After reading an old book about a man and his dog traveling around America Fred decides to go on his own adventure with a truck load of canines. Piloting a 2014 GMC Sierra pickup truck from Rancho Suspension, Fred and three dogs head off on a road trip to see various off road shops, test a new truck, and find the joys of living in an off road camper. If you like dogs and trucks, you can't miss this episode of Dirt Every Day.
vendredi 25 juillet 2014
D-TYPE JAGUAR
In some respects, the D-Type Jaguar exists in the shadow of its much more famous younger brother, the E-Type - famed for its beauty and widely recognised as the most beautiful production car of all time (even by Enzo Ferrari) the E-Type is a giant of automotive design. That said, I’ve always preferred the race-bred simplicity and lack of chrome that you find with the D-Type.
Originally designed as a follow-up the the Le Mans winning C-Type, the D-Type was designed by former aeronautical engineer Malcom Sayer – he created what was one of the most aerodynamic automobiles in history up until that point, one of the stand-out features of the D-Type is that is just looks so slippery, no matter which angle you view it from.
The car’s chassis was an all-new, riveted aluminium-magnesium alloy monocoque designed to keep weight down and the engine was the 285hp, 3781cc, DOHC 6-cylinder unit fitted with wide-angle cylinder heads, a 4-speed synchromesh gearbox, independent front suspension with double wishbones and longitudinal torsion bars, live rear axle with rear trailing links and single transverse torsion bar and 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.
The car you see here is one of the “long-nose” models designed as an update to the original, its front end is 7.5 inches longer than the first models released in 1954. The remarkable fin that runs behind the driver’s head was designed to aid in streamlining whilst also providing a modicum of roll-over protection for the driver and also adding a little stability to the car’s handling at speeds from 160mph to the car’s top speed of 180mph.
These new 1955 D-Type “Long-Nose” Jaguars went on to win at Le Mans in the year of their introduction, they also took 1st and 2nd place at the 12 Hours of Reims and in following years would win twice more at Le Mans – arguably the most important race in Europe at the time.
If you’d like to read more about the history of this official Jaguar-works car you can click here to visit RM Auctions – This car is due for sale in early September 2013 in London, it’s estimated to be worth somewhere in the region of £5,500,000 to £6,500,000 but don’t be surprised if it goes for even more than that, cars like this are enjoying a staggering climb in value at the moment.
Photo Credits: Tim Scott ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions
Paolo Diana – Onboard with a sideways madman
He’s one of the most loved Italian rally drivers, known for his drift-like style.
Paolo Diana is a very entertaining driver to watch; he steers a unique little Fiat 131 and from we can tell, drives the absolute wheels off it at every event! His style is best described as ‘completely sideways’, and his car is nothing short of awesome – big old school flares, a sequential transmission and all the right noises. It’s a homegrown monster reminiscent of Group B.
It’s easy to get a grip on why people love this guy so much, whether intentional or not – he’s a showman! For us, the Fiat 131 has long been a favorite, we even wrote a piece about it a little while ago and spoke about its not inconsiderable rally heritage. If you’ve got the time – check that out too!
Just listen to his co-driver too, a man of few words -
Cruising Lake Garda with the Frauscher 747 Mirage
As luxury day cruisers go, the 747 Mirage by Austrian yacht-builder Frauscher is exceptionally pretty. Said to take direct inspiration from supercar design, it couldn’t look more at home than it does in the stunning surroundings of Lake Garda…
The 747 Mirage’s long, low nose, exaggerated lines and big side air-intakes are features clearly suggestive of land-based automotive design. The lady in the video certainly seems fairly smitten with the boat (or could it be the chap who hands it over?) as she thrashes it round Lake Garda. With up to 430HP available from the range of engines, it’s fair to say it’ll go like a supercar. And with an on-board fridge, Bluetooth connectivity and loads of storage space, it’s also highly versatile.
We admire the way the piano-black body contrasts with the teak decking and tan leather, reminiscent of Sixties Italian Grand Tourers. There’ll be no wet cushions following a dip in the Med, either, thanks to the gangway that admits access to the cockpit – how sophisticated. The 747 (denoting its length in centimetres) is priced from 117,900 euros (ex. VAT), and is available in a range of colour combinations. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2015.
For more information on the 747 Mirage, visit Frauscher’s website. You can find more luxury day cruisers in the Classic Driver Market.
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