The Brütsch Mopetta is one of the most beloved microcars from the era of the tiny, petrol-friendly, post-WWII runabouts. The fame of the Mopetta far outweighs its actual production numbers, just 14 were built and some estimates suggest only 5 survived to the modern day. The Brütsch Mopetta It’s almost certain that the popularity of the little…
The Wilesco Steam Locomobile D430 is a fully-functioning steam traction engine model that can drive under its own power for as long as the fuel source lasts. The boiler is 120mm long and 55mm in diameter, it has a sight glass allowing you to check the remaining water level, and a safety valve to stop…
The Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 “Wide-Body” was developed by the German tuning house as an all-out muscular German GT car with almost 400 hp on tap, a 0 to 60 mph time of under 6 seconds, and a top speed in excess of 285 km/h. Mercedes-Benz and AMG AMG was founded in 1967 by former…
This original 1956 Porsche 356 A training chassis was developed to give American mechanics a detailed understanding of Porsche running gear and engineering – most of which would have been a little unusual to them back in the mid-1950s when Porsche was still a relatively new company. Interestingly the suspension arrangement differs between the left…
The Porsche 356A 1600 Super Speedster wasn’t originally designed to be an expensive car, in fact it was specifically designed to be as inexpensive as possible while still being profitable to build and sell. Max Hoffman – Godfather of the Porsche 356 Speedster The idea to build the original Porsche 356 Speedster came not from…
This four-cylinder Windhoff was one of the most advanced motorcycles of its time thanks largely to its engine, which doubles as the motorcycle frame, and features oil-cooling, an overhead camshaft, and an engine block that acts as a giant radiator. Windhoff Motorcycles Windhoff Motorcycles, officially Windhoff Motorradenbau GmbH, began producing motorcycles in 1924 but the company…
Introduction: BMW R80 GS – The Salvation of BMW Motorrad Though it may be hard to imagine today, BMW had been a company in grave danger of going under during the 1950’s and 1960’s. One of the things helping keep the company afloat was their motorcycle division, and their Italian-designed Isetta bubble car, a…
The Porsche 959 is remembered a technological tour de force that forever changed the direction of supercar engineering, but in a wonderful twist of fate this pristine supercar was modified for rally, and sent off to compete in the world’s toughest race – the Paris-Dakar. The Porsche 959 The project to design and build the…
There are few vehicles better suited to expedition camper conversion than the original Mercedes-Benz Unimog 404, and this mountain rescue / fire truck is an ideal candidate thanks to its double cab front and tray-back rear. Unimog 404 History The Unimog was conceived in almost exactly the same way as the original Land Rover Series…
I’ve always thought of the Porsche 911 as the automotive equivalent of Keith Richards. Both rose to prominence in the early 1960s, both have become global rockstars in their own right, and despite countless predictions of their imminent demise, both are still going strong all these decades later. 1970 Porsche 911 Road / Racer The viper…
The BMW 3.0 CSi is unquestionably one of the most beautiful cars of its era, it was developed to compete with the finest grand touring cars being built by the British and the Italians, and it proved a worthy adversary on the roads and race tracks of Europe. The BMW 3.0 CSi The BMW 3.0…
The Porsche 550A Spyder has a well-earned reputation for being a giant killer – it took on and handily defeated far more powerful cars including the likes of the 3-litre Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and Maserati 300S, and the more powerful still 3.5 litre Ferrari 860 Monza. The Porsche 550 and 550A Spyder The Porsche 550 Spyder and…
