Here's the only Jaguar to hold the land speed record in the early of '50s

Legendary ONES The Jaguar XK120 was undoubtedly one of the finest sports cars of its time, known for its superb handling and an engine that produced record top speeds. And according to the Concours of Elegance website in Britain, that car has a Perspex roof bubble to protect the driver and cheat the wind.

1952 Jaguar XK120 Record Car 'MDU 524' on display at the 2013 Quail Motorsports Gathering. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L68k2A)

That particular Jaguar XK120 is registered as MDU 524 and originally was a Jaguar Works Competition car that competed in the Rallye International des Alpes its first time out. Furthermore, in 1953 Sir William Lyons proved that the Jaguar XK120 was one of the most capable cars by reaching 172,412 mph on the Jabbeke straight track in Belgium.

1952 Jaguar XK120 Record Car 'MDU 524' is featured with the unique Perspex roof bubble to protect the driver and cheat the wind. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L68k2A)

Behind the wheel, Norman Dewis drives a modified XK120 with a small perspective bubble windshield and wins the land speed record for a production car. The XK120 actually held the land speed record twice. Dewis took the honours in April of 1953 at 140 mph, but then a V8 powered Pegaso went faster of 150 mph a few months later. MDU was further refined and hit 170.412 in October of that same year.

1952 Jaguar XK120 Record Car 'MDU 524' uses a natural aspirated inline-6 DOHC engine with the power of 160 bhp at 5,000 rpm and 195 ft.lbs at 2,500 rpm of torque. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L68k2A)

Dewis driving the 'MDU524' registered 660986 chassis. It was a factory race car that had competed in the 1952 Alpine Trial before being fitted with the sleek bodywork. Once the record was running, it was maintained by the factory and used at Goodwood, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Crystal Palace and Brands Hatch without an efficient configuration.

It is the only Jaguar to hold the land speed record. As a result of this accomplishment, a small brass plate is included on the dashboard of the XK120 which represents a running record.

In 2013 extensive restoration was carried out on the MDU524 by JD Classics for Jaguar collector Jeff Lotman. When the 18 months recovery was completed in 18 months, shortly after that the MDU had been reunited with Norman Dewis at the 2013 Quail Motorsports Gathering. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SUPERCARS.NET | AUGUSTACHRONOCLE.COM | CONCOURSOFELEGANCE.CO.UK ]

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10 Classic Russian-built fast cars in Soviet Union era (Part-1)

Speed DEMON The automotive industry in the Soviet Union spanned the history of the state from 1929 to 1991. It started with the establishment of large car manufacturing plants and reorganisation of the AMO Factory in Moscow in the late 1920s and early 1930s. 

1934 GAZ A-Aero. a unique streamline-bodied concept car built by GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), a Russian automotive manufacturer located in Nizhny Novgorod. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/37XU2de)

And during the first five-year plan, and continued until the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, there were many cars had been built. Below are ten coolest, weirdest and fastest racing, experimental and concept cars which ever built while under the Soviet Union regime.

1. 1934 GAZ A-Aero

This Russian classic fast car designed by Aleksei Osipovich and built only one unit in 1934 by GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), a Russian automotive manufacturer located in Nizhny Novgorod. 

1934 GAZ A-Aero uses a standard GAZ-A 4-cylinder 3,285 liters petrol engine with an increased compression ratio and aluminum head. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3hqJWoi)

The car built based of GAZ-A with wooden bodywork and metal plates covered. Its powertrain uses a standard GAZ-A 4-cylinder 3,285 liters petrol engine with an increased compression ratio and aluminum head.

1934 GAZ A-Aero run up to a top speed of 106 kph with the acceleration 0 - 100 kph in 36 second. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/34VJPfn)

The engine able to spew power of 48 hp at 2,300 rpm, that's enough to bring it run up to a top speed of 106 kph with the acceleration 0 - 100 kph in 36 second.

2. 1938 GAZ GL-1

The car is produced in 1938 based of the GAZ-M1. As result, this racing car is touted as the fastest Soviet race car before the war. In order to find the right engine for this car, the GAZ engineers conducted several experiments using different engines such the original GAZ-M1 engine was boosted to 65 hp instead of 50 hp, and while using the GAZ 11's 6 cylinder engine was boasted of 100 hp.

1938 GAZ GL-1 is touted as the fastest Soviet race car before the war with the top speed of speed of 148 kph. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3pA3XMc)

In October 1938, Arkady Nikolaev finally managed to reach a speed of 148 kph with the GAZ GL-1, thus setting a new Soviet Union record.

1940 GAZ GL-1 had a six-cylinder engine that allowed the car to reach a speed of 140 kph. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3pA3XMc)

Just a couple of years later, GAZ unveiled its new 11 model, which had a six-cylinder engine that allowed the car to reach a speed of 140 kph. The only thing that was clear was that the GAZ GL-1 needed a lot of work.

3. 1950 GAZ M-20 'Pobeda' Sport

The unique car is built in the Soviet Union in 1950 and there aren't many pics of this prototype around. When it using the original GAZ-M1 65 hp engine, the car able to run up to a top speed of 148 kph.

1950 GAZ M-20 'Pobeda' Sport uses an inline 6 quoted at 105 hp with some details were redesigned (new wheel caps, dome abouve driver’s head, rounded grill plating) and top speed of 193 kph can be achieved. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3pzOQCa)

But if the car uses an inline 6 quoted at 105 hp with some details were redesigned (new wheel caps, dome abouve driver’s head, rounded grill plating) and top speed 120 mph/193 kph can be achieved. It looks like it might have gone a bit faster if it wasn't a tin can on wheels. 

4. 1951 GAZ 'Torpedo'

The SG-2 racing car better known on public as GAZ 'Torpedo' and it was created after 'Victory sports' by designer A.A.Smolin. He refused the 'Victory' body even if remade, then created a bearing aluminum body of a tear-shaped form of completely new design and inspired of aviation technologies.

1951 GAZ 'Torpedo' created a bearing aluminum body of a tear-shaped form of completely new design and inspired of aviation technologies. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2WTq2cj)

Designers of GAZ understood that the created sports cars of SG-1 and SG-2, only transitional stage to more perfect designs with higher dynamic parameters. The idea of construction of superfast model which would become over time a basis for creation of the car, capable to establish new world records of speed was offered.

By using the 1951 GAZ 'Torpedo,' there were two all-Soviet Union records of speed are established. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3huEcd2)

The GAZ 'Torpedo' uses an four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine that delivers 105 hp of power at 4,000 rpm and could be make the machine run up to the top speed of 191 kph. Its framework with a set from dural profiles, a covering made of aluminum sheet. By using the SG-2 or GAZ 'Torpedo' there were two all-Soviet Union records of speed are established.

 

5. 1951 Kharkov-3, Kharkov-L1 and Avangard

In 1951 three more speed record cars from the Ukrainian city of Kharkov were announced and devoted exclusively to break speed records. Members of a local car club created these three interesting cars, the Kharkov-3, the Kharkov-L1, and the Avangard independently.

1951 Kharkov-3, the Kharkov-L1, and the Avangard. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2WWT4aI)

Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union, and Kharkov was one of the largest engineering centers in the entire country. The local school of casting and metalworking made it possible to create highly complex metal parts of the highest quality, including, completely non-standard automobile engines. The local aviation industry helped enthusiasts with aerodynamic solutions for the bodywork.

1951 Avangard had a mid-engine layout, instead of a front-mounted engine, a platform frame chassis and elongated, streamlined bodies. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/38M22NB)

These three cars were in stark contrast to all Soviet record-breaking racing cars created earlier. They all had a mid-engine layout, instead of a front-mounted engine, a platform frame chassis and elongated, streamlined bodies.

For the time being, we should be ended this article here and will be continued to the next section in next few days. Jump to the next part..! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PROSPEEDPARTS.COM | OLDCONCEPTCARS.COM | DYLERS.COM | DESIGNYOUTRUST.COM | CAR-REVS-DAILY.COM | CEAUTOCLASSIC ]

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Cobra 427 under the Ghia's Supersonic suit

Unique ONES After many car models were made in Ghia's Supersonic bodywork, on this occasion we will discuss one car model ever built wearing those bodyworks, namely the Shelby Cobra 427. This car made by this American manufacturer had outstanding performance and was very popular in the world's racing circuits of the 1960s.

This is the 1965 Cobra 427 under the Ghia's Supersonic bodywork made by John Willment. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L02hN1)

If you hear Cobra fans talking about the Cobra coupe and they mostly mean the Cobra Daytona coupe (CSX9000) designed by Pete Brock. The car was first bodied in the US by California Metal Shaping and the remaining five in Italy.

These cars are known to have played a key role in Shelby American's quest to win the world's manufacturing championship in 1965. But this is not about the Cobra Daytona coupe mentioned above.

This is one of the six of the famous 1965 Shelby Brock Cobra Daytona coupe. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L02hN1)

It turns out that there is another Cobra coupe bodied in Italy prowling the earth and has a much scarier engine than the Daytona Shelby coupe, the FE 427-inch series. Yes, this model is wearing a big block engine! How did it come about?

The way the car came about was very unique, it happened when a British Ford dealer and racing team sponsor John Willment found something extraordinary in the junkyard, namely an aluminum bodywork of the Ghia Supersonic designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi. As we all know,  it was originally mounted on the Fiat 8V chassis. At the same time they also had some of the Cobra 427's chassis from earlier racing efforts.

This gorgeous creation built of the Ghia's Supersonic aluminum bodywork put on the top of 1965 Cobra 427 chassis by John Willment. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3mXcnvk)

Maybe at that time John Willment imagined how beautiful the Cobra 427 would appear in Ghia's Supersonic bodywork. Then he's decided to marry the rest of the Ghia Supersonic aluminum bodywork with the Cobra 427 chassis. 

The hodgepodge car was powered by an engine (not the original 427 engine) but was suitable for that which was prepared by Holman Moody, then combined with twin four barrel carbs and depending on compression and tune conditions capable of producing up to 485 hp.

One of the most recent appearances of 1965 John Willment Cobra 427 under the Ghia's Supersonic suit, according to Classic and Sports Car magazine was at a British concours in 2014. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L02hN1)

Some theorize that the 427's chassis tube was extended 5" at the front. And the Supersonic body had to be modified to fit the new chassis. It's rumoured that John Willment lost interest in the project before it was fully completed, but based on the modern looking photos, the car was recently finished.

1965 John Willment Cobra 427 under the Ghia's Supersonic suit uses an engine (not the original 427 engine) but was suitable for that which was prepared by Holman Moody, then coupled with twin four barrel carbs capable of producing up to 485 hp. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2L02hN1)

This car has been around for about five decades. At one point, it belonged to a London policeman who's bought it when the price was still under $10,000. Maybe now it has an exorbitant price (estimated could be reach 6-7 digits) if it sold through one of the world's famous auction houses.

We're sorry if the following video contains about the Fiat Supersonic 8V not the Cobra 427.

It would be nice to have one of the beautiful Ghia Supersonic-bodied cars. As we all know, they also build it with Fiat, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and De Soto (Chrysler) mechanics, but this one based on the Cobra 427 has got to be the best-performing version of all. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GTPLANET FORUM | MYCARREQUEST | DELESSENCEDANSMESVEINES ]

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Here's one of the Austrian's reliable scooters

Unique ONES As all we know, the scooter's hey-day was occurred in the 1950s to 1960s throughout the world. This also happens in Austria, as one of the centers of the automotive industry in Europe, although not as big as its neighbor Germany.

Puch RL 125 uses a 2-stroke 125cc engine and was mated to a 3-speed manual transmission system was shifted from the left twistgrip. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/356wG3g)

A while ago we ever discussed before several Austrian scooter brands, such as Colibri from Josef Walter & Co or scooters made by KTM starting from Mirabel, Mecky to Pony. Then there are the scooters designed by Otto Kauba which are also made into several brands from this country.

Puch RL 125 was also known for their moderate performance, with a top speed of around 45 mph. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/356wG3g)

It turns out that there is another big name in the automotive world from Austria, namely Puch. For true automotive enthusiasts, you must be familiar with this brand which was quite famous in the 1950s to the 1960s. Well this time we will discuss the figure of a unique scooter which also comes from the Austrian manufacturer.

Puch Motorcycles is one of the oldest manufacturers in Europe, founded in 1891 in Graz, Austria, when Johann Puch & Comp was originally dedicated to bicycle production. As time goes by, besides bicycles, this manufacturer also produces cars, mopeds, scooters, motorbikes and machinery.

The company built their first motorcycle in 1903, and by 1912, the year company founder Johann Puch retired, the factory produced more than 300 motorbikes and cars every year, along with about 16,000 bicycles.

 

After World War II, they built two-stroke off-road and road bikes with 125, 175, and 250cc engines, as well as various scooters and mopeds with smaller engines. It is also known that Puch's machines are widely used by various brands of motorbikes and scooters and some of them are marketed in the United States by Sears Roebuck as Allstate engines.

Puch SR 150 uses a 2-stroke 150cc engine and was mated to a 3-speed manual transmission system. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3ocGH6C)

Next to the scooters, this Austrian brand has also ever produced scooters in the 1950s to 1960s, with several models being born from the production line at its factory located in Graz. Until the end of the 1950s, this Austrian manufacturer saw strong sales due to the European public high interest to scooters.

The Puch's scooters have developed a reputation for reliability and are popular for everyday commuting, providing good weather protection and ease of use. Its first scooter model was known as the Puch RL 125 which had a 2-stroke 125cc engine and was mated to a 3-speed manual transmission system was shifted from the left twistgrip. According to some sources, the Puch scooter model bodywork elements were developed in collaboration with the Lambretta maker, although they are not intended for sports use.

Puch SR 150 was delivering better performance of 6 hp rather than 5 hp but retaining three-speeds gearbox. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3ocGH6C)

The Puch's first model scooters went into production in 1951 and were also known for their moderate performance, with a top speed of around 45 mph, was not a problem. The next Puch SR 150 'Alpine' model has a 150cc engine and foot-operation, delivering better performance of 6 hp rather than 5 hp but retaining three-speeds gearbox.

In 1987, the motorcycle division of this brand became part of Piaggio Group and still produces bikes under the name Puch. When the bicycle division of Piaggio, which also included Bianchi Bicycles was sold to the Swedish Grimaldi Industri group in 1997, Puch became part of Cycleurope. In 2011, Austrian entrepreneur Josef Faber took control of the brand, with the 2012 line of bicycles manufactured by Cycleurope in France.

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to these Puch's unique-shaped scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article.

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 | GDSIT | WIKIPEDIA | CYBERMOTORCYCLE ]

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The only of Its kind, Bizzarrini BZ-2001

ONE-OFF Bizzarrini is the name of a 1960s Italian automaker based in Livorno. The company was founded in 1964 by Giotto Bizzarrini, an engineer who had worked for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Iso. Long before that, in 1953, young Giotto Bizzarrini had also built his own car based on the Fiat 500 Topolino which became known as Macchinetta.

1993 Bizzarrini BZ-2001. (Picture ftom: http://bit.ly/37HQ1tk)

And it is known that during its short life, this company has produced 3 car models that are quite famous in 1966, namely the 5300 Strada, 1900 GT Europa, and the P538 S. Then there are several models of road cars made specifically for smart customers, including several race cars that take part in racing events such as the 12 Hours Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Unfortunately all the car production of the company has a very low volume, for example the Strada alone only produced 133 units. Maybe that's why in 1969 this company no longer exists. After this brand went bankrupt, Giotto Bizzarrini was still working on some of the ideas that existed in the 1970s. In particular he worked on several examples of a new model called the AMX/3 and several units of the P538 S. 

1993 Bizzarrini BZ-2001. (Picture ftom: http://bit.ly/37HQ1tk)

Until one day in the early 1990s, Giotto Bizzarrini was contacted by an investor named Barry Watkins to return to designing a new super car. was accepted by him, so the World SuperCars, Inc. was formed, since then the car project called Bizzarrini BZ-2001 was officially underway.

Bizzarrini designed the body of this car which consisted entirely of carbon fiber. This sleek new design was sponsored by several different parts manufacturers who also helped with the design. As the driving force, this BZ-2001 uses a 4.9L Ferrari Testarossa V12 engine capable of producing up to 385 hp and 361 lb-ft (490 Nm) of torque, which is mated to a five-speed manual transmission to deliver power to the rear wheels.

1993 Bizzarrini BZ-2001. (Picture ftom: http://bit.ly/37HQ1tk)

The prototype was completed around 1993 and had appeared at various auto shows at that time. Then this car project had attracted the interest of the Indonesian and Malaysian company conglomeration through a holding company called MegaTech to take part in the production process, so that World SuperCars, Inc. plans to make only 25 units and sells for up to the US. $250,000 ($450,925 adjusted). But unfortunately the plan failed because of waning interest of the MegaTech, which was later found to have turned away by taking over ownership of Lamborghini from the American giant Chrysler.

1993 Bizzarrini BZ-2001. (Picture ftom: http://bit.ly/37HQ1tk)

It seems that's not all, it is estimated that the production failure of the Bizzarrini BZ-2001 car is also caused by the price of the car which is considered extreme, some say it may also be caused by the failure of the test drive by Autoweek due to the flying hood incident. However, the 2001 Bizzarrini BZ never progressed beyond a single prototype.

Some time ago (April 2020) LM Classic Cars put a tag of around $ 814,000 for this unique supercar. That price is a lot more than your typical Ferrari Testarossa, but the BZ-2001 is much more unique and arguably better looking. Still it has an incredible price. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TECHEBLOG | THE TRUTH ABOUT CARS | CARSCOOPS ]

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