ACE CAFE RADIO

    mardi 27 mai 2014

    a ride around Paris organized by RRL in colaboration with Blitz Motorcycles


    Timeless Classics: Cord 810/812 Convertible


    Would you stand on one car in order to get a good look at another – at a motor show? If you’re a Classic Driver type, probably not, but that’s the kind of behaviour attendees at the packed 1935 New York Motor Show apparently resorted to in order to catch a glimpse of the latest Cord…
    Hopes were high in the lead-up to the unveiling of the Cord 810 (later the 812); its predecessor, the L-29, had become America’s first front-wheel-drive car. This had led to the marque becoming famous for marrying innovative features to beautiful coachwork – and the 810 would only strengthen this reputation. Penned by the celebrated designer Gordon Buehrig, it was one of eight cars chosen for the Museum of Modern Art’s ‘Eight Automobiles’ exhibition in 1951. To give you an idea of the prestige of such a call-up, other works of four-wheeled art selected for inclusion were a 1937 Talbot-Lago Teardrop Coupé, and a 1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupé.

    From show-cars to step-ladders

    But what led to the anarchy of the 1935 New York unveiling, at which the audience was said to have clambered onto the bumpers (or roofs, depending what you read) of the other show cars? Well, that might have been an urban myth – but it also could have been the 810’s hidden headlamps (a world-first), the bluff, louvred ‘coffin-nose’, or even the absence of the era-essential running boards. The latter was possible due to the same norm-shunning principles applied within the unibody contruction: the four-speed gearbox lay ahead of the Lycoming V8 that drove the front wheels, equating to a lower car (no need for a step) and a roomier cabin. Further spatial benefits came courtesy of a ‘step-down’ floor, the touring credentials of its larger Duesenberg cousins almost matched in a smaller, arguably better-looking package.

    Two up, two down

    That package was available in four variants: Westchester and Beverly (both saloons), and two open cars – the two-passenger Convertible Coupe and the five-passenger Convertible Phaeton Sedan. At its Motor City auction in July, RM will offer an example of each open car, both at ‘No Reserve’. The example seen here is an 812 Phaeton, fitted with the supercharger option (see tell-tale bonnet sidepipes) offered to the sporting set later in the model’s short production window. Ultimately, the later-life additions weren’t enough to see Cord fulfil its ambitions of producing an innovative, reliable, high-performance machine with cutting-edge styling and an inexpensive price tag – particularly unrealistic in the wake of the Great Depression.

    Ahead of its time

    Demand tailed off and the company was closed, but the 810’s legacy would endure. Aside from museum awards and a posthumous 17-year land speed record – set by Ab Jenkins just a month after 812 production had ceased – the car’s brilliance also lived on through its subsequent industry influence on styling and engineering. That brilliance endures to this day thanks to its modern collectability; indeed, should you want to add an American machine to a European collection, one of the prettiest cars built in the States to date would be a fine place to start.
    Photos: RM Auctions
    This article is part of the 'Timeless Classics' feature series that is presented and supported by our friends at RM Auctions.

    Dirt Live Episode


    Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream">
    Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

    Is the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS Villa d'Este the most elegant classic car ever?


    As one of the high points in Alfa Romeo’s fruitful relationship with coachbuilder Touring, the 6C 2500SS Villa d’Este Coupé epitomises automotive elegance – and that applies beneath the graceful coachwork, too…
    The proportion-perfect 6C 2500SS Villa d’Este Coupé was the last in a long line of legendary six-cylinder Alfa Romeos, a breed that had enjoyed fame and competition fortune during the inter-war years. While its developmental roots lay back in the mid-20s (when engineer Vittorio Jano had sired Alfa’s celebrated straight-six), the configuration was by no means outdated in the immediate post-War period. In fact, the Tipo 256 – also based on a 6C 2500 chassis – had proven itself still relevant in the late 1930s, performing well at Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and in the Tripoli-Tobruk.

    A second christening

    Incidentally, the Tipo 256 racing car had also been bodied by Milanese coachbuilder Touring – and in the late 40s, it was invited by Alfa Romeo to be the latest house to style a road-going version, of course using its patented Superleggera construction technique. The platform was the shortest-wheelbase chassis of the 6C 2500; the engine it hosted was a triple-Webered version of the 2443cc straight-six, making it an ‘SS’. Shown at an early Villa d’Este concours (namely the 2nd iteration, at which it won the Coppo d’Oro), the gorgeous coupé was green-lit for a limited-production run – and also given the ‘Villa d’Este’ suffix in celebration of winning the coveted award.

    Concours queen by name...

    Initially planned as a 25-car run for Alfa Romeo’s most wealthy clientele, production would ultimately extend beyond 30 cars (including a handful of convertibles): the most generally agreeable figure is 36. Of these, one is owned by the Villa d’Este hotel and displayed as an art piece. Further testament to its elegance should not be needed; but it’s there should it be required. Pedigree of its mechanical underpinnings and coachwork notwithstanding, the Villa d’Este Coupé can also claim to be the last hand-built Alfa Romeo – thus representing a pinnacle in the storied marque’s timeline.
    Photos: © Steve Hall for Classic Driver
    The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS Villa d'Este Coupé seen here is currently for sale via Dutch dealer Heijstee Classics.

    Ogier dans le top-ten au Lausitzring


    Le Champion du monde des Rallyes FIA 2013 était ce week-end au volant d’une Audi R8 LMS « ultra » sur le circuit du Lausitzring à l’occasion de la troisième manche du championnat ADAC GT Masters. Le pilote Volkswagen a terminé dans le top-ten.
    L’an passé, Seb Ogier avait participé à une manche de Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup sur le circuit de Monaco. Cette année, après avoir assisté à une course d’ADAC GT Masters à Oschersleben fin avril, le Champion du monde des Rallyes a été invité à participer au meeting du Lausitzring sur une Audi R8 LMS « ultra » (550 chevaux) du team Prosperia C Abt Racing.
    Le Français était associé à l’Allemand Markus Winkelhock, Champion du monde FIA GT 2012 sur l’Audi N°12. Le team engageait deux autres Audi R8 LMS « ultra » pour ses équipages « experts » : René Rast/Kelvin Van der Linde sur la N°10 et Fabian Hamprecht/Nicky Thiim sur la N°11.
    Vendredi, les essais libres des deux champions du monde ont été contrariés par des ennuis mécaniques. C’est donc sans avoir bouclé beaucoup de tours que Seb et Markus ont pris part aux qualifications. L’Audi N°12 s’est classée 12e des Qualifs 1 et seulement 19e des Qualifs 2.
    Samedi, la course 1 (60 minutes) a tourné court pour la N°12 (13e à l’arrivée) : « Markus a été envoyé en tête-à-queue par un concurrent au départ. Il est reparti en fond de peloton et on n’avait plus aucun espoir », a déclaré Sébastien Ogier. « Du coup, ça m’a enlevé un peu de pression et j’ai pu me concentrer sur mon pilotage et prendre de l’expérience. »
    Le lendemain, Sébastien Ogier a pris le départ de la course 2. L’Audi N°12 a terminé 8e : « J’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir ce week-end. J’ai progressé au fils des tours et mes chronos n’étaient pas mauvais. Nos résultats auraient pu être mieux, mais on a eu un problème aux essais et nous n’avions pas beaucoup roulé. C’était une super expérience et je tiens à remercier le team et mes équipiers. »

    Une session freeride de rêve dans l’Utah


    Suivez Ronnier Renner et ses amis pour une session extraordinaire dans le désert de l’Utah.
    Ronnie Renner fait partie de deux types de privilégiés : ceux dont le nom de famille est un palindrome et ceux qui gagnent leur vie grâce au FMX. De l’avis de tous, il est bien plus intéressant de faire partie de la deuxième catégorie.
    Le pilote américain a emmené ses amis du Ronnie Renner Freeride Tour dans le désert autour de Caineville, dans l’Utah, où les possibilités pour les pilotes de motocross sont infinies. Lignes de rêve, style éblouissant, paysages somptueux : la vidéo ci-dessus se passe de commentaire !


    montez !