Many great cars that once triumphed while competing on the circuit were never seen again for a long time. So that not many people nowadays know the shape any more especially the achievements it had achieved in its heyday. And only a few of them ended their racing career just to sit silently in the corner as a display item in the museum or a collection of rich automotive enthusiasts.
1970 Costin Amigo number 6 of the 9 ever documented one and comes with the special air intakes fitted for the Le Mans race. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/31STGBU)
The Costin Amigo was one of them. It's a lightweight sports car built in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and was designed by Frank Costin (of Marcos (automobile) fame) and built-in Little Staughton, Bedfordshire.
This car is considered by many, to be Frank Costin's greatest design and styling elements of almost every car of the period can be seen in this one car. Aerodynamics is pure science and Frank Costin was the best of his generation, his CV including the World Championship winning Vanwalls of the late 1950s.
Interior view of the 1970 Costin Amigo number 6 of the 9 ever documented one. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/31STGBU)
Its 2-liter engine and running gear came from the Vauxhall VX 4/90, but its plywood monocoque frame and aerodynamic fiberglass body gave it a top speed of 137 mph (220 kph), and a quoted 0-60 time of 7.2 sec. And reportedly only eight (or nine, depending on the source) of the cars were ever sold.
1970 Costin Amigo number 6 is fitted with its original Blydenstein 2.3 liter Vauxhall Dry sump rally spec engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/31STGBU)
This is the most famous of all Costin's being effectively their Works Car. It was driven at Le Mans in 1971 in the 3-hours race (not the legendary 24 Hours) by Brian Hart and Paul Pycroft de Ferranti and also by the legendary Gerry Marshal who won in the car at Thruxton in 1971.
1970 Costin Amigo also has a split-circuit braking system and a Getrag 5 speed gearbox, driving through a limited Slip Differential. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2O6EYzm)
The car on the picture above is number 6 of the 9 documented Amigo and is fitted with its original Blydenstein 2.3 liter Vauxhall Dry sump rally spec engine. It also has a split-circuit braking system and a Getrag 5 speed gearbox, driving through a limited Slip Differential. Sitting on Carmona alloys this is a superb car to drive and comes with the special air intakes fitted for the Le Mans race.
It was driven by several top drivers of the period. In the late 1980s, the car was sent to Bill Blydenstein by Paul Pycroft for a total rebuild which was well documented in many motoring magazines. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | MOTORBASE.COM | COACHBUILD.COM | SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS]
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For a moment we go back to the late 1980s, at that time the Italian famous coachbuilder named Italdesign launched a sports car model named Italdesign Aztec. This unique stylish sports car designed by the renowned automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro and introduced for the first time at the Turin Motor Show 1988, the sports car was deliberately created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of those famous Italian automotive design house.
The Italdesign Aztec designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and introduced for the first time at the Turin Motor Show 1988 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the famous Italian coachbuilder. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)
Unlike sports cars in general, where the Aztec is equipped with two unique seats because the driver and passenger are placed separately, thus both need to communicate electronically. Uniquely, this sports car combines the speedster body style with a partially removable protective part in the arrangement of the gullwing-styled doors.
The Italdesign Aztec is equipped with two unique seats because the driver and passenger are placed separately, thus both need to communicate electronically. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)
As a source of energy, Italdesign Aztec is equipped with an Audi turbocharged engine mated to a 4-wheel-drive system that comes from the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. The Audi's 2,226 cc five-cylinder DOHC engine is capable of producing power of around 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp), that's a bit less than its '250 HP' badge on the wing.
The Italdesign Aztec is powered by an Audi 2,226 cc five-cylinder DOHC turbocharged engine mated to a 4-wheel-drive system that comes from the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)
The Aztec has a very futuristic style gesture with many future features. The car has control panels on both sides of the aluminum body panel on the back. After entering certain codes into the panel, information, and about the performance status of the car along with certain functions can be accessed via voice (for example to open its pop-up headlights, hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, to a compressor to inflate the tires).
The Italdesign Aztec combines the speedster body style with a partially removable protective part in the arrangement of the gullwing-styled doors. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)
Then in the cabin, Italdesign Aztec interior is wrapped in luxurious genuine leather with a group of separate instruments for passengers shaped like a steering wheel, which displays important information about the car and contains damper controls as well as communication tools along with time controls.
The Italdesign Aztec has a very futuristic style gesture with many future features including some of them can be accessed via voice. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)
Amazingly, it turns out that this sports car has applied a satellite navigation system equipment located in the middle of the dashboard (positioned more towards the driver). Indeed, the design is clearly seen that the sports car was inspired by space technology that was being rife in the time, while the glass on the wings inspired by LeMans races that highlight the motorsport aspect.
Besides that, the sports car also has an adequate luggage compartment, while the carbon fiber rear wing is optimized for downforce and there is also the roll-bar installed for driver and passenger safety.
The Italdesign Aztec's big-sized rear wing is optimized for downforce and also the roll-bar for driver and passenger safety. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3gKPR6j)
According to some sources, there were only 18 units of the Italdesign Aztec have been built, of which the original planned production was 50 units (although some sources state the total production as "less than 25 units").
And in 1990, one of these sports cars had also appeared in one of the scenes of the horror-science fiction movie titled 'Frankenstein Unbound,' as a computer-controlled futuristic car owned by the film's protagonist, Dr. Joe Buchanan. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ]
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In the early days of the automotive technology pioneering era around the 1930s to 1940s, engineers were competing to make various inventions related to motor vehicles. Starting from the discovery and development of machines to the design of the vehicle itself.
A streamlined tadpole three-wheeled vehicle was one of the aviation world inspired creations designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort and built by Jamin Meaux. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2C87QVd)
And one of them is like what was done by a French aeronautical engineer named Victor-Albert Bouffort. Well, shortly after World War II was ended when the world's economy stagnated and difficult. But, turned out he managed to design and build some pretty crazy cars.
The Bouffort designed three-wheeler vehicle prototype model was introduced in 1947 and powered by a Citroën Traction Avant 11 CV drivetrain. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ivld2i)
In the time, he built some kind weird-shaped vehicles that might be made everybody should be turning their head while seen it pass through. The first was the stunning streamlined three-wheeler based on a Citroën Traction-Avant. And there were three of these were actually built and each has slightly different shapes.
And there were three of these were actually built and each has slightly different shapes. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ivld2i)
In the '50s, he shifted his attention to microcars creating his most famous car, the Peardrop which he felt would revolutionize city transportation. Like most attempts at the time, it didn't catch on, but here's some amazing footage of it driving around London. The way the roof bubble articulates is beautiful.
This Bouffort designed three-wheeler vehicle was exceptionally streamlined with its long mudguards and aerodynamic body featuring gull-wing doors and seating for two side by side. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3f6P2US)
He tried a few more plastic-bodied microcar designs with fascinating results. None made it to production, so he tried turning a Peugeot 403 into a handsome roadster. It was well-received, but only two examples were built. Interestingly, the front windscreen is actually the rear window of a Studebaker.
The Bouffort Peardrop minicar designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort in 1952. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Z2tC5F)
His only real success at a vehicle was a dandy. The Valmobile was a scooter that folded into a suitcase-sized package. Around 100,000 were actually built. The unique foldable scooter produced in Japan and sold worldwide, and the 75 lbs machine was kind of an adaptation of folding bikes previously only made for military use.
The Bouffort Enville minicar with a boxy style designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort in 1955 (with the Peardrop model). (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Z2tC5F)
Bouffort thought an easily stored scooter would be embraced by city-dwellers and he was right. Although I think a lof people bought them for the novelty. No front suspension and a tiny motor and wheels meant they were a little scary to ride. But, you could get a sidecar.
A roadster designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort in 1957. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZHUkzz)
Besides the foldable scooter above, Bouffort unique-shaped cars continued, by the launching of the Lohr Fardier, a small utility four-wheel drive vehicle used by the French military in the time. At the time, he had become increasingly aware of traffic congestion in cities such as Paris and decided to do something about it.
A unique foldable scooter called 'Valmobile' designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort and produced in Japan during the 1960s to 1970s. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZHUkzz)
Bouffort and his friend, novelist Henri Viard, observed that most cars only carried one or two passengers. Their idea was to design a small car for city dwellers – two-seat vehicles whose length was no more than the width of a more traditional car.
1970 Lohr Fardier FL 500, a small utility four-wheel drive vehicle designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort for the French military. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZHUkzz)
These small cars would be fitted with relatively powerful engines so they could keep up with traffic. The prototype for the “Minima”, as it was called, featured a tubular chassis, composite bodywork, sliding doors, luggage space in the rear, and a 30 hp engine from the Citroën 2CV that helped it reach a top speed of 120 kph (75 mph).
These small cars named 'Minima' designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort and featured a tubular chassis, composite bodywork, sliding doors, luggage space in the rear, and a 30 hp engine from the Citroën 2CV that helped it reach a top speed of 120 kph (75 mph). (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BzWMQO)
The Minima was introduced to the public in a dazzling display at the 1973 Salon de l’Automobile, with the show car displayed on the 56th floor of Paris’ brand-new Montparnasse Tower. However, it garnered very little interest and plans for its mass production were canceled. The French brilliant engineer Victor-Albert Bouffort died in 1995 at the age of 83. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OPPOSITELOCK | LANEMOTORMUSEUM | HEMMINGS]
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Here are several of the world's leading automotive brands who made the Vision Gran Turismo concept cars and shown into the real world (in the form of real cars, dummy cars, or whatever not only can be seen but touched and felt by hand as well)...
Beginning in 1992, Yamaha sparked the idea of making a ferocious supercar with an abundance of technology owned by Formula 1 cars by launching the Yamaha OX99-11 V12 concept. At that time, the Japanese giant manufacturer that was famous for its motorcycle products was a supplier of Formula 1 engines and decided to use one of its F1 engines.(You see it on the video below).
The fierce appearance of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
The Japanese manufacturer partnering with IAD's English engineering consultant to make this sports car a reality, the OX99-11 V12 model was created with a power capacity of a 3.5 liter V12 with a power kick of 400 hp at 10,000 rpm and combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. Even so, it's unfortunate because this car never reached the production line.
Front section view of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
Turning to 2020, an automotive designer named Gaspere Conticelli, resumed the form of the successor to the supercar who had been born dead with the nickname Yamaha OX-2020. Like one of the three OX99-11 V12 prototypes built, the OX-2020 has a red bandage and has a very unusual design.
Dashboard section view of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
The most obvious similarity with its predecessor is the split front bumper design that functions as a wing, to produce maximum downforce pressure. The design version of the OX-2020 refers to as a mid-engined sports car, the sides have a large air intake while there is also a prominent roof scoop.
Rear section view of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
What's interesting is the sleek cockpit that seems to have the same two-seat arrangement as the OX99-11 V12, while the similarity between the two continues at the rear, with thin cooling vents on the engine cover and quad taillight.
Although this independent design illustration has not been officially approved by Yamaha, but overall, this supercar is very suitable to carry the name of Yamaha to fight with its rival, Honda which first had a lineup of sports cars. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TECHEBLOG | CARSCOOPS]
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