Cars in the Park

jomike · 03-05-2008, 9:30 PM

There was a show in a park near my house and one of the exhibits were some classic cars. Being a bit of a petrolhead, I took some pics.

This is a Lancia Aprilia from 1948. It was designed in 1937 and was the first production car to be designed using a wind tunnel. It had a very aerodynamic shape for the time as a result, and its 1.5l engine gave it good performance and economy. It was produced until 1949.

It had a 1.5l narrow angle V4 engine. This gave it a short engine block, but it only needed a single head. unlike a wide angle V that needs separate heads for each bank of cylinders.

Mike

Badger0-0 · 03-05-2008, 9:41 PM

Hey, as a petrolhead and know-nothing photographer, I'm loving those mate, especially the first one, cracking picture

jomike · 03-05-2008, 9:44 PM

This one is a Jaguar XK150 Drop Head Coupe from about 1958. It was the predecessor of the E type, and had disc brakes all round.

Mike

Badger0-0 · 03-05-2008, 9:55 PM

Again, great, although I don't know if the second one works so well, tbh

Just to keep the thread on course, what kit were you using?

To be honest, I don't have much of a clue at all, but it strikes me the exposure is perfect

I guess I'd better leave it to the experts to C&C

jomike · 03-05-2008, 9:56 PM

Somewhat less exotic, an Austin A35 "peanut". Also from about 1957/8. These were replaced by the Mini in 1959.

Mike

jomike · 03-05-2008, 9:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger0-0

Again, great, although I don't know if the second one works so well, tbh

Just to keep the thread on course, what kit were you using?

To be honest, I don't have much of a clue at all, but it strikes me the exposure is perfect

I guess I'd better leave it to the experts to C&C

Thanks

Taken with a Nikon D50 and either a 18-55 kit lens or a 50mm f1.8

All pics are linked to flickr for larger views, Exif etc.

Mike

jomike · 04-05-2008, 6:14 AM

This is a Saab 96 V4 from the 1970s. Saabs were always different from other cars. and the earlier versions of this model had 3 cylinder 2 stroke engines. They were successful in rallying, winning the Monte Carlo and RAC rallies in the early 60s driven by Erik Carlsson. The 96 was built from 1960 - 1980 and this one has a Ford V4 engine, after pollution regulations ruled out the 2 stroke engines. Saab is now part of General Motors, and the current models have lost their uniqueness.

Mike

jomike · 04-05-2008, 7:20 AM

This is an Aston Martin V8 Vantage from the late 70s. It was arguably the first British "Supercar" and a rival to the Ferrari Daytona, which it outperformed on paper. It had a 5.3l V8 which gave it a 170 mph top whack and 0-60mph in 5.3s.

Mike

bodoman · 04-05-2008, 7:53 AM

Nice photographs Jomike, even better with the info on each car, enjoyable to read about them and makes the photographs much more interesting

jomike · 04-05-2008, 8:59 AM

Thanks Bodo, I do enjoy the cars of this era.

Some Triumphs now, first the last of the hairy chested TRs, the TR6. This had a 2.5l 6 cyl engine giving 150 bhp at first, then detuned to 125 bhp as the nanny state mentality kicked in. They were built between 1968 - 76.

Then the Triumph Stag.This was designed as a luxury 4 seater sports car, with body designed by Michelotti. British Leyland, owners of Triumph then, for some reason decided not to use the existing V8 engine used in the Rover, and designed a new 2.5l V8 engine for this car. This engine proved to be a disaster, prone to overheating and seizing. This combined with dodgy QC at British Leyland, sank the car and drove another nail into British Leyland's coffin. It was a pity because by all accounts they were nice to drive and certainly looked good. Ironically, many were fitted with the Rover V8 when the original engine blew. They were built between 1970 - 78

Mike

teejay38 · 04-05-2008, 3:02 PM

Thanks for posting these gems, Jomike. I shudder to think how many of them I remember when they were first around! (My first-ever car was a rustbucket Sunbeam Talbot 90 well past its sell-by date. Those were the days before MOT's which it would never have passed.)
Tom

johnaalex · 04-05-2008, 4:32 PM

Nice shots Mike, that Jag is a beauty.

Gordon @ Convergent AV · 04-05-2008, 4:49 PM

Lots of pretty shiny stuff on show there. Great!

jomike · 04-05-2008, 8:28 PM

Thanks for looking all

Last one, an AC Cobra. An American called Caroll Shelby took a British sportscar, the AC Ace, shoehorned an American Ford V8 into it, put wider tyres on it to handle the extra power and stretched the body to fit over the wide tyres, and created the AC Cobra. The most radical version had a 427 cu. in. (7 litre) Ford V8. In this light body it gave mind bending performance. A coupe version was reportedly driven at 185 mph on the M1 motorway in testing for the 1964 Le Mans 24 hr race, leading to the 70 mph speed limit.
This one is probably a home built version built from a kit. It has a glorious rumbling V8 exhaust note.

Mike

cedmondson · 04-05-2008, 8:46 PM

I've thoroughly enjoyed this thread.

The pics are great, the subject matter appeals....but it has been the little commentaries that have made it special.
Just my 2p but I'd like to see more of this.

TopMeTom · 05-05-2008, 6:42 AM

Great Pix! I love the interesting commentary on what the cars are! Top thread!

jomike · 05-05-2008, 8:03 AM

Thanks for looking and I am glad that you enjoyed my little blurbs.

I really enjoy the cars from this era, they all have stories behind them and they also have character. Mind you, the last thing you want on a cold winter morning is a characterful car refusing to start. Give me the bland, reliable modern car in those circumstances. I suppose we have the best of both worlds now.

Mike