Unique ONES Sometimes we feel curious about a car figure that appears in a classic style but is equipped with today's technological features. Furthermore, we think that's a kind of an extraordinary combination and deserves appreciation. Let's take a look at the car included that catagory, called Illuminaty Motor Works (IMW) Seven which first appeared in 2010 and was runner-up in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize at that time.
The IMW Seven is an increadible EV concept built by Illuminati Motor Works and was runner-up in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X-Prize. (Picture from: Illuminati Motor Works)
Even though the car developed since 2007 which has a similar appearance to the 1962 Porsche 356 Panamera didn't win the competition, it doesn't mean it isn't worth continuing to develop. Why could it be, because the car made by Illuminati Motor Works would have almost won the competition had the car clutch not burning during the competition which was held last September 2010.
The IMW Seven EV Concept has a similar appearance to the 1962 Porsche 356 Panamera with a honeycomb kevlar-carbon fibers bodywork built on tubular steel chassis. (Picture from: Illuminati Motor Works)
Besides the car capable to achieve a top speed of 130 mph (209.215 kph), travel as far as 200 miles (321.869 km), while on the test trials at Chrysler's Chelsea, MI during the last week of March 2011, also had shown off an excellent score of 207.5 MPGe. By comparison, on the same test cycle the Nissan Leaf only gets 99 MPGe and the Edison 2 Very Light Car known as the Progressive Automotive X-Prize-winning titles with 102.5 MPGe.
The IMW Seven EV Concept has fantastic achievement score of 207.5 MPGe, besides capable to achieve a top speed of 130 mph (209.215 kph), travel as far as 200 miles (321.869 km). (Picture from: Illuminati Motor Works)
As stated by Kevin Smith, the leader, and one of the founders of Illuminati Motor Works, that the Seven is not a slow poke and it's not a subcompact designed for the Lollipop Guild that keeps high-MPG cars out of the hands of motorists. The electric-powered vehicle bodywork made of honeycomb kevlar-carbon fibers built on tubular steel chassis and took over 12,000 hours to build at a cost of over $100,000.
The IMW Seven EV Concept has four seats inside the cabin featured with all standard amenities like a stereo and air conditioning, and also gullwing-styled doors . (Picture from: Illuminati Motor Works)
Still, it's the overall vehicle efficiency is the most proud of, and he thinks it will interest automakers and lawmakers. By building the Seven, Kevin Smith was also showing consumers what mileage is possible from a desirable vehicle efficiently.
The IMW Seven EV Concept is claimed has a drivetrain efficiency of 92 percent and supported by the car profile that looks like a Porsche which is proven to be very aerodynamic. (Picture from: Illuminati Motor Works)
"We didn't have to have a million seller in order to build Seven," Smith said. "There was no sacrificing aerodynamics to meet some middle-of-the-road concept of what the general public thinks a car should be or should look like."
The IMW Seven EV Concept while competed in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X-Prize. (Picture from: Wired)
Furthermore Kevin Smith stated that the overall design of the Seven is first and foremost based on the efficient use of energy. Therefore the claimed drivetrain efficiency of 92 percent and supported by the car profile that looks like a Porsche which is proven to be very aerodynamic. It was single-minded focus on vehicle efficiency that Kevin Smith credits for the success of Illuminati Motor Works.
The IMW Seven EV Concept while competed in the 2010 Progressive Automotive X-Prize. (Picture from: Wired)
However it doesn't mean the Seven is spartan. As you can see, the car has four ergonomic comfortable seats inside the cabin featured with all standard amenities like a stereo and air conditioning, beside its capability to accelarate from 0 to 60 mph in around 8 seconds. There are other, more unique user-friendly features too, for example, its gullwing-styled doors not only look cool but keep the car low to the ground and given an easy cabin access to get in and out of.
So how would Seven have fared during the X-Prize competition had the clutch not burned up? According to Kevin Smith, pretty well. "Seven would've won the mainstream class hands down," he said. "Fixed, Seven now achieves nearly twice the mileage, nearly twice the top speed and has two times the acceleration rate of the winning vehicle's on-track performance." And that's enough to prove that the Seven is an environmentally friendly car with extraordinary capabilities. Then what do you think? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ILLUMINATI MOTOR WORKS | WIRED ]
Rare ONES Perhaps not everyone knows that Piaggio today famous with two-wheeled vehicles, especially scooters also have produced such a unique microcar in the past. Well, Piaggio officially introduced its first microcar named the 'Vespa 400' in Monaco back in the 1957, and marketed in 1959. There are approximately 20 thousand cars have been produced in the first two years, and the Vespa 400 production officially discontinued in 1961.😢
The Vespa 400 is a unique microcar that is quite pleasing in design featured with two suicide-styled doors, capable accomodated two passengers inside its cabin, and a cabriolet model roof which means the canvas roof can be opened. (Picture from: MobiMoto)
The Vespa 400 is a cutie rear-engined microcar designed by the engineers of the Italian company Piaggio and manufactured by Ateliers de construction de motocycles et d'automobiles (ACMA) in Fourchambault, France ranging from 1957 to 1961. At the time, the Vespa 400 is marketed in three variants, namely Luxe, Tourisme and GT.
The Vespa 400 microcar designed by the engineers of the Italian company Piaggio and manufactured by Ateliers de construction de motocycles et d'automobiles (ACMA) in Fourchambault, France ranging from 1957 to 1961. (Picture from: Motor1)
If you look at the Vespa 400 appearence, it's a unique microcar that is quite pleasing in design featured with two suicide-styled doors, capable accomodated two passengers inside its cabin, and a cabriolet model roof which means the canvas roof can be opened.
Interior view of 1959 Vespa 400 microcar. (Picture from: Motor1)
The fabric roof of the cabriolet can be rolled back into the top of the rear engine cover and the 12-volt battery is located at the front of the car, behind the grille. It also has a spare tire is stored under the passenger seat. While the instrumentation has a very simple design, only the speedometer and warning lights for fuel, engine charging dynamo, and indicators.
Rear side view of 1959 Vespa 400 microcar. (Picture from: Motor1)
For the engine, this Piaggio-made classic microcar is equipped with a 393 cc, 2-cylinder, 2-stroke engine, capable of spitting out about 14 horsepower. The engine is combined with a 3 speed manual transmission for the European market, while for the American market, the Vespa 400 uses a 4 speed transmission.
While to support the legs, the Vespa 400 uses independent suspension system with double acting hydraulic coil springs. Discussing performance, this unique minicar has a maximum speed of about 80-90 kilometers per hour. While the fuel consumption reaches 5 liters for 100 kilometers.
Perhaps not many people own these cutie Vespa 400 microcars todays, with its increasingly rare existence, thus making it a to be one of classic cars that has an exorbitant price and is sought after by collectors. *** [EKA [25102016] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | EBAY | MOTOR1]
ONE-OFF Maybe
you still remember some time ago we had ever discussed about The 7 most
bizarre Ferraris all of time. This is possible because the prancing horse logoed automaker has
allowed the coachbuilder to create a unique car bodies for their clients
for many years, even sometimes the results could be said an ugly, and bizzare looking car. However, it's not all be like that...
1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 'Shark Nose,' whose wildly distinct snout has decidedly hammerhead overtones, coupled with its unique altered headlights. (Picture from: Autoblog)
Now, what we will discuss is one of the Ferrari classic cars that is included in the category but has an appearance that can be considered eccentric but still beautiful and elegant, it's the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 'Shark Nose'. How not, it became the one-of-a-kind Ferrari classic car after getting additional magic design touch from the famous Turin-based coachbuilder Pininfarina.
The Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 (in pictured is 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 'Shark Nose') is known as a comfortable continuation model of its predecessor the Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
As quoted of Autoblog, the classic car mentioned above is started its life as the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, a comfortable continuation model of its predecessor the Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2. In which the 330 GT 2+2 is upped the ante on performance and set new standards for comfortable, high-speed motoring pleasure for up to four with its 50-millimeter wheelbase extension.
The Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 is known also as one of the best Ferrari cars ever made, so it became to be Enzo Ferrari favorite daily rides. (Picture from: Autoblog)
For your info, the 330 GT 2+2 once the personal transport of Il Commendatore himself. That's proved this model was one of the best cars ever made, so it became to Enzo Ferrari's favorite daily rides. While clearly, it was an elegant and sophisticated road car, the taut Pininfarina-styled 330 GT 2+2 maintained a sporty air to match its Ferrari heritage.
It purchased new through Luigi Chinetti-owned dealers by Houston businessman and New Orleans Saints owner John W. Mecom Jr., the then-standard 330 GT 2+2 was shipped back to Italy for its custom front end.. (Picture from: PaulFraser Collectibles)
This unique classic car was originally purchased by a Texas oil barons, and was also noted car collector, and racing enthusiast, named John W. Mecom Jr. And the car with chassis number of #6537 GT was delivered new by Ferrari's longtime North American importer Luigi Chinetti. As we all knew, the 330 GT 2+2 is powered by a 4L Colombo V12 engine.
Although this V12 changed hands a colors a few times over the decades, a recent owner oversaw a body-and-interior restoration that extended to the car’s wire Borrani wheels. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
When this Ferrari's Coupe Series I arrived with a rare combination four-speed overdrive transmission system with rare quadruple headlights, in dark blue with a brown leather interior. Mecom then sent it back to Italy for modification, after completed as you can see today, it featured with the new shark-nose styled front grill, and also altered headlights. Furthermore, this sports coupe had several changes of ownership and also ever repainted into metallic red.
The Ferarri 330 GT 2+2 'Shark Nose' retains powered by a 4L Colombo V12 engine. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
For
years the car disappeared from public before reappearing in 2007. At
that time the car underwent a comprehensive restoration at the Ferrari Washington,
where it was stripped and re-painted back into its original blue color.
The process also saw the interior resurfaced, the finish brightened,
and the original Borrani wheels finished with fresh rubbers.
The Ferarri 330 GT 2+2 'Shark Nose' while on the Russo and Steele auction event in Scottdale back in the 2016. (Picture from: RussoAndSteele)
At the beginning of 2016 this car was again put on the list for auction in Scottdale through Russo and Steele. As quoted of Autoblog, there is no pre-sale estimate figures, Ferrari 330 generally sell for much less than their 250-series
predecessors at a price of hundreds of thousands not millions of
dollars. The auction house only expects the car to sell past six figures
several times over. As quoted of Sports Car Digest, at last the car sold for $225,500 at the auction.
Rare ONES Now we're on discussing one of the old-school 1940s cars that has a quite unique shape with current existence was very rare, and the car in question is the Tucker 48. In its heyday that's the most sophisticated car, and developed by Tucker Corporation ranging from 1946 to 1948.
Front three-quarter of Tucker 48. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
Its designs had becoming the most innovative in the 1940s, and dubbed as the Car of Tomorrow that is very concerned about safety factors. It was because the Tucker 48 was the first car that has the features of safety belt, safety windshield, and Cyclops (the car lights system shifted the direction to improve driving visibility at night).
Front view of Tucker 48. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
But before it could be properly produced, the company founded by Preston Thomas Tucker caught in a complicated legal problems, as a result of the controversial stock fraud allegations in March 1949, the company also got public's negative reactions and criticism, so led to the company shutting down in early of the 1950s. According to records, only 51 units of the Tucker 48 sedans ever made before the automaker shuted down for good.
Right side view of Tucker 48. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
By design, the Tucker 48 can be said to be very attractive. This model has a very low profile and aerodynamics coupled with large sports doors extend to the roof for easy entry and exit of the car. Next as you can see, theTucker 48 is powered by a rear-mounted 335 c.i. (5,5-liter) OHV boxer-6 (horizontally opposed) engine.
Interior view of Tucker 48. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
The drivetrain mentioned above is mated to a four-speed pre-selector transmission system and transfersed as much as 166 horsepower via the rear axle to drive its rear wheels. But the best mechanical features of the 48 is its all-around independent suspension with rubber torsion tubes instead of conventional steel springs as ones pinned of the general car at the time.
The Tucker 48 is powered by a rear-mounted 335 c.i. (5,5-liter) 166 horsepower OHV boxer-6 (horizontally opposed) engine. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
As
we're mentioned before the Tucker 48 features a padded dashboard,
shatterproof windshield, front crash compartment and a parking brake
grip with lock to prevent theft and a center-mounted third headlight
that would turn with the front wheels. Also, each wheel was fitted with power disc brakes and the luxury sedan incorporated a curious safety feature in the era when safety belts weren't even mandatory.
Rear three-quarter of Tucker 48. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
Uniquely, the Tucker 48 is often referred to as the Tucker Torpedo. However, the Torpedo was actually a prototype, and the name was never used for the production model, which was officially called the "Tucker 48". For your info, finally the Tucker Torpedo prototype was launched by Rob Ida alongside Preston Tucker's descendantsin 2014, after more than 70 years only appearing in the form of pictures.
As quoted of Wikipedia, the Tucker 48 in pictured we're talking is just one of the 51 units ever built under the chassis number of #1036. On August 15, 2014, it has sold for $1,567,500 at RM Sotheby's Auction in Monterey. And today of course the Tucker 48 price will continue to rise and will probably surpass the 3 million dollar mark. Wow! *** [EKA [08072014] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | WIKIPEDIA ]
ONE-OFF The following article briefly tells about the rivalry that really happened between the two American automotive giants General Motors and Ford Motor Company through the automotive products produced by both of them.
The Ford Cougar II Concept is built by Ford Motor Company intended to be an equal rival model of the Chevy Corvette. (Picture from: Motorcities.org)
The story begins when GM through its subsdiary marque, Chevrolet launched a design change of the Corvette sports car in the early 1960s, which at that time immediately caught the public's attention because of its good performance. Off course it made Ford top brass felt challenged to create an equal rival.
The Ford Cougar II Concept is featured an aerodynamic coupe styling bodywork, offered a great interior design plus retractable headlights. (Picture from: Motorcities.org)
Then they called the company's engineers for immediately devised a plan. In short, the engineers produced this interesting concept such the Ford Cougar II Concept, which featured an aerodynamic coupe styling bodywork, offered a great interior design plus retractable headlights and was also called one of three-X car concepts, along with the Ford Allegro and Ford Mustang II.
The Ford XP Bordinat Cobra is a concept car creation of Ford Motor Company collaborated with Carroll Shelby back in the 1963. (Picture from: Motorcities.org)
By design this Cougar II Concept is very similar to another concept car called the Bordinat Cobra, associated with Gene Bordinat, Ford's Vice President of Styling then, and the man behind the creation of these two great concept models. Well, the mentioned Cobra Roadster, which is one of the collaboration result cars of Ford Motor Company with Carroll Shelby, turned out to be warmly welcomed when it was introduced to the public, and many consumers really enjoyed the great styling. It's said that Ford never liked the eggshell-thin aluminum body of the Cobra, so it designed a coupe style similar to the Corvette and had one made.
The great looking Ford Cougar II fastback concept design built with a fiberglass body under finishing touches of a candy apple red color. (Picture from: Motorcities.org)
Furthermore, both are also built on a Shelby Cobra legendary chassis, only the Cougar II Concept is powered by a Ford small block 260ci V8 engine. This great looking fastback concept design built with a fiberglass body under finishing touches of a candy apple red color, in which its bodywork was created and built by Ford designers, Ken Spencer and Ray Behmer.
The Ford Cougar II Concept is powered by a Ford small block 260ci V8 engine. (Picture from: Motorcities.org)
While many historians and automotive enthusiasts have argued that the Cougar II Concept looked like a Corvette and deserved to be an equal rival for those Chevy's sports car, on the contrary Ford engineers at the time thought the car would be too expensive to produce.
So then the blue oval logoed company chose to be more focus on the Mustang project whose its production version is still could be seen until today, and left the Bordinat Cobra and the Cougar II Concept models dusty in the warehouse. Later, both of them were donated to the Detroit Historical Museum. 😢 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORCITIES | THEGENTLEMANRACER | HEMMINGS | BURRITODETODO ]
Forgotten ONES Indeed, discussing the figure of a beautiful unique car is fun and will never end. So, what we will discuss this time is one of the vehicles named the DeSoto Adventurer I, is projected to be a future sports car back in early of the 1950s and designed by the famous American auto designer Virgil Exner (later known Chrysler's Styling Director) whose then handed over the car construction works to Turin-based coachbuilder Ghia. How's could it be?
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept is a four-passenger sports coupe designed by Virgil Exner and bodied by Turin-Based coachbuilder company Ghia back in the 1950s. (Picture from: Mad4Wheels)
It began when the design of the American dream cars began to be dominated by the car's design inspired by jets and spaceships during the early 1950s, this could be seen in the design of Ford's concept cars. Meanwhile, as a designer Virgil Exner felt uncomfortable with such conditions, according to him the design should not be applied to four-wheeled vehicles.
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept had displayed for the first time November 12 (1953) at a national press showing of new 1954 model cars at the Chrysler Corporation's head offices in Detroit.(Picture from: CarStyling.ru)
For that reason, then he prefers the style of sports cars and sports-touring made by the Italian coachbuilder companies such as Ghia, Pinin Farina, Vignale, Touring and Zagato, because he feels these Italian-styled designs are more appropriate to be applied to the figure of a future dream car. In short, he then concieved and designed such an out of the box dream car at Chrysler's styling studios in Detroit in the style of a four-passenger sports coupe for the DeSoto Division of Chrysler Corporation without any jets or spaceships designs which became a trend at the time.
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept has a wheelbase of 111 inches, is only 53 inches high and is powered by an V8 Desoto FireDome engine. (Picture from: CarStyleCritic)
For your information, DeSoto (sometimes De Soto) is an American car brand owned, produced and sold by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. While the DeSoto logo features an image of Hernando de Soto. The De Soto brand was finally officially closed by Chrysler on November 30, 1960, with previous sales reaching 2 million units since 1928.😢
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept was in a show-setting publicity photo. (Picture from: CarStyleCritic)
To realized, it built on a modified DeSoto chassis, its body was hand-crafted by Ghia, a Turin-based coachbuilder company. After completed, this unique sports car of future has a wheelbase of 111 inches, is only 53 inches high and is powered by an V8 Desoto FireDome engine capable to burst power of 170-horsepower.
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept featuring a nicely shaped grill that combines classical verticality with practical 1950s horizontal elements, couple with the massive bumper. (Picture from: CarStyleCritic)
As you could be seen to the car's front quarter view featuring a nicely shaped grill that combines classical verticality with practical 1950s horizontal elements, couple with the massive bumper with little ability to protect a car from damage. Its fenders are blended into the body, yet retain a typical hint of pre-1950 separateness, that's also means no flow-through side fender design as used to be had of an American car on this vintage.
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept has a nice, long hood, could be said almost too long, as the driver sits slightly abaft of the car's center. (Picture from: CarStyleCritic)
Now, as we would seen on the side that reveals if this car has a nice, long hood. Could be said almost too long, as the driver sits slightly abaft of the car's center. The car also had the single side window makes for a clean passenger compartment exterior design, but the passengers seat on the back out of vision is blocked by the wide pillar. Uniquely on the side of this car, also looks like it has a cool clean stainless-steel exhaust system.
The DeSoto Adventurer I Concept has a cool clean stainless-steel exhaust system. (Picture from: OldCarandTruckPictures)
The back of this car can also be said to appear cool with a large bumper. It's probably needed here thanks to the delicate tuned-under aft end of the body. Unfortunately at the rear considered lacking in the absence of a trunk lid and the only opening appears to be only for access to the spare tire.
Rear quarter view of the DeSoto Adventurer I Concept showing an open door and some interior features(Picture from: Mad4Wheels)
As the result, the Adventurer finished under a lighter white-painted schemes that could be reduced the visual effect of body sculpting because highlights are camouflaged, with noticed how the fenders nearly disappear here. Meanwhile, its interior was swathed in black leather with white piping, and satin-finish aluminum set off a dashboard with a complete bank of circular gauges accompanied cool steering wheel.
The rear quarter view of the DeSoto Adventurer Concept can also be said to appear cool with a large bumper. (Picture from: CarStyleCritic)
No wonder, if this DeSoto Adventurer was a favorite car of Virgil Exner's, who drove it for almost three years following its car show duties. Reportedly, he tried hard to lobby Chrysler's top brass so that this car can be realized in a limited number of production versions. Though initially it came closer to approval, Chrysler management just didn’t have the courage, due to the 1930s Airflow commercial disasterous memories still lingered at Chrysler and coupled with corporate conservatism, doomed the car to concept-only status.😭
So how would Seven have fared during the X-Prize competition had the clutch not burned up? According to Kevin Smith, pretty well. "Seven would've won the mainstream class hands down," he said. "Fixed, Seven now achieves nearly twice the mileage, nearly twice the top speed and has two times the acceleration rate of the winning vehicle's on-track performance." And that's enough to prove that the Seven is an environmentally friendly car with extraordinary capabilities. Then what do you think? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ILLUMINATI MOTOR WORKS | WIRED ]
