In 1964 the Austin-Healey factory in Abingdon built just three works rally cars, they typically built a few each year and the cars would compete in many of the world’s biggest racing and rally events – often punching well above their weight. The standard Austin-Healey 3000 is powered by a 2912cc inline-6 with overhead valves,…
The Fiat 8V (know as the Otto Vu in its homeland) was an advanced design when it was first unveiled at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show. The Fiat 8V looked nothing like the Supersonic pictured above and below, which has a body coachbuilt by Ghia, but both cars share the same chassis and drivetrain. Fiat…
Often referred to simply as the Inter Autoscooter, the Inter 175A Berline is a microcar in the spirit of other pint-sized cars like the Messerschmidt KR-175. Small, economical vehicles were popular in post-WWII Europe due to their low cost to buy and run, and the fact they fit down the narrow streets and laneways typical…
Montgomery Motorcycles is an early British marque that should probably be considerably more famous than they actually are. Founder William Montgomery was a world-class engineer who invented the sidecar, raced in the 1923 Isle of Man Sidecar TT, and designed frames and forks that were used by a number of other manufacturers – including Brough…
The Porsche 917 is one of the most successful racing cars of all time, in fact some automotive historians go so far as to call it the greatest racing car of the 20th century. Porsche began development of the model in 1968 with a very clear goal in mind – they wanted outright victory at the…
The BMW 2002 Tii Alpina A4S is one of the rarest and quickest iterations of the venerable 2002. The 2002 itself is now regarded by many marque historians to be the single most important model ever made by BMW, and it’s still undeniably a strong influence on the genetic make up of every sporting Beemer…
In 2014 the talented team of whisky makers at Sullivans Cove in Tasmania managed a feat never before achieved by a distillery outside of Scotland or Japan – they won the exceedingly competitive World Whiskies Award for the world’s best single malt whisky. Australia’s whisky distilleries are more famous outside the country than within, with most…
The BMW E30 is a car that’s still considered one of the major achievements of the Bavarian automaker, even now well over 20 years since it left production. There were coupes, sedans, station wagons, and convertibles offered on the E30 platform – and their handling, balance, and drivability still see them often used as a comparison…
In 1948, one of the more unusual two-wheeled collaborative efforts of the 20th century was underway in a factory in Hertfordshire, England. The boss of Indian Motorcycles, Ralph Rogers, and the director of Vincent, Philip Vincent, had agreed to develop an Indian motorcycle with a Vincent Rapide V-twin. The idea being that Americans would love…
The story of the Crocker Motorcycle Company is one of remarkable survival and tenacity. The company was founded in 1932 in the midst of The Great Depression, they initially focussed on building motorcycles for speedway racing, then switched to bikes for private road use. The only two major American motorcycle manufacturers that survived the difficult period…
The Chevrolet El Camino was built in 5 generations, beginning in 1959 and ending in 1987. Since the model left production it’s retained a strong position in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts – and regular rumours circulate that Chevrolet are going to bring the El Camino back in some form, most likely as an…
The story of the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II can’t be told without also telling a little about its arch rival – the BMW E30 M3, and its older sibling, the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16. For many racing fans from Europe, the mid ’80s are a time characterised by watching the E30 M3 and…
