. And it’s bowl containing a pair of fish on her outings, including one to a racetrack easy to understand why: apart from lap. The space in the keel yacht was near Pietermaritzburg where Roger its incredible history it’s also one of put to good use too. “I loaded it up with thrilled the crowds by attempting to the most untouched examples on the my lathe, welder, garage tools, the kids’ out-drag a Corvette! road. “It’s never had any paint in my bicycles and two spare wire wheels.” After 15 years in the Kingdom the time and the only work I’ve done is a With all that, Roger was still able to Woods moved to Cape Town so that cosmetic restoration of the engine bay cruise at 50mph, thanks no doubt to the Roger could join Ashley in another when the engine had to come out to
30 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za change the clutch,” says Roger. The to the early model’s ally dash and on the looks front, the 2+2 still has cylinder head has never even been push button starter. It may not have enormous presence with a striking off and, given the car’s low mileage the purity of the original but it’s still profile and that sensational trademark when he acquired it nearly 40 years aircraft cockpit-like in feel and a nice bonnet bulge: few classics can touch ago, the head gasket is quite likely the place to be. And any owner of an early an E-type for the view from behind one it had when this 2+2 rolled out of E-type will tell you the early model’s the wheel. In all honesty, if Jaguar the gates of the famous Browns Lane flat floor and single plane seat backs are founder William Lyons had only factory in Coventry! no match for the comfort of the later produced this variant, we’d possibly The originality extends to the cars, which feature a dropped floor in have been none the wiser; certainly its inside too, where the leather seats and the pedal area and proper webbing- voluptuous lines would’ve still been ceiling are near perfect, barring the based seat design. a sensation against the backdrop of pleasing light patination from years With the full-fat 4.2-litre XK unit, other turn-of-the-‘60s cars when the of careful use. The shut lines on the which Jaguar developed to up the E-type was famously launched at the body are spot on too, unlike so many performance of its hefty MK10 range- Geneva Motor Show in March 1961. restored examples, and the originality topper saloon and which superseded Plus the 2+2 is by the far the most and years of care (Roger’s done all his the earlier 3.8-litre unit in the E-type comfortable with more leg room and own maintenance) extend to the road: from 1964, there’s plenty of easy the sensible only choice if you’re 6ft+ on the move it feels sorted with taut performance on offer – something and don’t wish to visit an osteopath handling and a rattle-free ride. Roger’s only too aware of. “Back when every Monday morning after enjoying As a Series 2 – launched a year we were living in Salisbury, Ashley the car over the weekend. And there’s before this one was built – it boasts a used to visit on his six-cylinder Honda no doubt that Roger’s example would larger grille aperture to aid cooling, CBX and one time we diced together. have been unable to boast its amazing exposed headlights and re-positioned We topped out at 132mph and he history had he opted for the two-seater indicators and taillights to meet North couldn’t pull away from me!” Coupé. It’s a past that often comes up: American safety legislation. Inside, the To some fans of the Coventry “People are generally astonished to Jaguar feels more modern with black marque, the 2+2 isn’t as cherished see an E-type with a tow bar but I tell rocker switches and a conventional as the Roadster or standard Coupé them I can’t take it off as it’s part of the column-mounted ignition in contrast variants. While there’s no contest car’s history.”
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 31 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet
resence. Anyone in a global and what is generally referred to as saw fit to produce something custom- limelight needs to have an a ‘stretch limo’ is often the preferred made to offer esteemed clientele, it impressive appearance or mode of transport, although today was little surprise that a special vehicle bearing that garners respect, they are as much about taking regular would result. be it a papal leader, the head folk to Matric balls and hen parties. In Tagged as a 600, the design of this Pof a country, a movie star, a business America, many are used as hotel/airport grosser Mercedes is generally credited to mogul or (replace any rose-tinted shuttles in place of customary taxis. Frenchman Paul Bracq, whose career spectacles with dark glasses) even a But back in the 1960s such vehicles began in the design studio of Philippe drug lord! Travelling in style forms just were less commonplace and far more Charbonneaux, where in 1953 and one aspect of the overall impression, bespoke, and when Mercedes-Benz 1954 the studio produced the designs
32 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za STATELY AT A STRETCH
At least half-a-dozen of South Africa’s leaders have been transported in this rare, right-hand drive Mercedes-Benz 600 that boasts a number of evocative descriptions. Mike Monk joins the list.
for the French presidential limousine years followed by a stint with Peugeot, saloon capable of being owner driven, built by Citroën. After fulfilling his where he was involved in personal and a long-wheelbase (3 900mm) military service in 1957, Bracq worked transportation for the Pope. Working stretched version conceived to be for Daimler-Benz as head of the design with famed Daimler-Benz engineers driven by a chauffeur and with the centre at Sindelfingen for 10 years. and designers Friedrich Geiger and, option of a folding rear roof section. Bracq then returned to France and was latterly, Bruno Sacco, there can be little Additional body panels between the employed in a number of styling roles doubt that the 600 was conceived and front and rear doors increased body that included the TGV high-speed developed in good hands. length from the swb’s already sizeable passenger train. From 1970 he worked The car was offered in two basic 5 450mm to an even more substantial as design director at BMW for four formats: a short-wheelbase (3 200mm) 6 240mm. The extra space this gave
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 33 allowed for a pair of rearward-facing to describe a car with a convertible top at 2800. Driving through a four-speed seats to be incorporated into the rear for the back seat while the front seat is automatic transmission, the 600 swb passenger compartment to create either roofed or open. had a top speed of just on 205km/h – a boardroom-like setting for four – Production of the car began in 1960 the lwb topped-out around 193km/h complete with a drinks cabinet. A and it was manufactured in limited although such velocities were seldom, sliding glass partition behind the front numbers right up to 1981. Out of a if ever, approached during duty … seats afforded some privacy for the total of 2 678 models produced, the unless running away from terrorists or dignitaries travelling in the back – it swb version was by far the more the law! Fuel consumption was given was an option on the swb – with an popular with 2 190 units built, and as 24-26 litres/100km. intercom provided for communication. of the 487 lwbs (304 four-door, 124 However, such cars are more about A complex engine-driven 150-bar six-door) only 59 were Landaulets, ride comfort than performance and the hydraulics system powered the and only 10 right-hand drive models 600 boasts adjustable air suspension suspension damping, windows, seats, were built, which makes the example with double wishbones, rubber springs boot lid, automatically-closing doors you see here quite a rarity. As a brief and a stabilizer bar up front. But and folding roof (once sizeable interior aside, the factory also built a 600 whereas lesser Mercedes-Benzes used latches had been released). coupé as a retirement gift for Dr a service-intensive and wear-prone The lwb version was designated a Rudolf Uhlenhaut, an Anglo-German king-pin setup, the 600 features front Pullman, a name originally associated engineer who worked for Mercedes- uprights located by ball joints. The rear with rail travel and denoting a very Benz from 1931 to 1972 during which suspension features a low-pivot swing comfortable carriage for sitting time he had a long association with axle located by radius arms, also with and/or sleeping in that was later the company’s racing programme rubber springs and a stabilizer bar. occasionally applied to upmarket road and is well known for creating the Brakes are dual-caliper 291mm discs transport too, such as luxury coaches. Gullwing Mercedes. up front and 294.5mm discs at the As already mentioned, the lwb was Powering such a big and heavy back. Steering is by a power-assisted also available as a semi-convertible, vehicle – the swb weighed 2 600kg, recirculating ball. Tyres are 9.00H15 in essence a landaulet, the origin of the lwb 2 770 – required a suitably whitewall six-ply radials. the word meaning a four-wheeled powerful engine and the 600 was Riding in the back the ambience horse-drawn carriage with a top that propelled by a single-overhead-cam, is one of lightness and comfort. By may be let down or folded back and mechanically fuel-injected 6 332cm3 today’s standards the well-padded a raised seat for the driver (a landau) V8 delivering 180kW at 4000r/min and seats are not particularly cosseting that subsequently became landaulet a fairly substantial 500Nm of torque but offer enough support to be able
34 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za to stretch out and observe the outside included numerous heads of state and 600 clocked up plenty of frequent world in relaxed surroundings. The religious groups as well as a range of traveller miles in the presidential air suspension was playing up so any personalities from Elizabeth Taylor Hercules aircraft that regularly flew thoughts of a ‘magic carpet ride’ were to Pablo Escobar. Examples have between Parliament in Cape Town and not possible, but doubtless the system, also appeared on the silver screen, Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria. when functioning properly, would be including the Bond movies On Her The car was eventually handed to the exceptional in true Pullman tradition. Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are South African Cultural Museum (now Spacers are provided in the toolkit to Forever and Octopussy, as well as The known as the Iziko Museum) for safe support the seats in the event of an Witches of Eastwick and the popular TV keeping. However, finding a suitable hydraulics failure. Loose footrests are series Falcon Crest. home proved problematic until the provided, and the compartment has its This particular 600 was produced car was secured by former Mercedes- own air-conditioning system. at the end of 1970 and was shipped Benz CEO Christoph Köpke in 2001, Despite the car’s length, there is to Cape Town aboard the German who arranged for some restoration to not a huge amount of fore/aft space cargo vessel Tugelaland, arriving on 20 be carried out under the guidance of up front but the control layout is January 1971 for handing over to the Roy Miller at the company’s technical straightforward. As any stretch-limo South African Government by UCDD’s training centre in Zwartkops before driver will tell you, manoeuvring such Pretoria-based training manager going on display in the Mercedes-Benz a leviathan requires some forethought Herbert Cyrolies. (UCDD – United Collection Museum in East London. but with practically everything power Car and Diesel Distributors – became The Collection was subsequently assisted – even the air vent in front of Mercedes-Benz South Africa in 1984 relocated and the 600 was loaned to the the windscreen – once familiarised, when Daimler-Benz acquired control Franschhoek Motor Museum. the driving experience is not too of the company. The manufacturing This grandiosely-titled ex-presidential overwhelming. Neat touches include division was still known as CDA (Car Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet a footwell-mounted parking brake Distributors Assembly) until 1986 is an imposing vehicle set off by the that releases automatically when the when it was renamed MBSA-EL.) illuminated emblem on the roof. Why, car is put into drive or reverse via the Thereafter the car carried successive even the three-pointed-star bonnet column-mounted shift lever. And two presidents: Jim Fouché, Dr Nico ornament is roughly 20 per cent bigger horns, one a regular component, the Diederichs, BJ Vorster, Marais Viljoen than that fitted to other Mercedes- other a compressed-air monster that and PW Botha. The car was then put Benzes of the same era, such was the bellows like an Oompah band. into retirement by President FW de attention to style and detail. Über Customers of the 600 have Klerk. Apart from its road travel, the presence for sure.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 35 SUNBEAM TIGER AT 50
Shoe-horning an American V8 into a British car famously shaped sports car history with the story of the AC Cobra but it wasn’t the only recipient of Ford power. 50 years ago the Rootes Group did that with its Alpine and, what’s more, the company built some of them right here in SA By Graeme Hurst Photography: Darren Epstein
36 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za outh African petrolheads have always had a deep affection for American V8 power, particularly when it’s used as a recipe for instant performance. Just think back to the famous Basil SGreen Capri Perana or Basil van Rooyen’s even more vicious Chevrolet Firenza Can-Am. And who can forget Ford’s Sierra XR8 … all famously successful local V8 transplants that bear testimony to our affection for cubic inches. Five decades ago, Rootes – a British carmaker known for reliable-if-staid four-wheeled fare – embarked on a similar exercise to create the Sunbeam Tiger when it dropped a 260ci (4.2-litre) V8 in place of the rather puny four- pot in its Alpine sportscar. It was a move that emulated the creation of Carroll Shelby’s Cobra (which used the body and chassis of the AC Ace) and was a direct attempt to urgently up the sales in any 1960s British sportscar maker’s key market: the good ‘ol US of A. South African demand (back then or now) could hardly hold a candle to the scale of America’s seemingly insatiable desire for performance cars, but there was enough interest for Rootes to offer the model here. And what’s more, the 73 that were sold here were screwed together here too – the only Tigers to be assembled outside the UK out of the circa 7 000 built. The Tiger story started far away from here. Or the UK for that matter. It began in California – a part of the US that’s arguably always been even more in love with V8 power than we are – when Ian Garrad, son of Rootes’ competition boss, Norman, hatched a plot to re-engine the Alpine to up sales in his West Coast domain. Only he didn’t just present the idea to company bosses. He arranged for one of Ford’s new thin-wall cast, small block V8s to be slotted into a brand new Alpine off a US dealer’s floor and then had the car shipped straight back to Blighty to ‘sell the idea’ to the bosses at Rootes. Well that’s the gist of it; the actual conversion involved two different prototypes and the backing of the great Carroll Shelby himself before the technical details were ironed out. But first, let’s understand what Shelby and others were using back in 1963. Sunbeam’s Alpine was launched in 1959. Boasting signature fins and diminutive Thunderbird appearance, its looks were a sea change compared to Rootes’ 1950s other rather
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 37 sit-up-and-beg styles. Power came from Shoe-horning is an old cliché for construction, as per the AC Cobra. a high-compression version of the describing a mill swap (as the yanks And the name? That was a tribute Hillman Minx’s 1494cc engine and coined re-engining a car) but in the to the Sunbeam badge’s illustrious the body was all monocoque, based case of the Tiger it’s totally apt: the sporting heritage, specifically the 1925 on rather humble underpinnings: the Ford lump needed a remote oil filter V12 landspeed record car piloted by Sir floorpan of the prosaic Hillman Husky. and its mechanical fuel pump shorn Henry Seagrave. Intriguingly, Rootes That meant semi-elliptic leaf springing off to get it to fit. And it’s mounted so was vague about the name to start with and drum brakes at the rear, although far back in the engine bay that owners and the Tiger was initially shown as it boasted wishbones and discs on the have to change the rear plugs in each the Alpine 260 at the New York show front. Comfortwise it had wind-up bank through a hole in the footwell! in April ‘64. It was shown at the Turin windows, a wrap around ‘screen and And that was after Rootes ditched the show in October too, where Rootes easy-to-use soft top – all fairly novel by steering box for a front-mounted rack fitted a Perspex panel in the bonnet so the standards of the late ‘50s. and pinion arrangement to free up that visitors could see what the fuss The Alpine was a hit but its space. The battery was also relocated to was about. In line with UK industry performance was lacklustre. Rootes the boot, which had the bonus of aiding trends, some 70% of production was quickly turned up the wick with various weight distribution. aimed at overseas markets – a hangover capacity increases until the Alpine There were other changes too: from the post-war, export-or-die reality V, which pumped out 92bhp from its the dual exhaust pipes had to be relating to steel quotas. Of course the 1725cc twin-carb engine by 1965. It run through the central chassis ‘X’ US was the biggest market but Rootes could do the ton (100mph) if you kept backbone while the rear axle needed had a finger in all the major former your foot down for long enough. That a Panhard rod to keep it in place. The colonies too, including South Africa. all changed with Garrad’s prototype axle itself was a Ford Galaxie unit Local outfit Stanley Motors had a which was driven back at Coventry by boasting a vastly longer diff ratio: subsidiary company called National none other than Lord Rootes himself 2.88:1! Rather surprisingly the Alpine- Motor Assemblers that took care of who gave the project the thumbs up, spec disc brakes were deemed as being production with four separate assembly despite completing a test drive with the up to the job, although the radiator lines at its base in Natalspruit, near handbrake on! Suddenly Rootes had a had to be seriously beefed up to cope Alberton: one each for Peugeot, Citroën 120mph offering that could hit 60mph with the added heat. The gearbox was a and Rootes cars including Alpines (and in around nine seconds. stock Ford top-loader unit of cast-iron later the Rapier Fastback) and another
38 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za for various American brands. (intriguingly as the Alpine 260) for a go.” His success came after a serious The Tiger’s SA history started a year R3 400. That was nearly twice the amount of fettling to make it go, handle after launch with the company’s then price of a Cortina GT (R1 878) or Mini and stop. “Putting a standard road car on Managing Director Arthur Hutchinson Cooper S (R1 770) while the nearest V8 the track means you have to do a lot of (who had previously headed up Rootes’ rival was the hefty Fairlane 500 – yours development to make it reliable.” Under operations in Brazil) ordering a Tiger for R3 115. Alpine production ended a the hood the 260 has given way to a from the UK, which he collected year before, when it was around R1 000 302ci (5.0-litre) lump – a very common himself at the docks in Cape Town and less than a Tiger. upgrade amongst Tiger owners – with drove up to the Reef as part of a ‘test’ Roger Wood (who also owns the a fully balanced bottom end boasting for local conditions. Various cooling E-type 2+2 in this issue) has had one of stronger bolts. The original two-barrel alterations followed, including the the SA cars for the last 23 years, one in carburettor is long gone too, with a four- installation of an electric fan before Carnival Red. “I bought it from a chap barrel Edelbrock in its place and a high- production got underway in 1965. in Empangeni but it was in pieces,” lift camshaft from the same famous Each car arrived in CKD (complete, explains Wood, who has always been maker of go-faster goodies to capitalise knocked down) form as a ‘kit’ in a Rootes fan. “My Dad had Rootes cars on its output. three packing cases. The body shells and I’ve had Rapiers and Alpines over With those Hillman Husky were packed with doors and boot and the years but fancied a Tiger. It’s got underpinnings already on their limit bonnet attached but in raw metal that good American mechanicals that don’t with a Tiger in standard tune, it’s no was protected in grease. Once stripped leak oil, and a nice body.” Roger spent a surprise that Roger has devoted a and painted the cars were assembled year restoring the car. “It needed some lot of time to make his Tiger stick to although not directly on the production rust cut out and a re-paint.” Several the road. “It’s got stiffer springs and line: the engine installation on the years of club use and various concours adjustable Koni shock absorbers as Tiger was too time-consuming and wins (both in KZN and at the local well as anti-tramp bars at the back. complex so they were done on the side annual Parow-based classic car show) I’ve also replaced all the bushes with one by one. That may explain the two- followed before Roger got the racing polybushes.” And he’s made sure it digit production total although Alpine bug, following his move to Cape Town stops too. “The front discs are vented production only hit 250. Price was no around 1999. units off a BMW 3-series using Audi doubt a factor too: CAR magazine’s “Ashley Ellis was racing a Triumph at 100 calipers. The combination works December ’67 issue had the Tiger listed the time and I thought I’d like to have well,” explains Roger, who also put in
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 39 a limited slip differential. “I realised performance back in 1964 for a driver none with a front-mounted dizzie) the the original 2.88:1 crown wheel and who’d previously had the keys to Tiger was doomed and production pinion was identical to the one in a an Alpine. ground to a halt in 1968. Jaguar XJS.” Roger has since become Interestingly, Ford had already By then SA production was over for a regular on the Killarney grid in the created the more widely known 289ci a year. Today the B948 cars (the unique Fine Cars historic series and has taken (4.7-litre) variant of its small-block V8 chassis prefix by which the SA-built the championship once and come by the time the Tiger was launched, cars are known) attract the curiosity home second and third at least once which offered 200bhp in standard tune. of Tiger fans abroad. There’s even a too. “My personal best is a 1.34.” Why the Tiger didn’t get it straight off worldwide database of Tigers within On the road it’s quickly evident that is anyone’s guess – possibly the suits in the club fraternity, with a section this is one seriously sorted Tiger. Its Detroit needed to get shot of 260 stock, detailing the whereabouts of our SA- ride is fairly firm but it feels sharp and or Shelby put word out that he didn’t built cars. To date 43 have been tracked responsive with surprisingly light want competition for his Cobra which down, with some of the cars having steering, although having the correct had been harnessed to 289 power after turned up as far away as Adelaide in original spec steering wheel helps on the first 75 cars were made. Australia and Florida in the US. At least that front. And it’s seriously quick too. Salvation came in 1967 with the MkII half a dozen have made it back to the The bigger motor means it’s got plenty Tiger, which did receive the larger unit, UK too. of clout but it’s not all top end: you can along with a raft of subtle engineering A near 60% survival rate isn’t bad either surf the torque or wind it past upgrades and some distinct styling when you consider that we’re talking 4000rpm for the cam to kick in. The tweaks including rounded headlamp about a sports car that was probably long back end means the four-speed rims and an egg-crate grill. All left-hand thrashed off the sales lot in Jules Street. ‘box has fairly wide ratios and the drive (apart from a handful of right- Throw in high average mileages and gear gate is quite long. It’s identical hookers) these are highly prized as the a scarcity of bits to mend anything to the one Shelby used in the Cobra, model was short-lived: just 571 of the that got bent and the number starts complete with the lifting T-handle to 7 066 Tigers made were MKIIs. sounding impressive. engage reverse. And that’s really what A change in company fortunes saw Of course there may well be others you think about when you’re behind Chrysler – which had held an interest lurking around as barn finds and they the wheel: the deep, distinctive V8 in Rootes for some years – take over do turn up; just three years ago the beat is all Cobra and gives the car a the Coventry carmaker voetstoots 32nd one made turned up in Cape totally different character to its four- in 1967. Having a rival’s engine Town after lying dormant for 20 years cylinder predecessor. Its weight makes under the bonnet may be acceptable in an underground car park. And it the car feel more planted (especially at today with platform sharing and turned out to be a two-owner car with the front) and the instant urge simply all, but back then it was a corporate just 11 500 miles from new! Maybe you dominates the driving experience. embarrassment. And with the Big know of one out there waiting to take Just as with AC’s Ace, it must have Three player having no suitable power to the roads and spread the word on a been one helluva step change in plant of its own to use (it had V8s but unique bit of SA automotive history?
40 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za www.cpca.co.za | Feb/March 2013 | 1
20720_NORA-SA_297x210.indd 1 2011/11/07 12:19 PM
20720_NORA-SA_297x210.indd 1 2011/11/07 12:19 PM FORD GT40 MKIII
ON THE LOW DOWN The legendary Ford GT40, the racing car that won Le Mans with four outright victories from 1966 to 1969 is an all-American success story. Well, not quite…says Rob Reneson. Photography by Paul Harmer
42 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za n actual fact this sports racer is of just seven road cars created by Ford Being an incredibly rare and essentially a very British racing and went on sale with a sticker price of special racing car all components on car that began its life in the $18 500 – $2000 more than a GT40 race the GT40 are dated. Wheels, brake unedifying suburb of Bromley, spec car – so it was not just wild-looking callipers, suspension components are England. After Henry Ford II but also wildly expensive. Road going? all stamped 1966 and 1967 so it was Iwas figuratively slapped in the face by Hmm, well that’s a loose term, which imperative to keep everything together Enzo, having spent a lot of time and makes the leary Ferrari F40 seem like a during the restoration. The dated brake money looking into buying Ferrari, bean counter’s sensible hatchback. servos were not simply replaced, they Henry Ford set about funding a team to The example you see here spent were sent back to Apple Hydraulics crush Ferrari at Le Mans. years in the National Motor Museum in the USA to be rebuilt. The original He looked at Lotus, Lola and Cooper at Beaulieu dressed up to look like a Mk dated washer bottle was also rebuilt before deciding Eric Broadley’s Lola I racing car. Apart from the cosmetics, and the shot radiator expansion tank operation would form the most close inspection revealed the GT40 was reconstructed with the welds made successful collaboration for a world- was remarkably original and it had to look as bad as the original! The twin endurance tie up, based largely on covered just 6 000 miles. The Mk I Kenlowe cooling fans are original and the success of the advanced Lola facelift undertaken in 1973 included great care was taken to paint the engine Mk6 which was already using a Ford painting the GT white with blue strips block in the exact Ford blue. The Koni V8 engine. Ex-Aston team manager and fitting Halibrand alloys and racing dampers were rebuilt but not painted John Wyer was hired and Ford man tyres. The interior and mechanicals in fresh orange because the original Roy Lunn was sent to England where were left well alone, only the road paint was just fine. Ford Advanced Vehicles was set up in exhaust being altered with a racing-type The original funky Amaranth- Slough near Heathrow Airport. system being fitted. Fortunately, when coloured paintwork was found in The Ford GT, as it was originally recently purchased, the GT40 came situ under various pieces of trim and, known, was constructed in a number of with all the original parts including the once the oversized flared arches were variations, primarily racing cars in Mk lovely Borrani wire wheels, luggage box, trimmed back to the correct size, the I, Mk II, and Mk IV iterations with just bumperettes, original exhaust headers glassfibre bodywork was resprayed in 102 manufactured in total. This 1968 and the rather homemade-looking matched deep purple. Mk III, chassis number M3/1103, is one exhaust tail pipes now fitted. The ethos behind this project
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 43 was to resuscitate as much of the together in the middle of the car with 1968 Ford GT40 Mk III original GT40 as possible. Certainly wide sills on either side. These perforated Specifications consumables like bearings, seals, hoses, leather chairs with chrome vent holes brake hydraulics, valve springs, piston and cross-stitching look vaguely ENGINE rings and so on were replaced but most nightclub and the whole interior is very 302cu in 5-litre pushrod V8, solid of 1103 remains original. black. It is also very small, so goodness lifters, Holley 4V 715cfm carb So here we have a road-going version knows how driver and navigator teams of an Anglo-American racing car that compete in tough rallies like the Tour POWER won Le Mans four times on the trot Auto in these confines. 306 bhp @ 6000rpm with a Ferrari-beating 1-2-3 finish in The best way in is to put your feet 1966, with Dan Gurney and A J Foyt on the seat squab and then let your TORQUE victorious in the Shelby-developed body slide in under the steering with a 329lb ft @ 4200rpm 7-litre Mk IV. So what is one of just flop. Getting out is even less gracious! seven of the road-going versions like in But once in position the seat proves TRANSMISSION the real world? comfortable if very reclined and the ZF 5-speed manual, sequential, On the public roads in East Sussex, ‘Formula GT Britain’ inscribed steering transaxle England, this Amaranth-coloured wheel is vertically mounted in front of GT40 looks very small and compact. you with its simple Ford GT logo on SUSPENSION In narrow body Mk III configuration the central boss. The wooden-topped Front independent double wishbones, it is only 70 inches wide and of course, gearshift lever is centrally located – coil springs, Koni dampers just 40 inches high. Without massively to facilitate both left- and right-hand Rear independent lower wishbones, flared haunches the car looks lithe and drive options – and the puny Mowog transverse top link and radius arm, elegant helped by the tasteful Borranis (as fitted to original Minis and Minors) coils and Koni dampers with their chromed triple-eared handbrake lever catches your left spinners picking up the chromed rear elbow. The cheap plastic dashboard has BRAKES view mirrors, side window trim and the Smiths Rev counter mounted right Disc brakes all round. 11.5in, double door handles and overriders. in front of you with the speedometer servo Thumb the chrome recessed door off to the left. A welcome sight is the handle and the large three-dimensional cooling fan sliders mounted in the WEIGHT door swings open with half the roof centre of the dash with air vent eyeballs 1 061kgs coming with it. The doors are effectively on either side. large clams so not ideal in tight spaces To start the GT40 you simply give PERFORMANCE but at least they offer some way of the Holley four-choke carb a bit of 0-60 5.5 secs. clambering into the tight cockpit. The a prime with the throttle pedal and Top speed 160mph fat recumbent seats are mounted close turn the key. The big 302 cubic inch
44 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za V8 fires with a blast and then settles other way over a blind brow looking pants like a large go-kart. down to a reasonable idle. It reacts absolutely enormous! Now used to viewing cars coming instantly to the throttle even if it The GT40 requires considerable the other way from wheel height you is in a detuned state in the Mk III. concentration, primarily due to getting find yourself scurrying the lightweight The clutch action is moderate but your head around the obstreperous and reactive little GT40 through the short and you need to be aware it is gearshift and general lack of visibility. bends at ever more exciting angles a small twin plate racing job. The It needs to be driven so when the road where it picks up serious speed along dogleg, 5-speed ZF 5DS gearshift is clears it’s time to toughen up. Dropping the short straights with alacrity. the challenge. Its long linkage aft down into third and adding a decent Mindful this original and rare example means the selection is a bit hit-and- squirt of juice, the car’s racing heritage is worth several million dollars you miss. This is combined with a semi- comes through. The otherwise dead don’t want to get carried away. With sequential selection process whereby rack-and-pinion steering starts to the air vents open and the fans on you have to go through the gears in communicate what the now warmer full blow in perfectly suitable mild order and you cannot miss out any, Dunlop L-section tyres (5.50 x 15 at weather conditions the car remains changing up or down through the the front and 7.00 x 15 on the rear) are comfortably ventilated. But with the ‘box. Apparently this was to prevent doing via the very comfortably set up radiator water pipes running through tired racing drivers wrong slotting the and sophisticated double wishbone the central tunnel and bulkhead the gearlever and blowing the engine. suspension. Confidence is massively interior is notorious for becoming Pulling away, first is high but allied enhanced when you realise you can rely extremely hot – one Mk III was fitted to a light overall weight of just 1 fully on the excellent servo assisted disc with air-conditioning so that might be 061kgs and over 300lb-ft of torque at brakes which stop the light car dead. a good option if the car is to be used low revs the GT40 is off and running The big pushrod V8 engine is gentle for anything more than exhilarating with ease. The steering is rather dead and reacts with measured responses. breakfast runs. and heavy and you have to adjust to Reputedly 306bhp it feels more like You can understand why this GT40 viewing the outside world from such a real-world 250bhp and it spools its Mk III is a precursor to the Ferrari a low driving position. The front power out in a controlled almost polite F40 as a Sixties supercar for the road. wings rise up high on either side of manner. The fat wad of torque means It is not as ferocious as the twin the car but you cannot see the end of you don’t have to change gear that turbocharged, younger and faster the nose, nor is there much rear three- often but the practice makes every gear Ferrari but it is much better to drive quarter vision. Taking the gearshifts change that bit easier. With every mile than the contemporary, admittedly slowly the Ford’s lovely benign covered you learn that the GT40 is not awful Lamborghini Miura which is engine helps all the way, and running actually a brutal animal. The chassis ironic because the GT40 is a racing through the narrow English country and powertrain are too sophisticated car thinly disguised as a road-going lanes you soon relax. That’s until for that and soon you begin to drive the supercar whilst the other two are pure a Range Rover comes hurtling the mid-engined car from the seat of your road cars with racing car pretensions.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 45 toyota corolla ad.pdf 1 2014/04/30 8:07 AM
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K toyota corolla ad.pdf 1 2014/04/30 8:07 AM
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K JAGUAR SPECIAL OPERATIONS
ach of the six cars will be built to a specification MISSING CATS originated from the last Lightweight E-type Jaguar has revealed the prototype of its ‘new’ Lightweight produced in 1964 and will E-type – a further six of which will be built by Jaguar Heritage, beE hand-crafted at the original home of the E-type, Jaguar’s Browns Lane plant part of the firm’s new Special Operations division. in Coventry, England. The cars will be sold as period competition vehicles and all will be suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes. The new cars are the ‘missing’ six vehicles from the ‘Special GT E-type’ project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 cars. Only 12 of the aluminium-bodied Lightweight E-types were eventually built and the remaining six designated chassis numbers have lain dormant, until now. The six new cars will carry those original, historic Lightweight E-type chassis numbers. A race winner in the hands of a variety of famous drivers during its short competitive career, the car has achieved worldwide fame and original examples are now valued in the many
48 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za millions. In recreating the Lightweight E-type, Jaguar Heritage has been able Each of the six cars will be built to a specification to call on the superlative skills and experience of many talented engineers originated from the last Lightweight E-type and technicians already working in a produced in 1964 and will be hand-crafted at variety of departments within Jaguar. All, when offered the chance to the original home of the E-type, Jaguar’s Browns assist with this unique project, leapt at the opportunity. Some even have Lane plant in Coventry, England an indirect link with the E-type when it was new: one master technician Jaguar Heritage has opened a brand new workshop facility at Browns Lane, Coventry calculated that his family – including for servicing and restoration of Jaguar’s classic models. his grandparents, his father and his Led by Martyn Hollingsworth, a third-generation Jaguar employee, Jaguar uncle – had a collective 170 years’ Heritage craftsmen have a unique skillset and all servicing and restoration work service at Jaguar stretching back to the early 1960s. completed within the Browns Lane facility (which will also be used for the restoration The expertise and attention brought of Jaguar’s own Heritage vehicles) will be fully warrantied. Customers will be able to bear on this recreation project is to visit while work is in progress on their vehicles and, upon completion, they can staggering, with the full resources of obtain both a photographic record of the work carried out and a Jaguar-approved Jaguar being applied to ensure that the service logbook. six new Lightweights will not only be Said Martyn Hollingsworth, “The recreation of the new Lightweight E-type period authentic, but will also be built to the competition cars has demonstrated the unique skillset within the Jaguar Heritage highest quality standards. team, and I’m delighted the opening of our Browns Lane workshop means we’re So the six chosen customers will each now able to make those same skills available to the benefit of our global customers.” receive the rarest of things – a brand The Jaguar Heritage workshop can collect and deliver vehicles for service or new Lightweight E-type, hand-built at restoration from any location in the UK or, in the case of overseas customers, any Browns Lane and just as desirable as UK airport or port. one of the originals.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 49 THE NUMBERS GAME MIXING POTS Jake Venter continues his look at engine layouts and how and why certain numbers of cylinders are chosen.
16-Cylinder BRM.
hen a new vibration, but modern balance shaft CHOOSING THE BORE AND STROKE engine is being technology plus the introduction Choosing a suitable bore and stroke is designed the of liquid-containing and even vital. Engine displacement depends on choice of the electronically-controlled engine the bore, the stroke and the number number of mountings have made it possible to of cylinders. If we stick to a particular Wcylinders depends on a surprising build car engines with three or even displacement we can make the number of factors. Once the piston two cylinders. Two years ago Fiat following observations: displacement is fixed it will usually started to sell a two-cylinder model Undersquare engine. An advantage come down to three or four cylinders and at present about six or seven major of having the bore significantly smaller if the engine is fairly small, four or six brands are building three-cylinder- than the stroke is that it keeps the cylinders for a medium-sized engine engined cars. cylinder block narrow and short. The and six or eight cylinders for a large disadvantage is that the valves have to engine. On luxury and sports cars the LARGE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS be kept small, thus reducing the engine’s number of cylinders is often chosen A large number of cylinders usually breathing capacity. The long stroke will on the basis of customer appeal. A produces a very smooth power delivery, deepen the cylinder block and reduce V8 is acceptable but a V12 is more but the manufacturing, servicing and the engine’s ability rev, because an charismatic and a V16 is the ultimate. overhaul costs rise as the number engine’s internal stress is proportional of cylinders increase. The smallest to the stroke length. SMALL NUMBER OF CYLINDERS number of cylinders that are perfectly Oversquare engine. An advantage A small number of cylinders will be balanced is six, whether in inline or of having the bore significantly larger relatively inexpensive to manufacture, flat form. A V6 is not in perfect balance, than the stroke is that bigger or more service and overhaul. Fewer than but the balance may be improved by valves can be used. This will increase the four cylinders would normally have adding a balance shaft or employing an breathing ability. The big bore will tend introduced unacceptable levels of unusual crankshaft design. to make the cylinder block wider and
50 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za 2-cylinder Fiat 500.
longer but the short stroke will result if the bores differ greatly in diameter. they are constructed to the same design in it being shallower. The short stroke Expressing the rates of bore wear as a with the same material specifications, will also increase the rev limit. This will percentage of the bore diameter we get they will then have worn the same result in an increased power output. the following criteria: amount. Let’s assume it’s 0.3mm. If we • If the wear is not more than 0.2 per cent now express the wear as a percentage of ENGINE CONFIGURATION of the bore diameter no appreciable the bore diameter we find that the wear The choice of engine configuration deterioration is observed. for the 100mm diameter bore amounts to depends mainly on two considerations. • When the wear reaches 0.25 per cent 0.3 per cent, which is over the limit. The Long crankshafts are more prone of the bore diameter oil consumption wear for the 200mm bore is only 0.15 to torsional vibration than short will begin to rise. per cent and this will have no noticeable shafts, giving rise to the popularity of • When the wear reaches 0.3 per cent effect. The rule then is: the bigger the V-engines. Short engines are also easier of the bore diameter oil consumption bore, the more wear it can tolerate. to fit into the space allocated to the will be getting out of control. A four-cylinder engine of the same engine in modern car bodies. • When the wear reaches about 0.35 to capacity as a six should then last longer, 0.4 per cent of the bore diameter the if all the other conditions are the same. BORE WEAR deterioration in performance will be A twin should last even longer and a The bore size has a definite influence very noticeable. single should live forever. How many on the amount of wear an engine can readers remember the single-cylinder tolerate. Research has shown that if two WEAR RATE VS BORE DIAMETER Lanz Bulldog tractor? It achieved fame engines, made of the same materials, What does this mean in practice? If due to the combination of a lusty are running under the same conditions, we compare two engines with bore torque output and a long engine life, the rate of cylinder bore wear in terms diameters of 100mm and 200mm and but the consequent vibration levels of fractions of a millimetre per 100 assume they’ve run for the same length of would make a Harley-Davidson turn hours will be the same for both, even time under the same conditions and that green with envy.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 51 CITROËN LIGHT 15
52 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za With some fi nancial help from Monsieur Bibendum, 80 years ago, André Citroën introduced his Traction Avant and while it was not the very fi rst, it certainly was one of the motoring world’s foremost mass-produced front-wheel drive cars. Words and pictures by mike monk
espite being only 12 years old at the time, I can still vividly remember being enthralled watching the Maigret police detective series on British TV because the main character, Inspector Jules Maigret D(played by Rupert Davies) drove around in a Citroën Light 15, which was pretty cool in 1960. The way he arrived at a crime scene and stepped out from the rear- hinged driver’s door, hat on head, pipe clenched between teeth, was his trademark laconic entrance. In fact, the car became synonymous with Georges Simenon’s fictional character, for many years being referred to by the general public as a ‘Maigret car’ as much as it was a Traction Avant. So, over half a century later I relished the opportunity to emulate the commissaire de la Paris Brigade Criminelle, especially as this year marks the trend-setting model’s 80th anniversary. André Citroën was a talented engineer and businessman whose links with the motor industry began in 1906 when he was installed as a director for the Mors automobile company where he was very successful. During WW1, with government funding, he ran a munitions factory at Quai de Javel, which afterwards he turned into a motor manufacturing plant that was the foundation of the Citroën Motor Company he established in 1919. His first car, the Model A, is claimed to be Europe’s first mass- produced car. By 1930 Citroëns were being exported on a grand scale and built in factories in other countries, but then came the Great Depression and everything went pear-shaped. Within three years production dropped by two-thirds and in 1932 the company was in dire straits (not helped, it is said, by André’s gambling habits!) and struggling to finance a new model conceived to stem the tide – the Traction Avant. Citroën’s main creditor was the giant French tyre manufacturer Michelin, who took over the bankrupt company in 1934 after giving the go-ahead for the factory to be rebuilt to facilitate production. This task was completed in a remarkably short five months. Designed by André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni, the Traction Avant – as the French wording implies – was a front-wheel drive car that followed a trend pioneered
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 53 The chevron man by Alvis in 1928, Cord in 1929 and Steering was initially worm and roller André-Gustave Citroën was born in Paris DKW in 1931, but it did lead the way but this was changed to rack and by virtue of having a steel monocoque pinion in 1936. An auto transmission on 5 February 1878 to a Dutch father, body, a construction process yet to was envisaged but it never reached Levie, and a Polish mother, Macha. achieve universal popularity amongst production, a three-speed manual Levie was a diamond merchant who the world’s automakers. A benefit of with a dashboard mounted ‘bent committed suicide when André was six the process was that the overall shape lever’ shifter being standard. years old, apparently after failure in a could be relatively low-slung and the The first Traction Avant was built business venture in a diamond mine in need for running boards eliminated, on a 2 910mm wheelbase with a South Africa. It appears that André grew making for a fairly aerodynamic 1 303cm3 four-cylinder engine and up inspired by the works of Jules Verne shape, a styling trait adopted by tagged 7A – the 7 denoting the French and had witnessed the construction practically all subsequent Citroën tax-determining fiscal horsepower of the Eiffel Tower, which inspired him road cars. rating, or ‘CV’. However after a couple to be an engineer. He graduated from The Traction Avant’s highlights of months production, a 7B model was the École Polytechnique in 1900 and did not stop at styling. Engineering- introduced with a motor enlarged to 1 3 shortly afterwards visited Poland (Macha wise, the back-to-front powertrain 529cm , which was followed shortly layout – the gearbox is at the front thereafter by a 7C with a 1 628cm3 had recently died) and there he saw a of the car separated from the in-line engine, both of which fell into the 9CV craftsman working on a set of gears with engine by the final drive – is novel, tax rating but the model’s numbering a fish bone design that proved to be less and, initially, CV joints were used was not changed. The engines noisy and more efficient in operation but these did not work well and featured loose sleeves that could than conventional straight-cut gears. were replaced with universal joints. be easily replaced when necessary. Citroën bought the patent for very little Engines were mounted using springs Later models included the 11 with a money, developed the double helical and rubber blocks between the 1 911cm3 engine and available in short- gear arrangement and in 1913 set up motor and the bodywork. The rakish (BL) and long-wheelbase (3 090mm) his own gear-making company. Later bodywork resulted in a low centre versions, and the 15 with a 2 867cm3 on, this design was reputed to be the of gravity, which, combined with six-cylinder motor (which actually inspiration for Citroën’s double-chevron independent torsion bar/wishbone fell into the 16CV tax bracket). A logo. André died on 3 July 1935 suffering front suspension and a well-located 3 270mm wheelbase was also available with stomach cancer, in time to see his solid rear axle, offered exceptional for the 9-seat 11 and 15, the absence of road holding for its day. The brakes a transmission tunnel helping to make brainchild in production but without were hydraulic, another advanced the interiors very spacious. Production knowing just what a success it would be. feature for a mass-produced car. facilities were set up in other countries
54 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za including Slough, England, where right- but the long-stroke four offers enough hand drive examples were produced, the mid-range torque to facilitate unfussed 11 dubbed Light 15, the lwb 11 the Big progress. In 1951, UK’s The Motor 15 and the 15CV the Big Six, all of which magazine recorded a 0-96km/h time of were specced higher than the austere 29.7 seconds, a top speed of 116.8km/h French versions. and a fuel consumption of 11.2ℓ/100 km. Early cars had no boot lid – but dual fuel Characterful and comfortable, the fillers! – which was rectified for the 1936 Traction Avant is a breeze to drive from model year with an opening rear panel the bench front seat that, thanks to an to incorporate a proper boot. Production under-dash umbrella handbrake, the was suspended throughout the war positioning of the gearshift and the flat years, during which the factory was hit floor, makes the car a reasonably practical in a bombing raid. The car also benefited six-seater. Sidelight pods on the flowing from the availability of Michelin’s new- front fenders are visible from the driving technology ‘X’ radial ply tyre, developed position, the view out is excellent, and in 1946 with Citroën’s Traction Avant simply aiming the long, louvred bonnet and 2CV in mind. towards the horizon adds to a sense of Stepping through the door of this well-being, an attribute Jules would 1954 Light 15 was a nostalgic moment. have appreciated as he contemplated his The car is not pristine – some cracked current case. paintwork, slight tears in the leather When production ceased in 1957 about seats and suchlike – but carries plenty 760 000 units had been produced. Apart of patina. Turn the key, hit the button from a four-door, the Traction Avant and the motor fires immediately and was also produced in two-door coupé settles into a totally unstressed idle. and cabriolet body styles, each with a The Michelin Man Depress the clutch, select first from the rumble seat, and even as a hatchback Michelin’s emblematic Monsieur metal-gated H-pattern gearshift (the Commerciale. It is easy to see why there is Bibendum was introduced in mechanism of which was locked when a strong following of enthusiasts around 1894, five years after the company the mechanical clutch was engaged) on the world for this once ground-breaking was founded, making it one of the the rich wood dashboard and pull away to car that was superseded by the ‘Goddess’ world’s oldest trademarks that the accompaniment of willing revs. With – the also cutting edge ID/DS series. But is still used today and commonly around 42kW available at 4250r/min, the for now, the Maigret car is alive and well. referred to as ‘The Michelin Man’. near-1 150kg Light 15 was never a sprinter Happy 80th!
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 55 Stephen Line Field of Memories Stephen Line, ace karter and race-mechanic, passed away in California on 19 August 2014 aged just 62. Greg Mills remembers the man.
Stephen Line blasts around Killarney in 1978 with an Upton Manx. Photo: Chris Gray.
tephen is probably known, from PE to Cape Town in 1978. It was Champ Lake Speed, and perhaps the if at all, to just a small sliver little surprise he was so fast, having just most famous of all, Ayrton Senna, of the SA racing fraternity. enjoyed a pretty successful first (and who burst onto the scene at the 1978 His modesty would have as it turned out, only) run in the 100cc Champs at Le Mans. Senna, the 1977 preferred it that way. But World Championships. South American champion came Sfrom the time of his arrival from his To understand the significance of the frustratingly close but never won the native Nottingham in 1976 until his world karting championships at the world event, with his team-mate Terry departure little under a decade later time, there were two such international Fullerton usually at least his match on for the United States, where he forged events: for 100cc and 250cc categories. similar equipment. a career in historic race-preparation, he The former usually produced the drivers SA had its own 100cc stars, notably made a big contribution to the South that went on to greater things (with Brian Davey, Derick Irving and African racing scene all the way from its the exception of one Nigel Mansell Carlheinz Peters, all of whom reached karting nursery to the grand heights of who raced 210 Villiers-engined karts) the (usually) 26-grid finals in the 1970s. its then top formula, Atlantic. More than partly as the 250s did not have a proper Carlheinz, who had moved to SA from that, however, his sporting eminence world champs until the early 1980s, Germany late in 1972, finished third says something about how racing was their so-called ‘World Cup’ being a in 1973, the year won by Fullerton, the back then, and how it has evolved – or one-off annual event held at Heysham man described by Senna as the best perhaps, more accurately, devolved. near Lancaster in the UK. The bigger driver he had ever competed against. I first raced against Stephen in gearbox karts did not also apparently The three-time F1 champion added: “He 1977 when he stepped down a class to lend themselves as well as the direct- was very experienced and I enjoyed very compete in the 100 stock event at the drive high-revving 100s to the finesse much driving with him because he was Port Elizabeth round of the then-regular required as one moved into cars, but I fast, he was consistent. He was a very biannual GB-SA ‘test’ encounters. am, of course, biased. complete driver.” Senna may, in saying While I was embroiled in a day-long The men who raced and won in so, have been deliberately attempting tussle for third place with the local the 100 international reads likes the to belittle and out-psyche his peers, hero Cedric Parker, my brother Roddy, ‘Who’s who’ of motorsport: four- notably arch-rival Prost, but Fullerton is then the reigning SA class champion, time F1 Champion Alain Prost, 1974 generally held, even today, to be the best and Stephen were miles out ahead 100cc champion Riccardo Patrese and karter of all time. battling for the lead. Stephen’s Barlotti his main sparring partner that year Getting into the SA team for the was equipped with a novelty for ‘Class Eddie Cheever, 5-time Le Mans winner World Champs was thus a big deal back One’ karts: front-wheel, hand-operated Emanuele Pirro, F1 regulars Andrea de then, and it could be done on talent brakes, which were to become a Cesaris, Elio de Angelis, Corrado Fabi, and not just a cheque book. Personally hallmark of his various chassis. Stefano Modena and Stefan Bellof, I never had more than three new sets At my father’s urging, Stephen moved NASCAR star and ‘78 100cc World of (sticky, Dunlop or Bridgestone)
56 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Line in his Barlotti-BM at Killarney, 1978. Photo: Courtesy Elly Faden. tyres per season, which involved the and his dad used to drive to all the old in the ‘75 World Champs, and for whose CIK meeting, usually two SA Champs legendary kart tracks around England ‘shop’, run out of a mouldy terraced rounds, and a full diary of Western and Europe in a beaten-up old Ford house in Streatham, London, I was a Province Championship races. There van. It takes real dedication,” notes works driver back when) and many was no spare chassis, and usually just Chris, who first met Stephen at the ‘old more including the powerful DAP one spare engine. Today a driver can use, Ster-Kinekor track’ at Zwartkops, “to concern, Senna’s mount, along with easily, three sets of tyres per meeting. compete in a European winter.” stalwart engine brands BM/Sirio, Komet, Stephen had been racing karts Stephen’s eclectic choice of a Barlotti Saetta, McCulloch, Hewland, and DAP already, by then, for ten years. Tuning chassis in SA, where the German Taifun again. Even the omni-powerful Zip Kart and driving ability, not money, were marques ruled thanks to Carlheinz’s has today morphed into essentially an the valuable premiums then, which connections, reflected doing things accessories business. was why the sport and success was his own way, tweaked to suit, a trait The same has happened in more accessible to a working-class lad. emphasised by his use also of an Upton ‘senior’ formulae of motorsport, of Colin Fox met Stephen and his father Manx engine, an unfashionable English course. Just one customer formula in 1969 at Fulbeck kart track “when we attempt to break into the European- manufacturer remains – Dallara – where were thinking about starting karting. dominated market. there were previously scores. Think He took me under his wing and my For the 1977 World Championship March, Ralt, Brabham, Chevron, Argo, dad bought our first engine from him.” it was not a question of going out and Spartan, Royale, Tiga, Hawke, Dulon, Similarly John Hird started karting at buying a new chassis or two, a batch Reynard, and many more, now even the Fulbeck in the seventies. “My dad and of the latest engines, truckload of tyres, great Lola name which recently went I were very new to kart racing. Steve and hiring a transporter and mechanic into receivership. Gone seemingly are and his dad spotted that we were like or two. It was a simpler, infinitely more the days of the small guy thinking he fish out of water and came across to naïve time. Senna described karting of had a good idea and making it happen give us some much needed help. From the period as ‘pure racing’. There was with the aid of a few friends, brazing that moment on we became friends and also a greater diversity of equipment. torch and hacksaw. Now it’s carbon, racing rivals, when I could keep up with Paging through contemporary epoxies, autoclave vacuum ovens, FIA him. They were different, but both were karting magazines reminds us of the homologation, computational fluid excellent engineers.” manufacturers long disappeared: dynamics, wind-tunnels, and money, Stephen was an apprentice at Raleigh Blow (with a quaintly denoted range lots and lots of it. Globalisation might cycles in Nottingham after leaving including Gemini, Victor, Invader, have opened up access and increased school, “but,” remembers fellow karter Hustler, Meteor, and Gnat karts), the scale of markets world-wide, but Chris Gray, ”couldn’t abide the notion Sisley, Star, Dart, Taifun, Swiss Hutless, it has shrunk diversity. Call me an old of hum-drum life in ‘Nottinghamshire, Deavinson Sprint, Lane (run by David romantic, but I am not sure we have England’ till he died of boredom. He and Alan Lane, who had finished third made progress in every respect since.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 57 Line-up for the World Championship Finals at Parma in 1977. Photo: Courtesy Elly Faden.
It was also a racing world more workshop-based tuner John Mills Championships, providing unique accessible to the small man. In addition (no relation) – a brave move at a time personal insight into the challenges of to regular participation at the world when the karting world was moving to racing on such a big stage. events, even though SA was politically longer-stroke types. Tuned for power The South African team, he recalled, isolated, between 1981 and 1985 there in different places, Stephen christened was made up of Carlheinz as team were regular CIK international meetings these new acquisitions the ‘green’ manager and Rob Coetzer as his held at Zwartkops, featuring all the and ‘red’ variants based on a suitable assistant, with drivers Irving, Graham international stars such as Fullerton, daub of paint. With money now short, Blankfield and Barry Taylor (all using perennial World Championship and the only sponsorship evident in Taifun chassis with Peters-tuned Komet runner-up Lars Forsman of Sweden the Castrol leathers organised by the K78s), Willy Fink (Taifun-Davey K78), and Austrian Toni Zoersel, along with mercurial Arthur Abrahams, Stephen Ed Murray (Taifun-K78) and Stephen. a sprinkling of then up and coming convinced Bill Sisley, the mentor later With over 100 drivers entered, the track names such as Michael Schumacher, of one Johnny Herbert and long-time opened Monday afternoon, all-day Heinz-Harald Frentzen and future DTM proprietor of the Buckmore karting Tuesday and Wednesday for practice. star (and Zakspeed F1 driver) Bernd centre in Kent (whose investors include As John indicates, Stephen Schneider, winner of the ‘83 CIK All- John Surtees), to loan him two of his approached the Championships Africa event. unfashionable Kestrel chassis and off seriously. The seemingly endless The CIK event was an opportunity, he set for Northern Italy. permutations were tested exhaustively, remarkably, for SA drivers to test John Hird was Stephen’s spanner- all recorded diligently in Stephen’s themselves against the best in the world man for the event. “We had a fantastic little black book. Different chassis with in their own country on an annual basis. week or so travelling through Europe to various settings and the three engines We were spoilt rotten. This exposure Parma. Steve was very dedicated to his on a variety of gearings, exhausts, and became more important as the World racing - he went to bed early every night. carbs. Finally, the ‘red’ engine was Champs moved, for no apparent logic, I was just the opposite down in the bar deemed quickest, though it offered little to 135cc engines from 1981, ensuring with Fanie, one of the SA mechanics. over the two-year-old BM K96/3. a Komet benefit show at the top-end of On the way down to Parma we stopped Time-trials took place on the the sport for the next decade. overnight on the side of the road to get Thursday, the top 30 getting a bye until For the 1977 world event in Parma, some sleep, only to be dragged out of the the Saturday. All the six SA drivers Italy, Stephen bought a second-hand van in the early hours of the morning by raced the three heats, which eliminated BM from Cape Town’s Ed Razzano who German police, searched, and having to Taylor, Blankfield and Murray, while had used them in the ‘75 Champs held take everything out of the van before Stephen squeezed through via the last- at Paul Ricard. He boldly additionally being sent on our way.” chance repechage into the last 64, no commissioned two DAP T81 short- At the end of 2010, Stephen mean feat given the last four in that stroke engines from an old friend, wrote to me with details of the ‘77 race made it through from forty-odd
58 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Scrutineering at the 1977 World Champs. Photo: Courtesy Elly Faden. scrapping drivers. he contended, “it became driver, tyres, to Fulbeck to help us on our way, The Saturday morning saw another chassis and engine, in that order.” including a set of short knives-cum- time-trial for the remaining 64 drivers, Once in Cape Town Stephen’s hacksaw blades, carefully sharpened by which time the SA drivers had presence lifted the standard of the local from discarded bits of the latter. It was shuffled some of their equipment: scene, just as Carlheinz’s had done for a different era, affected by post-war Irving obtained a factory Sirio engine, Johannesburg’s. With his Barlotti in austerities and frugalities, a long way Fink moved to a Swiss Hutless chassis Mark de Nobrega’s hands (which the from the excesses of contemporary with a HeliBrandhofer-tuned Parilla, Capetonian used to win the stock class consumerism and a concomitant and Stephen loaned Ed Murray’s Taifun. title in 1979), Stephen upgraded to a new disposable culture. After breaking a rod in the first heat and DAP-DAP combination and became the By 1979 in addition to Stephen, three missing the second while changing guy to beat. By 1978 my brother, Roddy, more Capetonians (Guy Lanfear, my engines, Stephen decided to call it quits, had made it into the SA team for the brother and myself) were in the SA realising that qualification for the finals World Champs in Le Mans, using the team. In 1980, at my urging, such is the was unlikely. No South African made same DAP T81 engines purchased from temerity of youth, Stephen left his job as it through to the last 34 drivers in the Stephen, and tested at his home track a machine-fitter at SA Nylon Spinners finals, save for Alan Gates (a Brit racing in Fulbeck on the site of an old air force and took one preparing Tommy Dunn’s under an SA flag of convenience in base in Lincolnshire under the eye of his ex-Ian Scheckter March 79A Formula 1980), who did so thereafter in the 100cc parents Arthur and Irene. Atlantic. Tommy, a Killarney star in International World Champs. We secured the engines from John various Minor Motors Group One Alfas, The year was the third in a row Mills one evening by an international had raced our karts after meeting my dominated by BM karts and engines, trunk call, the first-ever in our home, brother at a Western Province awards and the second won on the trot by which we had excitedly booked the day ceremony. I would often sneak away Felice Rovelli, the son of a controversial before. How times have changed! Sadly from university classes and travel out to Italian industrialist. 1977 proved a the T81s proved little more competitive the Pioneer Oats facility off Bofors Circle watershed in other ways, as this was at Le Mans than they had with Stephen to help as he fettled the March wing-car the first year Japanese (Bridgestone the Championships before, with the and the spare ex-Sportsman Lager racing and Dunlop) tyres appeared, being smaller bore DAP T70 proving the March 77B. worth about two seconds a lap engine to beat in the hands of Senna and The season was a success, with in Stephen’s estimation over the Fullerton, though the first two places Tommy finishing second overall in until then ubiquitous Goodyears or were taken by the then revolutionary the SA Drivers Championship behind Continentals. “Up to this point,” he two-bearing axle Birel-Parilla outfits of the Chevron B45 expertly pedalled by wrote, “I would rate the driver as most Speed and Zoersel. Tony Martin. important, followed by the engine, I remember the elder Line, a retired As Tommy recalls, “Stephen was a chassis and tyres. From 1978 onwards,” lorry driver, bringing along some tools great help during that 1980 Atlantic
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 59 Tommy Dunn’s Pioneer Oats/ Bokomo Racing March 79 Atlantic in the Killarney Ayrton Senna da Silva in his world championship debut, pits in late 1980. Line is with the long hair with his back to the camera. Le Mans, 1978. Photo: Denis Mills. Photo: Peter Ellenbogen.
season, not only with the car but also In 1982, while I was paying for my Long Island, New York the following trucking it around the country in a sins by writing a supplementary Latin year, where he was crew chief on SCCA pretty large and fairly clapped-out Ford university exam, Stephen finished sixth Formula Atlantic cars for the next transporter. In the days that I knew him in the CIK meet won by the sublimely decade, achieving some 20 national he was very reserved but that did not talented Irving from Fullerton, race-wins. After a move over to vintage stop him from taking a great interest in Forsman, Zoersel and Schneider. And restoration work, he changed coasts to a two pretty girls visiting our pit at Roy in 1983 he finished the third SA driver race preparation firm at Sears Point, now Hesketh during practice. On my out behind Jeanette Wingels (6th) and Infineon, race-track, which included lap, as I braked for the first corner, the yours truly (7th) in a field numbering 50 running an F1 Embassy-Hill. At the time left front wheel flopped over. With one entries with 23 foreign drivers. The one of his death he was focused on restoring eye on the girls and the other on the car, title he desperately wanted, and made and repairing Cobras and running two Stephen had tightened the wheel with few bones about, remained, however, TransAm historic race-cars. the mounting pegs next to the locating tantalizingly out of reach when I pipped And he returned inevitably to karting, holes, not in them. But I cannot recall him by just one point in a ding-dong SA to the growing historic category of Stephen’s follow up with the girls!! Championship in 1983, the first time the sport. From his base in California Together we had a reasonably good the 100 international crown had been Stephen restored a 1963 Fox Flyweight/ season, unfortunately only the one, as won by a driver from outside Jo’burg. Mc9, and a 1974 Bug Wasp with, of our sponsor said they had sold less oats It took Stephen a long time to forgive course, a choice of Upton Manx, Komet in 1980 than the previous year!” me, by which time I had moved to K77 and DAP T81. With the end of the Bokomo support, England to race a bit before furthering Stephen Line was an accomplished Stephen was off to Jo’burg, and the my studies, and he had moved to the engineer, very quick driver, and tough serious karting resumed, though States. It was ironic that the man who competitor. His success was due to his he remained in the Atlantic game, had helped me to lift my game, had lost varied talents, undoubtedly, but was preparing cars for Peter Haller until the out in the process. also down to the era, when a little guy German emigre’s death in an accident at Stephen returned to the UK a week could still make it. I am pleased to have Welkom in March 1984 when his home- after Haller’s accident to visit his father raced then, and proud to have raced built space-frame car went airborne who was ill with a brain tumour. When with him. after a tangle at the end of the straight. he returned to SA after his father’s Stephen finished tenth after the heats death that May, he went to work for Dr Mills would like especially to thank Derick Irving, Roddy Mills, Karting Magazine’s in the 1981 CIK All-Africa event (one Dorbyl at the nuclear enrichment plant Mark Burgess, Tommy Dunn, Bill Sisley, place behind a certain G Mills using the at Pelindaba. In April 1985 he left SA Chris Gray, Jack Pienaar, and Stephen’s unloved ‘green’ DAP), won overall by for the US, initially working for Essex friend Elly Faden for their help in the Zoersel, a tough old pro, from Forsman. Racing in Atlanta before moving to preparation of this article.
60 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za POA R425 000 R95 000 1993 Bentley Continental R 1991 Aston Martin Virage 1973 MG Midget Immaculate condition , 22 000 Miles , Full Lagonda engine 5,3 L V8, Electric windows, 1500cc 4 Speed manual, excellent condition, House, FSH and books, one of the finest power steering, leather interior, beautiful car everyday day driver, 80 000 miles, absolutely examples. good condition. no rust.
R125 000 R155 000 R150 000 2007 Lotus 7 Replica 1973 Mercedes Benz 350 SL 1960 Pontiac Strato Chief 2.0 Zeetech engine, 5 speed sierra box, Gotech 4 speed manual, soft top in great condition, 4.2 L straight six, re-upholstered, re-painted, management system, extremely well built, mechanically sound, beautiful summer car that mechanically sound, in great condition, 3 speed handles well, lots of fun. will appreciate. column shift.
R595 000 R550 000 R125 000 1998 Aston Martin DB7 1993 Bentley Continental R 1977 Mercedes Benz 450 SL I52 000 Miles on clock, full service history Full service history with books, 70 000 Miles on 218 000 Km’s, soft top in good condition, plus books, well looked after, beautiful colour clock, beautiful cruiser, great condition. mechanically sound, hard top included, combination, automatic, convertible. appreciating vehicle.
R175 000 R245 000 R85 000 1986 Jaguar XJS Targa 2000 Jaguar XKR 1969 MG GT 168 000 kms on clock, full service history, great Supercharged Silverstone edition, full service 123 000 Miles, full original interior, mechanically colour combination, top condition. history one owner car, 145 000 km, perfect sound, drives like a dream, been in one family condition. all its life.
28 Marine Drive Paarden Eiland 7405 Cape Town CONTACT KIERAN TEL: 021 510 6533 | CELL: 072 186 6127 | FAX: 021 510 7715 www.bloomsbury.co.za Brian Gush BIKES TO BENTLEYS The recent successes enjoyed by the reborn Bentley Motors, both in the marketplace and on the racetrack, are to a large extent attributable to the efforts of South African mechanical engineer Brian Gush. Gavin Foster catches up with the Bentley Motors’ Director of Chassis, Powertrain and Motorsport.
Gush and his Yamaha TT 500 ready for the 1978 Roof of Africa. 62 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Two of Brian’s favourites – Blower Bentley and Lotus Elan.
rian is also a keen classic there’s no conflict between running a motorcycle buff who spends high-tech race team on the one hand his leisure time rebuilding and having a hobby where you have and racing elderly British to do everything yourself in your motorcycles, which is pretty workshop, on the other.” Bmuch the way he spent his afternoons So what path did Brian take on his and weekends when he was a scholar at way to what would be any petrolhead’s Port Elizabeth’s Grey High School in the dream job? Did he plot a course and late ‘60s and early ‘70s. stick grimly to it until the blocks all “I think that rebuilding motorcycles fell into place? Apparently not. “I never from an early age gave me a hands-on had any great vision that I was going to approach to my work,” says Brian, a get across here and into motorsport,” he chartered mechanical engineer who tells me on the phone from his home in qualified in Cape Congleton, 30km south of Manchester. “I think that rebuilding motorcycles Town in the ‘70s. “You just keep pushing forward, taking from an early age gave me a “If you’ve done one step at a time, and taking your things yourself it’s opportunities as they come.” hands-on approach to my work,” very much easier Brian has been at Bentley for 15 to direct a group years, having moved across from says Brian, a chartered mechanical of engineers his post as head of engineering at engineer who qualifi ed in Cape working on a Volkswagen South Africa a year or project. I still so after Volkswagen AG bought the Town in the ‘70s enjoy it, and prestigious British brand. Prior to that
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 63 Brian alongside a Continental GT. Gush racing Gavin Foster’s AJS 500 at Coega near PE in 1970.
he’d worked for Ford in South Africa, Bentley Continental GT3 took to the and was involved with the motorsport tracks in the USA and Europe. In the divisions of both companies, with his European Blancpain endurance series first major motorsport project being the Bentley drivers, Guy Smith, Andy the development of the Ford Sierra XR8 Meyrick and Steven Kane, have so far in the mid-1980s. this year scooped a fourth and two “When I got to Bentley I was wins from three starts. “We also have responsible for reorganising the a car competing in the Pirelli World engineering department,” he says. “I Challenge in the USA,” says Brian, “and was also given the opportunity to put our next step is to run a car in Asia – the motorsport department together either in China or in Saudi Arabia.” and then develop a prototype to go But back to where it all began, with back to Le Mans with. To do that, then the old bikes. I was friends with Brian take it through the three-year process in about 1970, and used to hang out and win Le Mans was the absolute with him in his folks’ garage in Port business!” Indeed it was. Bentley had Elizabeth working on motorcycles won Le Mans in 1924, and then again – at one time I acquired an AJS 500 every year from 1927 to 1930, before scrambler for R20, the first bike I ever Rolls-Royce bought the troubled owned, and stored it there because my company in 1931 and shut down the mother would have killed me if she had racing department, a state of affairs found out where my pocket money had that lasted for 70 long years. With Brian gone! Brian worked non-stop, restoring overseeing the project for the factory various ancient bikes with Villiers the results were extraordinary, with two-stroke engines, a BSA Bantam, and the three-year campaign harvesting the a 1950s Norton Dominator 500. He did factory team a third position at Le Mans all the work himself, and used to do his in 2001, a fourth spray painting with an old flit pump “I was also given the opportunity in 2002, and both like my gran used for floor polish, first and second achieving remarkable results. to put the motorsport department places overall in the So what jewels does the man who final year. spends his life making decisions about together and then develop a Bentley then some of the fastest and most expensive prototype to go back to Le Mans withdrew from cars in the world have in his home motorsport once workshop today? with. To do that, then take it through again until this “I still have the Dominator – I’ve year, when the rebuilt it about three times and I take the three-year process and win Le factory four-litre it out for a blast every year. I also have Mans was the absolute business!” twin-turbo V8 a Norton 750 Commando, a Triumph
64 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Gush and the car Bentley took to Le Mans. Brian on his Norton Commando.
Trident, a Bonneville and a Greeves an evening with him at the end of last scrambler that I recently rebuilt with year, reminiscing about Lotus Elans in a Triumph 500 twin-cylinder engine as South Africa and elsewhere.” a replica 1970s enduro bike,” he says. One has to ask the question: Does Brian was a regular midfield motocross Brian get to drive any of the Bentley race and enduroracer back in South Africa, cars that he’s responsible for? “I drive and competed in the Roof of Africa all the cars that we produce,” he says. where he lay 13th until he picked up a “I’ve driven all the Speed 8 Le Mans cars flat tyre in 1978. Today he races his old and I’ve driven our GT3 race cars. I have bikes in vintage motocross and enduro to do it. It’s great to drive the car that events whenever his race schedule you created, and it gives me enormous at Bentley allows. He also rides in the respect for the professional drivers we annual DJ Rally between Durban and employ to race them – they really earn Johannesburg every year he can. their money! I go out and have a blast On the car front, Brian has a around the track but I’m nowhere near beautifully restored 1966 Lotus Elan quick enough to count.” that’s helped him form bonds with Then there’s the absolute cherry a number of other South African on top – the Bentley Blower. “I’m engineers who’ve done extremely responsible for the Bentley heritage well in British and international fleet and I recently drove a Bentley motorsport. “Andre Verwey (of Gemini Blower – the number two car that Sir Transmissions fame) did the cylinder Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin raced into second head for me,” he says. “The Elan was place behind Woolf Barnato and Glen designed by Ron Hickman, who came to Kidston at Le Mans in 1930 – from the England, worked as a designer for Ford factory to the Classic Le Mans and back. and then went to Lotus Engineering as That was the ‘hare’ in the 1930 race chief engineer. While I was rebuilding with the Mercedes my Elan he came to see me, autographed SSK that then broke On the car front, Brian has a the steering wheel and invited me to down, allowing Jersey. I went across to see him just Bentley No. 1, the beautifully restored 1966 Lotus before he died in 2011, and it was ‘Old Number One’ great.” Hickman, born and raised in Speed Six to win Elan that’s helped him form bonds Greytown, also designed the folding again. I did a lap with a number of other South Black & Decker Workmate workbench at Classic Le Mans that subsequently sold 30 million and and then drove it African engineers who’ve done made him a fortune. Then, of course, back. That was a bit there is Durbanite Gordon Murray of of fun.” extremely well in British and McLaren who also has an Elan. “I spent I’ll say! international motorsport
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 65 VOLVO 144 HEADS NORTH SCANDINAVIAN FLICK
Local Volvo enthusiast hy this article I had to have our 1970 Volvo 144 Howard Bates takes his to Classic & at the start in Gothenburg for the Performance Car 5 500km tour by 25 May 2014. A bit of 144 to its motherland and Africa? Well, I work was required as the engine was enjoys a hassle-free spin have a ‘classic’, original but tired, the suspension was up to the northernmost WI injected her with ‘performance’ original but horrible on country roads and then did an 8 000km road tour and the only mechanically sound part part of Europe. in Europe. was the gearbox with factory overdrive. Back in 2012 the SA Volvo Owners Suspension was lowered on heaver Club met up with a Dutch group of coil wire, a bit of caster was added, classic Volvos in Pretoria. These guys shocks and all suspension rubbers had just completed a 6 000km tour renewed. Next was to upgrade the from Cape Town, up the West Coast sealed beam headlights and remove into Namibia through the Caprivi, back the original B20 engine. Here I big- down through Botswana and ended in bored the block, stroked the crank, re- Durban. Models on the run included sized the rods, verniered the cam gear, Duetts(210), Amazons (122) and ‘The re-profiled the cam, changed the valve Saint’ (P1800). But what grabbed my seats, installed larger valves, fitted attention was the mention of a tour twin 42 Weber carbs, saw to electronic through Scandinavia scheduled for ignition and had Maurice Rosenberg 2014. It was to be organised by the dial in a real good torquey performance Dutch Club as part of their 44 years engine on the dyno. in existence celebrations. The bug March 2014. The now rejuvenated bit. I joined the Nederlandse Klassieker 144 headed down the N3 from Volvo Vereniging, who by the way, has Johannesburg to Durban harbour over 3 300 classic Volvos registered and was ‘containerized’ for the trek within Holland. to Rotterdam.
66 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za May 2014 arrived and we set off in With smooth gravel roads being a little behaved beautifully. the 144 from Den Dolder, Holland dusty and featuring plenty of loose Day 5 saw us finish a 565km stage (about 50km outside Amsterdam) stone, it is obvious to see why this ending up at Kirkenes, Finland, for the Baltic Sea, driving through country churns out world-class rally virtually on the border with north Germany and on to our Gothenburg drivers. Day 3 took us from Arvidsjaur, Russia, a stone’s throw away from the destination. With its overdrive being Sweden and through the Arctic Circle Barents Sea coastline. Latitudinally, we used to the fullest, the Volvo proved a to Rovaniemi, Finland. Roads were were further north than Iceland. Again dream on the autobahns. nearly all paved and although snow was the weather was perfect. 25 May 2014. The roads were wet as 83 everywhere to be seen the skies were Up to this stage we had been classic Volvos departed averaging about 600km Gothenburg, Sweden per day, which sounds heading north for the May 2014 arrived and we set off in the quite a bit, but when land of the Midnight 144 from Den Dolder Holland (±50km you have between 20 Sun - Finnmark, to 24 daylight hours, Norway. Filling the outside Amsterdam) for the Baltic Sea, it is a walk in the park. 56-litre fuel tank was the Of the 83 classics first surprise with fuel driving through Germany and onto that departed from costing almost double our Gothenburg destination. With its Gothenburg, 83 arrived to that back home. The at the top of Finland second earth-shattering overdrive being used to the fullest the with 2 379km under the experience was that Volvo proved a dream on the autobahns belt. The organisers had most of the open road assembled 2 support speed limits were pegged at 100kph. clear and the ambient temperature crews both in V70s, and apart from The roads up through Sweden were sat around 19°C. This time of year the one rear axle assembly change, the odd excellent, even the unpaved sections sun disappears for only a couple of generator bearing swap and exhaust were a dream. Day 2 brought out the hours each day and it doesn’t really get repair, all the entrants excelled. sun and temperatures became bearable. dark. The old girl, the 144 Volvo that is, Not bad for cars ranging from a
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 67 1957 Volvo 444, to Duetts, to many, Gravel and icy roads had not prevented many Amazons and of course our the 83-strong group achieving their faithful 144. Our car hadn’t used a drop goal and celebrating 44 years of the of oil, coolant or missed a beat. Klassieker Volvo Vereniging. Back to the surprises though - the Leaving Nordkapp, down the third was that the further north we Norwegian coast and the impressively drove, the more expensive beer became. beautiful fjords, we headed for Tromsø R90, no that’s not a road identification on a 670km stage. The stages through number, but the price of a single glass! Norway included the famous Atlantic Day 6 had us arriving in perfect Road, a network of island-hopping weather just 30 kays from Nordkapp and amazing bridges to the Trollstigen at our overnight stop on the Friday (Trolls’ Ladder or Trolls’ Path) built in evening, where the following day 1936 with its switchbacks, amazing was the scheduled visit to view the scenery, death defying drops and Midnight Sun and official photo picturesque views. shoot. Seeing Only too soon were we entering In total we covered 7 945km, of the weather was Oslo and the home stretch to brilliant, a few Gothenburg. Here we scheduled a rest which 102km was in tunnels. The of us decided to day after 5 600km of day-to-day stages 144 drank 671.44 litres of fuel do the last 30km with only three rest days in between. that evening, Of course we had to visit the Volvo (11.83km/l – 8.45l/100km) and reaching the view Museum and have our 144 picture point just before taken as the first South African Volvo we never had to use the toolkit midnight with 144 to ever park outside the entrance. crystal clear skies to witness the sun We did a bit of island-hopping using dipping across the horizon. the ferries before heading south from What a view at 00:13, 31 May 2014, Gothenburg through Germany back to it was at Nordkapp – the northernmost Den Dolder. point of Europe and just 2 100km from In total we covered 7 945 kilometres, the North Pole at 71°10’21”N/25°47’40”E. of which 102km was in tunnels. Good thing we did that because The 144 drank 671.44 litres of fuel overcast, wind and snow conditions (11.83km/l – 8.45l/100km) and we brought the temperature down never had to use the toolkit. dramatically the next day as the So what now? Do we bring the old planned photo shoot got under way. 144 back home? Yes, for sure, but only All the equips, including the service after the twin Webers have growled and film crew vehicles had arrived. around Nurburgring for a few laps.
68 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za 86 ad rear.pdf 1 2014/04/17 11:23 AM
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K TRIUMPH ON THE MILLE MIGLIA
Fourteen years ago when I ast forward a year or two and drowning our sorrows an email came met Arthur Wassenaar he he finally found a suitable through and Arthur started screaming TR3 in Johannesburg. After and turned his phone to me. There was spoke about doing the Mille much convincing the car the official letter: Arthur Wassenaar, Miglia. In 2010 I asked him traded hands because the Triumph TR3 – accepted. what he was waiting for and Fpassion Arthur showed twisted the After two and half months of better he makes a plan, and reluctant seller’s arm. The relationship frantically organising paperwork, with the owner didn’t end there though insurance and transport for the car (by that was exactly what he did. as Arthur spent many a weekend air, as it was too late to ship her) we He spent hours researching with him preparing the car for the loaded ‘The Green Car’ for Zurich. The eligible cars and doing gruelling event. plan was to then drive to Italy the next The Mille Miglia receives over a day – with a romantic night on Lake sums. Italian cars were thousand applicants each year and with Como squeezed in before three nights completely out of reach, so only 450 cars being accepted it was a in Brescia to prepare for the race. it was between an Austin nerve-wracking experience paying the 11 May saw us leave Zurich but 15km Healey and Triumph TR3. exorbitant entry fee and waiting for later disaster struck as smoke poured acceptance. We were told we’d know by from the car. Art stuck his head under By Mandy Di Nicola the end of December, then February and the bonnet. I sat on my suitcase and then March. On 3 March while sitting called on St Anthony for help. When I
70 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za lose something I call on this saint but from another car. The following day world’s best. this time uttered: “St Anthony, I haven’t the boys worked all day while Margrit Traditionally the race day starts in lost anything, but I’m not sure who the took me into Zurich to shop. By the Piazza Vittoria. Cars assemble for the all- saint of broken down cars is!” end of the day the repair was complete. important sealing, which is when a thin Art called the TR club in South Margrit made us Raclette for dinner and metal wire is fixed around the steering Africa, who called the Triumph club we returned to our hotel, our hopes of wheel of the car. In the old days, this in England, who called the Triumph doing the race re-ignited. was to ensure that the car you started club in Switzerland, who called a We woke up and headed unhindered the race with, was the same you finished Triumph specialist. Soon afterwards to Brescia. The hotel concierge Googled in. Today a GPS tracker is fixed to your said specialist Robert Ernst arrived in Mille Miglia registration and car wash car, so this is pretty pointless. But those his white TR6, the ‘White Lady’. He for us and we planned our day. Words who have their cars sealed in the Mille took one look and towed us to his home, can’t describe the emotions when we Miglia never remove the seal - a bit of a where I was banished to the care of his drove through the doors of the Brixia status symbol I am told. That all done, wife Margrit. Hours passed and it was Expo to register and were pushed and thereafter the collection of your made clear to me my romantic night in into place amongst hundreds of the Chopard watch with your race number, Lake Como wasn’t going to happen. most beautiful cars. The penny finally ours being 421, and it was off to the “She has lost a piston,” Robert said. dropped that this was really happening. Mille Miglia museo for the last supper. A piston was sourced from another We were there and our little ‘Green Too nauseous with nerves to eat, we Triumph fanatic, who removed one Car’ was considered an equal to the strolled around and ogled all the other
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 71 cars. The waiting started to become through the Italian countryside. unbearable and we went to sit in the car. We had to keep up with the cars Art thought it might be a good idea to in front of us, as the road book was study the road book, which I had briefly proving to be quite an issue for me, looked at the night before. Chinese, as far chief navigator from hell. I yelled, as I was concerned and I started to worry “Just go and don’t dare lose those cars when the occupants in the Oldsmobile in front.” We kept on speeding down next to us were furiously paging through little country roads on the white line at it with a calculator at hand. 140km/h, in and out of villages, getting 8:45pm. Waiting in line for our our stamps and miraculously arriving 9:00pm start time the people cheering at our scheduled stop outside Padova at was overwhelming and children asked 2:30am. Bed at 3:45am. us to sign autographs like rock stars. We had just over 2 hours of sleep and We slowly pulled up onto the ramp nobody seemed to know where the start and they thanked us, the one and only was. Finally we found a marshal and got car from South Africa, and wished us into line. We were off to a great start well. With that, Art put his foot flat with no wrong turns or being forced to and the next 10 minutes were a blur. follow other cars. Our sector time for I remember screaming around the the first leg to San Marino was 5 hours Castello, getting to a traffic circle and and 30 minutes. At the 4 hour 15 mark not knowing whether to go left or right, I noticed a sign for San Marino only 20 already not knowing what page we were kilometres away. Thinking we’d gone on in the road book. Thank goodness for too fast we stopped for a coffee. The the spectators who indicated us to the drive up the hill into San Marino was left when we hesitated. I had no idea spectacular and again, because we were of the speed of this race. I was under completely overwhelmed by the people, the impression vintage cars go slowly cameras and scenery, forgot to get a and was anticipating a relaxing drive stamp from the marshals.
72 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za We proceeded to the parking lot, lost in Ancona we finally found the Porsche (Porsche’s grandson). Art had and parked next to a Jaguar driven by stamp area, which had closed for the to push-start Ferdinand, as his starter Bruno Senna and Martin Brundle. Art day. Desperation started to set in. We motor was dead. attended to the exhaust and that was needed to be in Rome at around 10pm, We drove around some more in when I realised we didn’t have a stamp, but were a good 4 hours behind. circles and eventually one of Ferdinand’s so we rushed back to the stamping The rain started as we crossed over mates came to find us and we got our point. Everyone else seemed to have the mountain toward L’Aquilla. 80 kays stamp. Getting out of L’Aquilla proved the same idea and we met a massive of winding roads, in the dark and cold, to be even more trying, some more queue. We were hungry, and decided was extremely scary. We were the only circles and back to where we started. I we would stop to have a pannino and car on the mountain other than a very began screaming at one of the officials catch up. We thought we knew what sick Maserati, and one or two military stamping the Army vehicles. I explained we were doing by then. Bad move, as vehicles also competing. Occasionally that my family was from this region and on our return we found no cars and the event sweep car came up behind us I was embarrassed. we’d missed the instruction about the probably indicating we were stone last. At Rieti, the stamp officials had changes to the road book. Obviously Art wanted to get on to the autostrada shut up shop. Even though it was we got horribly lost and went up and and go directly to Rome, prior to getting 2:30am, one of our convoy decided to down the mountain numerous times on this damn mountain, but I told him find the man’s house and wake him before finding an official who directed absolutely not – that would be cheating. up to get a stamp, unsuccessfully. Art us towards the other cars. We lost We were there to do 1 000 miles and and I were exhausted and bordering about an hour and the day got worse that was exactly what we were going on hypothermia. Our entrance into when we missed a stamp in Pesaro. to do. I was also concerned we would Rome was not what we had imagined. I had to beg a police car to escort us be disqualified if we took the highway We were both looking forward to to the right place to get it, which they (apparently not the case). We finally driving past the Colosseum, Castello did with sirens blaring. Luckily being arrived outside L’Aquilla. I saw two old and into Piazza San Pietro, instead we Italian I can speak the lingo. Then cars so we followed them. They too were entered on the ring road lined with a breakdown. Apparently a bolt on clueless and we couldn’t work out how Roman prostitutes. the steering fell off, resulting in half to get into town. It turned out that the Art spotted the ‘end of the race car’ an hour delay. Back on the road but Porsche was being driven by Ferdinand behind us, which meant we are still
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 73 in the race. Stone last, but still in. A to the square in the centre where the down and he yelled back, “When man jumped into the road waving a cars were parked for the night. With am I ever going to able to drive this Mille Miglia flag and indicated to us no Mille Miglia officials in sight, I fast again? Let me enjoy the last few to turn right into a small aeroport. A managed to find a security guard minutes.” I decided to stop back seat temporary stamp tent had been set up who explained how we could get to driving and leave him to cherish the for us and our card was stamped. We our hotel. Again speaking Italian was last section. made it to Rome; the time was 4:00am. vital, considering the complete lack of We arrived in Brescia half an hour We finally got into bed at 4:45am, and organization. Art says it added to the too early (now I knew why I had seen slept for 1 hour and 15 minutes. uniqueness of the race. We got a good 5 so many competitors stopping for The relief of being able to continue hours sleep after our dinner of Pringles coffee) so waited patiently for our turn the race, that and the first wrong turn and water, raided from the mini bar. to drive onto the podium. We finished out of Rome, losing us 45 minutes, The next morning disaster struck the 4 day race bursting with pride. We woke us both up. We calmly found when the car wouldn’t start. Art says made it in 4 days, 43 hours of driving, our way back to the right road and I actually turned green. I tried to 8 hours of sleep and very little food, miraculously joined up with all the push-start the machine but nothing as number 368. It took nerves of steel, other cars. I didn’t make any more happened. The thought of not finishing determination and dedication along navigation mistakes and the day went with only 250 kays to go was too much with a passion for racing. I didn’t know perfectly, racing through some of the to bear but then Art remembered he’d I had it in me, but am now hooked. The most beautiful parts of Italy. The sun forgotten to turn the fuel pump on. best 4 days of my life! I know Art will was shining, the crowds cheering and And voila! with another push, she be doing it again and again, and I hope the previous day’s nightmare forgotten. started. The starter motor had died, but one day to be invited back to sit in the This is why the race is called the ‘most the engine was running and we were navigator’s seat. beautiful race in the world’. Art says able to continue. After calming down, Our Mille Miglia is not just a story of ‘The Green Car’ woke up and realised it we had another perfect day and I even beautiful scenery, cars and fast driving. was a race – eating up the open winding had cars following us, I was navigating The experience was made possible by roads of Tuscany. so well. so many special people: our families, We arrived in Bologna spot on time We drove through Modena and friends, Triumph Club network and at 10:30pm but did then manage to lose Reggio Emiglia and the beautiful Saint Robert. And last but not least, the 100-strong police bike motorcade. Mantova with the bells ringing. Our the thousands of car-mad Italians who Doing the scenic route on pedestrian- car loved the speed but 20 kilometres lined the streets. Your cheers will ring only roads, we finally found our way outside Brescia, I asked Art to slow in our ears forever.
74 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za
YOUTH PROJECT – ROUND EIGHT
MOMENTUM!Words by Adrian Burford Images by Oliver Hirtenfelder and Adrian Burford
Thanks to Cornrights the wheels are painted, the engine bay touched up, and refabricated transmission tunnel properly sealed and repainted. It almost looks like a car from here …
’m between a rock and a hard seats that required regular adjusting, coated and reassembled, and it should place: James has got his licence, and engines which dirtied their oil be sweet thanks to high density but hasn’t got a car. If we had more frequently. Some of those we can polyurethane bushes throughout bought a Polo, Figo, or Brio some overcome – two worthwhile tweaks for and the Bilstein dampers/H&R spring months back, he would’ve been any classic which will be used regularly combo. Replacement ball joints, tie Imerrily on his way, but instead Clever (in my humble opinion), are electronic rod ends and strut top bushes mean Dick here decided to build him an ignition and an electric fuel pump. everything is new. It is all a very affordable classic…. The good news, apart from the custom set-up now, and the radius arms Just for starters let me tell you that success on the licence front, is that the head backwards and locate against the affordable classic is like military lad’s passion for Project 2002 has been chassis rails, allowing unfettered space intelligence – mutually exclusive. Old reignited in the last couple of months. from the rack down to the steering arms. cars, whether you’re going to use one as Not only has he spent a few intensive Correcting any possible bumpsteer a daily drive or as a genuine collectable, sessions in the Evolution 2 workshop issues we may have had as a result are always a WIP, or work in progress. taking guidance and instruction from of the lowered suspension, is a set of They do need (and deserve) more Alec Ceprnich’s band of merry men, beautifully-made spacers from Ireland pampering and attention, especially if but he begs to drive my 2002 at every Engineering in California, which fit you leave them exactly as they are. opportunity. That’s a promising sign below the strut and incline the angle That’s why they needed more indeed. While the pace relative to the of the steering rods downward. A 19 frequent servicing back then … tappets man-hours seems slow, there’s been millimetre anti-roll bar, made just for to adjust, dwell angles to set, jets, big progress. us by Supreme Spring, has finished off carburettor pumps and needles and The front suspension is powder- the front.
76 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Custom front end, complete with Bilsteins, polyurethane bushes and camber/bumpsteer adjusters from Ireland Engineering.
The engine is ready to go in – new drive belt and tensioners We’ll cleanse the system with a sumpful of monograde oil and still to be fi tted. after a few hundred kays change to Quantec semi-synthetic.
The M44 engine has been fitted far system. While that sentence rolled off Miraculously, we found a third back in the chassis to achieve clearances my keyboard effortlessly, it doesn’t tell casing in our parts stock and started between the sump and the steering rack, the entire story: in the end, three heater again, and I can only reach the which necessitated a complete redesign units were required to make a single conclusion that the brake fluid I used of the transmission tunnel. Once this good one, which now has at its heart a to help insert sealing grommets around was done it was back to Cornrights to re-cored radiator. the radiator inlet and outlet attacked have the metalwork refinished and Overhauling and revamping all the plastic causing a crack which then make the necessary touch-ups in the the controls and the fan motor will went walkabout. engine bay. We’re now ready to line it hopefully mean air – at the right As we went to press the power all with Thermo-Tec heat insulation and temperature and volume – will head plant was about to go back in for the noise suppressant sheeting. effortlessly in the desired direction final time and in preparation had Working on cars can be therapeutic when instructed to do so, and the been dressed for the occasion with – as long as you don’t do it for a living! system will be as efficient as it was service items courtesy of Autobarn, In fact, that reasoning applies to many when new. Once again, careful and a new belt tensioner and drive things, and as a person who spends assembly and attention to detail pay pulleys courtesy of Schaeffler (who his day at a keyboard, the opportunity dividends. Or so we thought: a day after also supplied our LuK clutch). Now to to grab some spanners and get busy is finalising everything, which included get Gavin Ross from Norbrake to trek incredibly fulfilling. a strengthened mounting for the hot across from the Far East and make a call One of those fulfilling – and water valve (they’re prone to break), on the brakes and boosters… demanding tasks – was a complete the main casing of the heater box Follow our progress on our Facebook page: rebuild of the heating and ventilation cracked, and then basically split in two. BMW 2002 Youth Project.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 77 SUZUKI TR500 RACER
Old race bikes don’t die – they just change owners a lot and, if they’re lucky, end up in the hands of enthusiasts who look after them better than the champions who raced them.
Van Breda chasing Jon Ekerold on another Suzuki 500 twin around Hesketh. Gavin Foster tells the story of a very well-travelled Suzuki TR500 twin. TRACKING RECORD he first air-cooled 500cc Cape Town,” remembers Les. “There compete. The first race, at Roy Hesketh Suzuki factory racer – was a factory memo saying that there in Pietermaritzburg, was preceded by called the XR05 – made was a problem with the pistons, and a shorter race that saw all of the TT its debut at Daytona in they needed to be machined around the entrants line up on the grid. “I passed 1968. Using a Norton gudgeon pins. I was never told about works rider John Cooper around the TFeatherbed-inspired frame, it could this, though, and the bike kept seizing. outside at Angels on the second-last lap reach about 220km/h in a straight line, I kept jetting it richer and richer but it and won ahead of Ekerold, who passed but inspired terror in the hearts of still seized. Eventually I was told what him near the end,” Les remembers. “I those who tried to ride it fast around the problem was, after about a dozen don’t know what happened to Agostini corners. Still, the bikes – then still rebuilds, and we fitted new barrels and – I think he fell off. Then in the TT I had a relatively mildly tuned versions of the new machined pistons.” The newer terrible start but got past Ago on the 7th Suzuki Cobra street machine – proved bike was perfect from the word go, or 8th lap. I was leading by a long way reliable, finishing 5th and 8th out of a though and things went well; Les won until the back end of my expansion box field of 80 at Daytona that year. By the the SA Formula 750 title on the air- fell off – I’d scraped through the metal end of 1972, when the bike shown here cooled Suzuki twin in 1973. “Ekerold in the corners, and the bike wouldn’t was offloaded with another at Durban broke his wrist mid-season and lent his rev any more. Mick Grant got past me harbour, horsepower had been upped bike to Ballington, but I’m glad to say a couple of times and on the last lap he from 63.5bhp to 71.5, and top speed that neither of them ever beat me on passed me on the straight, leaving me was just over 240km/h. The lucky riders it!” he remembers. with a second place.” The second and to whom the two factory racers were The Suzuki duo’s real moment of final round was at Kyalami, and Ago allocated were future World Champion glory came in the international South led that race from start to finish, with Jon Ekerold, and Les van Breda, who had African Tourist Trophy series that same Les taking another second. “I won the won the ’71 SA 1000cc championship on year, though, when Les tested his and its series overall and was presented with an older version of the same machine, mettle against the best that the world the Dickie Dale trophy because of my and finished second to Kork Ballington’s had to offer – Giacomo Agostini, Barry two second places,” he remembers. fearsome Kawasaki triple in ’72. Sheene, Yorkshireman Mick Grant Les took delivery of a new water- “The first time I rode the earlier 1970 and John Cooper were just a few of the cooled Suzuki 500 for 1974, and the old ex-Gillie Cruse bike was at Killarney in Grand Prix stars who headed south to air-cooled machine changed hands a
78 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za couple of times before ending up in then its crank bearings, and Les, myself time making my way through the field, Rhodesia, where it was campaigned by and Mickey Chalom, a Suzuki dealer and finished about fourth or fifth. Les local champion John Warburton in 1975 from South Africa who went with us won, and Downing was second. All the and ’76. Warburton and his family left on this weekend race trip, fitted a new local riders were really interested in the country in ’82, when they realised one at the deserted circuit by the light our two Suzukis, and regarded them as just how bad Mad Bob Mugabe would of our car’s headlights.” Les van Breda factory exotica!” be for the country, and the Suzuki went remembers the occasion well. “I was “About a year later I received a phone with them. the only one who was technically call from one of the Rhodesian riders, “I first heard rumours of an old qualified to do the job, and we finished Roy Hill, who wanted to know if I would Suzuki racing machine lying under a at about 4:00 a.m., so I was pretty tired find out from Van Breda if the air-cooled cover in a dusty corner of a garage in on race-day,” he says. “In those days your TR was for sale. Les was only too glad to Gaberone, Botswana, from a friend who mechanics were your buddies who just be able to sell it, and a deal was agreed. was a travelling salesman”, says Philip went with to get pissed and help pay for The big problem was how to get the de Gruchy, who years later bought the the petrol. If you asked them to change a bike into Rhodesia, which was subject to bike. “At first I thought it was just a tyre they got annoyed because you were trade sanctions from the West and also modified T500 production machine interfering with their drinking time!” had a very strict import policy. As the similar to the one which I had ridden in “I had never even sat on a racing country was technically at war, luxury Classic racing events from 1987 to 1990, two-stroke, never mind having raced imports were completely banned. I was but from the description I was given one, but I loved the air-cooled TR, and competing in the South African national I felt sure this might be the real thing. motocross championship at the time, so I negotiated for the bike and bought it I took the Suzuki and packed in the back without actually having seen it, and of a caravan as spare parts for a Honda it was subsequently smuggled across CR250 Elsinore MX bike. In order to the border back into South Africa and fit the two bikes into the caravan and delivered to my Johannesburg home convince the customs that I had only in June 1992. It was in rather a sad one bike in the back I stripped the and neglected state, but at least it was Elsinore completely and packed it into complete and mostly original - it even the caravan cupboards. I then took the came with spare barrels, heads, pistons, Suzuki decals off the TR and replaced clutch plates and the factory parts list.” them with the Honda winged decals! The bike, which has a welded frame that This plan worked completely, and the Les remembers being necessitated by a Les van Breda aboard the Suzuki TR500. buyer, Roy Hill, got his TR500. Things fracture caused by vibration, still has have now gone a full circle; the bike’s the Ceriani front brake that he fitted in rode it as much as I could during open back in SA, I later owned the water- an attempt to get it stopping better. De practice,” continues Clive. “The circuit cooled TR500, and Roy Hill now lives in Gruchy got to work, and three years after in Salisbury was brand new and very South Africa just two blocks away from the bike came home the restoration was abrasive, and I used up the only set of me in a Benoni.” complete. It’s since moved on, I believe slick tyres we had before the official As in most ancient items of historical to a collector in Europe. qualifying practice, so we fitted a set interest, there are a few grey areas in There’s an interesting story attached of Dunlop TT100 tyres from Les’s the Suzuki TR500’s provenance. Les to the way the Suzuki found its way production racing Suzuki GT750. To van Breda’s bike was raced, crashed, into Zimbabwe. Clive Strugnell, who tell the truth, I couldn’t really feel the blown up and rebuilt more times than used to run the Suzuki racing team in difference between them and the racing he’d care to remember, and somewhere South Africa, says that after Les took slicks, and qualified third behind Les along the way a fair number of parts delivery of the new water-cooled 500 on the water-cooled six-speed TR500 may have been replaced and swapped he entered it in a race in Salisbury, and and the Rhodesian champion at the with bits and pieces of the earlier Clive went along for the ride. So did time, Geoff Downing, on a factory model he still had. Still, in its heart and the old air-cooled machine. “Les had Kawasaki H1R 500. In the race itself soul remain distant memories of epic started campaigning his new water- I made a complete mess of the start, battles with some of the best riders cooled TR500, and I was to race the which was a push start, and by the in the world on state-of-the-art works air-cooled model later owned by Philip. time the bike fired I was almost a full machines. As track records go, that’s In practice the water-cooled bike ran lap behind. Anyway, I had a wonderful hard to beat.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 79 KYALAMI WINGS & SLICKS
Peter Kernick (Maurer MM82).
Mike Ward (Reynard 863).
Single-seater racing saw n a testament to months of the change of season at the background work we also saw the second round of the Wings Kyalami SCC Spring Races and Slicks (WAS) series taking on 23 August, with the to the legendary circuit’s black Knottsberry Foods Formula Istuff. New to the class were the Formula Libre/Monoposto grid housing Atlantic Chevrons of Colin Frost – ably driven by single-seater doyen Bernard 30 cars of all descriptions. Tillanus and the experienced Neil By AJ Kernick Lobb. Having undergone full rebuilds Images by Dave Hastie back to period specification and colour schemes this pair exemplify what the purpose of preservation the WAS group sets out to do for Formula 5000, Formula 2, Formula Atlantic, Formula 3, Formula Ford 2000 and similar cars from pre-1986.
80 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Neil Lobb (Chevron Formula Atlantic). What it is all about - Wings and Slicks.
John McKurcher (Modus Formula Atlantic). Bernard Tilanus (Chevron Formula Atlantic).
The balance of the field had former Formula GTi as his Maurer MM83 The Formula Monoposto race saw Formula Atlantic Racer Mike Schmidt Formula Atlantic is still undergoing some excellent racing with a mix of reunited with his former ride – the restoration. John Maurien and Paul Formula GTi, Formula Ford/Zetek/ Pretoria Brick Ralt RT4 now owned Schultz were the balance of invited Duratek, Formula Vee and to add some by Barry Scott. Peter Kernick had his drivers in their Formula GTis. class, Historic Air-cooled Formula Vee ex-Bepe Gabiani/Tony Martin Maurer Sadly this splendid field was to cars. The Formula M brigade was there MM82 Formula 2 on track, while Colin fall foul of ‘newly rebuilt and untried with a selection of classes A, B and Ellison drove an imported Ralt RT4, and cars syndrome’ with engine maladies C cars. Mike Ward and Michelle Scott piloted spoiling the party, however going At the end of the day, after some really a pair of Reynard 863 Formula 3s. John forward the list of Formula 2 and close racing this testament to Northern McKurcher was there with his Modus Atlantic cars being restored at the Regions Club Single Seater racing Formula Atlantic along with Kevin moment should see the field burgeon demonstrated the ‘Fast but friendly’ Oldfield in his Pilbeam FF2000. Sean during 2015. And there are some slogan of Knottsberry Foods Formula Harrington’s DAW MK2 Formula GTi, exciting machines like the McLaren Libre Racing with a pit housing just possibly one of very few still running Formula 5000 of Rennie McRory, a shy of 50 single-seater cars, with former added to the spectacle. seasoned Formula Ford racer of the ‘70s racing legends reminiscing at the sight Reg Anderson raced his Swift and ‘80s. of their old race cars.
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 81 MIDAS HISTORIC TOUR CALENDAR
Patrick Gearing (Alfa Giulia) leads the pre66 fi eld around a very wet Phakisa Freeway.
82 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za MIDAS HISTORIC TOUR CALENDAR 2014 11th October Zwartkops 8th November Kyalami 13th December East London
Du Toit and Lindenberg Daytona Cobras making rooster tails at the front of the pack.
Franco Scribante (Porsche 911) tip-toeing in unseasonal weather.
Theo van Vuuren (BMW 2002) hunting down Kobus Britz (Porsche 911).
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 83 Reader Rides
Risen from the grave Regular reader Mick Russell recounts the interesting history of a rare 1968 Triumph TR5 that resides in the Eastern Cape.
urrently owned by East Geoff makes every effort to keep the car motorcars, Geoff won the Concours London resident Geoff in pristine condition. d’Elegance event in 2008 with his 1969 Kriel, this is one of only This particular car was dug out of the TR6 in Bloemfontein and then, again three still on the road in mud after the Laingsburg flood disaster with the same car, won the Concours South Africa, which is not in 1981, was then stripped and rebuilt at the Drakensberg Nationals in 2010. A Csurprising when you consider that only in Johannesburg over a three-year Triumph GT6 Mk11 rebuilt by him also 1 161 right-hand drive versions were period. It won Gold in the d’Elegance won ‘Most desirable car on show’ in a built by the Standard Motor Company section at the Triumph National concours event in 2012. in England. Concours competition in Plettenberg He is currently also working on a The chassis and elegant streamlined Bay in 2012 and was bought shortly 1956 TR3. With no further plans for body, designed by Giovanni Michelotti, thereafter by Geoff. entering competitions at present, he houses the 150hp 2.5-litre straight six The only components required to will continue to just enjoy cruising engine, which with a trio of side draught bring the car fully up to its original around the countryside in his Surrey- carburettors, makes it a real pleasure to factory configuration are a Lucas fuel Topped TR5. A Surrey Top is the name drive. And it is still capable of achieving injection system and a 4-speed overdrive given to the roof system where the rigid 190km/h, although at current petrol gearbox. These are neatly stored in the centre panel is removable. Launched on prices you don’t want to go there too workshop but an original steering wheel the TR4 in 1961 this beat Porsche and often. Currently valued at R730 000 in seems to be almost impossible to find. its Targa by five years to being the first concours trim, it’s not surprising that No stranger to rebuilding Triumph production car fitted with such.
84 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 85 100
95
75
25
5
0
® zerwick advertensie 210x134 CURVES 140508 Lancia Auto SA 08 May 2014 10:34:12 AM Importers & Exporters
Custodians of the proud Lancia legacy left behind by TAK & Viglietti Motors. Email: [email protected] · Web: www.lancia.co.za Tel.: 021 447 83 50 · 3 Plein street, Woodstock, Cape Town Passion, Grace & Fire
VW AIR COOLED SERVICES
OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR PARTS SERVICING RESTORATIONS +27 21 845 6702 REPAIRS
WWW.GRAND SLAM VW .CO.ZA Onlinecoming shopsoon!
86 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za historic motor racing photos www.motoprint.co.za
your unique source of original digital images and prints of motor racing in South Africa from 1960s to 1990s images from professional photographers’ collections added weekly [email protected] 076 780 6425
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 87 1995 Mercedes-Benz 500SL W129 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280S W108 V8 powered drop top in brilliant red with tan Automatic in classic cream with red interior. leather interior. 185 000km. Very desirable classic and ultimate road R149 500 trip car. R79 500
1968 Mercedes-Benz 200 Fintail 1991 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 4-speed fl oor mounted manual makes this a One of the more sporting Mercedes saloons. get in and go classic. Bullet-proof reliability. Fast becoming a future classic. R59 500 Good condition. R79 500 CARCOL EXECUTIVE AUTO Mercedes-Benz Sales & Service Specialists We also stock used spares for classic Mercedes-Benz Contact Colin on 082 895 6186 011 646 0177/8152 - 011 646 0177/8152 [email protected], www.carcol.co.za 120 Green Way Greenside, Johannesburg
Tel: 011 440 7082 Cell: 082 416 9584 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.oldcars.co.za SA MECHANICAL SEAL IMPORTERS cc importerers and distributors of mechanical seals, packing and related products. – Independent broker of Vintage, Veteran & Classic cars – The company supplies a wide range of equivalent and replacement seals for all major seal manufacturers.
CONTACT DETAILS Phone: 087 3514882 Mobile: 082 5627974 Fax: 0866 342631 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mechanical-seal-sa.com
88 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za PREMIUM PRE-OWNED 501 LOWER MAIN ROAD, OBSERVATORY TEL: 021 448 7877 FAX: 021 448 8916
1969 FORD MUSTANG FastBack Mach 1 This matching numbers Mustang has been painfully restored from the bottom up over 3 years and has therefore left it as an Excellent example of motoring history. With Official FORD Deluxe Report.Selling for R750 000 ALLAN FRIEND 082 557 1317 • SIRAAJ MOHAMED 082 466 4543 [email protected] • WWW.MILLSTOCKCARS.CO.ZA
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 89 Smythe Bros. Classic & Sports Car Insurance Placements “We Drive Classic Cars” Tel: 031 701 0226 · Cell: 082 781 4410 Email: [email protected] A Division of Smythe Financial Services cc. Authorised FSP No: 16054.
AllAn Y Brink Automotive Engineering
695 Seccull Avenue Mayville, PreToria 0084 Contact Kevin or Greg 012 335 0886 • [email protected]
90 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Established 1992 Visit our showroom at 5 Uil Street, Industrial Area, Knysna Tel 044 382 6074 Norman: 082 557 6470 Email: [email protected] Contact Jennie - For all your export requirements [email protected] www.frostbrothers.co.za LEARN THE ART OF SHEET METAL SHAPING
OUR 3-DAY COURSES TEACH THE BASICS OF MAKING AND REPAIRING BODY PANELS USING HAND TOOLS. LEARN TO Shrink and stretch sheet metal Make and use patterns and bucks Create your own patch panels Weld sheet metal Add swages, fl anges and other details Metal fi nish without body fi ller
The courses are held at our workshop in Stellenbosch. For more information contact Barry on 083 461 3493 or [email protected]
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 91 Gearbox
Alfa Romeo & Lancia Parts 12 x Chrome rings for Headlamps from the 1950 to 1965 period 20 x Alfa Romeo Hubcaps from the 1960 - 1970 period Alfa Romeo Touring Spider 2000 complete Instrument Set Alfa Romeo Touring Spider 2000 Chrome Front Grille 1974 Chev Firenza Canam. Exact replica 1976 Alfa GTV. 2.0-litre fitted with Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale, Front Chrome of factory works car. Car raced at Killarney Cosworth pistons. WPMC Classic Car Grille & Set of Tail light lenses 6 times since engine rebuild. New Good Championship winner 2010, 2011 and 1 x new set Alfa Romeo Door glass panels Year slicks on car and spare set of wheels 2013. Second in 2012. R125 000. Contact left & right with old tires with car. Asking R350 000. Keith Andrews on (w) 021 7021981 / cell 6 x Lancia Chrome Hubcaps from the 1960 Contact [email protected]. 082 8768192 - 1970 period Lancia Beta Spider 2000 Tail light set. 2000 Mercedes Benz SLK-320. Please call Michael @ 083 265 2088 or Automatic convertible. 99 300km, white email [email protected] with black leather trim. Call Basil Smith 083 940 2493 or 021 5119696 o/h or home 1985 Ford Sierra XR8. Perfect original 021 4349730. condition with only 65 000km. R170 000. Call Gary on 083 2671147 1962 Ford Galaxie 500. Right-hand 1973 Chev Firenza V8. R100 000 drive Convertible V8 with papers. negotiable. Light blue. 327 motor with Radiator,steering pump and minor bits steel rods and crank. 288 degree cam, missing. Has a new windscreen in a Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads. box. Needs restoration. Call Clive on Anti-pump lifters, 1.5 comp roller rockers, 083 795 0000 or email [email protected]. Ally tappet covers, rpm intake, 600 holley Brand new Toyota 2zzg Engine. carb or fuel injection, 350 turbo box with Complete with Rotrax Supercharger, Dry performance valve kit. Cell no. 083 753 Sump Kit and Sub-Assembly. All brand new 9667 or mail [email protected] and unused. As fitted to Lotus Exige. R105 000.00 the lot. Allan 082 896 1313. MG TC 1948. All original, unrestored, drives beautifully, mechanically sound, licensed 1982 Austin Mini. Red, 75 898km on the and in full use. R265 000. Car can be seen clock. Engine No – 12HEH4474U Vin No in Parkmore, Johannesburg. Contact Don – 5018569U. Good condition, currently in Lindsay 082 570 3196 or Aubrey Malden daily use. Selly on 079-523 9479 082 901 8402
Large collection of motoring 1989 BMW 520i Auto. Original books. Including many rare out of condition. Runs very well and other print and collectors items. For details than a non-functioning radio and aircon of titles/condition of books contact has no issues. Contact Malcolm at [email protected] or 074 922 1660. [email protected] WANTED Lotus enthusiast looking for Elan same silver centre with 0, 10, 20, 30, and Elan Plus 2, 1962 to 1974. Any 40, 50, 60 round the dial in the same model, any condition, anywhere. size numbers in white. I need this to Contact : Gerry Kramer - 083 234 9128 complete my restoration. Ken Dugmore or [email protected]. 083 7234594 [email protected]. Smiths rev counter. To match the Speedo of a 1955 Austin Healey 1968 BMW 2002 front windscreen. BN1 (100-4). Same size at around Contact; Dave van der Westhuizen. At 100-150mm diameter and it has the [email protected] or 082 870 2291.
92 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za Letters
HARRIS 4 SURE I must add my support to Bruce Hall’s suggestion in his letter discs fitted. May your magazine go from strength to strength. published in the June/July issue to interview Charles Harris Kind regards when you finally make it to East London. Hopefully you can Enrico Contardo twist his arm to do an article on the awesome Harris 4. In the 1960s when the biggest Japanese bikes around were the Thanks, Enrico. I have added Charles Harris to my two-cylinder 350 Yamahas and the 350 Hondas, he stole now extensive list for an Eastern Cape expedition. As a march on the Japanese by building a 500cc four cylinder I mentioned before, it might be a long visit and in all two-stroke using Yamaha TD1 components. Here are some likelihood will only just scratch the surface. But keep the photos taken at the East London GP circuit. Number 84, suggestions coming. We love them! with Ian Scheckter at the helm is a later photo with twin front Stuart
SUPER STARS whether Leon was hired to do recce with Paul Hawkins – a great mate of Leon’s I enjoyed the piece on my late old mate Carlson or navigate the whole Safari. He was Innes Ireland. Leon Baillon, viz. East African Safari. I recounted terrifying stories of rolling three I don’t know if you know of old man was wondering if you guys managed to cars in practice, and of Eric’s alarming Frank Cope, a great eccentric character get hold of Sally March, wife of my other style of weaving the steering wheel from in SA motorcycling, who lost his life mate Nick March (sadly Nick passed side to side even at 100mph, and when eventually at 75 years of age after a crash away week before last). I spoke to her asked by Leon why, remarked, “I like to at Hesketh? His old works 250 Norton and she was keen to help and has a lot keep the car light so that I can lift the left has just been sold for a large amount of photos of Nick’s rally days. Nick was a or right of the car over any obstacle that at a Bonhams auction, and quite a very good driver in his day, contracted to may crop up on the road.” Very alien to good history of bike and rider was told. the Peugeot works team. the Kenya boys of that era. I remember going to the PE 200 with Interestingly Nick’s brother in Wales I can remember going up to the the late Eddie English who came rushing was a hillclimb specialist and had two SA Grand Prix at Kyalami in the early into the pit lane on his BSA Goldstar in Bugattis that he campaigned. I am ‘70s with Nick and Leon (Nick being practice. The pits had not been swept not sure what his first name was, but my neighbour when I was farming in yet and were full of gravel, people were interestingly I recently saw a Tony March Greytown) leaving very early in the picking up bikes and running away when interviewed on A to Z of Motorsport on pouring rain, Leon nonchalantly smoking Ed went down the road. Old Uncle Frank TV; it may well be the brother. his pipe and Nick sliding on the tar at was at the end warming the Norton and I was sorry you guys were not told of 80/90mph with the lights shining onto the never flinched, let the Norton die, and Baillon’s experiences with Eric Carlson, armco and myself speechless with terror looking down at Ed, now lying at his feet the works Saab man (married to Pat in the back. I met many famous names said, “You’ll break your crown, my boy.” Moss) on the Safari. I am not sure with the two of them, like Vic Preston and He was much loved by all the riders in Letters
those days and I remember guys running out there who have more cars than they to help him offload the Norton from the Hi Ian. Thanks for the kind words and can drive, so it could well be an idea trailer behind his Austin Princess. He entertaining memories. I haven’t made for them to adopt to give their cars a won a handicap race at Hesketh aged contact with Sally March yet but will regular run. Classic cars like to be used. 73 - must be a record for longevity in be sure to do that. I will also follow As and when I hear of anything like this I motorcycle racing. He came out here up and get our bike man Gavin Foster will run a snippet in the magazine. after his competition licence was allegedly to look into the other story ideas you Stuart withdrawn at the age of 53 in the UK. He mention. From your letter it seems like was a veteran of the TT. I think it would be we could fill the magazine for years to an interesting story, don’t you? come. Personalities are what make the Lost another good mate the same old banger bikes and cars come to life. week as Nick March - Martin White from Stuart PMB. He was the wild man of motocross who shared the 500cc title with Charlie CLASSIC TIMESHARE Tissen. Some very funny things come to Ever since I was a little boy I was a mind: He arrived in PE having just got Ford Cortina fan with a preference for a works Yamaha ride, got off the plane the Mark 1 versions. I did grow up and was taken straight to the track to ride and became an Alfa fanatic but yet the new bike. The organisers were pretty still with a lingering longing to own a miffed when he jumped right over Jimmy classic Cortina. However, my ownership Aird out from the UK, hitting him on the ambitions are limited not by finance but head with the back wheel. Aird refused rather by my mechanical knowledge as to ride with madmen and buggered off. well as time constraints that would not Martin went on to ride enduros and was allow me to do justice to mechanically unbeatable for 9 years pre-the Alfie Cox maintain the vehicle. era. He and I, along with Glen Bavistock This then brought an idea into play: and Keith Packett, founded the WFO Is there not a place in the classic car enduro club, still very strong after about community where somebody like 30 years. I used to set the Greytown me could buy a share in a classic enduro, a 150km one lap. The first one Cortina? Thereby, the owners can had heavy rain the night before where share the capital outlay, maintenance, Martin White won out of a field of 120-odd restoration, insurance and running riders after riding the whole course with a cost. The ‘mechanical shareholder’ 3 HOUR BIKES 9 HOUR flat back tyre - good traction but scary would then be compensated for work CARS on the fast sections. I remember invited done to the vehicle. A similar approach Keep up the good work at CPCA. You Tranvaal rider Kenny Scholdhamer (newly could obviously work for many classics clearly love your job. crowned Roof of Africa winner) throwing and enthusiasts. I enjoyed your recent article about his mount down on being passed on Regards, your bicycle restoration. About five an impossible section by Martin saying: Albert de Beer years ago I found an old DHC (Deale & “How can you beat that?” Huth Cycles) tandem that was made in Ja! Stuart, old age is a bugger, when all Hello Albert. Not a bad idea at all. I SA in the early 1970s. I restored it and you have left are the memories. know of some supercar clubs that offer then a mate and I ‘raced’ it in the 94.7 Keep up the good work. I really enjoy exotic cars to members for a monthly and, although we had to stop briefly to your magazine. fee so perhaps it could be applied to alleviate butt pain (we only practised Ian Hardman the classics. I also know of collectors once before the event), we still scraped in in just under 3 hours. Since then the bike has been in storage. If you want to do another article on a classic bike in the future, please feel free to buzz me and I shall dig it out. The DHC story is an interesting saga, although a die-hard car enthusiast might not like you giving too much coverage to bicycles though! On the subject of classic cars, I have discovered something very interesting that you may want to research and run an article on for your readers of our generation (and younger). Some time ago you suggested that it would be good idea if more great South African racing cars from our past were recreated. This got me thinking because I had an old Renault R8 in storage. I have subsequently started work on recreating the 1968 Kyalami 9 MILITARY MOTORING Hour, Class A winning (and first Touring Thank you so much for the write-up busy building up. I seem to remember Car for that matter), Renault Gordini on Brian Ferreira. It brought back a that he had been ‘up north’ somewhere that was driven by Scamp Porter and few memories and was a sad day to do some development work on it Chris Swanepoel. when he died. and was still running it in. It really was In researching the livery for my project I was in the army with him (CT a good-looking machine with its green (and the other cars that raced in that Highlanders) in the early ‘60s. A bunch and gold stripes on each side of the era, especially from 1967 to 1972) I of us were the drivers of our platoon: bonnet, and at races it was always have noticed something interesting that Brian drove one of the officers around immaculately turned out. the older generation (that is, the fellows in a Land Rover, I drove a Bedford. He was lovely person. who were adults at that time) will take The enclosed picture was taken Thank you again for granted but which our generation one Saturday afternoon at our camp Regards have no clue about. I have seen that all in Walvis Bay. The dog wandered into Michael Guy the cars appear to have been fitted with the camp and befriended Brian so he decals/stickers that are the same. In decided to dress it up. It was quite P.S. Brian von Hage was also with other words, they appear to have been happy and had a pair of army issue us at the time; I remember well his supplied by the organisers/sponsors of ‘santamarias’ on as shorts. Anglia. The last I heard was that he the event. The most common stickers, During one of our three-week had gone pig farming. which are all identical, are (1) Shell, (2) camps in Oudtshoorn we needed Firestone and (3) Champion. to be transported to the vehicle park Hi Brian. I can’t take the credit for What is most interesting is that the to collect our vehicles - our transport the article on Brian Ferreira - those drivers’ name stickers are also all was a 3 ton Ford truck, Brian was the honours go to Ryno Verster, a identical (size and colour, that is) on elected driver. He drove this thing cross serious Mini collector and the man the various cars from year to year. In country like he was on a World Rally behind the book Thanks for the 1968 the name stickers were all green Championship event. Everyone in the Mini Memories – A South African with yellow font. The colours seemed to back was standing and hanging on to Mini Story. The Ferreira story is an have changed every year. In 1972, for the railings but we all knew that Brian excerpt from another Mini book he example, they were red with white font. was in control. wants to publish about Minis and With many of the photos from that era The next year our three week camp Mini drivers in local motorsport. being black and white, it is difficult to was at Tempe outside Bloem. Brian Thank you for the support. spot this if you don’t know about it. rocked up in the Mini which he was Stuart I came to pick this phenomenon up by
www.cpca.co.za | October/November 2014 | 95 Letters
examining pictures of models of famous as to who supplied the stickers and how insert on this, especially when you see cars that raced in the 9 Hour. So, for the colours were determined but I would how many top racers excelled in pedal- example, if you look at the pictures of guess the organisers handed them out. powered competition – the likes of Jan the two models attached, you will see I will definitely take you up on the Renault Hettema, Andy Terlouw, Mario Lupini that two of the Ferraris that raced in test, having bought an R8 years back and Geniel de Villiers spring to mind and 1968 (a P412 and a P350) both had the to do the same as you, but resources I think Prost competes in the Epic now large green and yellow stickers with the meant flogging it before it ever turned a and then. Franschhoek Motor Museum names of the drivers that appear to have wheel in anger. took over a number of bikes from the come from the same supplier. (It’s a While researching the Rudge bicycle, Heidelberg Museum, which must be good way of dating pictures, especially I realised we have a large bike industry worth a look at. if they are in colour.) and a number of manufacturers. I am I will be in touch. Notice that the Hawkins/Love P350 sure the car guy will not mind the odd Stuart has the standard Shell and Champion (with spark plug) stickers as well. The 1968 Porter/Swanepoel Gordini had the same Shell and Champion stickers, as well as the Firestone stickers. (You have a photo of it in your October/ November 2013 edition which clearly shows the same stickers and the large name stickers that take up the whole front door.) On my Gordini we have fitted 7-inche wheels at the back and made some changes to the rear suspension. HARD CHARGING MG I am the owner of the last of the three scrap book, which could have relevant Some photos of the engine are also South African MG Specials built by photographs in it, but I have no idea attached. As the saying goes: ‘Slowly, Harry Pierce, which I race with the who to contact. slowly catch the monkey.’ I want this Historic Grand Prix Cars Association Any help in establishing more car to look good as a tribute to Scamp in the UK and Europe. of the history of this car, and if it Porter’s achievements and at the same Obviously, the car has an XPAG was supercharged, would be very time I’m trying to keep as much of the engine and, equally obviously to me at gratefully received. As for the car, patina on the car as I can so that it least, the car would probably have run she had a great run at Zandvoort doesn’t look like it just came out of in period with a supercharged engine in Holland last weekend, until the the factory. When it’s finished, it will be because supercharging XPAGs then head gasket cried “Enough!” halfway fitting that you do a track test/photo was so common and an easy way through the second race. shoot and run an article on it, seeing as to get more power, especially given Best regards the idea had its genesis with you. (On the altitude of many of the circuits in James Willis condition that you don’t drive it as fast South Africa. as you drive your Merc 280!) The problem I have is a complete It is brilliant to hear that one of our Kind regards lack of evidence (written or local cars is still carving up the tracks Philip Pritchard photographic) that the car had a and giving the exotics a tough time, supercharger, but I am still looking! James. Although I am aware of the Hi Phillip. It is interesting that I often have The attached page from Classic Car Pierce cars I could not comment on to remind people that for the large part Africa magazine in November 2001 has whether or not a supercharger was I picture the 9 Hour in black and white an editorial comment which refers to ever used. I have forwarded your mail because I have only really been exposed an article in the November-December on to the local MG Special gurus for to old photos. It is worth going onto 1989 edition of Fine Cars which might comment. In the meantime I will pull www.motoprint.co.za to see the era give a potential lead but I have been out the old Fine Car magazines and you talk about in colour. David Pearson unable to track down a copy. see what I can find. All the best with has managed to date and identify his Also, I was told some time ago making it a real giant killer. massive collection which aids research. that Harry Pierce’s family still has his Stuart We will wait for a response to this letter
96 | October/November 2014 | www.cpca.co.za JAGUAR XFR SUPERCHARGE YOUR LIFE.
You can have it all – power, performance, pleasure. Be in complete control with the XFR, a supercharged powerhouse of craftsmanship that purrs on the road and roars on the track. Enjoy refined power and sporting elegance with the XF R-Sport V6 supercharged engine that balances bold performance with everyday versatility, or throw caution to the wind with the 5.0L XFR V8 – a heart-stopping, breathtaking, jaw-dropping vehicle that delivers assertive acceleration and exceptional attitude. Supercharge your life with a supercharged XFR. JAGUAR.CO.ZA
HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?
86001967_XFR_210x276_Clas_and_Perform_Car_v1.indd 1 28.08.14 12:00