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.
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 ]
ONE-OFF Off-course, a clear picture of a genius and talented automotive designer could be seen from his works during the time. For example, Giotto Bizzarrini is the mastermind who was responsible for such tremendous classic sports cars like the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan for Count Giovanni Volpi's Scuderia Serenissima racing team, and many others.
The Bizzarrini Kjara barchetta while sat on display at the 2019 Concours d'Elegance Paleis Soestdijk, the Netherlands.. (Picture from: Ritzsite.nl)
The Bizzarrini Kjara roadster is the result of a cooperation between Scuderia Bizzarrini and the University of Rome, while its bodywork by Pininfarina. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
For the world of racing, Bizzarrini's advanced ideas had surfaced in the form of the extraordinary Bizzarrini P538S. Then the life of this racing car resumed after the skilled hands of Giorgetto Giugaro managed to present Bizzarrini Manta in 1968. Although officially Bizzarrini-owned automaker company did not last long and its production should be ceased in 1969.
Actually, the Bizzarrini Kjara is a hybrid sportscar powered by a 2.4 liter Lancia turbo diesel engine combined with 4 electric engines. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
It turned out that not only automotive business circle were Bizzarrini colleagues, in early 1997 known this company collaborated with academics Leone Martellucci of the Technical University of Rome. At that time they jointly developed a sports car concept called the Bizzarrini Kjara, while its body constructed by Pininfarina.
The Bizzarrini Kjara sports car had proven Bizzarrini was way ahead of its time not only in terms of what a supercar could look like, and a knack for vehicle efficiency as well.. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
The Kjara sportscar concept driven by a 2.4 liter 5-cylinder JTD Lancia diesel engine that works together with 4 electric motors. So that's it could be said it's a hybrid-powered sportscar, and proved Bizzarrini was way ahead of its time not only in terms of what a supercar could look like, and a knack for vehicle efficiency as well.
The interior is not very well put together since this Bizzarrini Kjara was only meant as a show piece. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
The concept was completed in 2000, and the car made its debut at the Turin Motor Show 2000. The car was always intended purely as a concept car. Purely to show how Giotto Bizzarrini would put together a modern roofless sports car. Meanwhile, its interior is spartan in design and typical of a concept car with visible main power switches and relays.
Here's a 2.4 liter 5-cylinder JTD Lancia diesel engine is the Kjara's drivetrain along with 4 electric motors.. (Picture from: GaleryAaldering)
As its bodywork is therefore very progressive with an advanced aerodynamically designs, and is also equipped with optimal cooling for the diesel engine coupled with electric motors. And similar could be said to the drivetrain was very progressive at that time and is still quite up to date even today. Unfortunately, the hybrid part of the car is no longer connected but the 2.4 JTD diesel engine has recently been running.
The Bizzarrini Kjara sports car bodywork is therefore very progressive with an advanced aerodynamically designs, and is also equipped with optimal cooling for the diesel engine coupled with electric motors. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
As you would expect from a car that has had a life as a concept car, the car has some traces of use all around. It shouldn’t spoil the fun because this is truly a unique opportunity to buy one of the rarest Bizzarrini’s ever. The car comes with a presentation board that comes with the car.
On March 2022, the car is listed for sale by the Gallery Aaldering, which is Europe’s biggest classic car dealer with headquarters in Brummen, the Netherlands. Off-course, being a one-off concept with Italian heritage, expect some hefty sums to be floated around. As quoted of the Gallery Aaldering website, the unique sports car has been sold, unfortunately it is not known how much money the Kjara's new owner spent to bring it home.😌 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GALERY AALDERING | AUTOEVOLUTION | RITZSITE.NL ]
New ONES While various world brands are busy with their newest cars, maybe we know little about the legendary American car Ford Mustang. How are you now? So, here we are going to tell you about it. Recently, one of the American automotive giants, Ford Motor Company reportedly released a new model called the Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse was introduced as a performance variant of the new seventh generation Ford Mustang. (Picture from: GridOto)
The American automotive giant said that its new car intended to be a performance variant of the 7th generation Ford Mustang that was focused on race track performance. In addition to being the newest Ford's performance variant, the Mustang Dark Horse car will also open a new chapter of Mustang's gaits in modern world's motorsports.
The 'Dark Horse' badge on the side fenders to replace the '5.0' emblem like the one on the regular Mustang GT. (Picture from: TopGear)
"For decades, the Mustang has competed against premium brand cars in the world's racing events and won them," said Jim Farley, Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company.
Not surprisingly, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse appears more aggressive than other Mustangs. (Picture from: GridOto)
"We have surprised everyone, and we will surprise them again with a capable Mustang on the race track," added Farley.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse gets improvements to the chassis in the form of a larger sway bar, and MagneRide suspension as standard wheel support wrapped in 19-inches Pirelli P ZERO PZ4 tires. (Picture from: TopGear)
So how's the design style? The Mustang Dark Horse can be distinguished from other seventh-generation Mustangs by its more aggressive and sporty exterior appearance. And for this reason, the American manufacturer did not forget to add the 'Dark Horse' badge on the side fenders to replace the '5.0' emblem like the one on the regular Mustang GT. Aside from a more aggressive look, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse is powered by a 5,034 cc V8 engine that is projected to burst out power of 500 horsepower.
Ford strayed even further from the vintage aesthetic with the changes to the Ford Mustang Dark Horse's interior. (Picture from: CarsDirect)
Furthermore, the American automaker said that the Mustang Dark Horse's drivetrain has received several modifications such as the connecting rod taken from the Shelby GT500 engine and dual throttle-body intakes. Meanwhile to support engine performance, the automaker prefers to embed a TREMEC 6-speed manual transmission rather than a 6-speed manual Getra as installed on a regular Mustang.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse car will also open a new chapter of Mustang's gaits in modern world's motorsports. (Picture from: TopGear)
Of course that's not the only option offered by Dearborn-based automaker, it turns out that the American manufacturer is still providing another 10-speed automatic transmission for this newest Mustang Dark Horse. In addition to the transmission, the Mustang Dark Horse also gets improvements to the chassis in the form of a larger sway bar, and MagneRide suspension as standard wheel support wrapped in 19-inches Pirelli P ZERO PZ4 tires.
Not only that, the Mustang 7th generation performance variant gets Brembo's 6-piston brake system, coupled with a Torsen limited-slip differential. But unfortunately until now the American manufacturer has not provided information about when this model will officially be produced and also at what price.🤔 Of course, all of us couldn't expected a cheap price for this Dark Horse, if seen all of those specs. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | TOPGEAR | AUTOCAR.CO.UK | CARSDIRECT ]
ONE-OFF It is not wrong if many say that the 1990s era was a time when many quite capable cars were born. And one of them was the Gigliato Aerosa designed by Nobuo Nakamura of Gigliato Design and is presented for the first time to public at the 1997 Geneva Motor Show.
Here's the 1997 Gigliato Aerosa is one Lamborghini-engineered sports car for Japanese company, Gigliato Design. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscar)
As quoted of GT Supreme, this sports car is a collaboration result between the Italian premium car maker Automobili Lamborghini SpA and a Japanese company named Gigliato Design Co. Ltd. If it is related to the premium car of Japanese and Lamborghini, for those of you who experience life in the 1990s, of course you will be more familiar with the Lamborghini Sogna, and have never heard this Gigliato's sports car, although both came from the same era.
The 1997 Gigliato Aerosa is built based on a Ford Mustang platform and powered by a mid rear-mounted Ford DOHC 4601cc V8 coupled with a Getrag 5-speed manual transaxle. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscar)
Well, if you will feel unfamiliar with the name of the Japanese company, the Gigliato Design studio was founded by a Japanese designer named Nobuo Nakamura. Apparently, Giglio is an Italian word means ‘Lily’, besides that the name was chosen to tribute to his wife, due to it's similar to her name.
The 1997 Gigliato Aerosa is designed by a Japanese automotive designer named Nobuo Nakamura (left) and built in collaboration with Automobili Lamborghini SpA. (Picture from: CarStyling.ru)
In 1997 Gigliato announced a partnership with Lamborghini for deal with engineering, production component supply, delivery and marketing. The plan was to sell the Japanese-designed car from Gigliato's Düsseldorf, Germany-based headquarter. Reportedly, the first commissioned car for a price of about US $65,000 accepted during 1998 with delivery starting as early as 1999
The 1997 Gigliato Aerosa's interior view. (Picture from: CarStyling.ru)
The automaker claimed that the Aerosa would be comparable rival to the Ferrari 355 lineups. Later Gigliato anounced its-owned motorsports program for 1998 including making a debut at Le Mans arena. For that reason then the car was changed to include fixed front headlights and gold wheels. After that the Aerosa would be entering several races through out Europe, Japan and the United States.
A cover image of the 1997 Gigliato Aerosa's article published in a well-known magazine at that time. (Picture from: CarStyling.ru)
Seeing such reason, many stated that the Aerosa could have posed quiet a threat to the McLaren F1 and Porsche GT1 race cars which being dominated their classes at the time. Even further it would become a serious competitor for the Diablo SVR or GTR model, if them both would be competed in the same races.
Unmitigally the Gigliato Aerosa is built based on a Ford Mustang platform and powered by a mid rear-mounted Ford DOHC 4601cc V8 coupled with a Getrag 5-speed manual transaxle capable to pumping out enough power of 309 hp at 5,800 rpm to drive this Jap-designed sports car to accelerate from zero to 100 kph in less than 4.9 seconds and reached up to a top speed of 260 kph.
The 1997 Gigliato Aerosa Prototype is first debuted at the 1997 Geneva Motor Show. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscar)
Because of the Japanese strict regulations related to such vehicles, made the Aerosa was designed outside the country, at the time, a decision was made to assemble the car in England, later import them back to the country. Unfortunately, after all the good plans had been hung up to the sky, but in the end none of them were realized.
This is due to the serious financial problems that plagued the company, and pushed them to close the doors for good in 1998, with only one car was ever made. Perhaps that's why the Aerosa has never been seen around, so it will remain a lonely prototype, like so many Lamborghini based dreamcars in the past. It's a shame, a sports car as cool as this should be alone because it never made it to the Italian raging bull logoed automaker's production lines. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LAMBOCARS | CARSTYLING.RU | SUPERCARS.NET | GTSUPREME | ALLCARINDEX ]
Unique ONES For those of you who always want to know the information behind the unique shape of the car ever made by world's famous automotive designers. Don't worry, we will be discussed one of the unique models, and now our index finger pointed to the 1961 Covington Tiburon, at first glance this car looks very similar to the 1955 Ghia Gilda Streamline X Coupe.
The Covington Tiburon Coupe (in pictured is 1962 Porsche Tiburon) sat on display at the the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. (Picture from: US10Campaign-Archive)
Previously, we also posted an article about the El Tiburon Roadster which is one of 5 topless styled concept cars made by Henry Covington of St. Petersburg, Florida in 1962. Well, during the concept car's early development, Covington required two attempts, separated by several years, before his car reached its final form. Actually, the first Tiburon concept coupe is built on the small platform of a rear-engined 1950 Renault 4CV, with bodywork made of moulding fiberglass, although powered by a tiny engine providing enough power to propel the streamlined shark to 74 mph or 119 kph.
The photo above appeared in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper at least three times and shows Henry Covington at age 37 with his el-Tiburon. (Picture from: US10Campaign-Archive)
The first model, designed and built entirely by him, proved to have inadequat ground clearance by 4 inches and was subject to overheating. He began planning the new version, combining his own ideas on proportion and form with the theories of Dr. Augustus Raspet of Mississippi State College, who had done experimental work on boundary layer control, and laminar flow airfoil configurations.
The Covington Tiburon Coupe to be a cover headline of the Mechanix Illustrated. (Picture from: US10Campaign-Archive)
The automaker decided to fix all-drawbacks of the first model by giving an oval cross-section to the overall design, in attempts of eliminating the side vacuum created by crosswinds, and used a complete underpan with an inverted airfoil section near the front wheel to create a low-pressure area, which could improve roadability. Furthermore, there's the large air ducts are designed into the sides to eliminate overheating problems, and increase vehicle ground clearance to 6 inches.
The Covington Tiburon Coupe (in pictured is 1962 Porsche Tiburon) made by Henry Covington in collaboration with a Tampa, Florida-based company, Caccicraft until early 1962. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
Furthermore, its unique bodywork is carried out by the fiberglass experts at Glenn Industries, the prototype is called the Covington Tiburon, named after the Spanish word for shark (due to its bodywork similar to shark) took almost 9 months for completion, and made its debut in Pinellas County in 1959. Then on March 29, 1961, the concept car was published in an article in St. Petersburg Times.
The Covington Tiburon Coupe (in pictured is 1962 Porsche Tiburon) featured with low and lean posture coupled with a hinged roof for accessing the two-seat interior. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
After that, fame quickly came to the Covington Tiburon as a significant automotive achievement. The Covington made concept car then became a kind of extraordinary magnet for many mass media at that time, so it is not surprising that it appeared in the famous magazines Hot Rod, Car Craft, Rod & Custom, Popular Mechanics, and to be a cover headline of the Mechanix Illustrated. Even the 1966 issue of Road & Track called it "the most streamlined car in the world".
Originally the Covington Tiburon Coupe (in pictured is 1962 Porsche Tiburon) based on a Renault 4-CV, featured with aerodynamic fiberglass body with belly pan, full canopy. (Picture from: UndiscoveredClassic)
The media attention paid off, which led many consumers to commission a custom Tiburon coupe. To fulfill orders, Covington collaborated with a Tampa, Florida-based company, Caccicraft until early 1962. Unfortunately, production should be ceased early due to Henry Covington passed away later that year. During its production periods, it is not known how many the Tiburon were produced, some say as many as 6 coupes, and later 5 convertibles have been made by Glenn Industries from 1963 through 1965.
Decades passed, all Tiburon models were lost, and only one remained. And the last known Tiburon coupe was built based on the Porsche 356, and was discovered in Modesto, California in a storage garage, where it had been kept since the early 1960s. The last time the Tiburon Coupe had appeared in public was at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CONCEPTCARZ | US10.CAMPAIGN-ARCHIVE | UNDISCOVEREDCLASSIC | CARSCENEINTERNATIONAL | SCOTT GRUNDFOR | REDDIT ]
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.
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.
