ACE CAFE RADIO

    dimanche 30 juin 2013

    SPECIAL KIND OF LOVE: LAMBORGHINI ESPADA


    I don’t know why, but I’ve always felt a need to direct my love for cars towards the more unique models in history. It’s so easy to like beautiful things, but it takes a special sort of love to feel attraction towards unique expressions of design. If I hear someone saying their favorite car is a Ferrari 250 GTO, a Mercedes 300SL or a Lamborghini Miura I can’t help but feel the need to vomit. It’s obvious everyone likes these cars; they are stunningly beautiful, they each define their respective manufacturer and are literally impossible to hate.
    But come on, you can do better than that. Challenge your senses, dig deeper into the depths of classic car history and at least attempt to dig out a car that stands out for something other than unquestionable beauty. Personally I have always respected any car maker that has had the balls to go out there and try something different…
    … and come up with something that’s never been tried before and attempt to redefine what beauty is. Lamborghini has done this since its inception, Ferruccio wanting to confront and provoke Enzo with his own interpretation of what a sports car should be like. Ever since then Lamborghini has stood out for bold design and along the way has spawned a mix of pivotal cars – from the aforementioned and simply stunning Miura to the in-your-face LM002.
    But it’s this car here, the Espada, that has always held a special place in my heart. Can we consider it as a beautiful car? Probably not, because it isn’t. It’s awkwardly styled and has strange proportions, but what it lacks in the universally accepted definition of beauty, it makes up with buckets of character. For me it has always defined the best of the ’70s: it was a subtle mix of supercar performance and everyday practicality that made it stand out in a decade full of automotive awesomeness. The other week while in Sweden for Gatebil, I had the chance to take a little detour on our drive up to the track and stop by the Classic Garage shop a short drive from Gröndal where we were shooting a few feature cars.
    There, I was to shoot what has to be the cleanest, most original Espada I’ve ever seen…
    … finished off in an unmistakably Lamborghini hue of orange…
    … and sporting a contrasting set of white striped tires.
    Tuck, ’70s style!
    The tires are fitted onto 15-inch Campagnolo magnesium alloy wheels, the same design that was used on the Miura, and attached to the hubs with good old fashioned knock-offs.
    You might describe it as a shooting-brake design in today’s lingo, but what made this car so special was that hatchback rear end penned by Bertone’s Marcello Gandini. That’s because the Espada – or sword in Spanish as further reference to Lamborghini’s attraction to bull fighting – was the first four-seater to come from St. Agata Bolognese and its design was sort of dictated by the number of seats in the cabin.
    Just imagine how cool it must have been to drive one of these around in the ’70s – an Italian supercar for four, with 12 cylinders up front! As Oscar of Classic Garage told us, this is a 1971 model so an ‘S2′ in Lambo language, meaning it runs the more powerful 350hp version of the 4.0L V12 that was also used in the base Miura.
    The sonorous V12 is fed by six side-draft Weber carbs. I was impressed at how easily the car started despite the damp and cold weather during the shoot. As Oscar said, this car has always ran beautifully.
    Contrary to what you may think, the two air intakes on the massive front-hinged aluminum hood don’t feed the air boxes, but actually the cabin’s heater and ventilation system.
    With such a big engine sitting up front – which is actually surprisingly well-positioned in the chassis for good weight balance – packaging various ancillaries must have been quite a challenge. I found the location of the brake master cylinder quite interesting, and just check out that agricultural-size radiator.
    The V12 sings through this quartet of old-school exhaust tips…
    … helping give a much more aggressive presence to the Espada’s rear. And it’s the rear view that I can’t help but find irresistible.
    The rear trunk glass embodies everything that was right about the 70′s quirky design language and it’s helped to cement the Espada as a true classic – granted one that you will probably either love or hate.
    There’s no hatch section, it’s just the glass that lifts helped by two struts, giving way to a pretty decently-sized trunk area.
    Someone at Honda probably liked the ‘Gandini’ rear strip of glass because it was used in both the CR-X, the Insight, and now the CR-Z.
    As you can imagine, with the seating arrangement sort of dictating the car’s looks…
    … Lamborghini obviously put a lot of effort into making the interior a very special place to be. And like any well-kept classic, it’s the smell that first captivates you – a mix of leather-scent and real wood, and that faint smell of gas and oil vapours that any car with carburetors always seems to have.
    The head unit is found on the passenger side of the dashboard and is quite a reach for the driver. That’s probably because there wouldn’t really be a need for it, what with a Lamborghini V12 providing the aural entertainment!
    The center console merges onto an elevated transmission tunnel from which the five-speed gearbox selector sprouts from…
    … continuing rearward in between the two rear seats. Just to emphasize the fact – this is a true four-seater, not a 2+2, those rear seats easily able to accommodate two adults with plenty of headroom.
    I don’t even need to give reasons as to why Lamborghini should come up with a modern day interpretation of the Espada. This is a machine that manages to shine through the impressive line-up of cars it has created over the last 50 years, and that alone says a hell of a lot.

    Dino Dalle Carbonare
    Instagram: speedhunters_dino

    Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?


    When series-production models are outfitted by Zagato, the results can vary from sublime to borderline offensive. Classic Driver selects four of the Milanese firm’s design classics – plus one oddity – currently being offered for sale...
     
    Alfa Romeo SZ: Il Mostro
    Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?
    When Alfa and Zagato reunited to follow on from their legendary TZ collaborations, there was no option for half-measure styling – especially given the source of the basic underpinnings: the sombre Alfa 75 saloon. The resulting SZ was clothed in plastic body panels seemingly as harsh and angular as possible, but this soon earned it a cult following; many saw it as a two-fingered salute to the sober lines exhibited by its peers.
    Though Zagato’s input apparently leaned more towards production than styling, the SZ retained the ‘Z’ badges on its flanks and provided an unexpectedly refined driving experience.
    Buy this Alfa Romeo SZ in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>
     
    Aston Martin V8 Zagato Volante: Controversy sells
    Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?
    The V8 Zagato was conceived in a similar manner to the SZ: both companies were embroiled in financial uncertainty and in need of a healthy dose of publicity (and, of course, cash). Again, the combination of provocative coachwork over proven underpinnings was chosen, and despite much objection to the coupé’s awkward bonnet scoop and squared-off grille, the quirky V8 Zagato sold well enough to justify an unplanned production run of Volantes - albeit with a revised grille and deleted scoop.
    Buy this Aston Martin V8 Zagato Volante in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>
     
    Bristol 406: Leaner and meaner
    Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?
    To this day, Bristol remains a byword for old-school British luxury. Back in 1958, however, a handful of 406s was sent to Zagato to be re-clothed in sumptuous Italian coachwork, complete with faired-in headlamps and a bonnet scoop to feed the more potent, BMW-sourced straight-six. Zagato’s lightweight bodywork also trimmed a few hundred kilos from the kerb weight, further improving on the original 406’s restrained performance.
    Buy this Bristol 406 in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>
     
    Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato: Heyday hero
    Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?
    Unlike Bristol, the modern-day Lancia could hardly have strayed further from its roots; the days of understated excellence in engineering and design are now merely a fond memory.
    The 50s heydays saw Pininfarina and Touring soak up the majority of Lancia’s coachbuilding requirements, but as the cars gained weight through luxury trimmings, Zagato was enlisted to construct a ‘Sport’ version of the Flaminia. Taking the shortened GT platform, Zagato used its expertise in aerodynamics and lightweight bodywork to make the most of the 2.5-litre V6’s performance.
    Buy this Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>
     
    Zagato Milanina Tipo 'E': Shock tactics
    Z-Factor High Five: Beauties, beasts and... buggies?
    Here’s that oddity you’ve been waiting for. Manufactured in the late 80s as a follow-up to the peculiar Zele of the 70s (the coachbuilder’s solution to the oil crisis), the electric Milanina seems perfectly suited for use as a golf buggy – provided you’ve got a more ‘traditional’ Zagato waiting in the car park to impress your fellow club-swingers.
    Buy this Zagato Milanina in the Classic Driver Marketplace>>
     
    Photos: Classic Driver dealers / auction houses

    ERC :Victory for Loix on home soil ; Freddy Loix maître à Ypres


    This year’s Geko Ypres Rally saw Freddy Loix collect his eighth win on his home event in a factory Skoda Fabia S2000 equipped with the latest Michelin Pilot Sport R tyres. Peugeot drivers Bryan Bouffier and Craig Breen survived the dramatic last stage to join the Belgian veteran on the podium.
    Le Belge Freddy Loix a remporté pour la huitième fois le Geko Ypres Rally au volant d’une Skoda Fabia S2000 officielle chaussée des nouveaux pneumatiques Michelin Pilot Sport R. Les pilotes Peugeot Bryan Bouffier et Craig Breen complètent le podium, après une dernière spéciale mouvementée.













    Former WRC factory driver Freddy Loix, 43, took his score in Ypres to eight wins from 16 starts, almost two decades after his first attempt at the event in the days when it was still known as the 24 Hours of Ypres.
    The Belgian took the lead in his Skoda Motorsport-entered Fabia S2000/Michelin on SS1 before pulling clear of his chasers in the wet and muddy conditions that marked the first leg. He completed Friday evening’s six stages with a lead of 1m36.2s over Bryan Bouffier.
    “This is a great result for me,” he said at the finish. “I felt good on the shakedown stage and I just kept going at the same pace throughout the rally.”
    Ypres rookie Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000) figured briefly in second place before being delayed on SS5 by a transmission problem which cost him two minutes. The 2012 S-WRC champion managed to fight his way back up to third place but was reported to have stopped on the rally’s final stage behind the Ford Fiesta of Pajunen and the Peugeot 207 of Vanneste which were in flames. Happily for Breen, the test was neutralised!
    Bryan Bouffier, co-driven this weekend by Lara Vanneste, failed to crack under Breen’s pressure on Day 2. Despite sometimes contrasting tyre choices, the gap between the two Peugeot drivers remained stable from midday Saturday and, in the end, the Frenchman followed up his win in Corsica with another top ERC result. He is now expected to take part in July’s Sibiu Rally, an event which neither Craig Breen nor the Peugeot Rally Academy team are due to attend.
    Following the retirement of Hayden Paddon (accident), there was an interesting fight for fourth place between Vanneste (Peugeot 207 S2000), Lefevere (Mitsubishi), Kobus (Ford Fiesta S2000) and Solowow (Ford Fiesta RRC). Flemish driver Andy Lefevere (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) went on to claim the Production Cup win after Andreas Aigner was slowed by a variety of problems (‘off’, brakes, etc.).
    The two-wheel drive class was won by Xavier Baugnet (208 R2) and the Ladies’ Award went to Mélissa Debackere (Peugeot 207 S2000).
    A 43 ans, l’ancien pilote « usine » en Mondial Freddy Loix a ajouté une nouvelle ligne à son palmarès en remportant son 8e Rallye d’Ypres (en 16 participations), une épreuve qu’il a disputée pour la 1ère fois en 1994 et qui s’appelait encore « 24 Heures d’Ypres ».

    Au volant d’une Fabia S2000/Michelin engagée par Skoda Motorsport, le Belge a pris les commandes de l’épreuve dans l’ES1 et a très vite creusé l’écart sur ses poursuivants sur les routes détrempées et boueuses de la 1ère étape. Vendredi soir, après six spéciales, il comptait déjà 1min36s2 d’avance sur Bryan Bouffier. « C’est un résultat fantastique. J’ai eu un super feeling dès le Shakedown et j’ai juste continué sur le même rythme », analysait Loix à l’arrivée.
    Pour sa 1ère participation, le Champion du monde S-WRC 2012 Craig Breen s’était installé en 2eposition avant d’être trahi par une transmission (ES5). Relégué à plus de deux minutes, l’Irlandais est revenu avec autorité sur la 3e marche du podium. Mais dans l’ultime spéciale, sa Peugeot 207 S2000 était signalée bloquée dans un fossé, alors que la Ford Fiesta de Pajunen et la Peugeot 207 de Vanneste étaient en feu. Heureusement pour Breen, la spéciale fut neutralisée !
    Sous la pression de Craig Breen, Bryan Bouffier n’a rien lâché. Le match entre les deux pilotes Peugeot a duré une grande partie de la longue 2e étape. Ils se sont rendus coup pour coup, ont tenté des choix de pneumatiques différents, mais les écarts sont restés stables à partir de la mi-journée. Après sa victoire au Tour de Corse, Bryan Bouffier (associé ce week-end à Lara Vanneste) poursuit sa belle saison en ERC. Il devrait être au départ du Sibiu Rally fin juillet. Craig Breen et l’équipe Peugeot Rally Academy ne seront pas du voyage en Roumanie.
    Après l’abandon d’Hayden Paddon (Ford Fiesta S2000, sortie de route), la bagarre était très ouverte pour la 4e place entre Vanneste (Peugeot 207 S2000), Lefevere (Mitsubishi), Kobus (Ford Fiesta S2000) et Solowow (Ford Fiesta RRC). Au volant de sa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, le Flamand Andy Lefevere a remporté la catégorie Production Cup après les nombreux ennuis d’Andreas Aigner (touchette, freins…). Xavier Baugnet (208 R2) a remporté la catégorie 2-roues motrices et Mélissa Debackere (Peugeot 207 S2000) le Trophée féminin.
    Deux nouvelles voitures de rallye ont effectué leurs premiers tours de roue publiques à l’occasion du Rallye d’Ypres. La Ford Fiesta R5 était pilotée par Thierry Neuville, alors que la Peugeot 208 T16 était confiée à Kris Meeke. Ces deux autos, équipées des nouveaux pneus Michelin Pilot Sport R, n’étaient pas engagées dans l’épreuve, mais ont pu parcourir les spéciales et accumuler des kilomètres avant leurs homologations. Elles seront bientôt les machines à battre en ERC.

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