RareONES Every time we exploring the cyberspace up to corners, we always find a unique figure of automotive creations is rarely seen and known by people. So, this time, again we've found the unique GTM Libra sportscar that we've never known and seen before, it made by a British manufacturer named GTM (Grand Touring Mini) Cars Ltd.
The GTM Libra is debuted at 1998, and was targeting a niche market for more affordable compact sports cars as similar size to the Lotus Elise. (Picture from: AutoBild.de)
Actually Libra is not the only kitcar model from the British automotive company that has been established since 1967, there have been several other models ever made such as the Cox GTM Coupé, GTM Coupé, GTM Rossa, and others. In fact, Libra is the most famous and successful in terms of sales among the models that have been produced by GTM ever.
The GTM Libra has old-fashioned nose similar to a 70s sports car, round headlights and fog lights, an air intake that looks like the mouth of a catfish. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Even though it was developed as a kitcar, Libra has an appearance that is no less beautiful than the similar-sized intact sports car made by a well-known manufacturer. It can be described visually, this compact-sized British sports car has a length of about 3.56 m, width of 1.65 m, height none less of 1.15 m and a wheelbase of about 2.32 m.
The GTM Libra has an appearance that is no less unique and beautiful than the similar-sized intact sports car made by a well-known manufacturer. (Picture from: BradleyJamesClassics)
Before launched, the car was developed for about three years by GTM Cars directors Peter Beck and Paddy Fitch, in collaboration with designer Richard Oakes and suspension designer Bryn Davies. As quoted from Wikipedia, the Libra was launched on the UK kitcar market back in 1998, and it seems that the automaker was targeting a niche market for more affordable compact sports cars as similar size to the Lotus Elise.
At first launched, the GTM Libra was initially powered by an 1.4 liter Rover 'K'-Series engine. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Though the GTM Libra was conceived as a compact-sized sports car, but the auto maker still maintain to strive for the lightest possible weight, for that why the car does not use subframes for its suspension system, instead all the mounts are bolted directly to its GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) monocoque body.
It uses unequal length wishbones of GTM design at the front occupying uprights from the Rover Metro/100 range and a forward mounted steering rack for extra legroom. While the rear suspension is an unusual double trailing arm design, bolted to the rear bulkhead and using the same uprights as the front.
The GTM Spyder launched in 2000 as the Libra' convertible version, no wonder if it carried detail components used on the Libra, plus many more that have been made specifically for the mid-engined convertible. (Picture from: Diseno-Art)
At first launched, the GTM Libra was initially powered by an 1.4 liter Rover 'K'-Series engine, later also it has been fitted successfully with 1.6, 1.8, 1.8 VVC and KV6 2.5 liter Rover engines as well as the Toyota 2ZZ-GE, some Honda units and the Audi 1.8T turbo engine.
The GTM Spyder was completely styled by Richard Oakes in further two years development to create it to be a such true British open top sports car. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Then the GTM Libra's engine or transmission unit is held in a frame hanging off the rear bulkhead, a frame which also locates the rear hinging engine cover which incorporates a sizeable boot which can accommodate a full size set of golf clubs.
There is nothing special about the interior of the GTM Spyder where the dashboard is filled with only a steering wheel and a simple instrument panel with three main car's gauges. (Picture from: CarEnthusiast)
The front 'clamshell' conceals the radiator, battery, master cylinders etc. and also manages to stow a full size spare wheel (either 16" or 17"). Meanwhile its removable roof panel can be stowed behind the seats for an open top driving experience.
The GTM Spyder is the most dramatically changed moulding requiring major modifications to the closed box sections within the tub to replace the rigidity lost from removing the roof section. (Picture from: CarEnthusiast)
Not only that, by benefiting from the engineering which had been developed during the creation of the Libra, the manufacturer launched its convertible version called GTM Spyder in 2000. Many of the detail components used on the Libra are carried through into the Spyder, plus many more that have been made specifically for the mid-engined convertible.
Just like Libra, the GTM Spyder was completely styled by Richard Oakes in further two years development to create it to be a such true British open top sports car. The central monocoque of the GTM Spyder is the most dramatically changed moulding requiring major modifications to the closed box sections within the tub to replace the rigidity lost from removing the roof section.
Further strengthening to the floor pan was added along with a redesigned rear bulkhead. In all about 30 kilos have been added to the weight of the central tub, unfortunately the additional strengthening and modifications to the rear bulkhead have removed the option of fitting the most powerful 2.5 litre V6 engine.
ForgottenONES The world's automotive enthusiasts must have heard the name Franco Sbarro. That's right, he is a renowned Italian-born Swiss car designer, automaker, and also the founder of a school where students study the art of designing and building motorized vehicles. To this day, maybe it's countless how many motor vehicles ever designed by him together with young experts who graduated from his school.
The Lancia Ionos by Sbarro sports car concept was actually inspired by the original design of the Lancia Stratos, which was then developed in such a way as to create their own interpretation of the car. (Picture from: Pinterest)
Among the many great works that have been produced by Sbarro, it turned out that there were some that had caught our attention to be discussed, and this time the choice fell on a unique car named Lancia Ionos by Sbarro, supposedly it was built to be the modern interpretation of the iconic Lancia Stratos racing car, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show 1997.
The Lancia Ionos sports car concept posed along with its creator Franco Sbarro. (Picture from: Autokult.pl)
How can it all be connected? Let's start with the names, which are both inspired by the layers of our Earth's atmosphere. As the name of Stratos is associated with the stratosphere, the name of Ionos also comes from the ionosphere.
The Lancia Ionos by Sbarro one-off car concept carries a pure sports racing style, and has a low and sleek bodywork, and an aggressive front-end with small headlights. (Picture from: Autokult.pl)
So, this car project, which was the responsibility of Franca Sbarro's design school students, was actually inspired by the original design of the Lancia Stratos, which was then developed in such a way as to create their own interpretation of the car, so that finally the Lancia emblem was pinned in front.
The Lancia Ionos sports car concept is compact in size at 3,800 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, just 1,100 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,270 mm. (Picture from: TheAutoChannel)
This one-off car concept carries a pure sports racing style. So in appearance you would find this Sbarro-designed car has a low and sleek bodywork, and an aggressive front-end with small headlights. Then its sports car impression is further emphasized by the presence of butterfly-styled doors that open upwards. While, the rear features semi-circular taillights and twin exhaust tips.
The Lancia Ionos sports car concept's cockpit refers to the construction of the helmet's protective glass, where the transparent parts on the front and sides resemble a visor. (Picture from: Autokult.pl)
This two-seater concept car is compact in size at 3,800 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, just 1,100 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2,270 mm. Uniquely, the cockpit of this Lancia Ionos by Sbarro concept refers to the construction of the helmet's protective glass, where the transparent parts on the front and sides resemble a visor.
The Lancia Ionos sports car concept is powered by a mid-mounted 10-cylinder engine with a certain arrangement of cylinders in an inverted V shape, or as Sbarro himself prefers to call it in the letter A-shape. (Picture from: Autokult.pl)
Remarkably, the Lancia Ionos by Sbarro concept car is powered by a mid-mounted 10-cylinder engine with a certain arrangement of cylinders in an inverted V shape, or as Sbarro himself prefers to call it in the letter A-shape. This engine was specially created by combining two units of the 2.4 liter 5 cylinder inline taken from the Lancia Kappa.
The Lancia Ionos sports car concept's unusual engine capable of producing around 405 hp, and does not significantly increase the weight of the vehicle which only weighs 1,100 kg. (Picture from: Autokult.pl)
This unusual machine is claimed to be capable of producing around 405 hp, and does not significantly increase the weight of the vehicle which only weighs 1,100 kg. The arrangement of the cylinders in the shape of the letter A makes it possible to tuck in the Porsche 911 Carrera 4's gearbox system between the rows of cylinders, and also the 4-wheel drive system is also taken from the same model.
Furthermore, this Sbarro's concept car adopts Mercedes-Benz's exhaust system and also equipped with a Brembo brake system. Even though the Lancia Ionos by Sbarro concept is 26 years old, it still looks fresh and original. In fact, the car never went into production, but it is one of the most interesting projects under the name of Franco Sbarro to this day. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SBARRO.PHCALVET.FR | AUTOKULT.PL | THEAUTOCHANNEL ]
RareONES In the end everything will disappear for good, although many of them try to deny it by creeping to the surface to show their existence again and again. That's all natural, even so no one can resist it, all that can be done is survive as much as possible before it's really lost in time.
The Marcos Mantula shows the distinctive styling that’s been a hallmark of Marcos since the 1960s. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Of the many British car manufacturers that have appeared and success in the world's automotive during the 1960s, of course you still remember Marcos Engineering Ltd. As quoted from Wikipedia, the name of Marcos was created in 1959 by combining the last names of its founders, Jem MARsh and Frank COStin.
The Marcos Mantula's body is lightweight fiberglass based on a steel chassis, with a total curb weight of just 900 kgs (1,984 lbs). (Picture from: Silodrome)
As we all know, Frank Costin is a well-known British automotive designer, who was also known as the designer of the legendary Mosquito fighter plane made by the De Havilland aircraft company. And after shifting in the automotive world he applied his know-how of wood monocoques led to the first plywood-based Marcos sportscars.
The Marcos Mantula's interior featured with seating for two, there’s a high center console and this car has a blue leather interior with wood veneer, and a blue leather trimmed steering wheel. (Picture from: Silodrome)
This British company started its venture in the world's automotive by launching the Marcos Xylon GT, followed later by the iconic Marcos 1800 GT and then the Mini Marcos, the Marcos Mantis XP. It turned out that the production activities of the British manufacturer did not last long, and should be ceased when the company experienced serious financial problems in 1971.
The Marcos Mantula is powered by a 3.5-litre Rover V8 with a 5-speed gearbox. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Although many efforts have been made to revitalize, one of them through the acquisition of its shares and assets by the Rob Walker Group of Companies, continued to reorganize and change its name to Marcos Ltd.
The Marcos Mantula are now collectible in the more eccentric British classic car circles, the performance of the model makes it a genuine weapon in the right hands. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Unfortunately, all these effort was not very helpful. It seems, during this period there were no new models, and until 1972 it was also reported that Marcos had a stock of 35 unsold cars in the United States had to be "liquidated".
The Marcos Mantula Spyder which sell after the coupés in later production began in 1986. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)
Well, what happened at that time was Marcos had to do the best to downsizing the company in order to overcome its financial problems with what was described as "a cash jumble sale of Marcos bits, ranging from prototype and shop soiled components, benches, tools, etc," where took place at the "old Marcos Cars factory" at Westbury.
The Marcos Mantula Spyder version was introduced which went on to become the most popular variant. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)
At that time in 1976, one of the company' founders, Jem Marsh, who was still active in the automotive world, then bought back the rights to the Marcos name, and in 1981 this brand offering the previous GT cars as kits with multiple engine options.The Marcos Mantula Spyder Up to 1989 about 130 kits were sold.
The Marcos Mantula Spyder's interior featured with seating for two, there’s a high center console. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)
As quoted from Wikipedia, the British automaker was introduced the Marcos Mantula in 1983, externally very similar to the old GT, but now powered by a 3.5-litre Rover V8 with a 5-speed gearbox.
The Marcos Mantula Spyder version is powered by the same drivetrain as the coupe variant. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)
This alloy engine weighed less than the previous six-cylinder cast-iron units, reducing overall weight to about 900 kg and making the car competitive against other Rover-powered sports cars such as TVR and Morgan. The engine evolved into the Rover Vitesse EFi engine, and later Mantulas were fitted with the 3.9 EFi units.
The Marcos Martina was externally very similar to the Mantula, but with flared front wheel arches. (Picture from: Handh.co.uk)
In 1986 the model was made available as a convertible, the Marcos Spyder, which would outsell the coupés in later production. In 1989, the automaker introduced the model featured with an independent rear suspension, together with the Ford Sierra's 7" differential and rear disc brakes.
The Marcos Martina used the Ford Cortina's 2-litre four-cylinder engine, steering and suspension, and approximately 80 were produced. (Picture from: Jigidi)
The independent suspension allowed a full-width boot and the relocation of the battery and heater/air conditioning. There's a total of 170 Coupés and 119 Spyders were ever produced by the automaker during its production periods.
Furthermore Marcos in 1991 also had time to produce the Marcos Martina was externally very similar to the Mantula, but with flared front wheel arches. It used the Ford Cortina's 2-litre four-cylinder engine, steering and suspension. And approximately 80 were produced. Originally, Martina available as kits or factory-built, before the cars were all factory-built from 1992.
Shortly after the production of the Mantula and Martina ceased in 1993, soon Marcos retired from the kit car business to concentrate on all-factory built offerings until the British automaker shutted down for good in 2007.😢 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCOS | SPEEDHUNTERS | SILODROME | HANDH.CO.UK | WIKIPEDIA ]
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The MOST For the supercar lovers, an auction arena might be time to get the highly anticipated the old and antique models or even get a unique supercar. Reportedly, one of the most expensive cars once sold in the auction arena.
This 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti had sold of €32 million or approx £24.7 million back in 2016, and set a new world's record for the most expensive antique car. (Picture from: TheTelegraph)
As reported by NBC News on Saturday, February 6, 2016, Artcurial Motorcars auction managed to sell one of the magnificent historical car creations called 1957 Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti, which had raced at the 24-Hours Le Mans back in the 1950s for €32 million (approx Rp.486 billions) to anonymous bidder.
German driver Wolfgang von Trips at the Futa Pass in the Ferrari 355S during the Mille Miglia, Brescia, May 11, 1957. (Picture from: TheTelegraph)
In a press release, the auction house said, the price set a new world record for an auctioned car. Where the price exceeds the price achieved in 2014, when Bonhams managed to sell 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta in the auction event at Pebble Beach, California for €28.5 million, or around Rp.433 billions.
The legendary Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti was capable of doing a staggering 186mph back in the 1950s. (Picture from: TheTelegraph)
1957 Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti itself described as an "outstanding" sports car for a matter of speed. The classic sports car is known to be powered by an V12 engine, so made the 335S had maximum power of 390 hp at 7,400 rpm and could reach maximum speeds of around 186 mph.
The Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti finished second in the 1957 Mille Miglia and then became the first car to average 200 kph (124 mph) on a lap of the Le Mans circuit. (Picture from: TheTelegraph)
In fact, this sports car once won the 1958Grand Prix of Cuba which previuosly placed in 2nd place in the 1957Mille Miglia, where at that time there was an accident that killed several spectators. Furthermore, only four Ferrari 335S Spider Scagliettis were ever produced, and this one has been owned since 1970 by one of the famous Ferrari's collectors named Pierre Bardinon.
As quoted from ZigWheels, the 1957 Ferrari 335S Spider Scaglietti, one of the most expensive cars in the world that is said to be one of collectible cars owned by one of the world's best soccer players Lionel Messi. Can it be trusted? In fact, it is one of the best preserved classic Ferrari models and rarely changes hands. But apart from that, whoever owns it, he holds one of magnificent historical automotive creations.😎 *** [EKA [13082016] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FERRARI | THE TELEGRAPH | NBC NEWS | ARTCURIAL ]
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RareONES Here comes another iconic car from England that existed in the 1970s, its name is TVR Trident was designed by a British designer of Italian descent named Trevor Frost or Trevor Fiore as he was known to some, and built by the Italian's coachwork company Carrozzeria Fissore for the British automotive company TVR in before-and-then Martin Lilley'sera during the 1960s to early of the 1970s.
1965 TVR Trident prototype no.3 in coupé style with righ handed steering wheel. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)
As the Tridents were nothing like a TVR had ever been; in some respect, it has some kind of visionary shape have appeared decade ahead of their time by resembling more an eighties' TVR 350i Coupe than a classic one. Besides that the TVR concept car looks thick with an Italian car style, and completed with a modern pop-up headlights as well.
1965 TVR Trident prototype no.4 in convertible style with righ handed steering wheel. (Picture from: Carrozzieri-Italiani)
As you can see the car has typical 'wedge' bodywork was steel with a one-piece aluminum bonnet, and built on top of the chassis of the Grantura Mark III. While its power came from a 4.7 liter Ford Cobra V8 engine developing 270 bhp, with the wheels were Dunlop 72 spokes.
1965 TVR Trident prototype no.1 in coupé style with left handed steering wheel while sat on display at the Geneva Motor Show 1965. (Picture from: Story-Cars)
There were a total of 4 units of the TVR Trident prototype
built during 1964 to 1965. As the firstly commissioned by the British auto company were two coupé units (no. 1 and no. 2) built based on a Grantura/Griffith chassis, and were finished just in time before the 1965 Geneva Motor Show.
1965 TVR Trident (in pictured prototype no.3) looks thick with an Italian car style, and completed with a modern pop-up headlights as well. (Picture from: 2Drive.ru)
In March 1965, the British automaker presented this newTrident model in coupé version at the Geneva Motor Show, the car exhibited was incomplete mechanically and not quite to
production specification in certain other respects, a demonstration car
is doing the rounds. At the back is an enormous expanse of windows set
at a rakish angle. It is all very striking, if unlikely to suit the
majority taste.
1965 TVR Trident (in pictured prototype no.3) has typical 'wedge' bodywork was steel with a one-piece aluminum bonnet, and built on top of the chassis of the Grantura Mark III. (Picture from: 2Drive.ru)
However the new TVRs got a warm welcome from the motoring press, and according
to the Daily Mail, the Trident was the most beautiful car in the world. After the exhibition, TVR received orders worth over £150,000. One of major dealers from Woodbridge named W.J. 'Bill' Last saw this opportunity and encouraged TVR to remake the Trident prototype.
1965 TVR Trident (in pictured prototype no.3) has a fairly luxurious interior layout coupled with righ handed steering wheel. (Picture from: 2Drive.ru)
In short, TVR ordered two more Tridents from the
Fissore workshops, this time a coupe (no. 3) and a convertible (no. 4). So these two cars were then exhibited at the 1965 Turin Motor Show, and later used as test cars to explore the possibility of further development of the
Trident.
1965 TVR Trident (in pictured prototype no.3) powered by a 4.7 liter Ford Cobra V8 engine developing 270 bhp. (Picture from: 2Drive.ru)
However, the Trident never reached serial production as TVR was soon overwhelmed by the financial crisis that caused it to go bankrupt and then take over by the Lilley family. With the company in liquidation, projects and rights to build the car were taken over by Bill Last who founded a new company in Woodbridge, Trident Cars.
1965 TVR Trident (in pictured prototype no.3) has such an enormous expanse of windows set at a rakish angle. (Picture from: 2Drive.ru)
Actually Libra is not the only kitcar model from the British automotive company that has been established since 1967, there have been several other models ever made such as the Cox GTM Coupé, GTM Coupé, GTM Rossa, and others. In fact, Libra is the most famous and successful in terms of sales among the models that have been produced by GTM ever.
Further strengthening to the floor pan was added along with a redesigned rear bulkhead. In all about 30 kilos have been added to the weight of the central tub, unfortunately the additional strengthening and modifications to the rear bulkhead have removed the option of fitting the most powerful 2.5 litre V6 engine. 
