One-Off Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione by Pininfarina

After some time ago we discussed one of the car species bearing the prancing horse logo which is scarce and rarely seen to the public called the Ferrari Dino Berlinetta Speciale made by Pininfarina in 1965. Now we will discuss other Ferrari Dino cars that are no less cool, namely the 1967 Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione which is also the work of those Turin-based coachbuilder company.

The 1 of 1 1967 Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione Prototipo by Pininfarina. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ou1nHy)

This car is so cool because it has a shape that is very different from the previous Ferrari Dino model, such it has a a unique fishbowl-style cockpit features and a very low driving position. This unique car was created only as a design study and not for production purposes, with many design elements clearly influenced by the 1967 Dino 206 GT.

1966 Ferrari Dino 206 Sports Racer, on which the Competizione is built based of. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ou1nHy)

At that time, Ferrari asked the Pininfarina design house to build a road-legal supercar using racing car techniques and technology. This car is designed by Paolo Martin and built on one of the 18 chassis Ferrari Dino 206SP racing cars in the 1966. It's no surprise that the designer borrowed heavily from the 206SP.

1967 Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione has many unique features such fishbowl-style cockpit, duck-beak front wing, rear spoiler, cobalt-blue racing harnesses and also gull-wing doors. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ou1nHy)

However, the Dino 206 Competizione also carries several distinctive features, such as the gull wing door styled. Originally, the car designed by Paolo Martin did not feature wings, but later that was added because Pininfarina thought wings helped the perception they were more at the forefront of racing technology. This car is now equipped with a duck-beak front wing, rear spoiler, and also cobalt-blue racing harnesses that give a more characteristic impression.

1967 Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione with its gull-wing doors opened. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ou1nHy)

The engine used is the same engine used by the 3 Ferrari Dino racing cars that competed in the 1966 LeMans race, which is a 6-cylinder mid-mounted longitudinal engine. And the fully functional Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione prototype made its first appearance in public at the 1967 Frankfurt Auto Show.

1967 Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione uses a 6-cylinder mid-mounted longitudinal engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ou1nHy)

After that the Pininfarina design house kept it in their own museum in Turin until 2007, when the famous Ferrari collector James Glickenhaus bought it from them and sent it to the United States. Now this unique yellow-colored car is one of Jim Glickenhaus's personal collections and accompanies other Ferrari models that have previously been in his collection such as the Ferrari P4/5 and P4/5 Competizione, Ferrari 512S Modulo Comcept.

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to the 1967 Ferrari Dino 206 Competizione, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | 95CUSTOMS ]

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The unusual Fiat Turbina

Indeed, since it was first founded in 1899, Fiat has been seen serving the world's high-volume automotive market with reliable and low-cost products. On the other hand, for the high performance, low volume and high cost automotive market, it is left to a third party. 

The Fiat Turbina concept is built by Fiat and debuted in 1954, it uses a turbine engine as the drivetrain. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2SUvQ30)

But in the 1950s, something different had happened when the Italian car manufacturer built an unusual concept car called the Fiat Turbina, which it all did on its own. Then why is this called an unusual project because it develops a concept car that uses a gas turbine engine as its driving force. Yes, in 1954 Fiat was the second car manufacturer in the world, after Rover, to introduce a car driven by a gas turbine engine.

The Fiat Turbina concept first appeared in public on 23 April 1954 at Caselle Torinese Airport, where it was a demonstration driving with Fiat test driver Carlo Salamano behind the wheel. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3nPNALm)

In fact, this project required a long time of planning, and the company had begun studying this concept car in 1948 and ended with a track test in 1954 on the rooftop track of the Fiat's Lingotto factory, in Turin, Italy.

The Fiat Turbina concept features a turbine engine without a gearbox which is placed in the middle, just behind the passenger compartment. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33WuPOs)

This car project is known to be handled by Dante Giocosa, who at that time served as the Technical Director of Fiat who was also working on the Fiat 8V legendary sports cars. This concept car features a turbine engine without a gearbox which is placed in the middle, just behind the passenger compartment.

A cross-sectional image of the 1954 Fiat Turbina turbine-engine concept car. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3k1X8k0)

This machine has a 2-stage centrifugal compressor, three can-type combustors, a two-stage turbine driving the compressor, and a single-stage power turbine with a geared reduction to its rear wheels.

The Fiat Turbina concept can be seen on display at the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (National Automobile Museum) in Turin. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/34QbrBS)

The Italian manufacturer says the engine burst power of 300 hp (220 kW) at 22,000 rpm, and is capable of delivering this concept car to run up to a top speed of 250 kph (160 mph). While the bodywork had undergone wind tunnel testing at the Politecnico di Torino facilities.

Inside the cockpit of the Fiat Turbina concept at the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (National Automobile Museum) in Turin. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33WuPOs)

This car first appeared in public on 23 April 1954 at Caselle Torinese Airport, where it was a demonstration driving with Fiat test driver Carlo Salamano behind the wheel. After that the concept car was brought to the arena of the 1954 Turin Auto Show which was taking place at that time.

The Fiat Turbina concept has the slippery shape had an amazingly low drag coefficient, and with its two compressor stages and one turbine stage drivetrain, it produced around 300 hp at 22,000 rpm. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33WuPOs)

The Fiat Turbina concept car was noted as the record holder for the car's lowest drag coefficient (0.14) for 30 years. At the end the project was abandoned due to insurmountable overheating problems and extremely high fuel consumption, so the concept car was shelved in the plant garage.

Today, the Fiat Turbina can be seen on display at the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (National Automobile Museum) in Turin. Even in 2014, Pagani, another Italian premium car manufacturer collaborated with Garage Italia Customs to present the one-off supercar named Pagani Huayra Lampo, whose design was said to be inspired by Fiat Turbina. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | DRIVETRIBE | FLICKR]

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Insanity, a unique Canadian-made jet-engined Ferrari Enzo

If you're looking at this car, maybe you should forget the Ferrari FXX K for a minute, because what you have seen here is far more insane than that. It's true, the garage-built dragster called "Insanity" built in such ways to look like a Ferrari Enzo, and all you have to do is look back to see why the car got such a crazy name.

This is Insanity, a jet-powered Ferrari Enzo dragster built by Ryan McQueen. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2IkE8iP)

The unique-look dragster was built by a Canadian named Ryan McQueen, who by no means was a technical person when he started out. In fact, at the beginning of his unique Ferrari Enzo dragster project, he din’t even know how to do a simple welding.

But perseverance is the best effort to gain knowledge and with time Ryan learned how to work with fibre glass, build a steel tube frame and even understand how to work around jet engines. It took him about 12 years to be exact, and the end result here is absolutely mind-blowing.

The Insanity jet-powered dragster bodywork built by Ryan McQueen is inspired by the Ferrari Enzo legendary supercar which has been adjusted to the twin jet engines as its main drive. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2IkE8iP)

The car appearence looked as powerful as a jet fighter which he felt would not be enough with just one jet engine. Therefore, Ryan bought two Roll-Royce jet engines after selling his Corvette first. Infact, the Insanity has made Ryan spending out his money about CAD $69,000 (approx Rp.771 milions) to build completely, for which he secured initial funding by selling off his Corvette.

He also created the Ferrari Enzo inspired bodywork from his own idea which he said looked very convincing. Although, by looking at the dragster's end result in the terms of dimensions and shape it doesn't really resemble the real Enzo, but it does get the proportions pretty much right.

The Insanity jet-powered Ferrari Enzo dragster push out an insane 14,000 pounds of thrust and can be make it running out of 400 mph (or approx 643 kph) on the flat track. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2IkE8iP)

The twin-jet engines in this Ferrari Enzo dragster push out an insane 14,000 pounds of thrust and can be make it running out of 400 mph (or approx 643 kph) on the flat track.

Even though it's crazy, therefore Insanity is a big achievement. McQueen started from a dream and made him excited to make it happen. And now, what he has built is become one of the world's fastest jet cars. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NOCARFUN | THE DRIVE | ROAD AND TRACK]

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A real beauty 'Demon Rouge' of the 1950s

It is undeniable that the 1950s are called the world's automotive heyday, this can be seen from there're so many beautiful vehicle designs born by the skilled hands of automotive designers and engineers like a maestro with his expertise to make dreams and inspirations into one of the masterpieces, which's not only beautiful, unique, futuristic or even perhaps strange according to the public view at that time.

1954 Fiat 8V 'Demon Rouge' Coupe re-bodied by Vignale and designed by Giovanni Michelotti. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33itq4r)

Can you imagine, if a car that initially appears mediocre, after getting their touch of magic immediately turn into a car that can attract admiration from those who see it? Even though sometimes, what is presented in public is a car with a wacky and unique shape. Yes, the works still can make the head of yours turning around at them while saying, what kind of car is that?

1954 Fiat 8V 'Demon Rouge' Coupe by Vignale and designed by Giovanni Michelotti. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3id7prS)

Like today, when you're looking at the 'Demon Rouge' ('Red Devil' in English), that began its life as Fiat 8V then re-bodied in 1954 by Vignale, an Italian coach-building house under the direction of the famous automotive designer Giovanni Michelotti. Then becoming some kind of an extremely unique and distinctive masterpiece, which is always interesting to be noticed.

1954 Fiat 8V 'Demon Rouge' Coupe by Vignale and designed by Giovanni Michelotti. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3id7prS)

The Fiat 8V ('Otto Vu' in Italian) is a sports car is built by Fiat and launched in 1952 in order to participate in the Mille Miglia racing event. The car uses an eight-cylinder engine and has a quite expensive price tag of $6,000 in America, almost twice as much as a Jaguar XK120. Those Fiat 8V was built by the Italian auto company only 114 units, and some of them dressed up by Zagato, Ghia, and Vignale coachwork companies.

At the time, Vignale offered various bodies for the 8V, such as five coupes, one spider, and one coupe Corsa were built. As one of the last models, the aggressive-looking Fiat 8V 'Demon Rouge' was presented in 1954. And today, certainly, there's no such car ever made by them anymore. It becoming rare and be one of the most sought-after cars in the world.

As we've been seeing on the internet through many sites like coachbuild.com, carstyling.ru, jalopnik.com, and others, we haven't found yet a car that can considerably be said is more unique and strange than this wonderful car that's full of a nice blend of '50s styling cues. There're distinctive fins, wraparound front and rear windows, two-tone paint, inset front headlights, and a chrome strip or two.

1954 Fiat 8V 'Demon Rouge' Coupe re-bodied by Vignale and designed by Giovanni Michelotti. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33itq4r)

Perhaps you will ask, where's the Michelotti's creativity and inventiveness on this 'Démon Rouge'? You could be seen it on the semi-circular, vertical rear window under the extended roofline that's one of the most striking details. It was an aerodynamic trick intended to keep the rear window clean and dry during heavy rainfall. Those similar designs would later be applied to the Ford Anglia and the Citroën Ami.
The roof itself is largely made of Plexiglas, to give the impression of an open car. The door handles are ingeniously incorporated into the rear pillars. The car doesn't have any bumpers and the headlights pinned inside the chrome-accented grille.

The 8V 'Demon Rouge' sports car had many achievements, such as in 1955 the design won the first prize in the 'Coppa Campione d'Italia' Concours d'Elegance. Nearly fifty years later, in 2004, the car won the 'Best of Show' prize at the Concours d'Elegance at palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the most prestigious motorcar event in the Netherlands.

But surely you can think of a coach-built car that's wackier than this. What's the weirdest custom cars you've ever seen? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | COACHBUILD.COM | CARSTYLING.RU | JALOPNIK.COM | HISTORICAUTOPRO.COM]

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Buick Roadmaster custom wrecker

Usually, we discuss these unique cars in beautiful and smooth conditions like the special vehicle-entitled Lil Redd Wrecker by George Barris. However, this time we will look at and discuss a such car, both in form and function but in the conditions as they are.

1950 Buick Roadmaster Custom Wrecker built by a Buick dealership near or in Oakland, California. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZP2ebk)

This is Buick Roadmaster Custom Wrecker which is believed to be a special vehicle that was modified in the 1950s. Although there is no official record regarding it, judging from the condition when it was found it still looks very good as it can be concluded that the custom car is made by a reliable auto builder.

It’s also stated the car runs fine, stops, and is ready for wrecking duty should it come to that. As quoted from Barn Finds, this special car was found in dry storage for years in northern California, and now in Lynchburg, Virginia.

1950 Buick Roadmaster Custom Wrecker was found in dry storage for years in northern California. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZP2ebk)

First glance, when you see the shape of this car from the side like a complete Buick Roadmaster where you can't see the shape of a tow car. There are something unique features especially embedded in the wrecker, the boom actually retracts into the floor of the bed. 

That's why it doesn't look like a tow truck, and we thought it’s almost like a James Bond car.😅 And according to the seller, the car that started life as a luxury car was later converted into a wrecker by a Buick dealership near or in Oakland, California with extraordinary craftsmanship.

1950 Buick Roadmaster Custom Wrecker has a special boom actually retracts into the floor of the bed. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZP2ebk)

As quoted by Hemmings, the unique Buick Roadmaster custom wrecker is built by a couple of friends named Harper Honea and Clark Burr, who often worked together in the town of Susanville, California. So when Burr decided to go into business as a Buick dealer in 1948, he enlisted Honea’s help in building the dealership on Susanville’s Main Street.

1950 Buick Roadmaster Custom Wrecker is known to be sold with a price tag of $45,000 in 2016. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZP2ebk)

Not a big Buick dealer, it can be seen when the two of them are seen doing all the construction work on the building. And when the dealership operates, Honea is the only full-time mechanic in there. According to Harper's son, Darrel Honea, a few years later, his father and their Clark Burr stumbled upon a pair of Buick Roadmaster wrecks, both 1950s, both originally sold through the dealer.

1950 Buick Roadmaster Custom Wrecker while was used as a special big tow vehicle at a Buick dealer in California. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/35Sihci)

So over the course of the next few years, Honea pieced the cars back together, shortened the cabin, and added the bed, boom, generator, and motor to turn the Roadmaster into a wrecker, all according to plans previously had engineered by Burr. And the dealer is operated the Buick custom wrecker until the 1970s.

And in 2016 this unique big tow car is known to be sold with a price tag of $45,000, but it was not stated whether the unique wrecker was successfully sold at the price the seller wanted. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BARN FINDS | GM AUTHORITY | RODAUTHORITY | HEMMINGS]

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Meet the most influential Porsche You've never heard of

It could be said, if there weren't any of the following vehicles, maybe Porsche would never have had a racing program, at least, none that were so entrenched from the start. Yes, this car begins with the figure of Walter Glöckler was initially a motorcycle racer and owner of a car dealer in Frankfurt.

The 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe is the forerunner to the rise of the Porsche in the modern world of racing. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33TSNbI)

By his curiosity about a car, made him able to spend countless hours of tinkering so then led him became an early adopter of a strange kind of new racing car model which is later known as the Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe, a progenitor of Porsche's greatness on the racing tracks.

The 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe has vertical headlights, including a third one placed in the center beside its rounded headlights in the front. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3j0EJn7)

From its appearance, the Glöckler-Porsche 356 was indeed very different from other Porsche 356s, which began to be produced by this German manufacturer in 1948. Well, shortly after being launched, 6 units were assembled by Glöckler and his team into racing cars from the Porsche and Volkswagen parts.

There's a Porsche badge along with a small-sized Glöckler-logo above the third headlights of the 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33TSNbI)

The new racing car uses an all hand-hammered aluminum body, so then no wonder the weighs less than 1,000 lbs. Thanks to Glöckler's unique expertise to improve the Porsche design, so it is not surprising that his racing car started to reap great results on the track when it managed to win car races under 1,000cc across Germany in those days.

The 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe uses a Type 547 quad-cam engine from the 550 Spyder, the same engine that would eventually support the 356 Carrera. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33TSNbI)

When the Glöckler racing cars wandered to many racing tracks at that time continued to make the best achievements, vice versa Porsche experienced different things, the German manufacturer is experiencing financial problems led it had an impact on many aspects. One of them that there is no time and means can be allocated to compete on the racing track. Despite these conditions, previously the Zuffenhausen engineers have been attracted by Glöckler's efforts and already gave him their full support.

The 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe appears with a simple dashboard that features several instrument panels and a rounded steering wheel. (Picture from https://bit.ly/33TSNbI)

In the 1950s, Porsche's financial condition was slightly improving and stable, the company decided to produce racing cars again. And they then borrow the Glöckler design for the Porsche 550 Spyder racing car to compete in the Le Mans racing event with Helmut Glöckler (Walter Glöckler's cousin) behind the wheel. Well, it could be said this car was the company savior on the racing track at the time.

The 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe has special features like wheel spats on all four corners. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33TSNbI)

Even though on early Glöckler-Porsche model was considered a somewhat eccentric, at first glance, resembling a bathtub, with a small pillbox bunker to accommodate its driver. But on later models also included features such as wheel spats on all four corners, small chrome grills on the front, and upright headlights.

The window frames of the 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe were misaligned. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33TSNbI)

Although all of these racing car models have never achieved huge success on the racing circuit or even matched the achievements of the inspired models, clearly today, all of them become something that is very valuable in the hands of collectors.

The story didn’t end there, the Glöckler's seventh model was designed to compete in the 1954 Mille Miglia is considered sleek and beautiful. The car has a panoramic window split down the center, wheel arches cut into the body, vertical headlights, including a third one placed in the center.

The 1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe has a panoramic window split down the center. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/32YyESF)

Subsequently, the window frames were misaligned, the door was cut into the roof, and tailfins were added on the rear. The engine provided by Porsche engineer Ernst Fuhrmann was a Type 547 quad-cam from the 550 Spyder, the same engine that would eventually support the 356 Carrera.

Due to production delays, the Glöckler-Porsche 356 Coupe had to miss the starting lineup at Brescia but it was still able to compete in the Liège-Rome-Liège rally, even though it should be limped to cross the finish line due to serious technical problems.

In 2014, this coupe known to be sold privately. And then traveling from one exhibition to another around the globe, so far it able to make Porsche enthusiasts delight, at the same time made them feel surprised as well while to see there's a Porsche badge above the third headlights on something otherwise not similar to the Porsche car model generally. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ROAD & TRACK | THE AUTO GALLERY]

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The 812 Superfast goes into the next level

Maybe you still remember the figure of the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the great iconic cars ever made by Ferrari, the Italian renowned premium car manufacturer with the prancing horse logoed in the 1960s.

Just to refresh our memory, the Ferrari 250 GTO ('Gran Turismo Omologata' or 'Grand Touring Homologated' in English) is a GT class car is used a V12 Tipo 168/62 Colombo engine and produced from 1962 to 1964 for fulfilling the homologation condition on the  FIA's Grand Touring Car Group 3 category.

Ferrari Omologata is a unique coachbuilt one-off model and is described by the Maranello-based manufacturer as a vibrant evocation of the values that define Ferrari in relation to GT racing. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3i4ZSvc)

In the present context, perhaps in your mind as a speed lover who idolizes the Italian prancing horse species wondering, is Ferrari in officially launching a model like the iconic 250 GTO once again? It seems those whisper echos had reached to the Maranello-based auto manufacturer and tease them to do something.

Ferrari Omologata designed by a variety of subtle nods of design inspired by science fiction, racing heritage, and modern architecture. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3i4ZSvc)

And now here's good news, Ferrari has officially launched its newest model although only one unit is made under the name Ferrari Omologata.

As quoted from Top Gear, this is a unique coachbuilt one-off model and is described by the Maranello-based manufacturer as a vibrant evocation of the values that define Ferrari in relation to GT racing. Also, it said as equally at ease on the road as it is hitting the apex on the track in the hands of a true gentleman driver.

Ferrari Omologata sweeps back to the rear with a new three horizontal transverses 'cuts', while the new rear spoiler is said to offer downforce, and set off the car’s 'aggressive, sporty stance.' (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3i4ZSvc)

This beautiful car was built by a Ferrari's special design team headed by Flavio Manzoni which is made entirely of aluminum, with a flattened oval grille, which tapers up to a rounded section over the front wheel arches. It sweeps back to the rear with a new three horizontal transverses 'cuts', while the new rear spoiler is said to offer downforce, and set off the car’s 'aggressive, sporty stance.'

Furthermore, Ferrari said that the Omologata was made especially under commission of a 'discerning European client' and was completed in about 2 years and had much to express. And among those many things, this Omologata is built on the base of the Ferrari 812 Superfast model where all that's left of 812 is the headlights, windshield, and chassis, while the rest is a variety of subtle nods of design inspired by science fiction, racing heritage, and modern architecture.

Ferrari Omologata uses a 6.5-liter V12 engine that is estimated to be capable of producing 789bhp of power and described as more a transcendental celebration of the internal combustion. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3i4ZSvc)

Even though it uses the same drivetrain as the 812 Superfast, a 6.5-liter V12 engine that is estimated to be capable of producing 789bhp of power, the Omologata's engine isn’t so much a big, powerful engine, and described as more a transcendental celebration of the internal combustion. Unfortunately, there is no performance record yet, although the Italian manufacturer says that this model has tested it on the Ferrari’s Fiorano test track.

Then what should be underlined about this model is the use of a new red color for the livery called Rosso Magma with a dark carbon fiber coating and special racing graphics developed by the Italian premium car manufacturer.

Inside, the leather/fabric seats are electric blue with four-point racing harnesses, and there are metal parts covered with a 'cracked paint' effect on the dashboard and steering wheel, to reflect Ferrari’s Fifties and Sixties GT racers. There is even a 'paint hammer' effect on the doorknobs and the center 'bridge' console. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TOP GEAR]

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