Monday, July 31, 2017

1951 Italcorsa/Tarf II


Piero Taruffi designed and drove this car.  He achieved seven speed records in 1951 and 1952.  Power was from a 1,720cc Maserati four cylinder engine with two-stage supercharging.  It developed 290 bhp.  It featured chain drive and steering was accomplished with control sticks.  The rear rudders compensated for prevailing winds.

On March 20, 1951, Taruffi drove this car to a pair of speed records for the flying mile as well as the flying kilometer.  The flying mile record was 185.49 mph and the flying kilometer record was 180.55mph.

Sotheby's sold this car in 2012 for 89,600 Euro.  Additional information about the car can be seen on Sotheby's site.

Friday, July 28, 2017

1938 International D15


A 1938 International D15 pulling a 1936 Curtiss Aerocar

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

1956 Plymouth Plainsman



A Chrysler concept car with Ghia coachwork.  It had a rear facing third and a leather interior that included door panels and seat inserts of unborn calf hide.  Read more about it here on Jalopy Journal.  A short video is here.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Saturday, July 15, 2017

E.J. Potter and the Widowmaker


In 1973 E.J. Potter's Widowmaker7 was declared the fastest motorcycle in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.  Always seeking to go faster he found that after removing the homemade clutch assembly his 1/4 mile runs immediately jumped from 115 mph to 136 mph.  To launch without a clutch he would place the bike on a stand that allowed the rear wheel to spin freely.  After firing up the 350 Chevy that produced more than 500 bhp he would push the bike off of the stand when the rpms reached 7500- and hang on.

Read more about Potter and his Widowmakers at silodrome.com

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Monday, July 10, 2017

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Monday, July 3, 2017

Just for the fun of it...


"Long Black Veil" is a 1959 country ballad, written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin.  It was orginally recorded by Lefty Frizzell.