UniqueONES - Exploring the world of unique classic cars often leads to fascinating discoveries, and the FNM 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT is no exception. This intriguing sports car captured our attention during a casual browsing session on Pinterest, sparking a journey to uncover its origins and story. What we found was a compelling blend of Brazilian design and Italian engineering, rooted in the collaboration between Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda. and FNM (Fábrica Nacional de Motores), a Brazilian automotive company from the 1970s.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Classicandrecreationsportscars)
According to the Autocult, the Fúria GT stands as a testament to the fusion of Brazilian and Italian automotive expertise. This unique collaboration began when Alfa Romeo, the renowned Italian car manufacturer, acquired FNM in 1968. Before this acquisition, FNM was primarily known as a state-run truck manufacturer, with operations centered in Duque de Caxias, near Rio de Janeiro. The acquisition paved the way for an exciting cross-continental partnership.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Greatvintagemotorsfromtheworld)
The mastermind behind the Fúria GT was Ottorino 'Toni' Bianco, an Italian-born automotive designer who had established himself in São Paulo, Brazil. Since the mid-1950s, Bianco had been building race cars through his company, Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda. His expertise and passion for automotive design made him the perfect candidate to spearhead this ambitious project.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Frp70)
Bianco's company had already made a name for itself in the Brazilian racing scene by the 1970s, producing several Fúria race cars. These cars, powered by a variety of engines including Chevy, BMW, Ferrari, and even a V12 Lamborghini Miura engine, were known for their competitive edge. One notable Fúria car was equipped with a 2150cc Alfa Romeo engine, producing 138 horsepower, and featured advanced components like a tubular chassis, triangular suspension arms, and Hewland Girling four-wheel disc brakes.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Classicandrecreationsportscars)
Between 1970 and 1971, these Fúria race cars garnered significant attention and achieved respectable results in national championships. A standout moment was when an Alfa-powered Fúria competed in the Brazilian 6-Hours endurance race, finishing in an impressive fifth place against formidable opponents like the Ferrari 512s and Porsche 910s.
These successes did not go unnoticed. Comionauto, an FNM dealer based in São Paulo, approached Bianco with a proposition to create a sports car for FNM. Bianco accepted the challenge and set to work designing the Fúria GT. This stunning sports car was based on a slightly shortened FNM 2150 mechanical platform, featuring enhancements like two dual carburetors and an increased engine compression ratio of 9.5:1, resulting in a power output of 130 horsepower.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: LexiaCarBrasil)
The 1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT prototype showcased Bianco's dedication to detail and innovation. It boasted a host of luxury features including complete instrumentation, a dashboard-mounted center console, individual front seats with adjustable headrests, leather upholstery, green glass windows, floor rugs, and distinctive gullwing doors. The prototype's body was hand-modeled in steel, but the production version was intended to be made of reinforced plastic fiberglass. The plan was ambitious: to produce 12 units per month.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: LexiaCarBrasil)
Unfortunately, the 130-horsepower Fúria GT never reached mass production. The car made a public appearance at the VIII Salão do Automóvel in 1972, but for reasons still unknown, the project did not progress further. The Alfa Romeo emblem on the car's grille remains a mystery to this day. Despite the venture's premature end, Toni Bianco continued his work, eventually launching the Bianco in 1974, his first car to bear his name.
The FNM 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT remains a captivating chapter in automotive history, illustrating the potential of international collaboration and the enduring spirit of innovation. This unique car, with its blend of Brazilian craftsmanship and Italian engineering, continues to fascinate car enthusiasts and historians alike, reminding us of the endless possibilities when creative minds from different backgrounds come together. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LEXIACARBRASIL | AUTOCULT-MODELS | ALFABB | BANDEIRAQUADRICULADA | FRP70 | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCAR | RETROAUTO ]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
Unique ONES Recently, an American motorcycle manufacturer named Curtiss Motorcycles Co. has released its newest bobber-style electric-powered motorbike named Curtiss the One. Well, the electric-powered motorcycle sells for starting at $81,000 or about Rp.1 billion more. The price is expensive enough, and might be made You amazed just a second.
Curtiss the One electric-powered motorcycle built by Curtiss Motorcycles Co. is constructed by the large aluminum frames in a bobber style. (Picture from: ThePack)
All-new Curtiss the One is unique, on each of these electric-powered motorcycles can bedesigned individually by the prospective owner. Well, later they can choose ranging from a variety of materials and finishes in different ways, to create the unique motorbike as the owner want.
Curtiss the One electric-powered motorcycle built by Curtiss Motorcycles Co. has the battery compartment which is made in such a way that its position
and look is the same as the engine of conventional motorcycle has. (Picture from: Maxim)
In general, the One still follows the Curtiss Motorcycles brand' distinctive design language inherent in the previous model. As usual, the motorbike appears in a bobber style constructed by the large aluminum frames, besides that the angle of the One's handlebars can also be adjusted in two positions, on the position of 27 degrees or 31 degrees. Another uniqueness is seen in the battery compartment which is made in such a way that its position and look is the same as the engine of conventional motorcycle has.
The power of Curtiss the One comes from a 399 volt battery with a radiator cooling system. On this radiator consisted many fins that each are connected to the aluminum battery housing. According to the manufacturer, the power output reaches up to 120 hp, with a maximum torque of 199 Nm. The battery and drive motor are housed in a robust chassis frame. All the suspensions on this electric-powered motorbike are made of carbon fiber.
Curtiss the One electric-powered motorcycle built by Curtiss Motorcycles Co. by handmade and in a very limited number, which is built only 100 units. (Picture from: WealthKingdom)
Curtiss Motorcycles provides an opportunity for those of you who are interested to own the One by ordering through their official website. Later, the prospective buyers are required to deposit a down payment of $9,000 or around Rp.130 million. And You can ask for designs and submits the design adjustments for 90 days, after which your electric-powered motorcycle assembling process will take approximately 60 days.
The Curtiss' motorcycle assembly process is done by handmade and in a very limited number, which is built only 100 units. That means, if you are interested then you have to move quickly to order it, because the Curtiss the One electric-powered motorcycle will arguably become a rare item motorcycle! And planned, the motorbike deliveries to the owners by the end of 2021.
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 | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CURTISS MOTORCYCLE | MAXIM | WEALTHKINGDOM ]
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 ]
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 ]
Rare ONES - Volkswagen
is a German's automotive brand that is very well known in the world
since the 1937 and is the original brand of the Wolfsburg-based
multi-national corporation, besides that they also oversees several
other car brands such as Audi, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles,
Automobili Lamborghini, SEAT, Škoda Auto, Scania and even Porsche. So it
is not surprising that the German's company has a variety of production
versions of car models.
The rarely seen of the 1965 Karmann-Ghia Concept designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ghia as one of the design study models to
be submitted to Volkswagen as a replacement model for the Volkswagen
Karmann Ghia. (Picture from: MyCarQuest)
During
their long business times, we get to know several iconic car models
with the Volkswagen brand, such as the VW Beetle, VW T1 (Kombi), VW
Golf, VW Passat and others. Besides producing car models independently,
the German auto manufacturer also ever been involved several third
parties, especially in the development of special car models.
The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia was designed by Luigi Serge of Ghia and manufactured by Karmann ranging of the 1955 to 1974. (Picture from: Jalopnik)
And
one of the famous collaboration result car models of Volkswagen with
third parties is the VW Karmann-Ghia. This is a sports car (available in
coupe and convertible 2+2 form) built on the chassis and mechanics of
the Volkswagen Beetle, it was designed by Luigi Serge and manufactured
by Karmann ranging of the 1955 to 1974.
The rarely seen of the 1965 Karmann-Ghia Concept while sat on display at the 2019 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
As
we know, Volkswagen is a conservative company when it comes to dealing
with major changes to its models. That is why they are often so
reluctant to make a style change. But things were different when they
approved the production of the VW Karmann-Ghia, at least they were
willing to accept a style change into looked more fresher and sporty in
the 1950s, even though in technical terms nothing had actually changed
at all.
The 1965 Karmann-Ghia Concept is appeared with a
lean, sleek and clean bodywork, so made it looks very modern and very
striking especially for 1965. (Picture from: Jalopnik)
As qouted of the Jalopnik, Karmann, a compatriot company built the Karmann-Ghia for Volkswagen in collaboration with Carrozzeria Ghia, an Italian design house, whose often would design updated versions of their Karmann-Ghia in hopes Volkswagen would sign off, even though they never did and the original Ghia kept on as before. But Karmann never stopped trying to get Volkswagen excited about something new, which is why this particular car exist.
Until
one day in the 1965, Karmann prepared and built three design study models to
be submitted to Volkswagen as a replacement model for the Volkswagen
Karmann Ghia and one of them named Karmann-Ghia Concept. As qouted of Conceptcarz, the car designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro while he worked for Ghia. The car built on a slightly wider version chassis than
what it's used on the normal Karmann-Ghia. And it's appeared with a
lean, sleek and clean bodywork, so made it looks very modern and very
striking especially for 1965. Besides that the model has a certain form
of precision which later became popular in the 1980s.
The 1965 Karmann-Ghia Concept is based on the Type 1 platform and is appeared with different sides both in the left-right (some nice brightwork trim, and both a Ghia shield-badge and the KARMANN badge at the rear, it’s pretty elegant and fancy). (Picture from: Flickr)
So
it could be said, the model should be born in the next fews decades
ahead not in the 1965. It's also a pretty dramatic departure from the
look and feel of not just the original Karmann Ghia, but almost any
other models that Volkswagen was building at the time. As you can see,
some of the curves and round shapes that were so dominating in the
original model are now gone, replaced smooth planes with undercuts and
angled cutaways that give the car an agile, lith and modern boxy look.
This
study design model is also a very interesting demonstration about how
flexible VW’s standard platform chassis was for carrying radically
different body designs. In our unibody-dominated modern world, this sort
of thing is much harder to pull off, but back in the day, VW was
basically showed us, they can build pretty much bodies as many they
wanted only on one chassis.
The 1965 Karmann-Ghia Concept is based on the Type 1 platform and is appeared with different sides both in the left-right (the finger-hole for the door handle mimics of the shark's gills-like engine cooling air vents). (Picture from: Flickr)
There
are several unusual features installed on the study design model, such
the turn signal indicators on the dashboard in the form of a lavish,
decadent two little green arrows to let you know which way you’re
turning, was next to impossible for decades. Then to fill the
generously-sized engine bay of this one-off model is a standard VW Type I
1,300 cc 40 hp engine by using an offset air cleaner. While this is a real car, on a
real chassis, and even drivable, it’s still just a design study, so you
find some interesting details, like these engine air intake vents
stickers.
Something else also only can find on this design study model, turn out the left and right sides are not the same. That's intended in order to evaluate two different design ideas for the door handles and side air cooling vents. On the the driver's side with some nice brightwork trim, and both a Ghia shield-badge and the KARMANN badge at the rear, it’s pretty elegant and fancy. The door handle is a minimal button and finger cut-out, very clean and slick.
Meanwhile, on the passenger side, we find a totally different and unique approach, especially the way of the finger-hole for the door handle mimics of the shark's gills-like engine cooling air vents. This is a bit bolder and sportier than the other side. Which side do you like better?
Write your choice in the comments column below this article. If only we have the time machines and go back to the past, so that we can help and give the input to Karmann in choosing the best design in the 1965.😀 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | JALOPNIK | WIKIPEDIA | MYCARQUEST | CONCEPTCARZ ]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
The mastermind behind the Fúria GT was Ottorino 'Toni' Bianco, an Italian-born automotive designer who had established himself in São Paulo, Brazil. Since the mid-1950s, Bianco had been building race cars through his company, Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda. His expertise and passion for automotive design made him the perfect candidate to spearhead this ambitious project. 
The FNM 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT remains a captivating chapter in automotive history, illustrating the potential of international collaboration and the enduring spirit of innovation. This unique car, with its blend of Brazilian craftsmanship and Italian engineering, continues to fascinate car enthusiasts and historians alike, reminding us of the endless possibilities when creative minds from different backgrounds come together. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LEXIACARBRASIL | AUTOCULT-MODELS | ALFABB | BANDEIRAQUADRICULADA | FRP70 | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCAR | RETROAUTO ]
