Electric Blue: 50 electric Bluebird sports cars to go on sale

Two new Bluebird cars are about to be unveiled… but this time, they’re electric. Built to commemorate next year’s 50th anniversary of Donald Campbell’s land and water speed records, the run of 50 electric sports cars will have “acceleration to match a Porsche”.

Of all the historic brands resurrected and adopted for limited-edition production runs, few have the kudos of Bluebird – the name on the land speed record-breaking cars of Sir Malcolm Campbell and his descendants. The new 360bhp Bluebird DC50 has two, electrically operated ‘scissor’ doors and a range of up to 200 miles, but don’t bother ordering one in red; it only comes in Bluebird blue.

There will also be an electric race car – the Bluebird GTL – designed for the forthcoming FIA Formula E series, an all-electric global race series that is scheduled to start in 2014.

Both cars will be revealed to the world on Saturday 28^th September, at the Sustainable MotoExpo – held at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell and nephew of Donald Campbell, explains that the museum is home to a wonderful historic land speed display celebrating the achievements of the Campbell family, and hence it “seems only fitting that we will be launching both the Bluebird DC50 electric sportscar and Bluebird GTL electric race car at Beaulieu”.

via Classic Driver

TRITON BY MADE IN METAL

We get quite a few Tritons sent in to Bike EXIF—maybe one every couple of weeks. I’m a big fan of the genre and always enjoying looking at them. But I sometimes think once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

Then this modern take on the classic Triton dropped into my inbox, and my jaw hit the floor. Has there ever been a more beautiful marriage of the Triumph T150 engine and a Norton Wideline featherbed frame?

This Triton comes from a small company called Made In Metal, run out of a shed behind a pub in Staffordshire, England. But it’s no amateur operation. The bikes built by Neil Adams and Paul Stead are masterpieces of craftsmanship, full of beautifully-fabricated parts and assembled with a sympathetic eye for design.

Made In Metal’s client wanted the absolute best in fabrication, so the bike took several months to build. (Don’t ask what it cost …) The engine has been boosted to 850cc and runs Megacycle cams, Omega pistons and Carillo rods. A substantial helping of magnesium alloy has dropped the weight by 10 kg over a stock T150 motor.

The gearshift is on the right-hand side and operates a Quaife five-speed ‘box. The frame is built from T45 tubing—a carbon-manganese steel popular in the aircraft industry—and is brazed rather than welded. And the exhaust is coated with Zircotec, a high temperature heat barrier used by several F1 race teams.

There’s a great tale behind this build, which started with a bet over a pint of beer at last year’s Isle of Man TT. Head over to The Rider’s Digest for the story.

via BIKEEXIF

Meet your heroes: The icons of the Gulf Collection

In the late 60s, blurred flashes of orange and powder blue captivated many a youngster: the unmistakeable Gulf cars were making history. Decades later, one of those schoolboys was able to fulfil his childhood dreams to the fullest extent...

"The life-sized version seemed like an apt place to start..."

When the German entrepreneur in question found himself with the means to complete his wish, there was no toe-dipping. He made an enquiry to Adrian Hamilton (of Classic Driver dealer Duncan Hamilton & Co) about a significant Gulf-liveried Ford GT40 the dealership was offering. He bought it and, around two years later, it had been joined by more than 20 stablemates, hand-picked (and subsequently looked after) by Hamilton on the entrepreneur's behalf.

Classic Driver was able to look over the fluorescent fleet, and we chose our favourites – not an easy task, given the eminence of each one.

Ford GT40 - Where the dream began

They say never meet your heroes; but they didn’t say anything about not owning one. Our German collector vividly remembers the model GT40 that took pride of place in his bedroom as a youngster, and the life-sized version seemed like an apt place to start when circumstances allowed. This particular car (chassis 1084) took 4^th place in the 1968 Spa 1,000km.

Porsche 917K - Le Mans legend

Many members of the ROFGO collection, as it's known, competed at Le Mans (the collection also contains a pair of Mirages and a Kremer), but the 917K was a soldier in one of the greatest battles. With Richard Attwood and Herbert Müller taking turns to man the turrets, it was only narrowly beaten at the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours by the equally famous Martini-liveried 917 K.

McLaren F1 - Long in tooth and tail

Despite its now-legendary competition prowess, the F1 was, of course, originally built as a road car. It took a gentleman racer – Englishman Ray Bellm – to persuade McLaren to serve up a 'GTR' racing version; he then orchestrated a deal with Gulf to reignite the previously fruitful partnership (the ROFGO collection includes 7 of these fruits).

Bellm won the GT title in 1996; in 1997, he upgraded to this revised ‘longtail’ F1 GTR to fend off the challenge of the Works CLK GTRs and 911 GT1s from Stuttgart.

Aston Martin DBR9 - It could at least have been washed...

It might seem oddly grubby next to its gleaming siblings, but that’s not any old dirt. One of the pair of DBR9s in the ROFGO collection, it proudly wears the filth gathered at Le Mans – where it won both the 2007 and 2008 GT1 classes, reminding us of its namesake DBR1's legendary 1959 outright win.

What's next...?

With most significant Gulfs currently in happy homes, there doesn’t appear to be much scope to expand the collection at the moment: it already even includes a period Mercedes transporter (one of three built) which remains in the appropriate livery. The next project is to construct a purpose-built home for the group – Gulf-themed, of course.

Perhaps our dedicated German also has fond memories of a die-cast Martini Porsche...?

Photos: Jan Baedeker

via Classic Driver 

The Boss Hunting Truck

If you live near Melbourne, Florida and the thought of using a pickup truck or off roaders for your hunt doesn’t appeal you could hire this thing. According to it’s makers The Boss Hunting Truck is a “luxury hunting truck of the future”. The Boss Hunting Truck starts at just $200,000 (£131,000) but taking various options quickly pushes the cost to $500,000 (£327,000).

As you’ve probably guess it’s based on a Hummer H1 K10 Series which has been adapted to include an updated 6.5-litre turbo diesel. It’s four-wheel-drive, as you’d expect for a hunting truck that’s been designed for big game hunting in Africa, Alaska and the middle-east. Thetruck’s looks have been changed which results in a futurisic look that softens the Hummer’s military appearance.

Inside the truck you’ll find five monitors showing views from six external cameras, a CB radio and ammo and gun storage areas. Additional gun storage areas are optional as is a drone plane that can be controlled by an iPad. The truck’s suspension is bespoke, as are the 44-inch Super Swamper wheels that are equipped with an all-terrain conquering inflate/deflate system. If you find yourself in trouble there are 12000lb winches on the front and rear bumpers.

The Boss Hunting Truck

Parker Brothers is selling the truck from their shop in Florida at the moment, so availability in Europe is unclear. With the size and weight of the machine you’d probably not want to get one shipped across the Atlantic, but if you’re hunting on the American continent you might come across one.

via Eurocarblog