Maestro Works Talking about the uniqueness of Luigi Colani's work, a renowned contemporary industrial designer may never end, even though the designer passed away in 2019. This is not surprising, because this German designer has been active in the modern industrial world since the early 1950s to the second millennium, with his work segmenting diverse, not only from the automotive world but also the world of aviation, buildings to household furniture.
The Colani Mamba Concept made by Luigi Colani back in 1998 to 1999 is reportedly built as a design study for new model of Dodge Viper. (Picture from: Colani)
As a designer, Luigi Colani is famous for his design lines imitated various naturally dynamic forms which later developed his creative language called Biodesign, made up of often exaggerated roundness, which evoke the dynamism and vitality of an object, as the result seems quirky and unique. If you look closely, Colani applies the Biodesign style on many his vehicle works to interpret what he called as natural forms which has none or minimal straight lines so they give a unique and quirky impression.
Luigi Colani posed along with his car creations, such the Mamba Concept, Ferrari Testa D'Oro, and many others. (Picture from: RawViper)
The Colani Mamba Concept is described the maestro's interpretation about an American modern muscle car such as the Dodge Viper. (Picture from: AleSupercars)
Besides that, it turns out there is a vehicle of the designer which in our opinion is very unique so that it invites great our curiosity as well. Unlike his other works, the mentioned car model named the Colani Mamba Concept made by Luigi Colani back in 1998 to 1999 is reportedly built as a design study for new model of Dodge Viper.
The
Colani Mamba Concept when viewed as a whole from the front, You would
seen all of pull of the lines and curves unity became into a Mamba snake's
head shape. (Picture from: Sumally)
It is not known whether this project was carried out by Colani under his own initiative or in collaboration with Chrysler, the American auto giant as the owner of the Dodge car brand at the time.
The Colani Mamba Concept is described the maestro's interpretation about an American modern muscle carwith an optimized
airflow so no spoiler required. (Picture from: OcalaAutoRepair)
Apart from that in our opinion, there is something very interesting about this concept car when viewed as a whole from the front, You would seen all of pull of the lines and curves unity became into a Mamba snake's head shape, thus maybe that's why the car concept is called as it.
The Colani Mamba Concept (middle) posed along with the original 1999 Dodge Viper (left) and the Colani-Getra's Dodge Viper coupe remodel versions (far right). (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
The car concept is described as a Colani's
modern interpretation of an American muscle car with an optimized
airflow so no spoiler required, and has a matching side view as well.
One of original Dodge Viper remodeledversions (in coupe style) by Colani in collaboration with a Köln-based automotive company, Autohaus Getra in the 1999. (Picture from: RawViper)
As what we've quoted from several sources, especially the Luigi Colani Design Museum, the mentioned concept car is just a rolling body model without doors and windows and the black sections are painted. However, the plan will be powered by a V10 engine capable of blowing a maximum power of up to 900 hp.😉
One of original Dodge Viper remodeled versions (in coupe style) featured with additional headlights by Colani in collaboration with a Köln-based automotive company, Autohaus Getra in the 1999. (Picture from: ReddIt)
This one-off rolling body model has been showcased by the maestro at several events around the world, and before it sold in October 2019 had shown in Joop Stolze Classic Cars showroom in De Lier, Netherland, lastly was seen stored in the Milan Sesto scrapyard in Italy along with the Mazda Le Mans and other 4 prototypes.
One
of original Dodge Viper remodeled versions (in roadster style) and said only three units have produced by Autohaus Getra in the 1999. (Picture from: Nitter.net)
NEW SteedsFerrari is reportedly would launched a new model called the Ferrari SP48 Unica to the global automotive market this year. The new car is claimed to have a base that is not much different from the Ferrrari F8 Tributo supercar.
Ferrari has unveiled the SP48 Unica, the latest addition to its portfolio of customer-commissioned one-off models. (Picture from: Autoblog)
However, this Ferrari SP48 Unica comes with a body that has been redesigned more larger. The new car is known to offer a completely new and different front fascia compared to the F8 Tributo supercar.
The Ferrari SP48 Unica based on the F8 Tributo, and the coupe was created by the Ferrari Styling Center for an anonymous client who participated in every step of the design process. (Picture from: Autoblog)
The Maranello-based premium autocar says the front fascia has been designed by by the Ferrari Styling Center under the command of Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni, by using procedural-parametric modeling technology and 3D prototyping. So the SP48 Unica is claimed to have a tridimensional effect on the front grille. This addition makes the Italian supercar look fresher than the Ferrari F8 Tributo.
The Ferrari SP48 Unica also featured with specially blacked-out a-pillars create the illusion of a wrap-around windshield. (Picture from: Autoblog)
Furthermore, the new car looks visually slimmer after the windows were removed and the taillights were replaced with thin LED bars. Not only the body, but additional design changes are also embedded in the wheels. In addition, the Ferrari SP48 Unica will have side air intakes that look lower. And plus this supercar will also use black accents on the side skirts.
The Ferrari SP48 Unica features new-look lights, a reshaped bumper with honeycomb-like inserts, and twin vents. (Picture from: Autoblog)
But so far the Italian prancing horse auto breeder has not revealed the interior of the SP48 Unica. It is thought the cabin will be heavily influenced by the F8 Tributo, and the design is expected to gain special badges on the exterior and inside the cabin.
The Ferrari SP48 Unica might be powered by the same engine of its predecessor F8 Tributo, a a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. (Picture from: Autoblog)
Beside that Ferrari also did not talk much about the engine used for its new car. However, Autoblog predicts the car will carry the same drivetrain as the F8 Tributo, which is a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
This kind of engine is capable of spewing out power of 710 hp and peak torque of up to 770 Nm. So the Ferrari SP48 Unica is expected to have a top speed of 340 kph and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.9 seconds. And besides that, the Italian Prancing Horse manufacturer also also didn't mention the identity of the SF48 Unica's owner and how much it cost. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FERRARI | AUTOBLOG ]
Forgotten ONES Everyone must have a dream that they want to come true, so what if that dream comes true? Can you imagine how happy would be when your dream is realized. And that feeling was felt by Nicolas Bourbon when he successfully completed his dream supercar in 1993.
Adonis is designed and built by Nicolas Bourbon back in 1993 for 3,600 hours over 5 years of work. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
It should be admited that's a beautiful supercar prototype which is a teenager's dream come true. This extraordinary vehicle mentioned above named the Adonis is the work of Nicolas Bourbon, a young car designer from Genlis, Côte-d'Or in eastern France. The Nicolas Bourbon's Adonis may be similar in name to the Edonis, a supercar built of B Engineering based on the Bugatti EB110 launched later in 2001.
Nicolas Bourbon has built the entire car from scratch, including the front and rear wheels, pneumatic suspension, reverse mirrored headlights and superb bodywork. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
According to Le Bien Public, it was a crazy project done in a crazy rhythm of young-aged Nicolas Bourbon for 3,600 hours over 5 years of work patiently accomplished in his family garage during his lunch hours, evenings, weekends and holidays. That means long periods of working which resulted in a dream car prototype that looks like a supercar, that's could be said a very extraordinary achievement.
Interior view of Nicolas Bourbon's Adonis supercar. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
Nicolas Bourbon has built the entire car from scratch, including the front and rear wheels, pneumatic suspension, reverse mirrored headlights and superb bodywork. Of course in the process he did not work alone. As quoted of All Car Index, it turns out that he collaborated with Lionel Garrault of Genlis for leather work, and Mécanique Générale Outillage (MGO) of Varanges for machining. As for bodywork, he gained a bit more knowledge while working at Piscine Provence Polyester in Pouilly-en-Auxois for composite fibres.
Nicolas Bourbon's Adonis is powered by a 5,200 cc V8 mid-mounted engine capable spitting out of 420 hp @ 7,000 rpm. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
Just imagine the result is such a beautiful supercar with a length of about 4,500 mm, a width of 2,000 mm, then a height of about 950 mm with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. Amazingly, the Adonis is powered by a 5,200 cc V8 mid-mounted engine capable of spitting out 420 hp at 7,000 rpm. Well, when asked about the performance is also quite capable with the ability to accelerate from rest to 100 kph in just 3.3 seconds and a claimed top speed of around 330 kph.
Young Nicolas Bourbon posed along with his creation supercar named Adonis. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
It is not surprising that through his Adonis supercar work, then Nicolas Bourbon was declared one of the prize winners at the Expo-Sciences at Nevers and at the Youth Challenge run by the French Ministry of Youth and Sports, and was highly praised by automotive journals at that time.
Nicolas Bourbon's Adonis handcrafted supercar received an extraordinary response when it attended in late February at the Racing and Special Car Exhibition in Paris. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
Nicolas Bourbon's handcrafted supercar also received an extraordinary response when it attended in late February at the Racing and Special Car Exhibition held in Paris, where the beautiful car received tremendous attention and enthusiastic reception of the event visitors since the car came out of the trailer.
Not only that, a number of congratulated greetings were received by the car creator given by the many major company's directors and as well a number of offered proposals from the car constructors. We don't know what happened after that, in fact until now the Adonis has never been mass-produced and there is only one in this world. Will the dream, 'concept car' really come true? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LE BIEN PUBLIC | BOURBON GENLIS | ALLCARINDEX | AUTOWORLD TURBO ]
WuuZZZ When we were little, maybe some of us had imagined going very fast in a car or motorcycle equipped with rockets. Well, it must be so great! But who would have thought it was real, turned out that in 1928 there was a motorcycle that was able to go up to 212 kph with six rockets, it was the Opel Motoclub 500SS.
1928 Opel Raketen Motorrad. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Meanwhile, Opel's name may be closer and identical as a car manufacturer that has produced Blazer and Optima models back in the 1990s. However, did you know that from the early 20th century to the 1930s, they also produced motorcycles, from 1901 to 1930 to be exact.
One of their products is a sports motorbike called the Opel Motoclub 500SS. This German-made motorcycle is powered by a single-cylinder 500cc engine capable of achieving a top speed of around 120 kph under standard conditions, then how to increase the speed almost doubled with the same engine?
Opel Neander conventional motorcycle upon which the Raketen Motorrad was based. (Picture from: StrangeVehicles)
This is what seems to tickle the mind of one of the fast vehicle enthusiasts named Fritz von Opel, a grandson of the automaker founder Adam Opel whose intended to set a new world's motorcycle speed record in Freiberg, meanwhile the speed record at the time in 1928 was held by O.M. Baldwin with the French-made Zenith-JAP motorcycle powered by an engine with a capacity of 996 cc.
It turned out that to realize his wish, Fritz von Opel did it in a succinct way, namely by directly installing 6 rockets on the back of the motorcycle which was then activated via the pedal after the motorcycle reached its highest speed. The Raketen Motorrad (rocket motorcycle) is built based on the Opel Motoclub 500SS.
Fritz von Opel posed along with 1928 Opel Raketen Motorrad.(Picture from: Silodrome)
By using a power of 22 hp spewed out of the OHV (OverHead Valve) one cylinder engine is estimated capable to accelerate the motorbike up to approximately 120 kph (75 mph). Then, the six powder rocket tubes attached to the rear fender (3 mounted on each side) with a combined total of 30 kg (66 lb) of thrust would gradually ignite with the help of a foot lever mechanism, then sending the motorbike sped up to a top speed of 212 kph (132 mph).
Otto Luhrs of the Opel Moto Club with another Opel German rocket cycle. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Unforntunetely, the event to break the land speed record and reached a top speed of 132 mph scheduled in on May 19, 1928 at the Hamborner Radrennbahn, Germany in front of 7000 audiences, was vetoed by the German authorities due to safety reasons. Even though Fritz von Opel is so optimistic that his motorbike will be faster. Nevertheless the rocket powered motorcycle went on to complete a number of demonstration runs and also used as a marketing tool by Opel for a number of years.
The successes of Opel’s four-wheeled rocket racing cars as well as a his light RAK-1 rocket plane, then ends the entire Raketen Motorrad project in 1929. However, the Opel's Neander motorcycle still sold in Germany for a few years, while rocket motorcycle racing continued with the Opel Moto Club under Otto Luhrs. And which can be concluded here at least this innovation has become such an inspiration to the modification realm to keep try.
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and
stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and
so does the cops...... *** [EKA [24022016] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILODROME]
Rare ONES The car that we will discuss below is unique and rare, why is that? Well, even though it's built on the legendary Ferrari model of 1980s, it was not allowed to wear the Prancing Horse badge, due to its existence has never been acknowledged by the Maranello-based manufacturer. It's so sad, like an unwanted child.😢
The Ferrari F40 LM Barchetta or F40 'Beurlys' was originally built based on the legendary Ferrari F40 LM number 19. (Picture from: Monochrome-Watches)
But don't be cry yet, okay. Although Ferrari has never acknowledged its existence, the car known as the Ferrari F40 LM Barchetta or F40 'Beurlys' was originally built based on the legendary Ferrari F40 LM.
For those of you who are supercar fans, especially Ferrari, you must understand the Ferrari F40, which was made in the 1980s and is known to be one of the most special supercars in the history of the world's automobiles, then there's also racing version called the F40 LM, which only 19 units were ever produced worldwide.
A 1987 road-legal version of the Ferrari F40. (Picture from: Monochrome-Watches)
Well, the unfortunate car that was not acknowledged by Ferrari was originally the F40 LM number 19 which was ever driven by Jean Alesi and Jean-Pierre Jabouille in the racing arena, both famous in Formula 1. After retiring from the racing world, the car was bought by Jean 'Beurlys' Blaton, a Belgian billionaire with a passion for cars (there's also another version said that the car was given to Jean Blaton as a farewell gift).
The brutal LM version of the Ferrari F40, for race purposes. (Picture from: Monochrome-Watches)
As quoted of Monochrome-Watches, Jean Blaton is a former driver who has ever raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans more than fifteen times, mostly with Ferrari. He was dissatisfied with the one-in-nineteen car he considered the 'regular' car any fellow billionaires could afford, and wanted his car to be unique.
To make his wish come true, he assigned the job to Belgian automaker Tony Gillett, who later built the Gillet Vertigo. Besides that, he also contacted Michelotto who was involved in the F40 LM variant development to oversee the rebuilding of the Blaton's Ferrari F40 LM Barchetta.
The Ferrari F40 LM Barchetta or F40 'Beurlys' built by Belgian automaker Tony Gillet under supervised of Michelotto and commissioned of Jean 'Beurlys' Blaton. (Picture from: Monochrome-Watches)
In short, the car rebuilding work was carried out immediately with cut-off the roof, the bodywork was altered again and then the competition windshield was installed, the engine restrictor was removed, the exhaust was rerouted to exit on the side, the roll-cage was installed and the chassis was upgraded with F1-style pushrod suspension. Then after the the bodywork construction process was completed, then it was painted in yellow, the official historic racing color for Belgium.
Then what about the performance? After the engine restrictor is removed, so that allows its Tipo F120 B Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine to exhale full power up to 760-horses which are then able to make the F40 'Beurlys' running up to a maximum speed of 368.54 kph. Can you imagine if you drive at such a high speed with a roofless car? You would be shocked if those speeding sensation tears off your skin.😀
The
Ferrari F40 LM Barchetta or F40 'Beurlys' is powered by Tipo F120 B
Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine capable exhale full power up to 760-horses. (Picture from: Monochrome-Watches)
Well, to set it apart from its 18 siblings, apart from not wearing the Prancing Horse badge, the F40 'Beurlys' also doesn't have the 'F40' label, which is usually stamped into one of the uprights of the massive rear wing. This is a common practice done by Ferrari, who is known to be so protective of its cars that a change of this magnitude disqualify it as a Ferrari product, and as a consequence, the car in question was required to remove all Prancing Horse badge, Ferrari logo and trim.
Furthermore, its data was also scrapped from the Maranello-based car company's archives and deemed "lost", although most of its history is known. Regarding to this F40, what is certain since then Jean 'Beurlys' Blaton was never again allowed to own the Prancing Horse badged sportscar until he died in 2020.😮
Such a kind of powerfull drivetrain will propel the F40 'Beurlys' from 0 to 100 kph in around 3.1 sec and can make it run up to a top speed of 368.54 kph. (Picture from: Monochrome-Watches)
As quoted of Jalopnik, in 2005, the F40 'Beurlys' had a chance to be auctioned in France along with 41 other cars of Jean Blaton's collection. Reportedly at that time the car was expected to sell around $190,000 to $245,000, but unfortunately it was not sold. Until now it's unknown whether Jean Blaton is still the owner of F40 'Beurlys' or has changed hands, but it appeared during an official Ferrari track day a couple of years ago.
Besides that, there are several other versions of the story related to the F40 LM Barchetta, as stated that the F40 Barchetta is not Ferrari F40 and that is actually a tube-framed, fiberglass replica that is powered by unspecified Alfa Romeo machines.😧 There's another story says that the car was commissioned by Jean Blaton and built by the Italian-Swiss team under the supervision of Argentina-born engineers, Mario Navarrete, a former technician of the Coloni F1 team. Its powertrain comes from the destroyed F40 but in this configuration produces 650 horsepower.😏
Finally, whatever the story was, the F40 IMSA LM Barchetta or F40 'Beurlys' is an interesting historical anomaly to discuss, although Ferrari firmly does not acknowledge it as its official model. While in our opinion (hopefully you would agree) that the car is a cool roadster version of F40.😎 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MONOCHROME-WATCHES | JALOPNIK ]
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Weird ONES There's such a contrasting view like heaven and earth as seen at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, on the first ones, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the next generation of its venerable S-Class, the ‘W140'. It was a tech-fest of innovation (double-paned soundproof glass) and previewed the company's new design theme.
Lamborghini Sogna designed and built by Ryoji Yamazaki based on Lamborghini Countach back in the 1991. (Picture from: TopGear)
Meanwhile in the other sides, the one-off Lamborghini Sogna, a really kind of weird styling supercars. Well, this is really kind of weird styling supercars unveiled by a little known Japanese auto tuner and called as the first generation of what the automaker planned as a small numbers of production.
The Lamborghini Sogna was not a tech-fest of innovation, and did not preview officially Lamborghini's new design theme either. It just an V12-engined, hand-crafted one-off kiwi green colored raging bull weird dreamed car. The car was the brainchild of a Japanese designer named Ryoji Yamazaki known also the owner of the Art & Tech design studio, whose had a dream about a supercar while he was at 13; and at 41, he managed to realize it (Sogna, an Italian word for ‘dreams').
And luckily for those of You, it also could be mean Your dream come true as well as Yamazaki was. As quoted of Autoblog, the Sogna was built in 1991 based on the Lamborghini Countach, which also known was the dream car for many people in the 1980s around the globe.
Rear three quarter of Lamborghini Sogna with its scissor-doors opened. (Picture from: TopGear)
As the story goes, Yamazaki bought a Lamborghini Countach, removed the original body and left the chassis only, then he constructed an entirely aluminium newly body on it, painted it green and wheeled it out
for the 1991 Geneva Motor Show as a rolling chassis prototype which is intended to be limited production models (it never happened).😥
Rear three quarter of Lamborghini Sogna. (Picture from: TopGear)
A few years later there's another examples of Sognawas built, this time a fully-functioning prototype complete with 455 bhp V12 drivetrain shown and also up for sale for £1.9 million at the 1994 Essen Motor Show. No one brought it home at the time.😭 As quoted of the TopGear, the car from Essen had ever listed for sale for € 2.38 million, or around US. $3.25 million back in the 2013.
Obviously, it's not an official Lamborghini model, which is why you get that bonkers weird bodyshell, but underneath Yamazaki retained the Countach's running gear. So the Sogna is still a 5.2-litre V12-engined supercar with 455 bhp all running riot through the rear axle with the top speed of 186 mph (299.33 kph). So it takes more gut for those of You who want to try speeding with it on the highway. *** [EKA [28032014] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TOPGEAR | AUTOBLOG ]
As a designer, Luigi Colani is famous for his design lines imitated various naturally dynamic forms which later developed his creative language called Biodesign, made up of often exaggerated roundness, which evoke the dynamism and vitality of an object, as the result seems quirky and unique. If you look closely, Colani applies the Biodesign style on many his vehicle works to interpret what he called as natural forms which has none or minimal straight lines so they give a unique and quirky impression.
Uniquely, in the same year of 1999 Luigi Colani also presented a remodel car design of the original Dodge Viper, with a striking distinguishing feature, namely additional headlights. It is noted that several remodeled cars were made in the coupe and roadster versions, carried out by a Köln-based automotive company, Autohaus Getra, and said that there's only three unit cars like this have been produced. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | COLANI | LUIGI COLANI DESIGN MUSEUM | STOLZECLASSICCARS | ALLCARINDEX | CARSTYLING.RU | RAWVIPER | AUTOTITRE | ALESUPERCARS.WEEBLY | BLOGOMOTIVE | REDDIT LUIGICOLANI | OCALA AUTO REPAIR | BOX26.CH | LCDM@NITTER.NET | CAR-PASSION BY R&O | GEOBLOG.RU ]
