Pic of the day
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Geo
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philw696
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As a boy around 73 I remember going in my father's big valve Élan in Golden Virginia colours from Dudley West Midlands to Porthmadog in Wales on a Friday night no traffic and great roads he got us there fairly quickly
Geo
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As a boy around 73 I remember going in my father's big valve Élan in Golden Virginia colours from Dudley West Midlands to Porthmadog in Wales on a Friday night no traffic and great roads he got us there fairly quickly
Here’s the one I had in 73, it was my first.
Scaf
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Either would keep me happy
Flint
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zagatoes30
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Catman is having convulsions at this moment in time
zagatoes30
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They could have put the carpet down
Vampyrebat
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How can a same brand build this, and then end up with this!..........Where did it all go wrong??!!
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zagatoes30
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Seriously awesome machine, more info from an article I did on a local Italian forum sometime ago
1954 Fiat Turbina
Not all concept and prototypes are design ideas some are technology based as is the case with the 1954 Fiat Turbina. In the late 1940s jet technology was the new idea, rapidly spreading through the aeronautical arena. Car manufacturers were keen to examine this new technology with Fiat being right at the forefront.
In 1948 engineering designer Dante Giacosa had plans in place, although Fiat were already building De Havilland Ghost jet engines under license it was decided to go different way partly to keep the project secret but partly to design something that would become an integral part of the vehicle.
Engine design progressed through 1950 and by May 1951 they began building what became the Tipo 801 which was a jet engine combined with power generation and final drive all in one unit. The engine was running in test by late 1951 but the first true production unit wasn't available until early 1953 but by then the engine had a ticker speed of 5000rpm and could spin to 22,000rpm at which point it was developing 300HP.
The car itself was a tubular chassis and suspension developed for the recent 8V and a lot of the dimensions are the same. Space had to me made in the chassis for 2 13 gallon tanks and 6 6v batteries which was a fait weight for the drum brakes and Borrani wheels to stop.
Body design was also in house, Fabio Luigi Rapi drew up the shape after studies in the wind tunnel a wide nose acted as inlet for the compressor and the rear fins were there for stabilisation. Inside it was spartan, bucket seats, a dozen instruments including 2 rev counters and no firewall between the the driver and the engine.
The car was first tested on the roof of LIngotto on the 15th March 1954 and was then shown at the Turin Motor Show on the 21st April that year. The following day it was demonstrated at Turin Caselle Airport where it became the first jet powered car to be tested in public.
Fiat continued to test the car over the next couple of years but eventually the project was abandoned due to high fuel consumption and overheating.
The car is still owned by Fiat and can be seen in the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile in Turin
philw696
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Spot On and sadly most manufacturers are churning out rubbish.
When I drove my brother's Fulvia a couple of months ago here in France it took me back in time nicely.
My XJ6 does the same too.