JAGUAR E-Type

WHEN  JAGUAR BOSS WILLIAMS LYONS, by now Sir William, unveiled the E-Type jaguar at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961, its ecstatic reception rekindled memories of the 1948 British launch of the XK120. British motoring magazines had produced road tests of pre-production models to coincide with the launch-and yes, the fixed-head coupe really could do 242 km / h (150.4 mph). OK, so the road-test cars were perhaps tweaked a little and early owners found 233 km / h (145 mph) a more realistic maximum, but the legend was born. It was not just a stunning, svelte sports car though; it was trademark jaguar sporting  package, performance with superb value for money.   is   Astons and Ferraris, for example, were  more than double the money.

ENGINES 

The twin-overhead cam. six- cyhnder was a development of the otiginal 3.4-litre XK unit fitted to the XK 120 of 1949. First E-Types had a 3.8-litre unit,then 4.2 from 1964. Conigutation changed in 1971 to a wholly new V12

                                             

  










INTERIOR 

The interior of this Series 1 4.2 is the epitome of sporting luxury, with leather seats, wood-rim wheel, and an array of instruments and toggle switches -later replaced  by less sporting rocker and less injurious rocker switches.

PORSCHE Carrera 977RS

PORSCHE Carrera 977 RS

AN INSTANT LEGEND, the Carrera RS became the classic 911, and is hailed as one of the ultimate road cars of all time. With lighter body panels and stripped out interior trim, the RS is  simply a featherweight racer. The classic, flat-six engine was bored out to 2.7 litres and boasted u rated fuel   injection and forged flat-top pistons - modifications that helped to push out a sparkling 210 bhp. Porsche had no problem selling all the RSs it could make, and a total of 1,580 were built and sold in just 12 months. Standard 911s were often criticised for tail-happy handling, but the Carrera RS is a supremely balanced machine. Its race-bred responses offer the last word in sensory gratification. With one of the best engines ever made, an outstanding chassis, and 243 km/ h (150 mph) top speed, the RS can rub bumpers with the world’s finest. Collectors and Porsche buffs consider this the preeminent 911, with prices reflecting  its cult-like status, The RS is the original air - cooled  screamer.

NTERIOR

Touring or road versions of the RS had creature comforts like sunroof, electric windows, and radio cassette. Large central rev  counter and "dog-leg" gear shift are RS hallmarks. Leather
seats and steering wheel are non- standard later additions.

RACING 911 

The RS outclassed everything eise on the track, winning the Daytona  24-hours in 1973 and heating  heavyweights like the Ferrari 365 GTB/4.




ENGINE

The bored-out, air—coo1ed 2.7- Litre "Boxermotor" produces  huge reserves of power. EXternally,it is identifiable only by extrac Linder cooling  fins. Internally, things are very different from the stock 911 unit.

CHEVROLET Corvette

THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE is Americas  native sports car. The “plastic fantastic”, born in 1953, is still plastic, and still fantastic more than 40 years on. Along the way, in 1992, it notched up a million sales and it  is still hanging in there. Admittedly it has mutated over the years, but it has stayed true to its roots in one Very important aspect. other American sports car contenders, like the Ford Thunderbird , soon abandoned any sporting pretensions, adding weight and middle-aged girth, but not the Corvette. All Corvette fanciers have their favourite eras: for some it is the purity of the very first generation from 1953; others favour the glamorous 1956-62 models; but for many the Corvette came of age in 1963 with the birth of the Sting Ray.

ENGINE
Sting Rays came in three engine sizes -naturally all V8s -with a wide range of power options from 250 bhp to more than twice that. This featured car is a 1966 Sting Ray with “small block"5359cc Y8 and Holley four-barrel carb.

INTERIOR

The Batmobile -style interior, with twin-hooped dash, is carried over from earlier Corvettes, but updated in the Sting Ray. The deep-dished, wood-effect wheel comes close to the chest and power steering was an option.

 

CHEVROLET CORVETTE STING RAY
The Sting Ray was a bold design breakthrough, giving concrete
expression to many of the ideas of new GM styling chief,  Bill Mitchell. More than half of all production was in convertible roadsters, for Which a hardtop was an option. From the rear, charismatic fixed-head fastbacks 
could be a totally different car.