Austin-Morris Day 2014

Words: Amazosan
Photos: Sosumi photography

Sunday, March 9, 2014, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey.
The annual homage to Herbert & William's finest took place at the weekend; I won't insult your intelligence by telling you names of cars you're probably more familiar with than your own family, but there were some unusual cars on show.

The Morris Six MS on the right packed a Mercedes Ponton punch:

Lots of opportunities for period shots:

Cheeky Scamp:

Ahh, badge engineering:

The Historics@Brooklands Classic Car Auction was on Saturday, so there were a few gatecrasher to the Longbridge-Cowley love-in:

Yes, its a 500E. Yes, I want it:

Typical Alfa owner pose:

Only on a 2CV could a yellow vinyl interior be acceptable, nay desirable:

'You dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar, he always ate in the steak bar, he loved to drive in his Jaguar':

Someone ponied up the dough for this Massey Harris:

Very Darn Plush:

Mumford & Son:

1979 Mini 1100 Special Edition:

A trio of self-preserved Minis. A society, if you will:

Pop-eyed Morris 8 Series E:

Rare Unique Autocraft front on this Minor:

There were a few choice Series MM Minors out for the day:

Charming Princesses:

Including this pre-production Wolseley 18-22; number 15 built in June 1974:

Tran-European cousins. Serious want factor for the two early cars:

'Up yours, Nissan Leaf':

*breathes heavily*

'Dunno how he got in, but I'm sure I saw an oversize Groucho Marx mask in the boot'. To think this was a contemporary rival for the likes of the Morris 8 and Austin 7:

The remains of the original 1907-1939 Brooklands race track. Hallowed ground:

Off-tour, but still great. These were near the AC Heritage building:

And back round to the aviation museum:

More Minis:

Still keeping in the vague direction of Austin and Morris cars, heres the Bus museum:

AEC Regal Type IV:

1948 Guy Arab II; the company was later bought by Jaguar, hence the 'Big J' truck.

1952 AEC Regent III:

'What do you mean, I'm naked?'

1939 Leyland Cub CR16. Ahead of it's time; the engine was rear-mounted driving through a forward mounted gearbox and back to a de Dion rear axle:

1972 AEC Reliance:

BMC WF truck; the line amazingly was in production (as the WE/WF) from 1955-1981:

Watch carefully; a normal A40...

...and this beastie which is really an MX5 chassis and running gear with a Farina body on top:

The A55/A60/A99/A110/VDP dynasty;

Fins...

...and fins...

...and fins...

...yep.

Looking for all the world like it's rolled off the pages of Street Machine magazine, circa 1980:

Great duo of Morris J-Types:

1928 Morris Cowley; a better time machine than a DeLorean; could you tell this picture was taken in 2014?

Lovely Blubird motoplus J4 camper:

Austin heaven:

Now thats patina:

1935 Morris Ten-Six Sports Special with Cunard bodywork. Nothing to do with the cruise ship company, Cunard Coachworks was based in Acton, down the road from Park Royal vehicles which created among other things, the bodywork for the Routemaster bus:

1929 Austin Seven Swallow saloon; the origins of Jaguar:

And finally, the hillclimb. Now I've seen a diesel Maestro van go up Brooklands hillclimb slope, I can die happy:

FIN

Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero racers, Sebring 1963

Photo: The Henry Ford/Dave Friedman

Abarth Corse entered these three 1300 racers at Sebring in 1963; the no.61 Bialbero was driven by Tommy Spychiger and Teddy Pilette, the no.64 car by Bob Grossman and Ray Cuomo and the no.62 car by Piero Frescobaldi and Giampiero Biscaldi.
Only the no.61 car finished; in 21st position.

Dirt Road Hot Rod

The Art Of Yves Krief

Now you know this blog by now; we go out of our way to find er, out of the way automotive treasures in whatever form they may be in. Well, today's find was by way of a print I was given a few years ago (and which takes pride of place in my office foyer); and quite frankly, I've been hooked ever since.
The artist in question is Yves Krief, who creates vivid photo montages of fantastical urban landscapes. Using real photographs of global metropolises, Krief hybridises these cityscapes to paint an ominous future following the effects of globalism. In his featured series One Hundred Titles, each piece tells a different story about the changing cultures of the city, open to interpretations with a myriad of details.
Born in 1959 in France, Krief first made a name for himself at the Salon des Indépendants in Paris and has received critical acclaim from international exhibitions and art fairs.
In the words of Monsieur Krief:

Through the language of the unconscious, its symbolism and pictorial representations, the density of meanings and color choices that I operate, I tell universal stories with multiple readings, that is why all my pictures have the same name: "a Cent Titres” because In French the word "sans" means (Without) and the word "cent" means (one hundred) in phonétic“cent titres” means without title and also hundred titles.
Each of my compositions mission to cross the barrier of delayed memory in order to converse directly with the unconscious of his observer.
Above all the charm must operate either a positive or negative feeling it does not matter.
Initially the graphic balance, harmony of color and aesthetics of the composition draws the eye or disturbed. When close enough, is the diversity of elements or "symbols" that challenge the viewer.
This density function is to misplace it.
Each scene has its own reason for being all melted in a package that appears to be clearly structured and coherent. At this stage the mind is overwhelmed by a mass of information that it is impossible to synthesize, aided by the natural desire we have to give meaning to what we escape, entangled in the maze of signifier, only emotional intelligence can find his way. It follows a form of letting go that allows the unconscious to drag his own reading and observer finally select, albeit unconsciously, only the different symbols that speak to him and make its own resonance history.The picture becomes mirror.

Now, while Krief's art is chock full of disparate and sometimes recurring imagery with new detail that seems to catch the eye on every viewing, it also features some cool cars in prominent and peripheral positions. AMC Javelins, Pontiacs, Edsels, Cobras, Studebakers, Chevys, and several cool bikes feature in some of his art, but as you can see from the examples of his work I show here, Krief's pictures are about so much more than that, and are a feast for the eye and well worth perusing in more depth.
Some more examples below, and more here.

- Amazosan

Daddy Knows Best

2014 Abarth 695 Biposto - Scorpion Deathlock

Words: Amazosan (from raw data here)

Photos: (Autoblog.it)

From a classic Abarth to a classic Abarth in the making; and also a modern Fiat 500 that I actually like.
Unveiled 50 years to the day after the original 695 was launched, the spotlight was firmly on the new 695 Abarth 695 Biposto ('two-seater') at the 2014 Geneva Show, defined by Abarth as 'the fastest Abarth road car ever built. The 1.4 T-Jet engine packs a 187bhp turbocharged punch, demolishes the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 143mph. The car boasts redesigned bumpers, side skirts, wheel arches and the prominent front spoiler has tasteful carbon inserts made by Zender The satin grey paint might not add to the potent performance, but it sure adds to the menace, while the special aluminium bonnet has two mini humps, inspired by the Abarth 124 Sport Spider. The mirrors are also made ​​of carbon.
The interior embodies the spirit of a racing car and appears to be more hardcore than other manufacturers track-inspired models; to shave weight, the rear seats are long gone, taking with them the air conditioning and radio. The xenon headlights and their control systems and also the fog lights have joined the weight-shedding exodus, along with the electric windows, glass and door winder mechanisms; perspex side windows and air vent slides are pure race car. the interiors als features an MXL digital data logger and special bucket seats with Sabelt 4-point harnesses.
On that racer vibe, that gear shift looks for all the world like its been robbed from a BTCC car, but it's still a H-pattern gear shift, operated by a beautifully machined aluminium selector and capable of clutchless shifts. The five-speed transmission and limited-slip differential are purpose made by race gearbox specialist Bacci Romano; Abarth states that you will indeed need a degree of expertise to get the most out of it - no doubt.
The stinger missile also features a front-mounted intercooler, an Akrapovic exhaust system, Extreme Shox adjustable shock absorbers, meaty Brembo calipers and vented, cross-drilled discs hiding behind 18-inch OZ rims and a titanium anti-roll bar at the rear made by Poggipolini. The 695 Abarth Biposto offers as standard ABS, ESP and TTC and of course the LSD. Three different customisation kits will be offered; the 124 Speciale Kit, the Carbon Kit and the Pista Kit, with each one of them providing a different exterior look and other features.

And some extras: an Abarth 695 Asetto Corse Evolution;

And the original Abarth 695:

The Cutaway Diagram Files - BMW 801 14-Cylinder Radial Engine By BMW GMBH

Charge To The Horizon