Porsche 944 Turbo-Engined Mini - Nine Four Four + Se7en

Words: Amazosan

Pics: Kevin Kauffman, Ty Cobb, Tachyon Performance

Much to my annoyance I can't find much info on this car, even on the builder's (Tachyon Performance) website. But you don't need me to tell you it's a Mini body plonked on top of a whole heap of awesome.
But that really is simplifying it a little too much; the 'awesome' part underneath is a custom-built tube frame to house the engine and running gear from a Porsche 944 Turbo (fun fact: the internal codename for the 944 Turbo was Project 951, hence the title of the piece). And when I say running gear, I mean rear-mounted transxale, torque tube, the lot. To this base has been attached what looks like a post-'60 Mini MKI shell (small rear lights, recessed panels around front and rear screens), which is more than a wee bit narrower than a 924, let alone a 944. That stance is pure comedy, with the Fuchs wheels fully clear of the arches; the message that this Mutant Mini brings is a lot more serious though once the arches and those gorgeous OZ Mito rims are attached though.
Now, a standard 1985 944 Turbo puts out 217bhp and is good for 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and 162mph flat out; as well as stating the bleedin' obvious that its a good deal lighter with the new body on top, that engine looks like it's got a few more gee gees corralled in it than when it left the Neckarsulm factory (another fun fact: the same factory that NSU's used to be made in); at a guess, a bigger turbo, injectors to match and some killer airbox work.
Will it eventually be roadworthy? Your guess is as good as mine, but even if it never sees an open road, it would make crazy-insane hillcllimb ordnance.

- Amazosan

Later pictures with aluminium arches and OZ Mito split rims make it look madder still. Excellent:

British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, 28th June 2014

Ryuichi Kiyonari set the pace early in the final ten minute session ahead of Tommy Bridewell on the Milwaukee Yamaha by just 0.049 seconds. The session remained fairly stable until Josh Brookes on the second Milwaukee Yamaha kick-started the chase for pole with three minutes to go by setting a 48.282.
Scotsman Stuart Easton riding the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki fancied it at home as he stole pole from the Aussie with two minutes left on the clock as Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki rider James Ellison went second knocking Brookes further back. Not having any of it, Brookes stormed back to the top of the time sheets with a minute left to go but the Aussie had no answer for Kiyonari, who’s last lap was a rapid 48.112 to take pole as he took the chequered flag.

The Daddy & The Kids

1948 International KB-1 Woody Wagon - Woody Oddy

The 1947-1949 International Harvester KB-1 & KB-2 trucks evolved from International's K-series pickup trucks introduced in the early 1940s, but old age didn't hinder its ability to work as hard as any postwar rival. The company built its first car in 1907 and its first truck two years later, and over the years, International Harvester's triple diamond logo became widely associated with tough, hard-working vehicles; in 1952, the company could still claim that over half the vehicles it ever built were still in service.
By 1940, International Harvester offered more than 50 different truck models, among them the new K-series pickup line. Typical of the era, the 'K' sported heavy domed roofs and pointed bonnets with faired in headlights, designs cues that were ahead of their time in comparison to their Chevy and Dodge counterparts. In total there were 42 models, a combination of 142 different wheelbase lengths and payload ratings, ranging from 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton.
After civilian production resumed in 1947, the K-series evolved into the KB, with only minor changes to the 1947-1949 International KB-2 pickup models, such as a widened lower grill.
Power for the KB was provided by the 'Green Diamond' straight six, a 214ci flathead engine producing 82bhp at 3400rpm and 160lbs/ft of torque at 1200rpm; while the peak-torque rpm seems low, consider that the KB idled at only 350 rpm. With typical undersquare bore/stroke dimensions and 6.3:1 compression, this was no high performance engine, but just as important was durablity and ease of maintenance, and that's what counted in a post-war marketplace that was still recovering from austerity.
The KB-series pickups were available on both 113 inch and 125 inch wheelbases, with axle ratios ranging from a tall 3.72:1 to more appropriate 4.88:1 and 5.11:1 gearing. Solid axles front and rear were supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs and Lovejoy lever-arm shock absorbers.
International Harvester stuck with this styling until 1950, which was not the most competitive decision in a market where rivals were shedding their prewar designs. Still, the company sold more than 122,000 of the 1/2-ton  KB-1 pickups and 3/4-ton  KB-2 pickups between 1947 and 1949, when the KB series was subsequently replaced by the L-Series.
One of the many variations of the KB truck was this lovely and super-rare woody wagon; only 500 were made and apparently fewer than a dozen are thought to remain. This particular example was the subject of a full restoration about 10 years ago; the Green Diamond engine and 'three on the tree' column shift are fully rebuilt and that gorgeous birds-eye maple woodwork is all-new.
With room for eight people on it's oxblood leather grain vinyl seats, grab the surfboards, picnic basket, head to the beach and soak up the quizzical glances when people realise it isn't a '40 Ford you're driving.

- Mr Fabulous

4c-ing The Future

Canadian Grand Prix, 16th June 1985

Lotus were quickest in qualifying, with Elio De Angelis outpacing Ayrton Senna. The Ferraris of Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson were on the second row.
At the start, the Lotus duo pulled away, but reliability problems soon sidelined Senna. De Angelis however continued on his way, although Alboreto was in striking distance. The man from Milan closed on the man from Rome and overtook him, passing him around the outside.
Alboreto was now safely in the lead, while behind him Johansson livened up proceedings, making the most of a drop in performance on De Angelis’ Lotus to take second place, almost closing right up to his team mate.
The Ferrari 156/85 thus secured a 1-2, with Alboreto swooping into the title lead thanks to his second win for the Suderia. It was win number 90 for the Maranello marque and was also the last F1 race that Lotus would have both of their cars qualify on the front row of the grid.

Bantam Among Heavyweights

1929 Ford Coupe - The Eischen Factor

'any fool can cut up a car and go overboard with a concept, but it takes an artist to go the simple and understated route'
Wise words by the author of the Street Rodder article (Eric Geisert) and an ethos that builder Jeff Eischen has demonstrated time and again with his cars. For all of that understated simplicity, this car hides a ton of detail; you could spend ages just looking at the pictures in detail, let alone how long you could spend poring over this car if you were actually face to face with it.
I'm going to shut up for this one, and suggest you go here for the full details. just remember to pick your jaw up on your way out.

- Amazosan

You've Been Framed

T.W.O. - The Bikes Of Crystal Palace

As well as the assortment of cars a Motorsport At the Palace this year, there was a separate section for race bikes. While they didn't race on the course, they were an absolute treat to look at.

BSA Lightning Clubman replica:

The Bill Hodgkins and Bert Vloemans Windle Norton sidecar racer. Windle is an English sidecar manufacturer that builds road racing sidecar chassis:

The Phil (The Pirate) Luhr & David (Buddha) Currell Windle Imp. Imp, as in Hillman Imp powered:

1930 Scott Hillclimber-sprinter. The Scott two-stroke 180 degree twin-cylinder engine is almost legendary; the basic design lasted from 1908 to 1979:

1930 Triumph 250cc roadrace/hillclimb/sprint special. The engine is pretty trick; contains a long stroke AJS 7R crankshaft and conrod, plus some engine part sfrom a BRM H16 F1 engine!

Yamaha 350 LC converted into a 375 TZ LC replica:

Bultaco TSS125; the last Bultaco to finish an Isle Of Man TT Lightweight 125cc race:

The 'Sheene Special', a bike built by Frank Sheene (father of Barry) around a hand-built frame, Italian Demm front forks,  Spanish Ducson hubs and Ducson 50cc race engine:

This is a Maserati Tipo 50/T2/SS 'Rospo'. Contrary to popular belief, Maserati motorcycles were not manufactured at the car-maker's Modena factory but by another subsidiary of the Orsi Group parent company - Fabbrica Candele e Accumulatori Maserati (FCAM) - which manufactured spark plugs and other automotive electrical components:

Matchess G50 500cc racer:

Gud Kuhn Racing Seeley Norton Commando 750. Barry Sheene raced this Kuhn Norton early in his career:

The Pope Special, built by the Pope brothers and ridden by A.E. Dawson; it has a 50cc Montesa single:

Two Honda CB450 racers, with race-spec CB500-T engines.originally built to compete at the TT, they now race at classic bike race events:

A 1972 Triumph Trident with a Rob North frame; it's a replica of the works bikes that competed in the Transatlantic races in 1971:

Suzuki 750 that competed in the 1988 British Superbike Championship

Aermacchi 250 Ala Verde race replica and Ducati 350cc racer. Harley Davidson owned Aermacchi from 1960 to 1978:

BMW Busch Sidecar with a 500cc flat-twin. In the 1960s/early 1970s, the German company's horizontally-opposed twins dominated the World Sidecar Championship:

FIN