Classic Car Performance website update !!

Why Lotus took 21 years to fit the Esprit with a V8

Why Lotus took 21 years to fit the Esprit with a V8

At the British International Motor Show in 1984–nearly a decade after the Esprit’s debut–Lotus showed a prototype of a home-built V8 engine, this one inside the Etna, a Giugiaro-penned concept coupe. Lotus estimated that this 4.2-liter V8 would produce 320 horsepower while weighing not much more than a four-cylinder unit.  However, that was as far as that project went. We never got to see the Etna, a plush GT that would have succeeded the Esprit, and neither did we hear that V8 roar. That money thing again. Lotus did eventually create a V8–but not for Lotus. The company’s lucrative engineering...

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Simple Winter Storage Tips

Simple Winter Storage Tips

  1. WASH / POLISH / CLEAN:  Winter is the ideal time to show some love to your classic, and give it a refreshing spring clean. Ensure the exterior is immaculately cleaned using car shampoo to get rid of all dirt and grime, and don't forget to apply wax polish to the bodywork and chrome. This will prevent bird droppings, tree resin and other substances from causing damage to the paint. The interior also needs attention - cleaning and vacuuming will make it spotless and ready for use when the weather gets warmer.  Place baking soda refrigerator packages in the...

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Rare, Real 14k Mile Ford GT40 road car goes to Auction

Rare, Real 14k Mile Ford GT40 road car goes to Auction

  Of the 30 Ford GT40s made for the road, this one carries less than 14,000 miles and remains highly original. Race car driver Umberto Maglioli once owned this example. Maglioli is best known for racing for Porsche and Ferrari, and won the Targa Florio three times as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring. This example goes on sale for the first time in 30 years. The seller says it has never been wrecked and was restored by RUF Automobiles. Find this 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1 Road Car up for auction at Mecum. As a point of reference, Hagerty currently values a Mk1 Road Car in No. 1...

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November 8, 1866 – Herbert Austin, founder of Austin Motor Company, is born

November 8, 1866 – Herbert Austin, founder of Austin Motor Company, is born

In the annals of automotive history, Herbert Austin stands as a visionary whose legacy continues to reverberate through the world of automobiles. As the founder of the Austin Motor Company, he played a pivotal role in shaping the British automotive industry during the early 20th century. His company’s journey, from a humble beginning to eventual merger with Morris, is a fascinating tale of innovation, competition, and corporate consolidation. Herbert Austin was born on November 8, 1866 in Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire, England. His early years were marked by a fascination with engineering and a penchant for experimentation. This passion for mechanics...

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A spot of English T, English Model T that is....

A spot of English T, English Model T that is....

The Ford Motor Company began  intercontinental production on this day in 1911 when the first English Ford Model T left a factory in Trafford Park, Manchester, England, the first Ford assembly plant outside of North America. Three years after production started here, Britain’s received its first moving assembly line at the plant. This allowed the factory to pump out more than 20 Ford Model T cars per hour.  An expansion of the plant after World War I significantly increased manufacturing capabilities. By the beginning of the 1920s, 41 percent of all registered cars in Britain were Fords. To further improve...

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