Innholdsfortegnelse for #287 20-04 i Just Cars

After releasing a limited-edition ‘Number 9’ version of their current Continental GT earlier this year in honour of their past successes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Bentley has gone a step further in announcing they will produce copies of their ‘blower’ 4.5-litre supercharged endurance racer from 1929, with each unit to be hand built by Mulliner; Bentley’s in-house division for coachbuilding and bespoke projects. A total of twelve copies will be built, in honour of the twelve races in which the original factory ‘Blower Bentleys’ were entered. “As we continue to commemorate 100 years of Bentley, we are combining a look to our past with the very latest digital technologies and techniques to create something truly extraordinary,” said Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark. “The four Team…

To preserve the history of Holden’s manufacturing operations in Australia, former Holden factory employees are being sought out to contribute to an oral history project, in an attempt to unearth the remarkable history of General Motors-Holden and its workers. Organised by a research team from Monash University in Melbourne and the University of Adelaide, the project will draw on the memories of those who worked at Holden between 1945 and 2017, specifically those who worked on the assembly lines and operations related to manufacturing. Most of the subjects for the study are likely to come from South Australia, as GM-H’s operations in Woodville and, later, Elizabeth were the state’s largest private employer for much of its existence. “Holden’s final factory closure evoked grave concern for its workers and the hundreds…

A South Australian auction conducted by Scammell’s this past August achieved some excellent results. The ‘August Collectors’ Auction’ was loaded with hundreds of petroliana, garagenalia and other automotive-related collectable items. While most were smaller items, many fetched big prices, including $17,700 for a Shell ‘stick man’ embossed three-panel enamelled tin sign. Another three-panel Super Shell enamelled sign sold for $16,700, while two sets of similar Super Shell signs sold for $6,400 and $5,900. Most of these signs were sourced locally in Adelaide and had been painted over and were in use as fencing panels before their origin – and value – were discovered. An Ampol oil bottle rack made $1,700 and a rare Firezone upper cylinder lubricant drum hammered for $1,200, while a Neptune embossed oil bottle, only produced for…

With the Ford Mustang now a common sight on Aussie roads, those looking to stand out from the crowd while retaining their loyalty to the Blue Oval have looked to the Bullitt Mustang. But if you want to weaponise your Bullitt, you need to look at a Steve McQueen Edition Bullitt from Steeda. KING OF COOL… Steve McQueen shouldn’t need an introduction, especially for petrolheads, but for those unfamiliar with the ‘King of Cool’, McQueen was one of Hollywood’s hottest stars in the 1960s asnd ’70s, thanks to starring roles in The Magnificent Seven, Le Mans, The Great Escape, Papillon, The Sand Pebbles, The Thomas Crown Affair and, of course, Bullitt. Far from Hollywood’s finest hour, Bullitt isn’t McQueen’s greatest either, to be honest, but a 10-and-a-bit minute sequence in…

Where do you define the tipping point in American car styling going from gorgeous to garish? Granted it depends on the make, model and even individual opinion, as some may argue American cars were never hit with the ugly stick at all. That being said, some believe the change came about with the 1958 models. The evidence? You’ve only got to look at the 1957 Chevrolet, which is one of the most popular American classics going around. The 1958 Chevrolet much less so. Same goes for the ’57 vs ’58 Ford. And the less said about the Edsel the better. Chrysler Corporation was ahead of the curve with their 1957 models, so the changes made for ’58 were less radical. Indeed, the changes brought about by General Motors for their…

Shannons are offering the chance to attend the 2020 Goodwood Revival as part of a 15-day trip for two to Great Britain. One of the must-do events for fans of classic four and two wheel machinery, the Goodwood Revival is not just a feast of historic racing cars and bikes from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s – the event also sees the paddock decorated in the spirit of the era, with participants and spectators encouraged to dress in the fashions of the period, too. On track, historic open wheelers, sports and GT cars, saloon cars, GP cars and other categories engage in spirited competition, with classic motorcycles racing, too. From a multi-million-dollar Ferrari to a Cooper-Climax, a Jaguar D-Type to a humble Austin A40, all sorts of classic race machinery…

To celebrate this year’s 55th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang, a new record has been set for the world’s largest Mustang parade. The previous record had stood at 960 vehicles, set in Mexico in December, 2017. The new benchmark was set on 7 September at Ford’s Lommel proving grounds in Belgium, where 1,326 Mustangs gathered. To set the new record, the Mustangs were driven in an uninterrupted convoy with no more than 20 metres between each car. Vehicles and drivers converged from all over Europe and beyond for the event and also participated in a special choreography to celebrate the Mustang’s 55th anniversary. All six generations of the Mustang were represented, with the event capped by a flyover from a genuine P-51 Mustang fighter plane from World War II. While…

Volkswagen has partnered with German electric vehicle engineering company eClassics to retrofit an electric drivetrain into a classic Beetle Karmann cabriolet, with future plans to both produce complete electric classic VWs and also offer components for those looking to electrify their own classics. While the actual conversion was undertaken by eClassics, Volkswagen provided the parts and advised the company during the process. The electric motor, single-speed gearbox and battery system were all taken from VW’s soon-to-be-released e-up! electric model. The other main change applied with the fitting of this electric drivetrain is that it’s now all at the front end of the car, driving the front wheels, with the existing VW engine compartment at the rear made empty. Delivering a claimed 60kW, the electric motor is fuelled by 14 lithium…

A modern Shelby Mustang is a special machine, but this example is extra special, not just because it’s the desirable Super Snake version, but also because it’s a 50th Anniversary model, comes highly specified and has done virtually no miles from new. Modern Super Snakes like this one pay tribute to a one-off Shelby Mustang that was built more than 50 years ago. SNAKES AND HORSES The 1967 GT 500 Super Snake Mustang was actually the second Shelby vehicle to carry the ‘Super Snake’ name. The first was a Cobra roadster from 1966. Back in 1965, Shelby planned to build competition-specific Cobras with the 427ci V8 instead of the Cobra’s standard 289 V8, specifically for racing. Rule changes and high price tags for these racers saw only a handful ordered,…

An all-new car and bike event is coming to Sydney this November in the form of the Machines & Macchiatos Triple Shot Super Show. Presented by the Sydney Machina Social Club, the Triple Shot Super Show promises to be big: so big, in fact, it’ll be held over two days – 23 and 24 November – at the St. Ives showgrounds (18km north of Sydney CBD). Day 1, Saturday 23 November, is a family friendly day with food trucks, a bar, live music from the Cruisin’ Deuces, a movie car display and rides and amusements for the kids. The day culminates with a special drive-in open-air cinema. Public entry is free, but there is a charge for the open-air cinema - $20/car and $10/non-car. Day 2, Sunday 24 November, is…

To adapt to more complex engineering and electronics in modern vehicles, and to encourage more competitors to take part, a range of new technical regulations will be introduced for the CAMS Australian Targa Championship from 2020. Class structures will also be adjusted for the coming year, with an all-new electric vehicle class to be introduced in 2021. The changes include the Classic category being split into ‘Classic’ for pre-1990 2WD cars and ‘Classic GT’ for pre-’90 4WD cars. Similarly, Early Modern will be split into ‘Early Modern 2’ and ‘Early Modern 4’ for 2WD and 4WD cars, respectively. Conversely, GT2 and GT4 will become one category, with results split on the basis of Outright (GTO) and Production (GTP), but GTP cars will be eligible to place and win the GTO…

Classic Aussie muscle cars were amongst the top sellers at Shannons Melbourne Spring Classic Auction on 23 September. In a sale comprising 72 lots, the top seller was a 1971 Ford XY Falcon GT sedan. Despite being finished in the GT’s common Vermillion Fire with black vinyl trim, the top seller was one of just 14 examples in the same combination of specifications from a total of 1,530 XY GTs built. Sold new in Hobart, the XY GT came to auction with 58,000 miles on the odometer and had been described as one of the best unrestored examples going around. The original owner’s manual and factory wallet, period Falcon GT brochure and spare set of keys were included, too. Bidding started at $220,000 and increased in $10,000 and $5,000 increments…

The first Australian-delivered example of Toyota’s new GR Supra has reached its owner. That first recipient from the initial random ballot process of 100 applicants that opened on 19 June was Mark Trueno; a true Supra fan who already has an A70 and A80 generation version of Toyota’s six-cylinder sports car in his possession. “As a kid, I drove my first Supra in a video game and ever since then, I've always wanted one. You could drive Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but I always chose the Supra - this crazy powerful car from Japan,” Mark said. "I've been fortunate enough to have owned quite a few Supra models, but this 2020 GR Supra will be front and centre in my garage. Not only is it visually stunning it's fantastic to drive."…

While panel vans were a big part of Aussie automotive history and culture, the equivalent ‘sedan delivery’ in the US played a much less prominent role. In fact, the sedan delivery in the post-War era was something of an oddity in the USA and these Oldsmobile-badged versions are odder still. SMALL HAULING, SMALL MARKET In the land that reveres the pickup truck, sedan deliveries were always a niche body style. That didn’t stop all manner of US manufacturers, familiar and unknown, from producing one, though. In the earliest days of the American automobile, the definition of a sedan delivery was blurred, but came to be better defined in the late 1920s: a passenger car-based, closed-body delivery vehicle of light to medium capacity, as opposed to a panel delivery which was…

Victoria’s JUST CARS Historic Touring Cars travelled to South Australia in August, joining a field of SA locals and other interstate interlopers at The Bend circuit for the SA Historic Touring Car Cup. Held in support of the OTR Super Sprint Supercars round, The Bend circuit proved to be no easy task for the Victorians (or the locals, for that matter), with tight battles, prangs, spins and more adding to the thrills. NAVARA SUPPORT With meeting sponsor Nissan Navara on board, the Historic Touring Cars (HTC) were part of the Supercars circus at this extremely impressive venue. What was an empty, dusty paddock four years ago is now a magnificent permanent motor sport complex with an on-site motel, international standard karting facility and a fast, flowing, multi-layout race track comprising…