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Friday, 15 May 2026

Friday's Ferrari

This is a photograph that I took at the Ferrari Racing Days meeting at Silverstone in September 2017.
It's a Ferrari 360 Modena, a car that was introduced in 1999 replacing the Ferrari F355 and was superseded by the Ferrari F430 in 2004. It has the 3,586cc Ferrari F131 V8 engine with twin overhead camshafts per bank and five valves per cylinder.

Thursday, 14 May 2026

1901 De Dion Bouton

This is one of the cars that took part in the Lancashire Automobile Club’s Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car in April 1965.
All that it says in the programme of the event is that it’s Ralph Wilde’s 1901 De Dion Bouton. It also took part in the Run in 1966, however, as number 4 and the programme on that occasion had this note about it:
 
4.       Mr. R. Wilde, Radford Semele, Leamington.
           1901 De Dion Bouton Voiturette 503 c.c.
This is the first of the four-wheeled De Dion petrol cars, as opposed to the earlier steamers. It is a  descendant of the tricycles and is the earliest example of the famous De Dion rear axle now used on high-performance cars, including the Rover 2000. This example was rebuilt from scratch by the present owner and the task took five years. Won the Matthew Brown and Carburol Trophies in 1965.
 
Note: The 1965 programme says that the Matthew Brown Trophy was awarded for the best performance by a Veteran Car, and the United Lubricants Carburol Trophy was awarded for the best combined performance on the road and in the Concours d’Elegance by a Veteran or Edwardian Car.

Wednesday, 13 May 2026

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA

This is a photograph that I took at Britten’s chicane during the Under 2 Litres Touring Car race at the Gold Cup Meeting at Oulton Park in August 2008.
It's the 1965 Scuderia del Portello Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA driven in the 1 hour long race by Jason Wright. The Giulia was produced from 1962 to 1978 with a 4-cylinder inline engine of either 1.3 litres or 1.6 litres and the programme of the event says that this car has the 1.6 litre engine. The car behind looks like Roz Shaw and Tom Sheppard’s Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT.

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

1955 Lancia D50

The Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 2000 celebrated 50 years of Formula One, the World Drivers' Championship having started in 1950, and the first race of that Championship was run at Silverstone on 13th May of that year. At the July 2000 meeting at Silverstone there was a representative display of cars covering that 50 year period, and the car below was one of those taking part.
It's a re-creation of the Lancia D50 that competed in the Championship in 1954 and 1955 and It has a reproduction chassis with an original offset 2,488cc V8 engine and transmission salvaged from Enzo Ferrari's 'scrapyard'. This car was owned by Robin Lodge, and was entered in the Maserati UK Race for Pre 1961 Grand Prix Cars, but Robin Lodge had taken the precaution of also entering his 1959 Ferrari 246 Dino for that race, both numbered 42, in case the Lancia was not allowed to take part because of a doubt about its eligibility. In the end the car was allowed to race and was driven by Robin Lodge - the Ferrari also  took part in the race, renumbered as 54 and was driven by Willie Green.

Monday, 11 May 2026

Morris Minor 8hp

This is one of the cars that took part in a Vintage & Historic Vehicle Display & Run organised by the Saddleworth Museum in June 1987.
It’s not mentioned in the entry list, but it appears to be one of the 8hp Morris Minors built between 1928 and 1932 which had a 4-cylinder inline 847cc engine.

Sunday, 10 May 2026

1959 Terrier Mk IV

This is a photograph that I took at Britten's chicane during a short Scratch Race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Boulogne and Hawthorn Trophies Race Meeting at Oulton Park in June 2006.
The leading car is the 1959 Terrier Mk IV of Derek Walker which is being followed by the  1937 Riley Falcon Special of Robert Cobden and the 1936 ERA R7B of Paul Mullins. The Terrier is a little-known Formula Junior car but I have found a Formula Junior site with this information about it:
 
‘The Terrier was typical of the front engine Juniors which captured an appearance of their much bigger/ faster GP fellows. It was designed with space frame by Len Terry. The power being provided by the Ford Anglia. Due to the layout and need to keep the driver low the engine is engine dropping downwards at the rear and resultant prop shaft facing upwards. Tyres are believed to have been 5.00 L x 13 front and 5.50 Lx 14 rear on steel wheels to keep costs down etc. the front suspension incorporated Triumph Herald uprights. The weight is estimated at approximately 10cwt.’

Saturday, 9 May 2026

1950 Crossley DD42/7

This is a photograph that I took in Heaton Park, Manchester in September 1988 at the Greater Manchester Transport Society’s Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally.
It’s a 1950 Crossley DD42 and the programme of the event had this note about it:
 
JOJ 489 Crossley DD42/7, Crossley H30/24R, 1950 Birmingham City Transport. Entered by D. Harvey, Halesowen, West Midlands. Rallied every year since 1969 and recently re-restored, this unique tin front Crossley is now the sole survivor of 270 Crossleys owned by Birmingham.