BAUR TC3

The BAUR TC3, designed by ISDERA (Their Commendatore 112i being one of my all time favorite cars) for BAUR, based on an E30 BMW. The project was stopped by BMW because of their own upcoming Z1 project. So this is number one of one.

Bizzarrini GT 1971

In an of themselves Bizzarrinis are already pretty unique cars. Not a lot were made when the factory was up and running, but this particular GT is even more unique as it was built long after the factory closed down. On top of that it uses a Lamborghini V12 instead of the usual Chevrolet V8s that were used previously.

This car was built by an ex Bizzarrini worker Giancarlo Riali using a Lamborghini 400GT/Jarama chassis. The body was left over after the Bizzarrini factory shut down and so Mr Riali used it to rebody the Jarama.

Its quite an interesting what if...a period body on a period chassis from a direct competitor. Makes one wonder what either company could have done, Lamborghini styling wise, and Bizzarrini engine and suspension wise.

Shelby AC3000 ME 1981

AC Cars might not ring as many bells as Shelby but it is one of the oldest independent automobile manufacturers in Britain. Of course their greatest claim to fame was creating the AC Ace, the car Carroll Shelby based the AC Cobra on and later the S/C Cobras and Dayton Coupes.

In the 1970's AC developed the AC 3000ME. This small 2-seat mid-engine sports car had a transversely mounted Ford Essex 3.0 liter V6. As was classic for the era the styling was wedge-shaped using fiberglass for the body. It had front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension, rack and pinion steering, and four-wheel disc brakes, with a rearward 40:60 weight bias. On paper it should have been a real performer!

At about the same time PanterAmerica was importing DeTomaso Panteras into the U.S. after the Lincoln-Mercury/DeTomaso agreement ended in 1974. PanterAmerica also wanted to bring an affordable mid-engine car to the U.S. and the Belgian dealer they purchased the Panteras from was also an AC dealer. The AC 3000ME seemed the logical choice. PanterAmerica imported a rolling AC 3000ME, without engine and transaxle. The drivetrain was supposed to come from a U.S. manufacturer. However, they had problems acquiring drivetrains from either Ford or GM, the only option left was to go with Chrysler. But instead of going to them directly they spoke with Carroll Shelby, who had been recently hired by Chrysler. Carroll was on board with their idea provided a fuel-injected, turbocharged Chrysler 4-cylinder, 2.2 engine

Panteramerica restyled the body slightly, mainly front fenders and front end, with a new design, painted the car blue and silver, and added new Compomotive split rims. The prototype was presented to Lee Iacocca., but unfortunately, Iacocca, then in the middle of trying to save Chrysler, didn’t warm up to the idea of a low-volume mid-engine sports car, leaving the Shelby AC 3000ME a one-of-a-kind. Its a shame, a car that could have been a real contender, and ahead of the Pontiac Fiero, but fell by the wayside

Hydyne Motorsport 19" 3 piece Mustang wheel

Well I just received a shipment with Hydyne Motorsports new 19in. 3 piece Star wheel! Looks damn good if I do say so myself with that gold center and brushed lip. This wheel is a one off destined for a 2013 mustang. As soon as its mounted Ill post some more pics...

Lamborghini Faena by Frua 1978

You dream of an Espada but your 2 kids and the dog are stopping you? Here is your answer. The Italian coach builder Pietro Frua created the only four-door Lamborghini in existence in 1978, the Frua Faena was created on a reinforced 1974 Espada Series II chassis (nr. 18224). It took Pietro Frua 8 months to create his four door Lamborghini, he stretched the standard Espada chassis 178 mm (7 in) to accommodate the rear seats and ended up with a car totalling 4586 mm (18 ft) in length which added 200 Kg (440 pounds) to the total weight, the wheelbase went to 2830 mm, with a width of 1900 mm and a total height of only 1250 mm, the Faena really looked impressive.

This 'special' was revealed on the 57th Salone internazionale dell'Automobile, in Turin during the spring of 1978, it was shown again to the public on the 1980 Geneva Auto Show. The car's lines looked clean at the front, with big headlights mounted in twin pop-up units, but the rear design spoiled the car, it did however include a sliding sunroof unlike the weird looking glass panel found on one specific Espada.
The Frua Faena didn't prove a success, although it was very nicely built, and Pietro Frua hoped it could be produced in small quantities, but this show car was the only one ever produced. Presented 30 years before the Estoque, its the very first 4-door Lamborghini

Its oddly proportioned for my tastes but there seems to be a lot more rear leg room compared to the new sporty sedans from Aston Martin and Porsche. I do however really like how the dash is canted towards the driver...a bit out of place in a sedan but it looks great! With that V12 up front running it in the Autobahn must be a real experience for the kids. Also you have to love how back in the 70s a coupe could be turned into a one off sedan with no concern for crash tests!