Like every other teenage petrolhead when I was growing up, the Lamborghini Countach had center place on my bedroom wall poster collection. The futuristic shape coupled with the scissor doors really sparked my imagination. Prototype The LP500 was shown at the 1971 Geneva Motor show. At this time, the Countach was planned as a limited […]
As with a lot of the best cars in Ford’s history (like the Shelby Mustang and the GT40), the Sierra Cosworth was born out of a recognised need to be competitive in motor racing. Reaching out to Cosworth for assistance, Ford senior management were presented with an option to solve this problem that would utilise […]
Over 400,000 Tipo 116 coupés and saloons were sold between 1972 and 1987. Better known as the Alfa Romeo Alfetta, this car was the first time this manufacturer adopted a drivetrain layout where the clutch and transmission were located at the rear of the car (for weight distribution and balance reasons). This rear transaxle layout, […]
Project R424 began in January 1976 and ran with a shortened development period, resulting in the launch of the Chrysler Sunbeam in 1977. With time and money against the project, Chrylser targeted the Avenger rear wheel drive chassis to provide the underpinnings for the new Sunbeam. Using a platform already in production meant that the […]
Announced at the 1965 Paris Motor Show, the Bentley T-series was the “performance” version of the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow – Bentley having been bought by Rolls Royce in 1931 and becoming known as the sports arm of RR. Available as a four door saloon, a long wheelbase four door saloon, a two door saloon […]
Rolls Royce launched the Corniche name in 1971 when they renamed the two door coupe based on the Shadow that had been on sale since 1966. Mulliner-Park Ward, a long time Rolls Royce subsidiary, built all the bodies for the coupe and convertible versions, having first learned how to press body panels as this Rolls […]
Porsche followed their successful 356 with the 901 show car in 1964. However, thanks to a trademark infringement being handed to them almost straight away, the 901 never saw the light of day and was instead renamed the 911. Debuting in 1964, the 911 was sold alongside the 356 for its first year. An evolution […]
Claimed to be the world’s fastest four seater production car, the V8 Vantage built upon Aston Martin’s reputation as the car everyone aspired to. If the 1960s tie-up put Aston Martin on the map, the 1970s Vantage ensured you could travel that map quickly! History David Brown wanted to sell a genuine four seater with […]
From 1972 to 1979, Lamborghini marketed a competitor to the Ferrari Dino and the offerings from Porsche. The Urraco, created as a 2+2 by Bertone, was intended to break into the high volume, lower priced market that both these manufacturers occupied to much success. Unfortunately for Lamborghini, because the car took so long to design […]
Firstly, let’s deal with the “Is it a Ferrari or not?” question. The answer is yes, it is a Ferrari. Designed by Pininfarina on Ferrari’s brief and built by Ferrari, this car was launched in 1969 as a model that would homologate the 1.6 V6 powerplant that Ferrari planned on using for their F2 campaign. […]