Innholdsfortegnelse for #236 16-03 i Just Cars

“On the XR8 Sprint, power comes from the proven 5.0-litre supercharged V8, outputting 345kW @ 5750rpm and 575Nm @ 2220-6250rpm; equalling the most potent V8 Falcon ever offered.” Ford has unveiled the last of the “hot” Falcon specials in the form of the “Sprint”. Available in both XR6 and XR8 forms, the Sprint is limited to just 1400 units; 750 XR8 Sprints and 500 XR6 Turbo Sprints. 150 examples will be allocated for New Zealand, with a 100/50XR8/XR6 split. As previewed in JUST CARS #240, the limited edition revives a name first used locally on the ED XR8 in 1993, but the Sprint label has earlier American history. Appearing on the US Ford Falcon in mid-1963, the Sprint denoted the first application of a V8 engine to that model for…

A highlight of Gooding and Company’s annual Scottsdale auction was a one-off 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 C sedan, converted into a station wagon by the German coachbuilders Binz. Created more than two decades before Mercedes-Benz offered a factory-built wagon in their lineup, the 300 C wagon was commissioned by Carolina Ryan Foulke, a wealthy New York heiress and socialite who wanted a spacious vehicle to carry luggage between her yachts and various shore destinations. Foulke reportedly approached Mercedes-Benz’s US representative, Max Hoffman, with her request, and Hoffman suggested Binz and Company. Located close to Mercedes’ Sindelfingen factory, Binz had already been producing hearse and ambulance conversions from Mercedes vehicles, but Foulke didn’t want something as bulky and ‘industrial’ as these. The resulting wagon, based on a 300 C limousine and powered…

It took until the late 1950s - two decades after us Aussies invented it - for the Americans to finally cotton on to the concept of a car-based utility, or what they called a “sedan pickup.” But, in a country where the truck-style pickup was – and still is - king, the ute never really took off. Both Ford and Chevrolet gave it a crack, though, Ford leading the way in 1957 with their Ranchero, while Chevrolet followed with the El Camino in 1959. For Chevy, being beaten to the punch with a new model was particularly galling, as GM had been toying with the idea of a car-based “deluxe pickup” for the US market as far back as 1952, revisiting the concept again for the 1955 models. The idea…

Automobili Lamborghini only recently racked up their half-century (in 2013), but 2016 marks the centenary of company founder Ferrucio Lamborghini’s birth. To celebrate the occasion, a limited-edition Lamborghini ‘Centenario’ was presented at March’s Geneva Motor Show. The four-wheel drive Centenario uses the Aventador’s V12 architecture, in this instance producing 770hp (574kW) and a top speed of more than 350 km/h, a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 2.8 seconds, with 0-300 km/h arriving in 23.5 seconds. Braking from 100 km/h to standstill is achieved in 30 metres. A full carbon fibre monocoque provides a low weight of 1,520 kg and a weight-to-power ratio of just 1.97 kg/hp. Aerodynamic inlets made of several fins characterize both front and rear. There are large air scoops in the bonnet, ducts in the headlight casing,…

Top-selling vehicle at Shannons recent Late Summer Auction in Melbourne was a replica of a Porsche 904 GTS, but there were strong prices across the board at the 22nd February sale. UK-built, the Martin & King replica is a well-regarded, highly-detailed and impressively-finished version of Porsche’s competition coupe from the 1960s. At Melbourne, the 904 GTS clone sold for $127,000. Another notable result was the $90,000 achieved by a 1971 Jaguar E-Type. The Australian-delivered Series 2 six-cylinder coupe was presented in good condition and offered at No Reserve. Attention from floor, phone and overseas bidders pushed the E-Type past its $70,000 high estimate to reach the $90K total. Other good results for sellers included $74,500 for an LHD 1969 Ford Mustang Mach I, with $58,250 achieved by a rare factory…

“From humble beginnings, Cole soon decided to go more upmarket with his automobiles.” Every car buff knows of Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Cadillac, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, etc. But beyond those well-known American names, and some less familiar ones like Nash, LaSalle, Hudson, Oakland and Willys, there’s literally a universe of long-gone American automobile manufacturers. One of the smaller stars from that universe, but one that shone quite brightly for a period, was Cole. J.J.’S VISION Yes, the car you’re looking at here is called a “Cole.” And no, it has nothing to do with supermarkets, annoying jingles or a “big red hand.” Born and raised in Indiana, Joseph J. Cole made a name for himself in the horse-drawn, then horseless carriage industries. In both instances, Cole’s operations were based out of…

The auction of the Barry Bahnisch collection by Bennett’s Classic Auctions on 27th February proved a great success, with all the lots mentioned in JUST CARS #240 selling for good prices. Star of the show was the 1933 MG F2 Magna, which easily bested its reserve of $70,000 to sell for $110,000; this is a new Australian record price for this model. The 1931 MG M Type exceeded its $20,000 reserve to sell for $30,000, while the ’47 MG TC eclipsed its $30,000 reserve by a fair margin to make $55,000. A ’59 MGA roadster and coupe also both exceeded their reserves. Of the veterans, the 1910 Humber 12/20 eclipsed its $30,000 reserve to sell for $47,000, with the 1912 Rover 12hp making $26,000 against a $20,000 reserve. Bennetts Classic…

Think of “cars” and “horses” and most people think of either a Mustang or a Ferrari. But take a closer look at a Porsche and you’ll notice a horse in its badge, too. While Ferrari’s ‘Prancing Horse’ may be the best known of any car emblem, Porsche’s rampant stallion – taken from the coat of arms of the city of Stuttgart - has been around almost as long, first appearing on a 356A in 1953. A little over a decade later, that other famous horse would come into the automotive sphere, when the Mustang arrived. Since its debut in April, 1964, the Mustang’s millions of sales created the whole ‘pony car’ genre in the US and made the car an icon around the world, including here in Australia. One of…

This year’s 51st Victorian Hot Rod Show (VHRS) may have lacked the buzz of last year’s special 50th Anniversary event, but it certainly wasn’t lacking in quality machinery of all sorts. Held at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton – as it has every year since 1965 - there was plenty to see at this year’s VHRS, both inside and outside. Stunning show cars included interstate rides making their southern debuts after appearances at Meguiar’s MotorEx and the Street Machine Summernats, as well as returning stars and new builds from local rodders. SURVIVORS ON SHOW One of the highlights amongst the traditional rods on show was the ‘Crimson Pirate’ of Charlie Caruana and Joe Pirotta. Dating back to 1967, and based on a Model A Ford, the Caruana/Pirotta roadster…