WeirdONES In the automotive world, the Giovanni Michelloti's name is very famous as one of the world's greatest car designers. Many of his automotive works have graced various automotive brands in the world ranging from sports cars to trucks. In our beloved Trussty sites, on several occasions we have also discussed the automotive works by the Italian' maestro.
1988 Michelotti Pura is a two seater road going sportscar based on the world championship winning Albatech group C2 race car, built by the Albatech for Michelotti Studio under direction of Edgardo Michelotti designed by Tateo Uchida. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscars)
As we all knew, the maestro passed away in January 23, 1980. Although the unique car would be discussed was designed and built after the maestro passed away. However it is only propered if the car said to be one of the works ever had created under the great name of Giovanni Michelotti in the late 1980s, due to it's made by the Michelotti Studio, his founded studio of the 1959.
1988 Michelotti Pura is made of the fiber and composite materials and has a glass canopy could slide back or even could also be removed of the vehicle. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscars)
And the unique car in question was named Michelotti Pura (an Italian word means 'Pure') is the only example of a two seater road going sportscar based on the world championship winning Albatech group C2 race car or effectively, a F3 road car. The car built by Michelotti Studio under the direction of Edgardo Michelotti (son of Giovanni Michelotti), designed by a Japanese designer named Tateo Uchida.
1988 Michelotti Pura is powered by a mid-mounted Alfa Romeo 4-cylinder 1.8-liter turbocharged engine coupled with a ZF 5-speed transmission. (Picture from: MichelottiPura)
The two seater Pura sports car weighed only 1,4313 lbs and powered with a mid-mounted Alfa Romeo 4-cylinder 1.8-liter turbocharged engine coupled with a ZF 5-speed transmission. The light weight was made possible by the vehicle’s body made of the fiber and composite materials. The glass canopy could slide back or even could also be removed of the vehicle. The intenor consisted of a standard instrument panel with analog instruments.
1988 Michelotti Pura prototype is tested and developed in the Fiat wind tunnel, the aerodynamics of the Pura were very ahead of its time for a road car. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscars)
The
car project done by the Albatech (the Mario Colucci & Georgio Striano's
company), and it is built in carbon fibre and aluminium (carbon-fibre composite
chassis) with ground effect body styling offering a power to weight
ratio of 4,2-3kgs per hp. With the Colucci and Stirano's input, so the Pura
has a real racing pedigree. The prototype is tested and developed in the Fiat wind tunnel, the aerodynamics of the Pura were very ahead of its time for a road car.
The prototype known as the only one model ever made and also has many advanced aerodynamic engineering details that predate of the Lotus Elise or Renault Spider and the McLaren's use of carbon fibre composite in 1992. No wonder, if In general the Pura sports car prototype could be said to be an automotive creation that was born far ahead of its time.
The Pura prototype is a very small compact vehicle and is reminiscent of the Etceterini cars of the 1940's to 1960's is displayed for the first time at the 1988 Torino Motor Show. Currently, the sports car owned by Tony Calo since 1997 and registered for the road-used in the UK. *** [EKA [26042021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSTYLING.RU | MICHELOTTIPURA | FACEBOOK | EVERYBODYWIKI ]
Dream Car As we all know so far, usually the automotive manufacturers' intent in making a concept car is to enchant the public with a show car full of various advanced features of the future but sometimes it never becomes a reality. However, what is mentioned above does not apply to a unique concept car called the Mercury D-528 and is made by one of the well-known American automotive manufacturers, Ford Motor Company.
1955 Mercury D-528 Concept car was made only for internal inspection, or it could be said to be made to develop new technological advances that were done in silence. (Picture from: Conceptcapictures)
From the very beginning, Ford's concept car of the 1950s was made only for internal inspection, or it could be said to be made to develop new technological advances that were done in silence. So it's no wonder if people outside of the company's R&D never knew this concept car existed during the early days of development.
When the duty time of 1955 Mercury D-528 was over, it went to Hollywood and became famous in public as a movie and television star. (Picture from: Curbside.tv)
Well, it all started in the 1950s, when Ford allowed its engineering department to develop their own concept vehicles, one of which was the D-524 concept car. As quoted from conceptcarpictures.org, the exterior of the D-524 was designed by Gil Spear and the interior by John Samsen. Design studies for the car began in late 1953 or early 1954, immediately after Spear, anxious for a break from designing 3/8 sized concept cars, left the Advanced Design Studio to take over as head of the International and Canadian Studio.
Steering wheel and dashboard view of 1955 Mercury D-528 Concept car. (Picture from: Curbside.tv)
Although initially this unique car was never intended as a show car, but rather, was meant to be a "research project on wheels," where a line of advanced features at the time such as air conditioning, aircraft-type wrap-over doors with motor-driven panels that opened when the door in use to allow for easy entry/exit, lighting, front frame crash absorption.
1955 Mercury D-528 Concept car exterior was designed by Gil Spear and the interior by John Samsen. (Picture from: Curbside.tv)
Due to the air conditioning system bulky enough, so it almost devour most of the car's luggages capacity. For freed up space, so then unique twin humps were created and placed over the rear wheels, with one hiding the spare tire and the other containing the gas tank. This concept initially known as the first fiberglass-bodied Ford’s first car without "A" pillars and also is designed has four headlights even though later swapped for two.
1955 Mercury D-528 Concept car has unique twin humps placed over the rear wheels freed up space, with one hiding the spare tire and the other containing the gas tank. (Picture from: Curbside.tv)
But what is unique is that the D-528 concept car later became famous in public as a movie and television star, after it is retired as an engineering testbed. Well, its new life as a star in Hollywood started when King of the Kustomizers George Barris put it in a number of productions. First appearing as Beldone in Jerry Lewis's movie titled The Patsy, then roled as the futuristic police car from 2010 in the 1964 science fiction series titled The Outer Limits. Later still, it appeared in background shots of Back to The Future 3 in 1990.
The D-528 concept car has been restored right down to the painted fiberglass bumper and now it is on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, but its gleaming copper metallic paint was blocked by a fine layer of dust awaits its next turn in the spotlight. Wanna see El Gato. *** [EKA [28102020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CURBSIDE.TV | CARTHROTTLE.COM | CONCEPTCARPICTURES.ORG]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone
UniqueONESWe are still discussing strange-shaped vehicles. And on this occasion what will be discussed is a unique four-wheeled vehicle from Faroe Island. The car, which was built in the 1950s, has an exterior appearance inspired by the spacecraft that was popular at that time and has also inspired many other four-wheeled vehicles.
Almar's Dream Car in the day as it arrived in Norway back in 1957. (Picture from: Facebook)
The unique car known as the Almar's Space Race Dream Car was built in 1955 by Almar Nordhaug, a Norwegian who lives in Tórshavn, Faroe Island. He built the car while working at a barrel factory in there, and helped by his colleagues from the barrel factory. The overall design of the Almar's car is very similar to the 1954 Ford FX-Atmos concept car, and we believe it becomes an inspiration during its development.
Right side view of Almar's Dream Car. (Picture from: Facebook)
This car is built on a Vauxhall Cresta chassis complete with its engine and drive system. Then the body is built in a handmade and uniquely, it using an airplane cockpit cover functioned as the roof. Once completed, Almar's car became the first car built on Faroe Island which featured the entertainment system like a cassette player and four loudspeakers.
Almar Nordhaug posed along with his dream car. (Picture from: Kustomrama)
This 2-seater unique-shaped car also had the gullwing doors to stand out prominently so that it will always make people immediately look at when it is passing the streets. When Nordhaug returned to Norway in 1957, he took along the car with him.
Picture of Almar's Dream Car (below) appeared on the Faroe Islands stamps in 2011. (Picture from: Kustomrama)
Not only on Faroe Island but also in Norway, this car is also the center of attention when crossing the streets and it is known as an "airplane" with the Norwegian license plate number T-3022. Just for info, a picture of Almar's Dream Car once appeared on the Faroe Islands stamps in 2011.
During its existence in Norway, this car ever had undergone a process of restoration by Nils Petter Weiberg Aurdal in the 1960s after it was found in a miserable condition and also experienced several times ownership changing. Since then, the existence of Almar's car became a mystery and nobody knows where is it now?😭*** [EKA [05052020]| FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KUSTORAMA | CUSTOMRODDER | FLICKR]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone
Mighty ONES The beauty of the design, the powerful engine and the compact dimensions were the reasons of many people fall in love with the Corvette legendary roadster made by Chevrolet. Might be this was what the auto engineers and designers at the one of American automotive giant subsidiaries tried to promote when they first launched the legendary model.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS encounters smoke at Indy’s Brickyard Invitational in 2014. (Picture from: Corvetteblogger)
This can be seen in the Chevrolet Corvette SS, a gorgeous and powerfull as well concept car that was deliberately made initially with the aim of competing in the 24-Hours of LeMans, but was later touted as the forerunner of many Corvette sports/racing car models.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
The concept car's design and construction process was carried out by the GM's team of engineers and designers led by the talented Zora Arkus-Duntov, to create a lightweight and powerful racing car and took the Mercedes 300SL as their based template.
Before we discuss more about the car, it's good for us to get to know a little about Zora Arkus-Duntov. He is a Belgian-born American engineer whose work at the Chevrolet Corvette earned him the nickname "Father of the Corvette."
The talented engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov sat behind the wheel of his creation 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS. (Picture from: RCNMag)
As a result, the car was lightweight thanks to using the magnesium made bodywork (with only a weight of 1,850 lbs) enveloping the tubular steel frames, it also features with the front suspension of coil-over-shocks, de Dion rear axle and built-in aluminum drum brakes.
The Duntov's team only made two chassis, the first was a test car dubbed the 'Mule' and the other to be a race one. Then as their drivetrain, it's pinned under the hood a small block V8 engine with fuel injection which can produce power reaching of 307 horsepower at 6,400 rpm.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
After the cars completed in 1957, the first test would not be carried out at the 24-Hours LeMans, but in an almost similar race but shorter in America, namely the 12-Hours of Sebring. Although the racing results of the Corvette SS for the first time at Sebring were not going well, where suspension problems and another mechanical failure forced it stop after speedy only in 23 laps.
However, the Chevrolet Corvette 'SS' managed to set a new lap record in that race. So General Motors is very enthusiastic about the potential of the SS based on those results of the training and the speed of the laps.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
Not only that it turned out, Juan Manuel Fangio, the winner at the 12-Hours Sebring of 1957, was quite impressed with the car, and then tested the Corvette SS in training sessions. The results were astonishing, Fangio completed his one full lap of 3: 27.4 seconds, that's faster in a car he had never driven before than any other driver could in a car they had driven before.
Despite GM's enthusiasm, unfortunately the Corvette should be scrapped several months later, as the American auto-making community band together to ban the manufacture of factory-produced racing cars. This was triggered by a great accident that occurred at the 24-Hours Le Mans of 1955 which claimed the lives of 83 people, since then the public attitude towards automotive racing has changed drastically.
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS sat on display at the 17th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012. (Picture from: Conceptcarz)
Protests forced many companies to withdraw from racing, organizers reviewed safety rules, and Mercedes, which was accused to involve directly to the accidents mentioned above then decided to refuse to participate in any auto races until the 1970s.
But it won't stop GM from launching the Corvette as a sports car for the layman who likes to combine the look and feel of a race car with the comfort of a daily-using vehicle. Then Zora Arkus-Duntov, those car's engineer-designer, presented it to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 1967, during the drivers meeting before the 51st Indy 500 mile race started, paced by the Chevrolet Camaro.
Beauty ONES Now, We are talking about an unusual designed classic car from Fiat in the 1950s named the Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider. This classic car is known to be the work of a renowned Italian automotive designer named Vittorio Stanguellini the owner of Automobili Stanguellini, who was collaborated with the Bertone at the time.
1957 Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is known to be the work of a renowned Italian automotive designer named Vittorio Stanguellini. (Picture from: ItalianWays)
As we all knew, later the car was also inspired by some of the most unique and beautiful Bertone's cars of all time, including the Fiat-Abarth 750 Record, Alfa Romeo Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica (B.A.T) 9, to the Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupé.
The story begins in 1957 when Nuccio Bertone bought a Fiat 1100 Touring Veloce (TV) which had been upgraded to Fiat 1200 specifications and later modified by Stanguellini to improve its performance. The car appears with a Jetsons-like body, which makes it look like a UFO on wheels.
1957 Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is equipped with a 1200 cc OHV straight-4 engine, two Weber carburetors coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system. (Picture from: ItalianWays)
But that's unusual because it was known as the "rocket/jet-age era". The Stanguellini's round nosecone is a really cool detail that enriches the car and gives it a cool sleek shape, and together with the tailfins (borrowed from the BAT car), the car really looks like it's made for someone from outer space to drive.
This two-door convertible beautiful designed concept car is equipped with a 1200 cc OHV straight-4 engine, two Weber carburetors coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system, hydraulic drum brakes on all wheels, independent front suspension, and rear axle with elliptical leaf springs.
1957 Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is debuted at the 1957 Turin Motor Show and be one of the most beautiful cars to ever wear the Fiat badge. (Picture from: ItalianWays)
With only 59 hp of engine power, it is certainly not the right choice for speed fans, because it is neither too powerful nor fast. But quite brilliant, and it must be one of the most beautiful cars to ever wear the Fiat badge.
Only one unit of the Fiat
Stanguellini 1200 Spider prototype ever built by Bertone and to be
exhibited at the Turin Motor Show, then brought to the 1957 Geneva Motor
Show, then sold to an Argentinean owner before being brought to Buenos
Aires. Unfortunately, after a few years, the car broke down and left in a
barn to rot. But in 1995, this car was found and restored. Then the car
was sold at a 2017 RM Sotheby's Amelia Island auction for $ 275,000.
The Fiat Stanguellini 1200 Spider is one of the finest examples of the styling and aerodynamic concept of a sports car of the 1950s. With a turbine-like front grille design, cut-outs behind the front wheels and rear wing, combined with sleek vertical design lights, will make anyone who sees it felt curious. *** [EKA [26112020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DRIVETRIBE | ITALIANWAYS ]
When Phonemaker... The development of electric-powered vehicle industries that is currently booming is not only carried out by automotive companies, but by other parties or companies who had nothing to do with the automotive industry previously. This is also done by a Taiwanese manufacturing company named HonHai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. through its brand, Foxconn, which has been known for assembling various well-known American telecommunications products such the Apple iPhone.
Foxtron Debuts Three New EV Prototypes at Hon Hai Tech Day 2021. (Picture from: Tekno-Kompas)
Reportedly, the Taiwanese company is now preparing to expand its business into the electric-powered vehicle (EV) industry and unmitigated, as their initial step into the EV industry, the company introduced three EV prototypes under the Foxtron brand at the company's exhibition titled 'HonHai Tech Day 2021' held recently in Taipei. The "Foxtron" brand electric-powered vehicles are the collaboration result between Hon Hai with several other companies such a compatriot car maker named Yulon Motors, and Pininfarina, an Italian world' famous automotive design house.
Those three EV prototypes consist of two passenger cars (such the SUV and sedan), and a bus. Those three were given almost similar names to the Tesla's electric cars, namely the Foxtron Model C for the SUV, the Foxtron Model E for the luxury sedan, and the Foxtron Model T for the electric bus. Let's take a look one by one;
1. Foxtron Model C
The Foxtron Model C is the first model to be built on the HonHai's electric vehicle platform and is positioned as an optimized fully electric powered SUV. The EV design isn't only has a minimalist look, but also significantly minimizes the mechanical components space used, while maximizing seating space for the driver and passengers.
The Foxtron Model C is the first model to be built on the HonHai's electric vehicle platform and is positioned as an optimized fully electric powered SUV. (Picture from: MotorTrend)
Dimensionally, this Model C electric car measures 4.64 meters in length with a wheelbase of 2.86 meters, and offers comfortable seating for 5-2 people and plenty of storage space, making it easy to navigate into the urban areas crowded while still enjoying yourself inside the spacious luxury car.
As for the technical specifications, the Taiwanese company claims that the Model C can accelerate from rest to 100 kph in just 3.8 seconds and can drive up to 700 km on a single charge. Later, the Foxtron Model C will be marketed under the Yulon brands and to be ready for sale in 2023.
2. Foxtron Model E
In the development of the Foxtron Model E, the Taiwanese company collaborated with a well-known Italian coachbuilder company Pininfarina. It was further stated that the Foxtron Model E was designed as a luxury vehicle, with strong and bold lines, as well as elegant lighting characteristics with innovative technology that can meet the needs of middle and upper class consumers, especially business people.
The Foxtron Model E was designed as a luxury vehicle, with strong and bold lines, as well as elegant lighting characteristics with innovative technology that can meet the needs of middle and upper class consumers. (Picture from: MotorTrend)
This can be seen in the figure of an electric car that has a striking exterior design with a "smart surface" on the front and rear fascia, as well as the doors. On the inside, an elegant wrap-around design extends from the front door, through the pillars, to the rear door. While inside the cabin, its back seat space can transform into an integrated office with personal mobile devices seamlessly connecting to passenger cars, enabling a range of smart applications such as facial recognition door opening as you approach. In addition, this car is also equipped with advanced features that allow it to interact with its surroundings.
The Italian coachbuilder company further mentioned that the Foxtron Model E is driven by a series of electric motors capable of producing around 750 horsepower (559 kilowatts), and can accelerate from rest to 62 mph (100 kph) in 2.8 seconds, and offers a range of about 750 km (435 miles) on a single battery charge.
3. Foxtron Model T
The next electric vehicle is the Foxtron Model T which is projected as a smart urban transportation solution that has a rigid and high body design and protection that meets the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and standards. This Taiwanese company claims that their electric bus has a range of up to 400 kilometers per single charge, and is capable of traveling up to a maximum speed of up to 120 kph.
The Foxtron Model T is a electric-powered bus and projected as a smart urban transportation solution that has a rigid and high body design and protection that meets the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations and standards. (Picture from: MotorTrend)
To date, the Foxtron Model T has completed an acceleration endurance test of 200,000 km and more than 1,000 hours of rigid strength testing at the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), a Taiwanese government funded non-profit automotive research facility located in Lukang. The testing is intended to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. This is not surprising because from the outset this electric bus was projected to be sold first in Taiwan, which is said to be used as a local transportation service in Southern Taiwan.
Chairman of HonHai, Young Liu, said that the company targets annual revenue from the electric vehicle sector to reach 1 trillion Taiwan dollars or equivalent to US $35 billion (Rp. 501 trillion) by 2026. It is not known exactly when this Foxtron-branded electric vehicle will be mass-produced. What is clear, Foxconn has been actively making deals to smooth the company's steps into the EV industry.
For example, Foxconn bought the Ohio-based factory Lordstown Motor's for US $230 million. While in August, the company also bought a chip factory somewhere in Taiwan in an effort to maintain a steady supply of automobile semiconductor chips. Reportedly also that the Taiwanese company will be partnered with the other EV maker Fisker in electric vehicles producing by 2023.
Although many details were lacked on the car's features, what the Taiwanese company has shown so far looks impressive. The Foxtron Model E and two other electric vehicles are scheduled to go on sale sometime in 2023. As quoted from Id.Motor1, which believes that one or even all three will not be shipped to overseas markets, they will most likely be made exclusively from Taiwan. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HONHAI | VOA | ID.MOTOR1 | MOTORTREND ]
The prototype known as the only one model ever made and also has many advanced aerodynamic engineering details that predate of the Lotus Elise or Renault Spider and the McLaren's use of carbon fibre composite in 1992. No wonder, if In general the Pura sports car prototype could be said to be an automotive creation that was born far ahead of its time. 
