Vintage : Saturday night at the duck pond ~ The Cougers

Weineck Cobra with over 1,000bhp: The fastest snake in the world

Brothers Claus and Jens Weineck, founders of the eponymous company based in Bad Gandersheim, Germany, have long had the knack of tweaking large engines for use in racing cars and powerboats. They also have a weakness for the 1960s Anglo-American classic, the AC Cobra...

The combination led to not only probably the most powerful Cobra ever created, but also one of the most unforgiving road cars ever built. When the thunderous custom Cobra was unleashed back in the early 2000s, it would reach 124mph in under 10 seconds – putting it in the same league as the Ferrari Enzo and Lamborghini Murciélago, and even the Mercedes CLK GTR and Porsche 911 GT1. It’s worth reminding yourself that the car was based on a 40-year-old design, yet did battle with the aerodynamic elite of its day.

This was down to a vast 12.9-litre V8 with 1,100bhp, twinned with an unladen kerb weight of less than 1,000kg. Crucially, the Weineck Cobra used some NASCAR-spec components – for example, the V8’s 1,328lb ft of torque was delivered via a four-speed transmission with a 1,475lb ft threshold. The engine cooling system, meanwhile, was developed to cope with the 50ºC+ temperatures in Dubai, where one of the production Weineck Cobras was sent.

Beneath the familiar curves lay an aluminium and titanium frame measuring 10cm in diameter; any less and the torsional forces of the immense V8 would have wrung the super snake out like a wet towel. As far as deceleration, Weineck sourced the largest Brembo brakes that would fill the cavity behind those knock-off wheels.

Originally, 15 Weineck Cobras were planned for production back in the early 2000s. However, the opportunity to acquire one of these rare reptiles will present itself at RM’s Rétromobile 2014 sale in February.

Photos: Tan Meng Choon - Courtesy of RM Auctions

All cars to be auctioned at RM's 5 February Rétromobile sale can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

RELIANT RUGGED ROBIN

Reliant Robin and large beard fan Bernard Reeves reached breaking point after seeing so many Reliant Robins being tipped over and generally mocked after the airing of a Top Gear episode featuring Jeremy Clarkson haplessly flipping an old Robin onto it’s side time and time again.

Although the episode in question was hilarious, it was a damned shame to see so many classic Robins being abused on the streets, Mr Reeves decided to step in and create a Robin that no one in their right mind would mess with.

Meet the Reliant Rugged Robin, it’s an original Robin that’s been pulled to bits and rebuilt A-Team style. The matte green little beast has tank tracks fitted at the rear as well as a Browning .50 cal machine gun, a pair of Vickers machine guns, long-range radio communications gear, an outboard engine, a spot light and built in long range fuel tanks.

I can’t help but hope that this car gets featured on Top Gear, I’d pay good money to see the Stig setting a hot lap in it and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

from SILODROME Via Gear Patrol 

Lamborghini Porrentruy: The sign of Taurus

Perhaps it's the good country air of the Swiss Jura that makes bulls feel so at home in the small town of Porrentruy, near the French border. Here, 30 years ago, Roland Affolter created a place of pilgrimage for Lamborghini enthusiasts...

The story begins in the early 1980s at the Geneva Motor Show: Roland Affolter, son of a farmer and avid automobile dealer, fell in love with the razor-sharp Lamborghini Countach - and not long after, he became the cars' official importer in Switzerland. When, in the early 1990s, the Countach was succeeded by the Diablo, Roland Affolter began not only to sell, but also to customise the V12 supercars. With plenty of carbon, new body elements, headlights, wheels and even automatic sunroofs, he created striking 'Evolution' models that captured the hearts of his customers. 

Lamborghini icons from three decades

Today, Affolter operates two showrooms, one in Porrentruy and one in Geneva; however, many of his customers originate from the early years and appreciate the classics. Hence in Porrentruy you'll find not only the latest Lamborghinis - such as the Aventador Anniversario and numerous Gallardo variants - on display in the showroom, but also a dozen Diablos in different stages of evolution, through to wild variations of the Murciélago , two or three Countaches, an LM002, and the two million-dollar Reventón in both coupé and roadster form. 

A small museum

Meanwhile, in another room, you can admire a customer's collection that includes such models as the Miura Jota and Diablo VT Roadster, while the in-house workshop currently sees an early Countach being fitted with a new interior. Anyone with a passion for Sant 'Agata bulls shouldn't miss the chance to visit Lamborghini Porrentruy.

Photos: Jan Baedeker

Lamborghini Porrentruy's current stock can be found in the Classic Driver Market.