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IN THE NEWS: Mini Superleggera™ Vision Blends Traditional and Modern

May 23, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Munich/Cernobbio. The BMW Group celebrates the meeting of the time-honoured and the contemporary at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 with a very special concept: the MINI Superleggera™ Vision. This exclusive interpretation of an open-top two-seater was created by MINI and Touring Superleggera, the tradition-steeped design and coach building house based in Milan. The MINI Superleggera™ Vision is on the one hand a classic roadster, a compact and agile two-seater, expressing the most minimalist and emotional style of motoring; and on the other hand its electric drivetrain gives the car distinctly modern driving dynamics. In collaboration with MINI, Touring Superleggera™ has designed and built an elaborately crafted, unique model which blends the tradition of classic coachwork construction with the MINI’s authentic British styling to create timeless aesthetic appeal.

Modern Britishness meets Italian flair: the iconic design of MINI meets elegant, athletic beauty – interpreted in contemporary style.
Classic Italian body construction and hand-shaped metal sheeting give the MINI SuperleggeraTM Vision a unique emotional appeal.
Both on the inside and outside, the form is reduced to the maximum extent so as to achieve a clear focus on the distinctive driving experience.
The interior reflects traditional coachwork construction in terms of materials and styling, combined with the icons of MINI interior design.
High-end materials such as leather, aluminium and black chrome highlight the clear aesthetics of the interior.

Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design on the concept: “Touring Superleggera and MINI have much in common: both companies attach great importance to their history and this is something which defines their outward appearance to this day. What is more, they both emphasise iconic design and distinctive solutions. These elements are merged in the MINI SuperleggeraTM Vision to create an elegant automobile which interprets a British roadster under the influence of Italian style and hand craftsmanship.”

British design with an Italian accent – the exterior design.

“The MINI SuperleggeraTM Vision elegantly perpetuates what the Classic Mini started 55 years ago: reduction to the essentials. Its energetic, minimalistic design embodies the dynamic essence of an automobile. At the same time it creates unique emotional beauty in combining the past and future of the automotive industry, i.e. traditional coachwork craftsmanship and modern design styling. It was a pleasure for me to design a concept like this.” says Anders Warming, Head of MINI Design.

The perfectly balanced proportions indicate at first glance what the electrically powered MINI Superleggera™ Vision has to offer in terms of a driving experience: the stretched bonnet, long wheelbase and cool, short overhangs convey pure driving fun. As in every MINI, the wheels are set widely on the body, promising a high degree of agility. The passenger cell is slightly set back, further underscoring the car’s dynamic impression. The overall effect of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision is sporty, elegant and dynamic.

The front of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision features the traditional MINI design icons: two circular headlights and a hexagonal grille define the unmistakable front section, providing a contemporary interpretation of features which have become firmly established over decades. There are also striking classic sports car elements such as a wide track and distinctively curved wheel arches that give the front a dynamic presence. The classic MINI bonnet stripes are three-dimensionally embossed and run on into high-quality polished aluminum accents. The inlaid bonnet harks back to classic British roadsters of bygone days.

Meanwhile the horizontal rib look of the radiator grille adds a classic sporty touch. The fact that it is closed is a discreet indication of the car’s electric motor. The two fog lights echo the circular contours of the headlamps, providing a smaller interpretation of them in the radiator grille. The air inlets are also circular, giving the front section a distinctive touch. A flat front splitter made of carbon fibre closes off the front to the road, thereby underscoring the car’s sporty statement down to the last detail.

Classic coachwork construction in a cutting-edge interpretation.
The striking element of the side view is the characteristic “Touring” line. It embodies both the high art of coachwork building and classic aesthetics. Surrounded by tight, seamless surfaces, it traces a precise, vibrant movement from the front wheels through to the rear. This reflects the great craftsmanship and longstanding experience of Touring Superleggera in area of body construction: ever since it was founded the company has stood for fine, light sports car bodies. To this day, Touring Superleggera™ shapes large aluminium sheets by hand using the most performing frame structures. The hand-crafted style of construction gives the MINI Superleggera Vision an aesthetic form which would be virtually impossible to achieve by machine manufacture.

“MINI and Touring both believe that proportions are the key factor of beauty, and share the same values of essentiality and innovation” says Louis de Fabribeckers, Head of design of Touring Superleggera. “In this car all unnecessary equipment or decoration is sacrificed, as performance is gained through lightness and efficiency of the bodywork and interior. The Italian touch is in the proportions and the typical waistline.”

There are very few gaps in the body since it is constructed from large sheets of metal. The result is a closed look that conveys high-quality elegance. The specially developed exterior paint finish Como Blue, almost liquid in effect, stands for both classic and modern style. It particularly underlines the refined Italian touch of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision. The elaborate rims and the elegant exterior mirrors in long-hole look complete with a mirror base in polished aluminium add exclusive accentuations at the side. Echoing the front section, the discreet CFRP sills underscore the sporty character of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision.

Meanwhile the striking fin defines the look of the rear, adding a touch of extravagance. It gives the MINI Superleggera™ Vision a particular longitudinal dynamics while at the same time embodying the unconventional air of both MINI and Touring Superleggera. Like the “Touring” line at the side, it is modeled with enormous precision. The highlight of the flat, wide rear is the unusual lights: designed in the form of a Union Jack divided in two, they combine functionality and symbolism in a way never seen before. In this way they express the British roots of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision while at the same time emphasising the modern LED technology as already used in the new MINI. A chrome bar demarcates the rear lights at the centre of the rear, making this area a classic British jewellery icon. The CFRP diffuser rounds off the rear to the road in sporty style.

Echoing the exterior – the interior design.
The exterior and interior design of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision merge seamlessly. Only a surrounding shoulder line in polished aluminium visually separates the exterior and interior from each other. The border creates an encircling, sporty gesture that consistently perpetuates the clear elegance and generous surfaces of the exterior.
In its styling and in the look and feel of its materials, the interior design celebrates the tradition and the essence of classic coachwork construction. It reflects how the automobile was created: the essential features are quoted – the untreated aluminium sheeting and the tube-shaped structural elements – and they are made visible in the interior by means of a high-quality interpretation. This is most striking in the dashboard. The latter is created from a single aluminium sheet and has been left in the state the automobile body would look like without a paint finish. The generously sized unpainted surfaces and the clearly visible hand craftsmanship of the dashboard go together to reflect the skilled artistry of the coachbuilders. The doors and the sporty 3-spoke steering wheel likewise reveal the traditional method of construction. The structural elements in the doors form a Union Jack, discreetly indicating the British origins of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision.

The Center Instrument in the middle of the instrument panel draws on MINI design styling and has been extended for the MINI Superleggera™ Vision to include a touch-sensitive control element and two circular instruments with metal surrounds on the right. In addition to the analog clock on the far right, the second framed instrument activates the camera which is integrated between the driver and front passenger seat. It has the function of capturing those particularly worthwhile moments on the road.

Classic and modern to equal degrees – colour and material design.
The classic materials aluminium and leather in a virtually untreated state define the reduced aesthetics of the MINI Superleggera™ Vision in the interior. Below the shoulder covered in brown leather in the classical color Sabbia, the materials are kept to the essentials. The structural elements in the doors and centre console are finished in high-quality black chrome, exclusively set apart from the aluminium surfaces and the raw, matt textured paint finish in the footwell area. This deliberately contrasting mixture of structured surfaces and high-end materials gives the MINI Superleggera™ Vision an exceptional charm. The sporty bucket seats are reminiscent of bygone MINI motor racing achievements and are covered in high-quality black leather. True to the MINI Motto “Hide & Reveal”, accentuations in Misty Magenta provide a touch of Italian flair in tongue-in-cheek MINI style in concealed spots such as the two hot air outlets under the instrument panel and inside the door openings in the structural elements of the doors.

Coachbuilding in 2014.

Since 1926, Touring Superleggera is forerunner of advanced automotive design and custom coachbuilding. The company is one of the rare firms offering the whole in-house productive cycle from the first sketch, all the way through surface engineering and structural analysis, style models and prototypes, to turn-key, low-volume production of special bodywork.

“We are delighted that MINI wanted to stimulate an independent initiative and particularly Italian design for the first time”, says Piero Mancardi, CEO of Touring Superleggera. He continues: “This project also shows MINIs attention to preserving and nurturing the skills of craftsmanship incorporated in modern coach building.”

The MINI Superleggera™ Vision epitomizes the potential of “Carrozzeria” in today’s automobile industry: blending creativity and flexibility with rigor and respect of high standards. The result is a car of classic beauty that is also state of the art.

PICK OF THE DAY: Fortified Volkswagen Transporter Syncro DoKa

May 23, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Decades before the crew-cab pickup was a staple of suburban cul-de-sacs, there was the Volkswagen Doppelkabine, or DoKa, based on the Type 2 Bus (Transporter, Kombi, Microbus, etc.). Just as the Microbus variant can be credited as being the first minivan, the DoKa was among the first four-door pickups. Designed for work, they had a passenger cabin—or more accurately, two cabins put together—that could seat up to six people, as well as a bed with folding sides that allowed them to haul a variety of materials. It was frugal, practical, reliable, and its rear-engine/rear-drive layout pushed it through terrain where others bogged down. Nevertheless, VW engineers were also toying around with various four-wheel-drive systems to add greater utility to what was already a capable package. With the help of Steyr-Daimler-Puch, who also helped develop the Mercedes G-Wagen, the first production four-wheel-drive Type 2s rolled off near the end of 1985. Branded Syncro (though not to be confused with the earlier Audi Quattro-based Quantum/Passat Syncro), they transformed the Transporter (and soon after, the MK 2 Golf) into a rugged adventure vehicle. A Syncro today is quite sought after and commands significantly higher prices over its two-wheel-drive counterpart. This is a 1986 Transporter Doppelkabine Syncro with solid underpinnings that has undergone some perfectly acceptable modifications, including a recent Bostig Zetec conversion that increases the stock 2.1 litre motor’s horsepower and torques by over 40% without compromising balance. It also has a GoWesty lift kit with elegant Carat wheels shod with new All-Terrain TAs. With mechanics complete and a solid body, the interior, while perfectly acceptable, is a canvas that can be tailored to the next owner’s own tastes (GTI seats, custom AV, that sort of thing) and still be well under what an unmolested low-mileage example goes for. Find it here on Craigslist in La Mesa CA for a very reasonable $22,000.

PICK OF THE DAY: US-Legal Low Mileage Trabant 601

May 22, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Anyone who has spent any time in Eastern Europe will recognize the Trabant, which at one time was by far the most popular car there. These were the East German equivalent to the Volkswagen Beetle, philosophically anyway. They were basic transportation whose only criteria was to get from point A to point B and be relatively affordable for the average working family. As such they spread throughout the Eastern Bloc with demand far outnumbering supply, despite nearly three million built altogether. At the height of the Soviet era, the waiting list for a Trabant was as long as that of a Ferrari 458 today. Their bodies were made of a lightweight plastic similar to Formica, powered by a two-cylinder, two-stroke 600 cc motor. It was reliable and economical. It was an appliance. That said, weighing only a few hundred pounds more than a Triumph Bonneville with a similar engine, as well as a low center-of-gravity, four-wheel independent suspension and front wheel drive, some weren’t content with an appliance and made these quite capable weekend rally cars. The activity was popular enough to inspire Trabant to make a factory rally car near the end of production, with a bored-out 800cc motor and 5-speed transmission. Production of the Trabant ended shortly after the Wall came down. The West was adopting strict emission and safety standards while the East now had access to more modern cars. There are still some on the road today and those that remain have a rather passionate following. Several “Trabi” clubs exist worldwide, including in the US, where some have been imported and titled in states with less stringent emission standards. This 1980 Trabant P601 is US-legal with a Maryland title. It appears to be in good unrestored condition and has travelled only 55,000 km (~35K mi.). Paint is described as presentable with all original trim. Reliability was always one of the Trabi’s endearing qualities and what the two-stroke motor lacks in sheer horsepower, it makes up for in being very simple for even the least mechanically-inclined to work on, with parts available and help available through online community groups. It’s hard to say if we’ll ever see a Trabant 601 at a Bonham’s, Gooding or RM Auction, but there is enough nostalgia and fervor to keep interest, if not values, growing. Find it here on Craigslist in White Hall, MD for a very proletarian $3,500.

PICK OF THE DAY: All Original 12,000 Mile Triumph TR6

May 22, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Despite being the most popular in Triumph’s TR series, with nearly 100,000 made, the TR6 is also the one with perhaps the best investment potential. The early TRs—the TR2 and TR3—are already seeing some nice returns, which they’ve earned as being among the first to gain worldwide popularity and thus helped to create the British Roadster as a motoring genre. That said, they, like many of their contemporaries, were based on pre-war mechanics—chiefly tractors and other farm implements. Although the TR4 saw a significant styling change with a handsome design by Michelotti (who penned several early Ferraris), the engine was more or less unchanged until 1967. With the introduction of the low-production TR250 (TR5 rest of world), the 4-cylinder was replaced with a more modern inline 6. The US retained twin Zenith-Solex carbs while everyone else got petrol injection (115 bhp vs. 150). This motor carried over into the Karmann-styled TR6, which became further hampered in the US by emissions regulations to a mere 104 hp. British Roadster motoring wasn’t really about horsepower and the TR6, even in US form, managed to live up to what it was about: fun, easy, breezy, and affordable. Having said that, the rules that apply any British Roadster are no different with a TR6: 1.) buy the best you can afford; and 2.) you can’t afford a cheap one. Rust is a common problem, notably the pans and along the links of the rear suspension. What may appear to be an easy fix can easily run into the thousands as they are more complex than one might think and not easy to put back together. Generally, the motors are quite solid, but if there is a need to get inside, it does require an engine-out service. Electrical systems are typical British finicky, but again, a TR6 that has been properly cared for will be less likely to create problems down the road. Another option is to buy one that’s practically new and care for it yourself. That, in essence, is what we have here. This is a final-year 1976 TR6 that is completely original with an astonishing 12,000 miles. It has original paint, original decals, original top, original manuals, original tools, original tonneau, you get the idea. While there are conditions under which miles can be too low, the seller states hoses and rubber have been replaced as needed to prevent leaks and decay. This was also the era when the TR6 stood out with bright colors like Topaz Yellow, Tahiti Blue and this Java Green. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a nice change from the red, maroon and dark blue we so often see. Prices on all TR6s have been steady over the last decade with a recent upturn. No. 1 cars have risen the sharpest and this surely isn’t far from that if it’s not already there. Preserve for posterity or enjoy as nearly new. Not a bad investment either way. Find it here on Craigslist in Forest, VA for $25,000, with a link to the seller’s site here.

PICK OF THE DAY: Impressive Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider

May 20, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Over its 30-year production run, the Type 105 Alfa Romeo Spider captured the essence of La Dolce Vita as no other car before or since. Associated with Italian movie stars and a movie star in its own right—appearing in films like Under The Tuscan Sun, Wayne’s World, Fletch, and of course The Graduate—it was stylish, nimble, sporty, and radiated a spirit of carefree adventure. From the iconic boat-tailed Duetto to the Kammbacks to the more unified design of the final series, they remained more or less unchanged in their appearance, whilst engine choices ranged from the early cars’ twin-cam 1600 to the lively 2.o litre motors with Motronic injection used in the Series 4. These last Spiders, produced from 1990-1994 are the most refined, with wraparound taillights and body-colored bumpers and side moulding, along with the aforementioned Bosch EFI motors that significantly improved reliability and power band, making these the most drivable of the 105s. Even today, they feel as modern as an MX-5 Miata or late Model Honda S2000, yet retain that unmistakable, classical Alfasong exhaust note. While mid-generation Spiders are lingering in the $5-10,000 range, these Series 4s have been escalating and are second only to the Duettos for collectibility. Certainly there are many that were bought for enjoyment and have well over 50,000 miles. This was also the only 105 Spider to offer automatic transmission, so there are some decent examples that can be found in that price range. Guideline examples, with under 50,000 miles, solid history and proper originality, are getting harder to find for under $15K. This 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider looks to be mostly original, with only an aftermarket CD player straying from its factory spec. While not original, the new top and upholstery are factory correct, giving it a fresh appearance without too many points deducted. It is said to have been extremely well-maintained throughout its life, which has seen just under 40,000 miles. For about the same money as a second-hand Miata with similar miles, it’s an investment-quality classic Italian roadster that’s amoré. Find it here on Craigslist in Richmond VA for an attractive $12,000.

IN THE NEWS: The Bond Car’s Muse Unveiled at Ian Fleming‘s Office

May 20, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Tuesday 20th May, London – A 1954 Aston Martin DB 2/4, which is understood to have been the inspiration for James Bond’s Aston Martin, was unveiled by international auctioneers Coys at the Old Admiralty Building, where Ian Fleming had his office.

The car, which will be auctioned at Coys’ traditional Blenheim Palace sale on 12th July, is believed to have been the inspiration for the Aston Martin featured in the original novel Goldfinger.

This model is a Vantage specification 1954 DB 2/4 Mk I, bearing the registration JBW 974. For many years it sat idle, collecting dust and rust, until a father and son purchased it for restoration. It was during the restoration that a set of unique special modifications came to light, along with the car’s connections to the British Intelligence Service and the creator of Bond himself, Ian Fleming.

These one-off features seem to be the same as the fictional Bond car in Goldfinger, including reinforced steel bumpers, concealed lockers, heavy-duty anti-interference ignition system, driver’s seat connections for two-way radio and/or a homing device, and a Halda Speed Pilot device, which accurately computes time and distance in relation to a pre-selected average speed.

Chris Routledge, Managing Partner of the auction house, said: “The story around this car and its discovery is phenomenal. It was supplied new on 4th July 1955 to the Honourable Sqdr. Ldr. Phillip Ingram Cunliffe-Lister DSO, whose father was Lord Swinton, a close confidant of Winston Churchill and head of MI5 and the Security Executive during WWII. Moreover, the vehicle was regularly at Ian Fleming’s direct next-door neighbour in Kent, and indeed it was the next-door neighbour’s house which was also used as inspiration in the Bond novels, this time as Sir Hugo Drax’s residence in the novel Moonraker.

He added: “This could be one of the most important discoveries of all time, confirming the link between the undoubtedly most famous spy in history and possibly the world’s most iconic sports car marque.”

The car will be on show at the Stratstone of Mayfair Aston Martin showroom on Park Lane, 113 Park Lane, London W1K 7AJ, until the end of the week. It will then go on display at the foyer of the Grange St. Paul’s Hotel, 10 Godliman St, London EC4V 5AJ.

IN MOTORSPORT: Ferrari Marks Milestones at Monaco

May 19, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Maranello, 19 May – This will be the 61st Monaco Grand Prix to count for the Formula 1 World Championship, the 72nd in all. The track layout has always used the same roads in the Principality, although over the years, there have been ten slight modifications to its length which is currently 3.340 kilometres. Ferrari has won eight times, equivalent to 13%.

The first ever Monaco GP in 1950 was the second ever championship race and Scuderia Ferrari’s first. 19 cars started but 10 of them got no further than the opening lap. Giuseppe Farina, in an Alfa Romeo crashed at Tabac and was hit by Jose Froilan Gonzalez in a Maserati. The road was blocked and the rest of the group couldn’t avoid them and it ended in a carambolage. Juan Manuel Fangio won for Alfa Romeo, with Alberto Ascari second in the Ferrari.

The race did not return to the calendar until 1955, when Maurice Trintignant won in a Ferrari. The Frenchman was noted for his tidy style and made the most of the misfortunes of others, winning from ninth. To this day, there has only been one winner who started further back.

Although the Scuderia won elsewhere, victory in the Principality escaped it for 20 years, with Niki Lauda taking the 1975 win in the 312 T and doing it again the following year.

In 1979, it was an all Ferrari front row with Jody Scheckter ahead of Gilles Villeneuve, but only the South African finished where he started. It was the Canadian’s turn two years later in the 126 CK when he made no mistakes, while overtaking Alan Jones in the Williams with just four laps to go. The spectacular win made waves in North America and Gilles and the number 27 Ferrari even featured on the cover of “Time” magazine.

This victory for the Scuderia was followed by another barren patch in Monaco. It took the arrival of Michael Schumacher to see a return to victory. In 1996, the German took pole but failed to finish that crazy race which saw only four cars make it to the line, the winner being Olivier Panis, the Frenchman having started 14th. The next year, at the wheel of the F310B, the German outclassed the field to win with 53 seconds in hand over Rubens Barrichello in the Stewart and over a minute in front of his team-mate, Eddie Irvine.

Two years later, Schumacher and Irvine finished first and second, while in 2001 Michael won for the fifth time in the Principality to equal Graham Hill’s achievement, only one win short of the Monaco record holder, Ayrton Senna.

PICK OF THE DAY: One Family Owner 68,000 Mile Buick Riviera Boattail

May 19, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

From the beginning, the emphasis of the Buick Riviera was on styling, which further dictated how the car was to feel and drive. In the ‘60s, there was the knife-edged coupé, which in 1965 finally got the iconic clamshell headlamps as Styling Director Bill Mitchell had intended from inception. The late ‘60s saw a Riviera that was maturing, perhaps not as distinctive, but still very stylish. Then, in the early ‘70s, there was the Boattail. It was at once futuristic and retrospective, with a nod to the vee-shaped fastback design of the mid-year Corvettes, with other cues owing to Bugatti and Aston-Martin. And while far from a sports car like these, there was an almost celestial confluence of sportiness, elegance and muscle. It came at the end of an era, before the fuel crisis, when bigger was better in Detroit. And it was big—over two tons—yet the curves and proportions work so well that it seemingly needs that much mass to pull it off. Power came from a 455 cubic-inch V8 putting out 255 hp; not bad for an emissions-choked car from the early ‘70s, but it needed every bit of that. Behind the wheel, there is no doubt that something very big is at work under the hood, but there is also a sense that it could easily do more, as evidenced by Pontiac’s High Output and Super Duty 455s of the same time that were producing well over 300 hp. That said, while there was muscle under the food, the Boattail Riviera, as those that came before it, was about personal luxury. To that end, it had plush seats, power everything and a pillowy ride. Inside the car, there was little to distinguish it from Cadillac’s Eldorado, although the Buick’s split-window-like rear glass gave it more of an airy feel. Furthermore, the rear-drive layout of the Riviera gave it more of a cockpit environment over the Eldo, with the driveshaft tunnel creating some separation. As collectibility goes, there does seem to be some quiet interest in ‘71-‘73 Boattails. They have seen slow but steady growth over the last few years, despite a soft economy. Compared to the coveted ‘65s, which peaked at around $60K, then fell sharply and haven’t recovered, the Boattails are a relatively safe bet. Subsequent generations increasingly became variations of a GM platform and were eventually ubiquitous to any other G Model, at least until the final series in the late ‘90s with their jelly-bean styling. This is an excellent original 1973 Riviera that has had a single family owner, covering only 68,000 miles. It is said to have been routinely maintained and the condition of the paint and interior are indeed evidence that it has been lovingly cared for throughout its history, including a recent service. Chrome, glass and trim appear to be equally nice and fit is surprisingly good for a big ‘70s two-door out of Detroit. It looks especially good in white over saddle, evoking a sort of refined bad-assness, not unlike the glam rock of that era. It’s not hard to imagine the two going together. Find it here on Craigslist in Dublin CA for a very reasonable $8,800.

PICK OF THE DAY: Blue-Chip Volkswagen Westfalia Camper

May 16, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

It’s hard to imagine that at some point in life, we haven’t all wanted a VW Camper. When you think about it, the mere idea of it—a mass-produced recreational vehicle that’s suitable for everyday use—holds enormous appeal and yet has no “market segmentation.” Volkswagen and Westfalia-Werke, an outfitter of camper trailers at the time, did it just because. It is inconceivable to think that it would ever get past a concept stage today. Yet, through generations of the Type 2 it’s based on—and more than five decades—Westfalia converted nearly half a million VW vans that were sold through Volkswagen dealers until the end of the official collaboration in 2003. This was clearly more than a cult following, though it was certainly every bit that and continues to be. Early split-window Westfalias in No. 1 condition can easily approach or eclipse six figures and the very capable Syncro versions of the T3 are close on their heels. That said, not many can be found in No. 1 condition and that is perhaps àpropos, as these were vehicles meant to get out there and get used. After the split-windows, kitting became quite ubiquitous through the generations. Aesthetically, there’s a styling choice between the more classic T2 (1968-1979), the boxier ‘80s T3 version (1980-1991) and the sleeker T4s (1991-2003). Although neither is what anyone would consider high-performance, engine choices evolved through the years from a traditional 1.6-litre flat 4 of the early cars (which steadily increased to 2.0 L) to the 200-hp VR6, with diesel and TDI versions as well. For those seeking a little less embarrassment on hills or in passing situations, they can be modified with turbocharged Subaru or six-cylinder Porsche powerplants without too much trouble. With that, we’ll turn our attention to today’s pick. It falls just about in the middle of the affordable Westy range, both in terms of year and price. It is in many ways the quintessential Westfalia. As a 1987, it has the slightly more powerful (and far less combustible) water-cooled 2.1-litre flat 4 producing a mediocre-but-ample 95 hp. It looks to be exceptionally clean with very little wear on both paint and upholstery. It has had a fair amount of recent service and with 91,000 miles, is considerably fresher than most. All the camp equipment (stove, refrigerator, sink, hookups, tables, swivel seats, etc.) is said to be in good working order and the canvas pop-top appears to be in excellent, waterproof, bugproof shape. The only flaws reported are two small rock chips in the windshield, passenger window converted to manual (driver is power), rear wiper motor, and once in a while an oil drip from the drain plug (not uncommon in horizontally-opposed motors). There are some lower-mile examples in showroom condition available through specialists like GoWesty or private party for $40K or more; there are many more well-used, high-mileage, devil-may-care ones that can be had for $10K or less. This appears to be a very complete (has the original window sticker), ready to enjoy Westy for reasonable money. Find it here on The Samba for $19,000.

PICK OF THE DAY: Straight 1969 Citroën DS21 Safari

May 15, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

When it was introduced in 1955, what the Citroën DS lacked in performance, with its motor dating back to the 30s, it certainly made up for in innovation. To begin with, the teardrop shape designed for optimal aerodynamics and comfort was like nothing else on the road and it remains one of the most distinctive cars ever made. It was also the first car to use a hydropneumatic suspension, making the car literally float over road imperfections whilst allowing the car to lower and raise to as high as 10 inches. The hydraulic system was also used to operate the power front disc brakes, also an industry first as well as power steering. Furthermore, its unique mid-engine front-wheel-drive layout provided excellent traction without much compromise to balance. This was further aided by a wider track at the rear that all but eliminated typical front-drive understeer. With the launch of the DS21, its 2175 cc fuel-injected motor (one of the first European marques to feature fuel injection) provided ample power to make it a fine boulevard cruiser, if not a competent touring car. Combined with its suspension, the improved motor was the basis for some successful rallying including the Rallye Monte Carlo. Perhaps its greatest notoriety came when Charle De Gaulle’s DS21 Limousine outran Algerian gunmen… on two flat tires. In wagon (Safari) form, its cavernous cargo area was equally presidential. In fact, in its native France and other parts of the world, it was recruited for ambulance, paddy wagon and other commercial duty. Today, whether in 4-door saloon or 5-door Safari form, they turn heads not only for their uniqueness, but that to even those unfamiliar with the specifics, they just look like they were ahead of their time in so many ways. While we in the US were regulated to sealed beams and were slighted of the way-ahead-of-its-time directional headlamps, driving a DS21 in good nick feels in some ways like we still haven’t caught up. Unfortunately, like so many cars with hyropneumatic systems, it was also the DS’s achilles heel. Replacing the system, at least until recently, has been more work and expense than the cars were worth. Unlike other suspension only systems, the DS’s controlled brakes and steering as well, making it a very pricey undertaking. However, a spike in the rare Chapron-built convertibles to near six-figure prices has lifted all DS and even the downscale ID prices. In recent years, DSs have begun to get rescued, straightened out, or restored. Today’s example is a 1969 DS21 Safari that is a long-time California car and appears to be original, straight and rust-free. In addition, the spheres and accumulator, which are at the heart of the hydro-pneumatic system, are said to be in excellent shape. With only 82,000 original miles, this could be kept in a high driver condition or with some relatively minor sorting could be something more investment grade and the seller has it priced accordingly, with a No. 3 fetching low teens whereas a No. 1 car can bring just shy of $30K. This one’s in the middle here on Hemmings in Stillwater MN for $19,000.

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