Modern CREATIONS For those of you true automotive enthusiasts, of course you are familiar with the Shelby Cobra, a legendary classic American sports car made by Caroll Shelby in the 1960s. The car also is known as one of the most favorite iconic sports cars in the United States to this day.
2015 Puritilia 427 Roadster dubbed as 'Shelby Cobra of Italy' designed by Fabio Ferrante. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
However, what if the Shelby Cobra was designed by an Italian designer? Well, a few years ago, a Napoli-based company called Puritalia Automobili introduced a production version of a sports car was named Puritalia 427, and dubbed as the "Shelby Cobra of Italy."
2015 Puritilia 427 Roadster is a powerful and lightweight two-seater roadster that updates the
prestigious past and aims to enhance the pure thrill of road driving. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
Puritalia Automobili itself was founded in 2011 by Paolo Parenta with the aim of designing and producing a limited series sports car, based on typical Italian designs and strictly handcrafted with quality craftsmanship and engineering.
And the latest car model coming from the Italian manufacturer is the Puritalia Berlinetta, an Italian hybrid 951 hp supercar with a sexy body has been debuted and shown off the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show.
2015 Puritilia 427 Roadster dasboard featured with a modern tastes and adorned by an Italian's distinctive style touches. (Picture from: SocialDesignMagazine)
Well, the Puritalia 427 roadster was designed by a young Italian designer named Fabio Ferrante, and as we mentioned earlier that the roofless sports car was inspired by the famous American roadster of the 60s, the Shelby Cobra is redesigned into a modern tastes and adorned by an Italian's distinctive style touches.
2015 Puritalia 427 Roadster has two heavilly bucket seats covered by black genuine leather. (Picture from: SocialDesignMagazine)
The roofless sports car had officially introduced to the public for the first time at a private event in December, 2014. And the name of '427' which it carries is an illustration of its Ford V8 engine has 427 cubic inches in dimensions with a 5 liters of capacity.
And the consumers are given 2 drivetrain options, ie the naturally aspirated version of the V8 5.0-liter engine can be spew power of 445 hp, while the supercharged version of 605 hp. The engine is then mated to a 6-speed manual transmission system, with the help of a twin-disc hydraulic clutch and a limited slip differential, sending power to drive its rear wheels which is also equipped with an independent suspension.
2015 Puritilia 427 Roadster powered by a V8 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Ford engine able to spew 445 hp, while the supercharged version of 605 hp and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission system. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
A powerful and lightweight two-seater roadster that updates the prestigious past and aims to enhance the pure thrill of road driving. By staring at a glance the appearance of the Italian-designed 'Shelby Cobra' car, besides having a light weight, does look very bold, sporty, and what is the best of all is its performance while driving on the streets like an American roadster.
Then the production of the roadster weighing of 1,090 kg will be strictly limited to 427 units only, of which 250 units are aimed specifically for the European market with prices starting from € 180 thousand for the standard variant. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | SOCIALDESIGNMAGAZINE | TOPSPEED ]
Unique ONES As usual, We are felt curious when see there's any unique, beautiful or unusual car figure and always want to get to know it more closely, then write it as an article especially for you. The beginning of our encounter with this unique and beautiful car figure was when we visited Pinterest some time ago.
2001 OSCA 2500 GT - 'Dromos' designed by Ercole Spada and bodied by Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: FormulaPassion)
As quoted from CarsThatNeverMadeItetc, the OSCA 2500 GT prototype is bore the OSCA emblem, an old Italian brand that has been dead since 1967 done by the Solbiate Olona-based company named GMP Automobili as a part of the project of the OSCA's brand revived.
2001 OSCA 2500 GT - 'Dromos' designed by Ercole Spada and bodied by Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: Sumally)
Those company founded as a partnership between a former owner of Z Automobili, Luca Zagato (who was also known the grandson of Ugo Zagato, the founder of the famous Milan-based Carrozzeria Zagato) with a Japanese entrepreneur named Shozo Fujita as financial backing up. Besides that's, reportedly there were many other names involved in the project of the OSCA's brand revived such Mario Colucci (ex-Abarth), Ercole Spada (ex-Zagato designer), Alfieri Maserati II (Ernesto Maserati’s son) and etc.
2001 OSCA 2500 GT - 'Dromos' designed by Ercole Spada and bodied by Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: Dromos.Powerful.jp)
The sportscar was designed by Ercole Spada and later the bodywork was built by the Touring Superleggera. Then regarding the name, Ercole Spada originally wanted this car to use the 'Dromos' name after the OSCA brand. However, those name had been registered four years earlier by Fiat, then Luca Zagato decided that the car's name was OSCA 2500 GT to avoid conflict with the Italian auto giant. Well, whatever the name, what really matters is that the car comes with an excellent design, showing great care for proportions and style as well as for every detail.
2001 OSCA 2500 GT - 'Dromos' designed by Ercole Spada and bodied by Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: Dromos.Powerful.jp)
Furthermore, the two-seater compact sports car appears in a distinctive Italian classic style with a length of 4.09 meters, a width of 1.76 meters and a height of only 1.15 meters. As quoted from Wikipedia, this car is said to have some similarities in style to the OSCA made race cars of the 1950s and 1960s. It's can be clearly seen in the design of the faired headlights, a typical design for sports cars of the period. The incredibly low body, combined with the compact overall proportions (even if the overall dimensions are not exaggerated) is reminiscent of Italian sports car made of the 1950s to 1960s.
2001 OSCA 2500 GT - 'Dromos' designed by Ercole Spada and bodied by Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: Carview.yahoo.co.jp)
Continuing to the rear, the tail appears with a raised design especially in the center area, immediately reminding us of the distinctive style of the Carrozzeria Zagato's classic cars. Furthermore, the distinctive style of the Milan-based coachbuilder can also be found on the roof which is decorated with two bulges which are also reminiscent of the legendary car of the 1950s, the Abarth 750 Zagato 'Double Bubble'.
2001 OSCA 2500 GT - 'Dromos' designed by Ercole Spada and bodied by Touring Superleggera. (Picture from: Carsot.com)
Finally, the glass surfaces are a tribute to the classicism of the car, especially the rear window and the panoramic windscreen. There is also some leeway for modernity, for example in queues, where a large air extractor stands out.
The compact sports car is built in the 1998 with a tubular steel frame, light but strong, which have had MacPherson strut type front suspension and rear trailing arms and lower triangles. The two axes were then installed with two stabilizer bars. The mid-engined sports car powered by a 2.5 liter four-inlines machine taken of the Subaru Legacy.
Furthermore, the engine is able to delivering a power of 187 hp at 6,000 rpm and a torque of 235 Nm at 2,800 rpm, so that it is able to make a 780 kg empty weighted car accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 6 seconds and speeding up to the top speed of nearly 250 kph.
The car was presented for the first time in 1999 and a second time in 2001 when its launch was imminent, the project suddenly ran aground shortly after the first photos released by the specialized press and no one know what the reason.😢 Initially, the sports cars would be produced as much as 300 units, but in fact only one prototype has ever been made.*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SUPERCARS | CARSTHATNEVERMADEITETC | WIKIPEDIA | COACHBUILT ]
Missing LINK The Jaguar D-type and its successor the Jaguar E-type are two of the many legendary car models that have been produced by Jaguar, one of the leading British automotive manufacturers. A series of classy achievements have been carved by these models, let's take a look at the achievements of the Jaguar D-type throughout 1955 to 1956 which made the British manufacturer had dominate the 24-Hours Le Mans racing circuit, before withdrawing from the events due to William Lyons, the company's founder wanted to concentrate the company's limited resources on developing a new production sports car.
1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype is a scaled up development mule built with the chassis made of steel, not monocoque aluminum as in the E1A. (Picture from: Pinterest)
Even though the factory racing team was absent from the event, the Ecurie Ecosse, a Jaguar's privateer team still managed to bring it back to the podium of the 24-Hours of Le Mans Championship 1957 and at the same time completing as the hattrick achievement for the Jaguar D-type. Reflecting on the aforementioned success, then the Jaguar manufacturer prepared a further racing car model called the Jaguar E-type whose layout is inspired by the D-type and built around a sophisticated semi-monocoque chassis unlike anything else available at the time.
1957 Jaguar E1A Prototype used an aluminum chassis which was equipped with an independent rear
suspension for replaces the Jaguar D-type outdated live axle. (Picture from: Supercars)
Before the production version of the Jaguar E-type was born, it was known that the British manufacturer had ever built the first experimental prototype in mid-1957 and was known as the Jaguar E1A ('A' stand for Aluminum), because the E1A used an aluminum chassis which was equipped with an independent rear suspension for replaces the Jaguar D-type outdated live axle. The E1A prototype is rarely seen by the public and have been removed at the end of its duties.
The next Jaguar E-type prototype is the Jaguar E2A, it is a scaled up development mule built with the chassis made of steel, not monocoque aluminum as in the E1A. In addition, the E2A also has a steel front subframe to carry the engine and suspension, not the magnesium subframe as installed on the first prototype.
For dimensions, the Jaguar E2A has the same wheelbase as the production version of the Jaguar E-type, which is 2,438 mm (96-inch). However, the E2A prototype has a 50 mm narrower track at both ends (1,220 mm). Then its front suspensions were via double wishbones, torsion bars and telescopic shocks. At the rear Jaguar fitted half shafts with lower wishbones, twin coil spring/damper units per side and an anti-roll bar. Disc brakes (inboard at the rear), 16 x 6.5-inch alloy wheels and tyres were all supplied by Dunlop.
1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype has one-piece nose featured closed headlamps, large oval radiator intakes, and a distinct center ridge for cleaning the engine. (Picture from: FavCars)
As the Jaguar E2A's drivetrain, an all-alloy version of the dual overhead camshaft 6 inline Jaguar's engine. As quoted from Supercarnostalgia, with the application of this type of engine, it is stated that the Jaguar can save about 40 kg in weight compared to the previous version. Then the Jaguar XK6 engine is tuned to a compression ratio of 10.0: 1, so it can give off power of 293 bhp at 6,750 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. Initially the engine was mated to a five-speed experimental gearbox although later it was replaced with a four-speed unit. The E2A prototype is said to be capable of speeding to a top speed of more than 160 mph.
In appearance, the Jaguar E2A is clearly derived from the E1A which is shaped like a stretched Jaguar D-type with a fairly light weight of around 875 kg. The bodywork is made of aluminum with a shape made according to the latest understanding of aerodynamics. The one-piece nose featured closed headlamps, large oval radiator intakes, and a distinct center ridge for cleaning the engine, all of which were later adopted by the production versions of the Jaguar E-type.
1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype has a full height windscreen was installed with side glass that tapered down to a pair of ducts that fed cool air to the rear brakes. (Picture from: FavCars)
A full height windscreen was installed with side glass that tapered down to a pair of ducts that fed cool air to the rear brakes. The short tail section has an unusual side opening panel that allows access to the rear axle and spare wheels. The entire body is peppered with hundreds of exposed rivets, while the front and rear covers were heavily louvred to assist cooling. To achieve its light weight, it is not surprising then that the interior door panels are drilled likened the exterior, the bare cockpit was home to an abundance of exposed rivets.
1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype's inside a
full-width dashboard featuring a large 8000rpm speed counter plus
smaller combined pressure/temperature buttons for water, engine oil and
axle oil. (Picture from: FavCars)
Inside, there is a full-width dashboard featuring a large 8000rpm speed counter plus smaller combined pressure/temperature buttons for water, engine oil and axle oil. In the middle there are several switches and on the left there is a closed fuse board. Next, there are two heavily reclined bucket seats upholstered in black vinyl that are placed between the thick sills and the transmission tunnel.
1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype uses all-alloy fuel injection three-liter engine, so it can give off power of 293 bhp at 6,750 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. (Picture from: FavCars)
The Jaguar E2E prototype began to assembly in the 1960 and taken out of eight weeks to be completed. Then the car conducted a series of tests mainly at the MIRA proving ground and Lindley air force base. After completation the car was shown to Briggs Cunningham, a big Jaguar's dealer and distributor on the East Coast, United States, during a visit to the Jaguar factory. In short, Briggs Cunningham managed to convince the British manufacturer to bring the Jaguar E2A raced at the 24-Hours Le Mans race event under his racing team.
At that time, besides using the Jaguar E2A, he and his team also brought 2 Chevrolet Corvette race cars to compete in the race. In the Le Mans racing event, the car experienced high-speed stability problems and then caused an accident along with another race car in the second qualifying session. At that time the car was successfully repaired and got off at the main race and had a chance to occupy the third position before experiencing technical problems and causing the car's position to drop to tenth position before retreating from the arena. And after Le Mans race ended, the E2A car returned to the Jaguar factory.
1960 Jaguar E2A Prototype is said to be capable of speeding to a top speed of more than 160 mph. (Picture from: FavCars)
Some time later, and still with the Briggs Cunningham's racing team, the Jaguar A2E raced in several prestigious racing events in the United States and was also driven by several legendary racers such as Sir Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney and others. As soon as its racing assignment was over, the Jaguar E2A prototype was sent back to its maker in the UK, repaired, to be changed the color to the British-typical racing green and stored until 1966. At that time the Jaguar E2A was taken part in the famous Jaguar XJ13 secret car project by removing its tail fin and acted as a decoy model to deflect attention.
The Jaguar E2A prototype was about to be erased, but saved by Guy Griffiths for his esteemed Jaguar collection. And as part of the purchase agreement, the British manufacturer should be refurbished, and repainted the car with the Cunningham team's livery on white and blue. Originally, the car sold without an engine but Griffiths managed to install a 3.8 liter engine into it. However, it was replaced after Jaguar supplied him with an original E2A's all-alloy fuel injection three-liter engine. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SUPERCARS | NEW ATLAS | SUPERCARNOSTALGIA ]
UniqueONES We are still talking about unique classic cars and this time we would be discussed a unique car that had caught our curiousity when we saw it for the first time on the Pinterest while surfing in cyberspace. After searching for the info for awhile, turned out it was a sports car named FNM 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT built by Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda. for FNM (Fábrica Nacional de Motores), a Brazilian automotive company back in the 1970s.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Classicandrecreationsportscars)
As quoted of the Autocult website, the car is the result of a mix of know-how between a Brazilian design and Italian engineering. How could it be happened? Well, it all began when Alfa Romeo, an Italian automotive giant bought the FNM in 1968, which was previously known as a Brazilian' state-run truck manufacturer with the whole production took place at the plant based in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Greatvintagemotorsfromtheworld)
Then the person who played the most important role in the car' birth is an Italian-born automotive designer who lives in Sao Paolo, Brazil named Ottorino 'Toni' Bianco who had been known since the 1955 to built the race cars through the Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda., his automotive company.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Frp70)
In shorts, the Bianco's auto company built several Fúria race cars to compete in various racing scenes in Brazil in the 1970s. Of the 5 race cars ever built and fitted by differing engines; sometimes Chevy, or BMW, Ferrari, and one time a V12 Lamborghini Miura engine.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Classicandrecreationsportscars)
It also fitted a 2150cc Alfa Romeo engine producing 138 hp and put on a tubular chassis, triangular suspension arms, and Hewland Girling 4 wheel disc brakes. During 1970 to 1971, those Fúria's race cars attracted a lot of attention in the Brazilian' racing scenes. At the peak, it managed to grab respectable results at national championships, when the only Alfa powered version raced in the Brazilian 6-Hours endurance race against the Ferrari 512s and Porsche 910s and managed to finish at the 5th place in 1971.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: LexiaCarBrasil)
These sport victories called attention of the Comionauto, the Sao Paulo-based FNM' dealer and made an approach to Toni Bianco about creating a sports car for FNM. Then Bianco accepted the offer and was later designed the Fúria GT, a beautiful sportscar based on a slightly shortened of the FNM 2150 mechanical platform and is featured with two dual carburetors with the engine compression ratio increased to 9.5: 1, so the engine able to spew a power output of 130 horsepower.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: LexiaCarBrasil)
Great attention was paid to finishes and comfort as well as complete instrumentation, dashboard mounted center console, individual front seats, shell type, adjustable and headrests, leather upholstery, green glass and floor rugs plus a pair of gullwing doors. The body which in the prototype was modeled by hand in steel sheet, which in the production version will be made of reinforced plastic fiberglass. The plan is that the Fúria GT will be produced as many as 12 units per month.
The 130-hp-powered car was never reach into production lines and the public got to see it at the VIII Salão do Automóvel in the 1972. Until today, no one know the reason behind the pinning of the Alfa Romeo emblem on the grilles of the sportscar prototype. Despite in the end the Fúria GT joint venture ceased, but Toni Bianco still continue to prepare the sportscar and launched his first car to bear his name Bianco S in the 1974.*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LEXIACARBRASIL | AUTOCULT-MODELS | ALFABB | BANDEIRAQUADRICULADA | FRP70 | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCAR ]
However, what if the Shelby Cobra was designed by an Italian designer? Well, a few years ago, a Napoli-based company called Puritalia Automobili introduced a production version of a sports car was named Puritalia 427, and dubbed as the "Shelby Cobra of Italy."
