Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Jensen Interceptor returns with LS2 V8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/jensen-interceptor-returns-with-ls2-v8/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/jensen-interceptor-returns-with-ls2-v8/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/jensen-interceptor-returns-with-ls2-v8/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the V Eight Jenson Interceptor

Any automotive enthusiast can quote you the story of the Cobra; the British AC Ace stuffed with a Ford V8, a strategy that was equally successful for Sunbeam with its Tiger - right down to the Ford small-block V8 - though the Cobra later got the FE big block. Perhaps less well known are the GTs to come out of Jensen. We even featured one of these more obscure English muscle-machines as a Reader Ride a while back. The original Jensen Interceptor sported a body designed by Italy's Touring, and various flavors of Mopar V8 were nestled in the nose. Nearly 40 years on, V Eight LTD is engaging in some revisionist history.

The Jensen Interceptor S by V Eight is essentially a total rebuilding of an original Interceptor, with many key areas upgraded with modern components. A General Motors LS2 sends 414 horsepower to the independently sprung rear wheels through a modern five-speed automatic transmission. The stock chassis calibration has been upgraded as well, and 17-inch wheels couple tire to tarmac. £75,000 pounds will get you a hand-rebuilt and upgraded Jensen that's a significant improvement in quality over the original, while also benefitting from decades of advancement in engine management. Some might yawn at the small block and its virtual hotrodding ubiquity, and a more esoteric powertrain swap would be equally exciting. We'd be just as puppy-dog waggy over a twin-turbo VQ V6 smashed in there, but who can argue with a vintage sports car that never fails to light off instantly, idles demurely, and can snap the tendons in your neck when you flatten the pedal, all wrapped in an uncommon body shell? Any chance we could get one to sample for the Autoblog Garage? Thanks for the tip, Pottz!

Gallery: Jensen Interceptor S


[Source: jensen-cars.co.uk]

Jensen Interceptor returns with LS2 V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1960sac aceac cobraAcAceAcCobrainterceptor sInterceptorSjensen carsjensen interceptorJensenCarsJensenInterceptorshelby cobraShelbyCobrasunbeam tigerSunbeamTigerv eightv eight ltdVEightVEightLtdFri, 16 May 2008 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Rare Ford concept to go on the block at Barrett-Jackson]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/14/rare-ford-concept-to-go-on-the-block-at-barrett-jackson/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/14/rare-ford-concept-to-go-on-the-block-at-barrett-jackson/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/14/rare-ford-concept-to-go-on-the-block-at-barrett-jackson/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Auto manufacturers have a far less sentimental relationship with their concept cars than we do. Many of the most exciting ideas ever manifested in automotive form have been unceremoniously disposed of once they outlived their usefulness. As car people, we abhor this practice and the equally diabolical effect it has on the price of those cars lucky enough to survive. In the early 1960s, Ford exhibited flights of fancy in their own Custom Car Caravan, at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, and other shows as well. Virtually none of the vehicles produced for those exhibits survive, but one of the few will be crossing the block at Barrett-Jackson in less than three months.

The Ford Thunderbird Italien married a Zagato-riffic roofline with the rocket-age looks of the 1960s T-Birds, and created a car with arresting style. Vince Gardner of Dearborn Steel Tubing handled design and fabrication for Ford. The Italien was one of several show cars that the firm turned out for Ford. Under the aerodynamic pretenses of the roof are four leather bucket seats; two front, two rear. No sliding from side to side along an expansive bench seat in this puppy, you're coddled in the finest wares that Detroit could whip up in the slide-rule sixties. The reason this particular car managed to escape was that actor Dale Robertson took it under his wing, and it later wound up in the care of Don Chambers, a Ford collector. Tom Maruska, who has owned the car since 2006 is working to return this rare bird to its original spec. Now, which Hollywood car nut's got dibs on the Interceptor?

[Source: Motor Trend]

Gallery: 1963 Thunderbird Italien

Rare Ford concept to go on the block at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1960sauctionbarrett jacksonBarrettJacksonfordford thunderbirdFordThunderbirdsixtiesthunderbirdSun, 14 Oct 2007 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Call it Chester - Cheetah making a comeback]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/call-it-chester-cheetah-making-a-comeback/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/call-it-chester-cheetah-making-a-comeback/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/call-it-chester-cheetah-making-a-comeback/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If Cobras don't do it for you on track days, you can now make the same choice that was available in the '60s. While Caroll Shelby was stuffing FE Fords into mild-mannered AC Aces, Bill Thomas Race Cars was developing a competitor called the Cheetah that could run with the fire breathing Cobras, as well as keep pace with Ferrari's 250. The original cars used a 377 cubic inch V8 to speed their way to 11 SCCA victories in 1964. While Bill Thomas had friends at the General, Chevrolet backed out well before the 100 necessary for homologation were built, putting the first nail in the car's coffin. A shop fire finally killed the Cheetah effort. Before disaster struck, Thomas was able to produce only about 16-23 Cheetahs.

One of those original cars was used to help Arizona's BTM whip up a continuation series, along with the original drawings. Thomas has granted BTM the rights to build a new Cheetah, which differs from the original in details, but retains the spirit. There are some vintage Chevy pieces in the new Cheetahs, but the engine is now a ZZ4 350 with aluminum heads. Not underwhelming by any stretch, and it's only got 1,780 pounds to yank around anyway, so acceleration will be brisk. Before you dream of untwisting your favorite road with this thing, take note that it's not street legal. No matter, it's still cool to see something other than a Cobra. While the Cobra is capable, we've seen so much of them in pictures and replicas that we're desensitized. The Cheetah, on the other hand, would stick out more than a Cobra Daytona, and could offer your trackmates serious hell at a vintage racing event.

[Source: Inside Line]

Call it Chester - Cheetah making a comeback originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1960s60scheetahcobracontinuationdaytonaracingshelbysixtiesvintageWed, 01 Aug 2007 14:23:00 EST<![CDATA[For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/for-sale-mazda-hens-tooth-err-cosmo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/for-sale-mazda-hens-tooth-err-cosmo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/for-sale-mazda-hens-tooth-err-cosmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click on the pic to see more of Chuck's shots

Autoblog addict Chuck Goolsbee was out in his E-Type last weekend and naturally wanted to avoid the freeway in such a delightful car. Pulling a Clark Griswold, Chuck got lost on an Indian reservation. Rather than have the neighborhood assist in stripping excess mass from his swoopy kitty, Chuck noticed the sun glinting off a vaguely familiar shape off in the distance. The front bumper wrapped tightly around a low nose, and chrome-ringed headlamps were tucked safely behind plexiglass lenses. "Wow," Chuck thought, "another E-Type!" Car people are social creatures, so Chuck's plans changed in an instant. Passenger footwell clogged with grocery bags, ice cream turning into warm milk, he pulled up to the curb and suddenly realized he was in the presence of something even more special than an E-Type.

[Source: Chuck Goolsbee]

Gallery: 1971 Mazda Cosmo Sport

Continue reading For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo

For Sale: Mazda Hen's Tooth..err, Cosmo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1960s1970s6060s7070scosmocoupefor saleForSalejapanesejay lenoJayLenomazdararerotarywankelThu, 12 Jul 2007 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Chaparral 2E continuation racer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/video-chapparal-2e-continuation-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/video-chapparal-2e-continuation-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/video-chapparal-2e-continuation-racer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Many would argue that the golden-age of racing improving the breed has passed. We still see innovation and clever engineering out there on the closed course, but it takes forever to get to the open road. Back in the 1960s, Chaparrals were arguably the most innovative racers out there. The company practially invented modern aerodynamic practices as they apply to automobiles, and the cars were full of other trick touches as well. Winding Road's James Morse has spent some time with Chaparral's James Musser, walking around one of the company's continuation cars and following it to a presentation at the GM Tech center. A continuation car is basically an exact a reproduction of the original as possible. Musser offers great commentary explaining how the 2E's innovations came about, and it's enthralling to see how items like the rear wing are implemented. Not only that, but the thing sounds positively evil in the best of ways. There are three videos after the jump for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks to tipster Chuck!

[Source: Winding Road]

Continue reading VIDEO: Chaparral 2E continuation racer

VIDEO: Chaparral 2E continuation racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Jan 2007 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1960s60sChaparralJim HallJimHallLeMansPhil HillPhilHillracingvintagevintage racerVintageRacerTue, 02 Jan 2007 11:09:00 EST