1955 Dennis F8

This was one of the vehicles that took part in the Greater Manchester Transport Society's Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally in Heaton Park, Manchester in September 1988.

It isn't listed in the programme of the event, but it's a 1955 Dennis F8 fire engine. I've found that it was sold at auction by Bonhams in September 2005 and their description of the vehicle was as follows:

'1955 DENNIS F8 4.5-LITRE FIRE ENGINE

REGISTRATION NO. JTY 551

CHASSIS NO. 4158F8

The name of Dennis Bros is inextricably linked with the manufacture of public service vehicles and more especially with the Fire Service. This petrol-engined tender was supplied new to the Northumberland County Fire Brigade and served at Rothbury during its operational life, later moving to Bellingham where it served as a backup water bowser for the Kielder Forest. The coachwork is by Alfred Miles Ltd, constructed to a special order when it was remodelled circa 1958 to provide an enclosed rear body. This body houses two Godiva FWMP pumps by Coventry Climax and is remarkably comprehensively equipped with all the essential nozzles and hoses, ladders, flashing blue lamps and searchlights. The crew cab seats six including the driver. Regularly rallied both in Yorkshire and further afield while in the hands of its preceding owner from 1991 until 1998, the vehicle was purchased by the current owner at Bonhams & Brooks’ Harrogate Sale on 15th November 2001 (Lot 451). Restored in September 2002, it is offered with Swansea V5 registration document and is both licence exempt under the historic rules and MoT exempt as an operational fire tender. Fire appliances are an ever-popular attraction at classic transport shows and other events, and this wonderful Dennis has been the lead vehicle at the Morpeth Fair for the past three years.'

According to the DVLA record it's not been taxed since that auction.

2012 Aston Martin GT4

I took this photograph at Druids Corner during qualifying for the GT Challenge race at the Aston Martin Owners Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2018.

It's a 2012 Aston Martin GT4 which is an updated version of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 and has a 4,735cc V8 engine. It was driven into fourth place in the 50 minute long race by Warren McKinlay and James Hill.

Friday's Ferrari

The Christie's International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1992 featured a special display of Ferraris in the paddock and demonstration runs of various Ferraris during the meeting and this is one of the photographs  that I took of the display.

The car on the left of the picture with the display number 10 is the 1950 Ferrari 166/195 MM Touring Barchetta that the factory brought up to 195, and later to 212 specifications. Owned by Dudley Mason-Styrron it is chassis #0040M. The note about the car in the programme of the event says this:

 

'166/195 Barchetta

Front engined V12; 2.3 litres; 160-180 bhp at 7000rpm; ifs/double wishbones/transverse leaf springs. Rigid rear axle/semi-elliptic leaf springs. The dual model designation reflects the fact that it started out as a 2-litre car in the 166 series and finished up with a 2.4 litre engine from the 195 series. The 'Barchetta' - literally 'little boat' body is by Touring. It ran in the 1950 Mille Miglia, 4th overall (G.Bracco/U.Maglioli) and finished 12th overall. 5th in class (Luigi Villoresi) in the Targa Florio that year.'

 

The only information in the programme about the car in the centre with the display number 30 is that it's a Ferrari F1 Dino. It was the last front engined car to win a Grand Prix race, Phil Hill driving it to victory in the Italian Grand Prix in the next to last race of the 1960 season. At the end of the that season the car was fitted with a 3 litre 250 TR V12 engine and sold to New Zealander Pat Hoare who campaigned the car there for two years before it was sold and drastically altered with a body resembling that of the 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO. In 1978 the car was acquired by Neil Corner who had it restored to its original specifications. Here at Silverstone it was driven by Phil Hill in demonstration runs during this meeting. 

 

The car on the right with the display number 11 is a 1967 Ferrari 246 FL which was driven in the demonstration runs by John Surtees and the note in the programme says this about it:

 

'Ferrari 246 FL

Mid-engined V6; 2.4 litres, 300 bhp at 8900 rpm; twin ohc per bank. Lucas fuel injection. All round independent suspension. This car started life with a 2-litre engine as one of the Dino 166 F2's built to meet the 1967 F2 regulations which required engines based on production units. It was used by such by the works until it became one of two cars which fitted with a 2.4-litre engine were prepared by Ferrari to run in the 1969 Tasman series of races in New Zealand/Australia. Its principal driver in the series was Derek Bell.'

1954 MG TD

I took this photograph at the Northern Classic Car Show at Belle Vue, Manchester in September 1984.

It's a 1950 MG TD and has the 4-cylinder inline 1,250cc XPAG engine. The MG T-Type started with the TA in 1936 and ended with the TF which was produced from 1953 to 1955. The T-Type was superseded by the MGA.

1937 Cord 812 Sedan

I took this photograph during a parade of the entrants in the Cheshire Concours d'Esprit at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in August 2017.

It's a 1937 Cord 812 Westchester Sedan which has a  289 cu in (4739cc) V8 Lycoming engine and front-wheel drive.

1981 Williams FW07C

This was one of the competitors in the Grand Prix Masters F1 Cars 1966-85 race at the Silverstone Classic meeting in July 2010.

It's the 1981 Williams FW07C of Michael Fitzgerald and has the 2,993cc V8 Ford Cosworth DFV engine. The FW07 was designed by Patrick Head, Frank Dernie and Neil Oatley and first appeared in the 1979 season. Alan Jones and Clay Regazzoni drove the car that season and finished in third and fifth places respectively in the World Drivers' Championship with the team ending up in second place in the World Constructors' Championship. Improvements were made to the car for 1980 creating the FW07B with which Alan Jones won the Drivers' Championship with Carlos Reutemann in third place and Williams winning the Constructors Championship. Changes were made again for the 1981 season and the FW07C was driven by the same two drivers, Carlos Reutemann finishing in second place in the Drivers' Championship and Alan Jones in third place with the winner being Nelson Piquet in his Brabham, though Williams again won the Constructors' title.

1912 Fiat Zero

This is one of the cars that took part in the Lancashire Automobile Club's Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and vintage Car Run in June 1983.

It's a 1912 Fiat Zero and the programme of the event had this note about the car:

1912 Fiat Zero,

Reg: LU 4369 4 cylinder 15/20 hp 2107cc

(Vic Lupton, Colne, Lancs)

Recently acquired by Mr Lupton, to replace his smaller Stellite, which was a regular entrant on this Run over the years. He is hoping this distinctive five-seater open tourer will perform with equal success and enjoyment.