Monday, February 25, 2013

Alpl Hillclimb 1971

The International Alpl Hillßclimb was hosted by the Styrian Automobil & Motorsports Club in the years from 1954 to 1990. A time when racing was much more colorful than today even in black and white. When you have seen recently race officials which loose hubcaps from their Mustang, big fat Commos, strange driving styles, an Alfa Romeo sponsored by SPAR or a couple which manage to drive equally elapsed times?

Die Rennleitung
courtesy of Erwin Jelinek/Technisches Museum
Opel Commodore
courtesy of Erwin Jelinek/Technisches Museum
Moto X style
courtesy of Erwin Jelinek/Technisches Museum
SPAR Alfa
courtesy of Erwin Jelinek/Technisches Museum
girl/boy racing
courtesy of Erwin Jelinek/Technisches Museum


Friday, February 22, 2013

Living dead

About 12 years ago this sad looking Interceptor was offered to me by a german car dealer. He stopped by in Vienna to deliver a classic car to one of his customers. He left the pictures but regardless the low prize of 4000 Deutsch Marks I hadnt to much emotions to look at the Jensen in real life. The original silver color was long gone and 128/4515 (new delivered to the Channel Islands) was the typical living dead Jensen which sells from one yard to another. Btw watch the MIG in the background :-)
 







Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Austrian Muscle

The great Franz Albert racing his Camaro at the airfield Langenlebarn in 1970 and 71. After his career as racer Albert opened an engine shop and became famous for turboed and supercharged engines powering Koenig Ferraris and Mercedes of the 80s.
The Camaro was later used in hillclimb trials and ended in the yard of my friend Michael K. The aluminum small block chevy was apart for service, the chassis suffered some rust damage. In the early 90s Michael offered me the Camaro but I couldnt afford the prize of 50k austrian schillings. The last trace of the car so far, its owned by a famous austrian rally driver and will be restored to former glory.


courtesy of Arthur Fenzlau/Technisches Museum


courtesy of Arthur Fenzlau/Technisches Museum
courtesy of Arthur Fenzlau/Technisches Museum

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Deep House, Jazzy Interceptor Mk II

... is the star on the Nigel Hayes album (...But Is It Art).
It is 125/5017 a silver grey Interceptor II with black interior originaly deliverd new to Austria in February 1970. For several years it belonged to a viennese businessman and at that time the pictures for the album were taken in front of the "Sommerbad Laaerberg". The album was produced by the label Sunshine Enterprises based in Vienna and if you like electronic club music its really worth to listen.






Tuesday, January 22, 2013

GS110X headwork

Recently I did some cylinderheadwork for my friend Martin from www.twostroke500.com. The 4-valvehead had some heatcracks but with proper welding and new seats the problem should be fixed. The head will work on a 1260cc engine which powers his new Suzuki XR69 project.

heatcracks

repair work

trialfit
 
XR69 sample

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Jensen Interceptor pop up

There was a Jensen Interceptor popping up near Vienna for sale. I had a look at this LHD MkII before end of the year. It was stored outside several years under a tonneau cover in Klosterneuburg near Vienna. Short time later my friend Ernst  took care of the Interceptor. The car was originaly delivered to Germany1970 and in early 1971 registered here in Austria by a major textil industrialist.
The original color was Reef Blue with black leather, the car was built in series with other Interceptors for the US market so it has sidemarkers and chromed Rostyle wheels.

Klosterneuburg
                

new home
                

Monday, December 31, 2012

Late Happy Jensen Xmas

....thanks to Jody K. from The Jensen Mailing List

Twas the night before Christmas, and I was certain
not a 541 was stirring, even with racing trim.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that new parts soon would be there.

The Jensens are nestled all snug in the shed,
While owner's dream of summer days ahead.
Some up on blocks, some in car covers,
some donating parts for the benefit of others.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew in a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
was hidden by the dust from the objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but eight tiny Healeys and an Interceptor this year!

With the driver enveloped in smoke so thick
I could barely tell it was old Saint Nick.
Chugging and popping, his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

On Healeys, On CV8s, that I keep fixin,
or next year its back to Comet and Vixen!
Hmm, Jensens or Reindeer, he thought while stopping,
they both have merits, and they both have droppings.

As quick as a Jensen's water will boil,
As fast the crankcase will drain of oil,
Up to the housetops the little Spits flew,
the Interceptor shedding parts, as they do.

And then in a twinkle, I heard on the spire
the squealing and slipping of each little tire.
I knew as I heard their Yuletide jingles,
I was going to have some well oiled shingles!

He was dressed all in fur, from toe to ear,
a bad choice in a Jensen, even this time of year!
Sweating profusely, he jumped from his ride
and down the chimney with gifts at his side.

His eyes how they twinkled, still teary from smoke.
His face regained color, as he thought with a joke,
the Jensens are fun but look at my clothes,
what once was red, is now black rose!

And where is my trademark round little belly
that shook when I laughed like a bowl full of jelly?
Always there proudly as I made the rounds,
One night in a Jensen and I've lost forty pounds!

Less chubby and plump, but still a jolly old elf
I laughed when I saw him; I drive a Jensen myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but Jensen parts he did toss
from Delta, Martin-Robey, and Moss.
All the stockings were filled and he turned to reflect,
I sure hope I got those part numbers correct!

Up the chimney he rose, ready to depart,
he said the Jensen prayer: Lord please let them start .
I was amazed when they started on the first try,
and like the down of a thistle away they did fly.
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,

Jensen Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Jensen Interceptor back to the origins

 
After 12 years of Indy headed 440 nitrous injected and stroked 500ci engines my Jensen Interceptor deserves the right to get back his original low compression hipo RB engine. Its got a fresh up to stock specs. I will try some different carb combinations, from Holley spreadbore to Carter Thermoquad and Rohester Q-Jet to figure out best power and mileage.
 
Indy engine comes out...
 
...and will find a new home in a 71 Charger

...the bluprinted stock engine near completion

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Jensen Interceptor Office

Nice vid of Jensen Interceptor promotion car in a London departement store.

JENSEN OFFICE CAR

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Got Colors?

Yes the Mexxspeed Ghia paintjob is already done. After 250hrs hard work by ToxicTom and Mexx the finished result is just amazing. ToxicToms artworks and paintjobs are one of the best in whole Europe.



The finished product

Slideshow direct link

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Time goes by

Whilst kids, family and work keep me off writing news, my old friend Mexx put another 2500hours work in his Ghia Racer. The hell knows who gave him the energy to move forward on the project this fast. You may say other racers are built in one year. Thats right but they are built from shopped parts. This one is built from 100% Mexx parts. Still the maxim is “how to modify dam everything…” which was overruled the last years by “how to fabricate dam everything…”

Pictorial overview ( take your time, about 400pics)

Slideshow direct link



First rollout this summer? Hopefully there is a lot of work left.

If you want to read some comments from Mexx go to http://www.cedrag.com/ and scroll down the news to March 8th and 3rd. To contact Mexx use info@mexxspeed.com

Monday, December 28, 2009

Merry Xmas 2009

...and a happy 2010!

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The Mopar Steel Tree

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Prince Valiant

Everyone know Hal Fosters stories about Prince Valiant. Would he have used our new purchase as workhorse nowadays? Of course, nice red interior with fancy mopar mats, airconditioning, auto trans and v8.

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1966 Plymouth Valiant V100

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1966 interior

Friday, May 09, 2008

1969 Shelby GT500

The first warm days of 2008 I did some tuneup work on a friend's 1969 Shelby GT500. The car was fired up after 20 years of storage and 2 years of restoration. The untouched 428 Super Cobra Jet did run well but had no idle. After some fiddling the problenm was localized, a wrong gasket did hinder the fuel flow to the idleslots. So far I remember this Shelby was in Austria from the beginning. It has a unique steel oilpan with cooling tubes and fins this style was also used on some other 428CJ cars delivered in Europe.

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Austrian GT500 4speed

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'69 Shelby 428CJ oilpan

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'70 Mach1 428CJ oilpan

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Jensens in the V8garage

2002 was the year of Jensens. Beside my yellow '73 MkIII I already owned several years I bought a metallic blue '75 MkIII S4 and a silver '74 MkIII Convertible.

The blue Saloon was the original Frankfurt Motorshow Car of 1975, first LHD wooden dash. Originaly white color it was in very good mechanical condition but had some former accident and rust repair. It did go back to Germany in 2003.

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'75 MkIII Saloon

The silver '74 MkIII Convertible was one of 83 RHD cars and came to Austria in the late 80's. It was the converted to LHD and partly restored but completely disassemled. It did go back to homeland UK in 2003.

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'74 MkIII RHD Convertible

On the following pic you see a '72 MkII FF owned by my friend Martin T. whilst a visit in Vienna. Helping him out with a throttle cable to go back to Leipzig.

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'72 MkII FF fourwheeldrive

Josephs silver '70 MkII awaiting service work beside my yellow MkIII. This one was originally delivered to Austria and is now completely restored.

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'73 MkIII, '70 MkII Saloon

Sunday, March 23, 2008

New resident ...

...in the V8 Garage. Couldnt resist to buy an old Suzuki T500 Titan. Its a '72 model with Pearl Orange and White paint scheme on the tank. These are really rare here in Austria beside the Triple RamAir Suzis. These T500 were big two-strokes that worked more reliable than many four-strokes of the time, required less maintenance and featured oil-injection direct into the crankcases along with massive and durable main roller bearings. Quite fast for its capacity it put many contemporary 500cc and 650cc four-stroke twins to shame.

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Need some TLC

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Titan ad 1970

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Titan ad 1972

Friday, February 29, 2008

Balancing Rig

To build a crankshaft balancing rig is more difficult than you will think. We were aware of problems but as usual further ones expose during the building process.

Currently fighting these problems

-weight of the table and base
-rigidity of the table and base
-induced noise of roller bearings
-design, rigidity of crank holders
-usability of drilling fixture
...

Thursday, January 31, 2008

The next weeks....

...I will not get bored. Fact is, I am running out of engine stands. In the waiting queue 350 SBC, 403 Olds, 383 and 440 Mopar. Further we built a balancing rig for V8 cranks, the necessary Schenk Ind. measuring equipment is already there and used by Jakadofsky Jet Engines to balance their turbines which turn up to 120k rpms. The rig has provisions to run shafts and cranks on either roller bearings or teflon prism.

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Balancing rig

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Vibration control

Monday, January 07, 2008

Hot Rod Hangar

Knud Tiroch and his son Dominic will run a Reality Soap called "Hot Rod Hangar" from on 7th of January 2008 on SAT1 channel. Main content will be driving not wrenching. No easy task with old cars :-) BTW " Hey dude, yes Knud I mean you, there is still a new 440engine waiting in my garage to burn rubber of your Challengers rims off. Pick it up"



Teaser

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

727TF transmission

Overhaulin the 70' Cuda Torqueflite transmission was an easy task. It takes some hours to inspect all the parts and change clutches, seals and some bearings. Due to low milage all of the hard parts were in pretty good shape.

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Insideview

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valuable scrap