Friday, May 26, 2017
Monty the 1928 Chev revisited
Worth checking this blog out again....... A very good read, and the full story is at
http://montythe1928chevrolet.blogspot.com.au/
http://montythe1928chevrolet.blogspot.com.au/
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Rooftop test track on top of the old Fiat factory
The Lingotto building in Turin, Italy, is a massive half-kilometer long reinforced concrete structure, five stories tall, that once housed the largest and most modern car manufacturing plant in Europe. Located in the heart of the city, its original owners —Fiat—made clever use of the available real estate by building a high-speed test track on the building’s unusual banked rooftop, where thousands of Fiats underwent testing once they came out at the end of the assembly line.
Built between 1916 and 1923, the building was the brainchild of Italian engineer Giacomo Mattè-Trucco, and was one of the first buildings of its size to rely heavily on reinforced concrete. Space constraints imposed by the railway lines nearby and the shape of the terrain, forced Giacomo Mattè-Trucco to develop a building that went vertically up and ended in a simple yet ingenious looped rooftop test track with two banked turns. The track is reached by spiral ramps at either end of the building that thread their way up through floor after floor. These ramps are braced by reinforced concrete ribs that radiate from the columns around the central well like the ribs on the underside of water-lily leaves.
The manufacturing plant’s assembly line itself was unusual, and the test track was an integral part of it. Production started at the ground floor and continued sequentially up through the upper floors. As each floor passed, the cars approached their final shape until they emerged as a finished product at the rooftop where they were ready for testing. While the banked sections are impossibly tight making high-speed testing unfeasible, rumors persist that concepts and racing engines were also tested here, including the one-off 1954 Turbina, with its projected 160mph top speed.
The Lingotto Factory produced 80 different models of car putting out an average of 200 daily from it's opening until the 1970s, when it was eclipsed by the modern Mirafiori plant. The last Lancia Delta rolled out of the factory in 1979. Three years later, the factory was officially closed.
The Lingotto building was eventually converted into a modern complex with concert halls, theatre, a convention center, shopping arcades and a hotel. The rooftop track was retained and can still be visited today on the top floor
Built between 1916 and 1923, the building was the brainchild of Italian engineer Giacomo Mattè-Trucco, and was one of the first buildings of its size to rely heavily on reinforced concrete. Space constraints imposed by the railway lines nearby and the shape of the terrain, forced Giacomo Mattè-Trucco to develop a building that went vertically up and ended in a simple yet ingenious looped rooftop test track with two banked turns. The track is reached by spiral ramps at either end of the building that thread their way up through floor after floor. These ramps are braced by reinforced concrete ribs that radiate from the columns around the central well like the ribs on the underside of water-lily leaves.
The manufacturing plant’s assembly line itself was unusual, and the test track was an integral part of it. Production started at the ground floor and continued sequentially up through the upper floors. As each floor passed, the cars approached their final shape until they emerged as a finished product at the rooftop where they were ready for testing. While the banked sections are impossibly tight making high-speed testing unfeasible, rumors persist that concepts and racing engines were also tested here, including the one-off 1954 Turbina, with its projected 160mph top speed.
The Lingotto Factory produced 80 different models of car putting out an average of 200 daily from it's opening until the 1970s, when it was eclipsed by the modern Mirafiori plant. The last Lancia Delta rolled out of the factory in 1979. Three years later, the factory was officially closed.
The Lingotto building was eventually converted into a modern complex with concert halls, theatre, a convention center, shopping arcades and a hotel. The rooftop track was retained and can still be visited today on the top floor
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
1915 Willys-Overland
The turn of the century in the American Automotive industry was like the Big Bang Theory with manufacturers merging and splitting seemingly overnight.
At the start of World War I, Willys-Overland was one of the leaders in the production of factory built, enclosed bodywork, the primary appeal of which was to women, it was described as “The Reigning Electrically Started and Lighted Coupe for Women.” Over-all sales hit the 80,000 mark.
By 1915, the company had risen to the position of second largest automobile manufacturer in the U.S. and production reached a new high of 91,780 units, taking second place only to Ford.
This very well preserved example was found in a barn. There are a few various parts in the back seat as well. The exterior paint appears to be in good condition under all that dust with a green and black color scheme that would be awesome left as is or could possibly be brought back to a shine. The interior is in remarkably complete condition with seats and panels present making for an easy restoration if you so choose.
The dash also appears to be complete with gauges still intact and the steering wheel and controls have a firm solid feel as well. The engine is a work of art in and of its self with amazing engineering that defies modern technology!
At the start of World War I, Willys-Overland was one of the leaders in the production of factory built, enclosed bodywork, the primary appeal of which was to women, it was described as “The Reigning Electrically Started and Lighted Coupe for Women.” Over-all sales hit the 80,000 mark.
By 1915, the company had risen to the position of second largest automobile manufacturer in the U.S. and production reached a new high of 91,780 units, taking second place only to Ford.
This very well preserved example was found in a barn. There are a few various parts in the back seat as well. The exterior paint appears to be in good condition under all that dust with a green and black color scheme that would be awesome left as is or could possibly be brought back to a shine. The interior is in remarkably complete condition with seats and panels present making for an easy restoration if you so choose.
The dash also appears to be complete with gauges still intact and the steering wheel and controls have a firm solid feel as well. The engine is a work of art in and of its self with amazing engineering that defies modern technology!
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Car Club Run to Drouin Speedway
Good old fashioned stock car races were on order for the Dandenong Valley Historic Car Club run today at the Drouin Speedway. Well done and thanks to Les Francis and Ian Clark for organizing the run.
A special feature was the Ace of Spades classic stock cars with DVHCC member Simon Wilshire competing in car 93.
Below are a few pictures of some club cars and members. I had taken a lot more however due to a technical problem the ones below are the only ones useable.
The round trip from The Basin was 103 miles (165 kms) at 80-82 kph.
The Red Chev ran fine and the water usage was zero.
A great overview picture taken by Narelle Francis
A special feature was the Ace of Spades classic stock cars with DVHCC member Simon Wilshire competing in car 93.
Below are a few pictures of some club cars and members. I had taken a lot more however due to a technical problem the ones below are the only ones useable.
The round trip from The Basin was 103 miles (165 kms) at 80-82 kph.
The Red Chev ran fine and the water usage was zero.
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