{vsig}1996-12_1665{/vsig} The new 500 TR (Testa Rossa, red-topped cylinder heads) was introduced in 1956 as a replacement for the previous 500 Mondial and although designed for customers only, a few factory-entered races were undertaken while development work was progressing with the new 250 Testa Rossa. The first three cars were […]
Archives: Profiles
1936 Maserati 6 CM Monoposto
There were seven Maserati brothers and Alfieri, Ernesto, and Ettore were for many years involved in racing with a variety of cars. In 1926 they set up a small factory in Bologna and started making cars under their own name, using the trident insignia of that city as their badge, […]
1970 BMW 3.0 CS Coupe
Introduced in 1971 and in production until 1975, the BMW 3.0 CS shared the same wheelbase and style of the 2800 CS with an improved Karmann-built bodyshell, a full three-liter engine (straight-six overhead-camshaft) and four-wheel disc brakes. It provided more power and improved torque, output of 180 bhp being recorded […]
1966 Austin Mini Cooper S
Few cars in competition have fueled the imagination like the giant-killing Mini Cooper, the combination of diminutive size, outstanding roadholding and punchy power often running rings around the opposition. Following the original 997 cc Mini Cooper’s launch in July 1961, Pat Moss gave due warning of the car’s potential by […]
1955 Porsche 356 Speedster 1600/90
{vsig}1996-8_1671{/vsig} Dr. Ferdinand Porsche had been a major influence in the development of the German motor industry since Edwardian times and yet the only car design to perpetuate his name was not, in fact, his own work, but that of his son Ferry. The basic design of this new car […]
1959 Jaguar XK 150 4.1 Fixed Head Coupe
Jaguar’s new six-cylinder twin overhead camshaft engine was ready by 1948 and launched in the XK 120 sports car which took the motoring world by storm. Some 12,000 XK 120s were subsequently sold. This was succeeded in 1954 by the XK 140 and the final evolution example was the XK […]
1956 Ferrari Boano 250GT
The 1954 Paris Salon hosted the world premiere of the Ferrari 250 Gran Turismo which was to become one of the most important milestones in the history of Automobili Ferrari. The 250 GT Series was the first Ferrari standardized production touring car, and in its many guises spanned a period […]
1968 Bizzarrini GT Strada 5300
{vsig}1996-8_1681{/vsig} During the late 1950s and early 1960s Giotto Bizzarrini was associated with a number of Italian Super Car manufacturers. After leaving Pisa University with an automobile engineering degree he joined Alfa Romeo as a chassis engineer, then to Ferrari as a test driver where his engineering prowess was duly […]
1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
Ferry Porsche and Karl Rabe began work on the Type 356 project in June 1947. The concept was to put a mildly tuned version of the four-cylinder Volkswagen engine and its gearbox in a tubular space frame. Volkswagen components such as suspension units, steering and brakes were used for economy […]
1961 MGA Twin Cam Roadster
For the debut of its new MGA in 1955, MG wisely chose that year’s Le Mans 24 Hour race; after a succession of open-wheeled models there were fears of an adverse reaction to such a streamlined car, and it was felt that by showing the MGA in competition first the […]