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    jeudi 3 octobre 2013

    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace


    We have a penchant for luxurious, meatily engined motor cars as much as the next man or woman, but every collector should have at least one mini marvel to occupy a half-space in their garage...

    Trabant 601 with Hayabusa power
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    Getting on for 3 million Trabant 601s were made during its 27-year production run, but this one certainly stands head and shoulders above the rest – in performance terms at least. It’s equipped with a 1300cc Suzuki Hayabusa superbike engine in place of the usual 595cc two-cylinder, while the wider track should help to control its newfound performance a little better.
    See advert >>
    Morris Mini Cooper S ‘to Works ST specification’
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    Beginning life as a Cooper S road car, this little number has since been upgraded to Special Tuning Works specification using New Old Stock parts. Automobiles BMC describes the car as ‘the best we’ve ever seen’; a big statement considering the dealer’s dedication to Minis, which can be read about elsewhere on Classic Driver.
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    Renault 5 Turbo 2
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    The Renault 5 Turbo was a competent and characterful car, but many have since endured periods of insensitive ownership. New York-based dealer Autosport Designs Inc. says this example has come from a private collection that’s currently being pared down, and has less than 14,000 pampered miles on the clock.
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    Innocenti Mini 120 De Tomaso
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    Many will remember the cutesy Innocenti: a Bertone-styled hatchback version of the Mini produced by Leyland’s Italian subsidiary. When De Tomaso took the reins of Innocenti in 1976, a new version was produced with a more sporting character – surviving examples are rare nowadays, especially those wearing fewer than 50,000 miles like the one found here.
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    Abarth 1000 TC
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    The Abarth might have been based on the humble Fiat 600, but it was instantly distinguishable by the protruding radiator and always-aloft engine cover. This example retains its road-and-race-prepared set-up, and it’s awaiting the new season with FIA papers at the ready.
    See advert >>
    MGB GT V8
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    Although it seemed an obvious move to put the 3.5-litre Rover V8 engine into the old MGB, it took a long time for British Leyland to engineer a transmission that could take all that extra torque. The job was done and the MGB V8, in GT form only, went into production in 1973. With a top speed of about 125mph, it was impressive. Nearly 2,600 were built and survivors are highly prized today.
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    Sunbeam Tiger
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    So, we now see that micro-marvels aren’t always denied a meaty engine – the Sunbeam Tiger (the performance derivative of the Alpine) had a 4.3-litre Windsor V8 shoehorned into its engine bay, thanks in part to Carroll Shelby’s involvement. This recently restored, left-hand-drive Tiger has apparently had its identity confirmed by the Rootes Group.
    See advert >>
    Fiat 131 Abarth Stradale
    Biggie Smalls: The tiny wonders of the Classic Driver Marketplace
    Not only is this wide-arched Fiat 131 one of the 500 homologated Abarth ‘Stradale’ versions, it’s also claimed to be in a ‘time-warp’ condition, with fewer than 6,500 miles on the odometer.
    See advert >>
    Related Links
    You can search for more petite playthings in the Classic Driver Marketplace
     
    Photos: Classic Driver Dealers

    1981 Honda CM400T - 7Seven Customs


    By guest writer Ian Lee.
    If everyone had the same style, the world would be a very boring place. If every bike builder followed what had come before, custom bike sites like this one would have trouble showing anything fresh. It's with this in mind we are happy to feature 7Seven's latest build, a 1981 Honda CM400T, a hardass ride that has the performance to match it's tough aesthetic. Starting with a pedestrian model motorcycle, 7Seven has built a whole lot of awesome into the Honda twin over the course of the build. But above all, you can't really get much tougher than reptile seat trim. 
    To bring the bike from mild to wild styling, a full custom silver & black paintjob has been applied to the Japanese twin. Both the frame and the Comstar rims have been given the powdercoat treatment. This is in with a trend in custom builders using the factory Honda rims, even though this would have been unthought of not so long ago. The net over the factory fuel tank gives a reptilian look, to match the custom seat cushion sitting behind it. Perched beneath this is the custom battery box, a nice touch to replace the factory battery tray. 
    The front end of the bike has been treated to an upgrade, Dime City Cycles MX handlebars ending in vintage grips, with short levers to round out the sporting visual. A custom dash panel has been fabricated, upon it is mounted a Dime City Cycles speedometer. The factory headlight is gone, replaced by a Harley Davidson sourced unit, wrapped in a HD fairing. The tail light hasn't been left untouched either, a vintage Ford style lamp is perched atop the custom license plate mount. 
    No slouch in the performance department, 7Seven has made sure the bike has the ability to take on any road surface you aim it at, testified by the photoshoot for this awesome machine. The powerplant has been rebuilt, a set of rejetted carbs inhaling through pod filters. The pipewrapped exhaust is a custom 2–1 system, finishing up in an Akropovic GP silencer. And silencer is a misnomer. 
    The CM400 in it's factory form is not an eyecatcher. 7Seven has taken great pains to ensure you won't miss this bike going by, either aurally or visually. With it's shorty exhausts finishing just forward of the rear rim, and 'look at me' styling cues, it may not be to everyone's taste, but we're glad not everyone has the same style. We'll leave the last word to 7Seven: "This motorcycle definitely has two loud exhaust & the ride is rough. But there is something primal when driving this beast. Something that quickens the pulse, something that screams: ‘you are a bad, bad boy’. This bike is simply bad to the bone."
    Photography by Klemen Korenjak.

    Open overdose: The new Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet


    It's hard to believe that the turbopowered icon from Zuffenhausen turned 40 this year. Coinciding with this important birthday, the Los Angeles Auto Show in November will see the new open-topped versions of the 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S make their global debut.
    The two Turbo Cabriolets follow closely in the technical footsteps of their coupé equivalents, including the 3.8-litre 6-cylinder engine with either 520HP or – in the S model – 560HP. The 0-62mph sprint takes 3.5 and 3.2 seconds respectively, beating the two models' predecessors by a small but (at these performance levels) significant 0.2 seconds. Top speed is around 198mph (318 km/h) and both cars boast innovative rear-axle steering. 
    They are also visually similar to the coupé versions when the roof is closed (a process that takes 13 seconds at speeds up to about 30mph), with a coupé-like arch to the roof thanks to Porsche's 'panel bow top' that uses a lightweight magnesium frame.
    However, the clear similarity to the coupé doesn't conceal the fact that - to us - the open version of the fabulous Turbo sports car seems a bit of an overdose. If you really feel you need to go topless, it will cost you a hefty premium over the coupé, too - with prices in Germany set at 174,431 Euros for the 'standard' Cabriolet, and 207,989 for the Turbo S.
    Photos: Porsche
    You can find plenty of modern and classic Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolets in the Classic Driver Market.

    une petite partie ??