The latest roofless V12-engined supercar of Ferrari

Unique ONES After some time ago Lamborghini launched the one-off racing-purposed supercar called the Lamborghini Squadra Corse SC18, and it seems Ferrari also did not want to miss. Recently the Maranello-based premium car manufacturer launched their latest creation, named Ferrari SP3JC.

Ferrari SP3JC, a special one-off roofless supercar owned by a Scottish collector named John Collins. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2zyc8Ry)

The SP3JC is the latest one-off project from Ferrari which has been officially handed over to its owner namely John Collins, a Scottish collector and former freelance writer. The vehicle designed by the Ferrari Styling Center is an order from a Ferrari collector who wants a pure roadster with a chassis and engine taken from the F12tdf.

Ferrari SP3JC, a pure roadster built based on a chassis and engine taken from the Ferrari F12tdf. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2zyc8Ry)

This car produced only one unit, and ordered by the one-off series, it will provide the maximum expression of the driving experience with an open-roof car, and at the same time will remind again to the 1950s and 60s V12-engined Ferrari spider car product.

Ferrari SP3JC wears a funky tri-color paint scheme that really doesn’t do justice to the exclusivity of this model. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2zyc8Ry)

This roofless (obviously) car has a very muscular appearance with dynamic grooves on the sides designed to emphasize the front-engine layout, a typical air intake hole placement on the front, and a dramatic rear fascia with horizontal lines that make it look wider.

Ferrari SP3JC uses a 6.3-liter V12 producing 780 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2zyc8Ry)

The client's love of Pop Art is reflected in the firm graphics, and the unique combination of livery from the Azzurro Met (blue) and Giallo Modena (yellow) above the main Bianco Italia (white) color scheme that confirms the sensual impression of the car.

It took more more than three years to build the one-off Ferrari SP3JC. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2zyc8Ry)

The sporty theme that is strengthened is seen by the installation of special details such as two-glass inserts on the hood to show off the V12 780cv engine, a link between the fairing of an integrated carbon fiber roll and a brushed aluminum fuel tank cap.

Then on its interior, there is a pair of racing-styled seat made of genuine leather in blue with white inserts. The blue colored leather extends to the bottom of dashboard and is sewn with contrasting colored stitches throughout the interior trim.

As quoted of Top Speed, Ferrari to build it since more than three years ago. The wait was long, but the final product made it worth it. *** [EKA [061218] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DIGITRENDS | TOPSPEED]

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Brazilian-made 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria sports car

Unique ONES 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 ]

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One-off T-bird Tridon showcar

ONE-OFF Again, we are talking about a uniquely shaped classic car made by the Ford Motor Company. The classic car that will be discussed this time is called the Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept. As quoted from Automotivemileposts, the concept car is built on the basis of the 1970 Ford Thunderbird Two Door Hardtop and and is intended to be a show car.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept is featured with a unique prominent nosepiece and the headlights hidden behind the grilles. (Picture from: Automotivemileposts)

Furthermore, the one-off concept car got its name from its tri-elemental design and is one of the concept car design models had built on the basis of Thunderbird for three consecutive years. Well, as You can be seen of the concept car figure which is said to have carried the new production sports-roof design was already a racy design, and the Tridon used the sloping rear roof structure to full advantage.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon concept car is built based on the 1970 Ford Thunderbird Two Door Hardtop like this and intended to be a show car. (Picture from: OLdCarSite)

Over the years, the Ford' designers worked hard to produce something unique for the Thunderbird' roof. And the Tridon is thought to be giving the right direction for a unique roof feature for the Thunderbird that is worth producing. As can be seen on the Tridon, there's a unique tinted skylight roof strip panel that stretched across the roof of the car from one side to the other and is located behind the rear window, the panels give rear seat passengers a clear upward view. On the other hand, the Tridon concept car has a small recessed rear window.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept shows the fully enclosed rear wheels and rear skylight roof panel. (Picture from: Automotivemileposts)

At the front, a three-piece nosepiece features a very prominent center section that jutted out in front, similar to the Thunderbirds production cars of the time, but more dramatic. The headlights are hidden behind grilles that featured five horizontal chrome bars against a blacked-out background. The grilles were separated by the center section of the nose, and front parking and turn signs are tucked in each outboard end of the grilles. The engine cooling slots ran horizontally below each grille, and between the grille and cooling slots was a thin black rubber rub strip, which ran from end to end.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Tridon Concept made its debut at the 1971 Chicago Auto Show. (Picture from: Bestride)

The front, rear bumpers and nosepiece at front were made of plastic materials that was designed to absorb minor impacts and bounce back into position, without damaging the car. Then all the glass attached to the Tridon was tinted in an amber shade to complement the interior and exterior finishing touches. Well, there's twenty coats of a creamy yellow that had a pearlescent effect to it named Moongold Mist coated the Tridon’s exterior. While inside the car, You would be found the interior upholstered in a ginger-colored synthetic lambs wool featured with the high back front bucket seats were separated by a full-length center console. Unfortunately there are no color photos for the interior.

The Tiara Aluminum Wrapover roof design and the Opera Window which were included as part of the popular model of the Ford Thunderbird Town Landau taken inspiration of the Tridon's skylight roof panel. (Picture from: Automotivemileposts)

The wheels (with the rear ones were fully-enclosed) were made of aluminum and held on to the brake rotors with bolts around the perimeter of the wheel surface, rather than toward the center and the Firestone provided unique tires for the Ford Thunderbird Tridon, and the concept car made its debut at the 1971 Chicago Auto Show.

Although it was never fully realized as a production version car, at least the Tridon' roof panel elements became the inspiration for the Tiara Aluminum Wrapover roof design and the Opera Window which were included as part of the popular model of the Ford Thunderbird Town Landau which was produced from 1977 to 1979. We think Ford's stylists have finally found the right and unique roof panel for the Thunderbird model. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOMOTIVEMILEPOSTS | BESTRIDE ]

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The last OSCA race car

Last ONES The automotive world in the 1950s to the 1960s can be said to be the golden age of the Italian fast cars, many of them dominating various major racing events. Those were commonplace, because most of the racing activists at that time were the Italian automotive manufacturers ranging from large to small scaled companies. The intense competition atmosphere not only occured on the circuit but also spread out of the circuit. It is not surprising that many of the automotive business players had to resign because they could no longer face the tough competition at that time.

1963 OSCA 1600 SP while sat on display at the 2012 2012 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

This was also felt by OSCA (Officine Specializzate Construzione Automobili), a small Italian automotive company owned by the three Maserati brothers in maintaining the existence of their company's banner in the automotive industry, in which they had to face many of the same problems in the second half of the 1960s as they have been done on two decades earlier. Once again, the problem of limited demand for race cars threatens the existence of their company.

1961 OSCA 1600 GT Coupe bodied by Fissore and powered by a twin-cam 1.6 liter engine that can deliver 95 hp of power to drive its rear wheels. (Picture from: Hemmings)

As qouted of Ultimatecarpage, in an attempt to turn their fortunes around before the Maserati brothers were forced to close shop or sell their business once again, then they launched the all-new OSCA 1600 GT as the company's first production road legal car. The coupe-style standard car uses a Carrozzeria Fissore made bodywork and is powered by a twin-cam 1.6 liter engine that can deliver 95 hp of power to drive its rear wheels.

1962 OSCA 1600 GT racing version bodied by Zagato and powered by an engine tuned to 140 bhp, and applied the rear's independent suspensions. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

Given the Maserati brothers' great interest in the world of racing, it's no wonder the racing variants also offered then in the 1962. The 1600 GT racing version is built using a Zagato-made lightweight body, powered by an engine tuned to 140 hp, and applied the rear's independent suspensions. It turns out that the OSCA 1600 GT in various guises managed to reap the great success, then allowed the three Maserati brothers able to develop a new purpose-built racing car.

1963 OSCA 1600 SP racing car prototype is powered by an engine tuned to 140 hp coupled with the four-speed gearbox and mounted on an all-new multi-tubular space frame chassis. (Picture from: Supercars)

The new purpose-built racing car dubbed as the OSCA 1600 SP (and SP stands for 'Sperimentale' or Experimental) is powered by the same 140 hp engine used by the racing version of the OSCA 1600 GT coupled with the four-speed gearbox and mounted on an all-new multi-tubular space frame chassis. Then the independent suspension via double wishbones is installed at all four corners, furthermore there's sizeable disc brake system that's allowed the 1600 SP to provide capable braking power.

Initially 1963 OSCA 1600 SP racing car built to race at the 24-Hours of Le Mans, but never been raced at all. (Picture from: Supercars)

The sophisticated and light rolling chassis is then wrapped in a sleek coupe-style body. If usually OSCA always assigns the coachbuilding company like Morelli to made the bodywork, but this time the 1600 SP' bodywork is made in-house was of course particularly interesting and profitable from an economic perspective. The design is determined mostly by the shape of the chassis as the aluminium panels were tightly wrapped over the mechanical components, and the results are visually pleasing.

1963 OSCA 1600 SP racing car prototype has sleek low-drag body shape. (Picture from: UltimateCarPage)

Initially the OSCA's race car was built to race at the 24-Hours of Le Mans, it can be seen by its sleek low-drag body shape, Kamm-tail at rear. But what could be said when the economic reality speaks differently to the Maserati brothers. When the first 1600 SP race car was completely finished in the 1963, they were forced to sell their business to Count Augusta (the owner of MV Augusta motorcycle manufacturer), who turned out to be more interested with the Maserati brothers' engineering capabilities than to the OSCA' cars.

1963 OSCA 1600 SP racing car prototype's steering wheel and dashboard view. (Picture from: GTPlanet)

Well, it's like a tragedy that suddenly comes, as a result of the transfer of the company ownership, the 1600 SP race car project was terminated and the finished race car never raced.😭 Under the Count Augusta' ownership, the company operated as usual until 1966 when the Maserati brothers left and soon after production ceased. Furthermore, OSCA has become the final motoring venture for the Maserati brothers, then the OSCA 1600 SP is recorded the last race car built by them.

1963 OSCA 1600 SP racing car prototype also featured the Kamm-tail at rear. (Picture from: GTPlanet)

The sole OSCA 1600 SP race car was kept by Ernesto Maserati until the late 1960s, when he gave it as a gift to his son Alfieri Maserati. He has loved the car ever since and despite its regular use, remained in highly original condition. The car rarely appears at public events, the last time the Maserati family' scion race car had seen at the 2012 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Wanna see the Fiat-OSCA 1500 Spider.

And if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to this marque, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | COACHBUILD | ULTIMATECARPAGE | SUPERCARS | HEMMINGS | GTPLANET ]

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