Now and Then

The other day Danny Choy posted about the Ferrari California from both past and present.  It got me thinking about what cars have endured over time or have spiritual successors in the market place now.  This inevitably led to a lot of Googling and drooling.  Sit back and enjoy!

Gulf Sponsorship

Secret to Success

A couple of weeks ago, we wondered whether BMW's ever expanding line-up, from their efforts to fill niches created by their rivals to creating even more niches like the 5-series GT to answer questions that no one bothered to ask, were in fact sullying their core DNA.

To this, IEDEI reflected disappointment, "...a confused and uninspired marque that is trying way too many things at the same time----with different ideas and scattered attention span... I really miss the BMW that I grew up loving in the 80s and early 90s, I hope it comes back someday..."

Well this weekend, I've got another bone to pick. All this time, and I blame my ignorance, I believed that the Cygnet was only available to existing Aston owners who wishes to own another vehicle that would better suit day to day city driving. It isn't. I also believed that Aston Martin would never sell out their image as supreme builders of GT cars and that their position behind the Cygnet was simply a project used to curve their thirsty lineup just enough as to not offend Europe's CO2 regulations or our CAFE standards (2012 NHTSA: 31.7 mpg).

ALMS at Lime Rock Park: FPH wrap-up 2011

On Friday, Danny Chin shared about his first experiences at Lime Rock Park a couple years ago and his affections for the scenic racetrack.

Although I have been an avid fan of motorsports for many years now, I never had the opportunity to attend a live race. Yet since I was armed with a camera and a media pass, I somehow believed there will be no surprises. I was in for a big surprise.

Lime Rock Park and ALMS

Ever since I got into racing, I promised myself that I would make it to at least one race every summer.  It didn't really matter what cars were racing either.  I just wanted to experience anything and everything that I could afford and/or could actually find time to get away for.  For the most part, the promise has been kept.  There have been some memorable international series like MotoGP at Laguna Seca and Indy along with some homegrown racing such as Nascar up in Loudon and IRL at Watkin's Glen.  However, there is one particular Sunday from a few years back where I remember the track more than the racing.  That track was Lime Rock.

So with an engineering degree, a bad job market, and a lack of funds, I've decided to forgo the plane tickets, get back to basics, and return to what was such an inspirational place.  And what a return this event will be.  Since the serene beauty of the track is expected and won't broadside me like last time, I will be able to focus on the actual racing, a series that I have never seen before but I hope will be a precursor to many future adventures.  The American Le Mans Series, what some people say is the pinnacle of relevancy to street cars in motorsports, will hold its third race of the season at Lime Rock Park.

The meandering 1.5 mile track will play host to about twenty ALMS cars in both Prototype and GT classes including Aston Martin powered Lolas, Mazda powered Lolas, Ferrari 458s, Corvettes, GT3s, and XKRs.  Additionally, there will be a Porsche GT3 Cup race and a Prototypes Lite race. With no monolithic structure containing the racetrack, it should prove to be an amazing juxtaposition of nature and technology existing in harmony while we, the viewers, benefit with amazing racing set against a striking backdrop.

Here are the highlights from last year:

I along with Danny Choy will be at the races on Saturday.  They start bright and early at 9am.  Please feel free to seek us out and chat.  My phone will be on and receiving e-mails for the address listed on my profile.  More information can be found below.  We hope to see you there!

Lime Rock Park
American Le Mans Series
Tickets

Pornography at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

I don't even know why I'm writing a synopsis:

The three most prominent new/concept vehicles of 2011 come together at the Concorso d'Eleganza. Thank you, classicdriver, for sharing the incredible footage!

Done. Mind is blown... I'll need a moment to collect myself.



OH, and here's a sound bite

Freak of the Week: Truck Fitter, Aston Martin. Aston Martin, Truck Fitter.

Meet FotW #19, Guy Martin, 28 year old truck mechanic. This is the cold "office" from which he travels to and from in a Ford Transit van, ideal in handling the decrepit roads of the truck yard six days a week. Those are his goggles propped on his mucky hair, that's his name on the breast pocket of his overalls, and these are his tools held between his greasy hands. Martin does not have a pension plan, has nothing in savings, and doesn't have a mortgage either because he never bothered to own a home. He lives in the home of his girlfriend's parents.

But what Martin DOES own... is this--

Join The Dark Side

LeMans Blue, British Racing Green, Blue Water, Black Sapphire, Alpine White, Palladium Silver, Indium Grey, the list of color choices is endless. Sure, all of these colors are great, but let's get down to the basics, the nitty gritty. I'm thinking of a color that's bare bones, yet it's something that invokes a raw feeling: Flat Black.

We don't see many vehicles on the road this color, but when we do, oh man! Luke, we're sorry, but FPH is turning to the Dark Side!

Badge Loyalty

Badge Loyalty. I'm willing to bet that more than some of you will think of that guy with the Ford logo tattooed on the back of his head (true story, this guy actually exists) or the family with a mailbox in the shape of the ubiquitous Bow Tie. Today, I submit a different definition- A marque's loyalty to the essence of the badge they place on the hood of their automobiles.

Ebay Finds

For those that think an Aston Martin DB5 or a Shelby Cobra aren't rare enough, here are two cars from the 50s that would satisfy those extravagant connoisseurs.

Cars with air conditioning should not have carbon fiber bits!

 

These carbon vents are pretty gaudy, aren't they? Why would we ever need vents made out of carbon fiber? If you really want to make your car lighter, might you consider completely removing air conditioning instead?

Affordable Supercar Series (ASS)

Courtesy Z06zone.com

There are only a few things that a 16 year old boy thinks about on a daily basis.  In no certain order, these thoughts circulate around food, video games, girls'...er..."personalities", and big horsepower numbers.  The car that produced the biggest numbers at a fraction of the cost of most supercars back when I was 16 was the 2002 Corvette Z06.

"The world's most beautiful cars...

... almost always look like a naked woman lying on her stomach about to get up." -unknown

I would have gladly taken credit for this quote, but let's face it, we all know it was said by someone much more brilliant. If any of you know of its origin, feel free to leave a helpful comment.

Every once in a while, your favorite car magazines will do a cover on what they've nominated as the most beautiful cars in the world. 90% of the time, they've somehow managed to let you down by either not including one of your favorite cars or by putting in a car that you just don't care for. Unfortunately, this may happen here too. If you really want a list that meets your expectations, it'd be easier if you just created your own.

Anyway, back to me. I imagine that industrial design may be one of the most creativity prohibiting fields within design. Oftentimes, designs are dictated by the boring philosophies of practicality and functionality. You've all heard the phrase "form follows function," yes?

Even so, the humble automobile that started out as a tool for transportation, has become something that has transcended to lifestyle, culture, and won the affections of many.

Affection is wonderful. Affection has given upright utility a sprinkling of the irrational. But with a little extra addition of passion (Italian or otherwise), the flood gates opened and we witness the evolution of modern car design.

Through the decades, specifically starting in Europe and the United States during the late 1930's, one shape overcame the test of time and became the shape we have all universally agreed upon as beauty.

A common misconception has been that the most important part of a car is its engine.


Take this picture of an 1918 Peugeot for instance. It suggests to me that it is as powerful as a locomotive, dramatically displays the immensity of its engine. All else is an afterthought.

Later, a new philosophy stated that, in fact, the most important part of the car is its contact points to the road-- the wheels and tires. Car design paid close attention, and eventually devoted attention, to incorporating fenders that cover the wheels and suspension for better protection, aerodynamic fluidity and, of course, aesthetics.

1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster


1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900


Italian "Pontoon"



1949 Mercury Coupe


American "Character Line"

This design pursuit gave fruit to two key design cornerstones. The "pontoon fender" and the "character line." The majority of later design exercises have always been a combination of the two in varying degrees.

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder

1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa


1963 Ferrari 250 GTO


1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe


1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback

Approaching the late 1960s, we enter the golden age of Italian car design and engineering.

Advances in fiberglass and metallurgy allowed for even more complex surfaces. In order to convey athleticism, designers offered the illusion of tension and bottled energy. No longer is it simply an attractive steel shell covering the mechanical bits. Inspiration created taut, firm skin, appeared to have stretched itself to its limit of tension across the car. What's the result?

Yes you guessed it, the result is a car that looks like a naked woman lying on her stomach.

Through it all, the philosophy from the 1930s remained true in the 1960s-- wheel fender arches are even more aggressively exaggerated, the engine still bulges through the bonnet.

Another notable event happened in the 1960s. A small Italian automaker was founded in the once quiet town of Sant'Agata Bolognese. You may recognize the name from their more recent efforts; Diablo, Murcielago, Gallardo. But in 1966, Lamborghini created their genesis, the very first mid-engined V12 Lamborghini. The Miura.

A sword has two edges, however. In the 1960s, car manufacturers were still in the experimental phase of aerodynamics and many were yet to master wind tunnel techniques. What does this mean? The rule of thumb for designers became, "if it looks slippery, then it is slippery."

1967 Lamborghini Miura

1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
1968 Ferrari Dino
Porsche 917

Ferrari 330 P4

Ford GT40

1990s Britain's decade of Magnificence. The wind tunnel's path of enlightenment.

Jaguar XJ 220


McLaren F1

Aston Martin DB7

2000s

Porsche Carrera GT

Ferrari F430

Aston Martin DB9
Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione


Porsche Cayman S

Like many things, design can come back in full circle. For numerous reasons, whether it may be heritage, intellectual recycling, or what not, I do feel that the modern cars, while still thoroughly modern and innovative, borrow a lot from its predecessors.

Nonetheless, I am very amazed at how far and how successful the original Italian Pontoon and the American Character line have developed and evolved while still staying very true to its original intention.

Thank you all for reading this incredibly long post. In a century, there have been millions of cars that have been created so naturally there are numerous cars that have captured our hearts and inspired us.

To the Lotus race car fans, and Lancia Stratos fanatics, Acura NSX tuners, Rolls Royce connoisseurs and yes, even you BMW playboys, I have not forgotten about the contributions your cars have provided but I just couldn't have possibly done them all.

Affordable Supercar Series (ASS)

In this new series, we'll look at cars that were amazing in their time and can still hold their own today. We like all cars. So the cars in this segment may have decent performance but make you weak in the knees with beautiful aesthetics or they could rip your face off with blistering performance. The only steadfast criteria that we'll adhere to is that these cars with a bit of searching can be found in good condition for less than $40G. Without further ado, we present to you our first installment of our Affordable Supercar Series.

What better place to start than with Aston Martin? Today, they produce one of the sexiest cars and a car of the decade contender, the DB9. Oh yes! It is sexy. It will be a timeless classic. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though! No, you can not own a DB9 and call it affordable. However, you can put one of its predecessors in your garage.


This, dear reader, is the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage. She's beautiful, isn't she? Yes, she may have some problems like the shared DNA of the last generation Jaguar XK. Seriously, do you hold it against Angelina Jolie for having Jon Voight as her father though? Besides, this thing was designed by Ian Callum. IAN CALLUM!!! He's responsible for every Aston design since this car. This car started the design language that brought James Bond back into the driver's seat of this iconic British marque.

What's underneath that captivating sheet metal? The DB7 started life with ample power(325hp) coming out of a supercharged straight-6. That's enough to get you into and out of a good amount of trouble but it doesn't have the panache that is so deserving of an Aston. That is why the Vantage model was chosen. It packs a 5.9 liter V12 with heads from Cosworth which produces 420 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. This gets to the wheels through a 6 speed manual or... just forget about the auto.

Still need more numbers? This 4000lb GT hits sixty miles per hour in 5.1 seconds and gets through the 1320 after 13.6 seconds at about 106mph. It circles the skidpad with .85G, too.

Sure, we could sit here and think of cars, like the 370Z or Evo GSR, that have better performance figures and cost about the same as this used Aston. Who designed those, though? I guarantee Ms. Jolie won't be seen in a new one of those.

-Danny Chin-
Photo courtesy of netcarshow.com
Specs courtesy of caranddriver.com