Automotive Car Magazine: Transporter

Showing posts with label Transporter. Show all posts

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Worlds fastest car hauler. 200 mph, had the same engine as the Mercedes Benz winning race car it transporter in the 40's or 50's.

Update: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2008/10/16/the-cheetah-transporter-an-unlikely-el-camino/

Holtkamp finished work on the Transporter in about 1961, judging from the dates of the magazine articles Hacker’s collected (Sports Car Graphic, November, 1961; Car and Driver, December, 1961; and the above-mentioned How-To Book of Hot Rods). Holtkamp also apparently planned limited production, offering Cheetah Transporters for $16,000. It appears, however, that only one was built, the one Hacker currently owns. According to Hacker, Holtkamp owned the Cheetah Transporter until 1971, when he sold it to Dean Moon. Moon owned it until his death, at which point it was sold to race car collector Jim Degnan, who in turn sold it to Hacker in 2006.

Friday, June 3, 2011

My best of show award goes to these 2.. coolest vehicles I saw

Here's a twofer, the COE Mercury truck

In Canada, Mercury made trucks as well as cars... unlike the US where Mercury isn't known for trucks.

http://www.mercurypickup.com/ there's a lot of info here.

I have an affinity for the COE, Cab Over Engine,( truck ) most were haulers, and few survive from any manufacturer. So coming across this pic of the Mercury COE amazed me, and I think I should show you guys the strange thing that is a 1) Canadian vehicle 2) A Mercury truck, 3) A COE.

Canadian divisions of the big 3 had strange names and some unusual combinations of american parts on models you wouldn't find those parts on with US models of the same year. Wierd and interesting stuff.

Here's a bit of Ford truck info... most of this is obsolete info, but still neat to learn.

In 1948 Ford introduced a restyled Pickup which continued through 1952. During this period Ford introduced the "F" prefix. The 1/2 ton was called an F-1. The medium duty 3/4 ton trucks were referred to as an F-2. The F-3 designation meant a one ton truck. The "F" series continued through F-8 for big trucks.
Between 1948 and 1968 Ford of Canada used the "F" prefix for Ford and "M" for Mercury. In 1948-49-50 nominal tonnage ratings have been replaced by a series designation, the code numbers indicates the G. V. W. when equipped with tires of appropriate capacity rating. Each code number is arrived at by dividing the rated G. V. W. of the series by 100. Thus F-47 (M-47) indicates a G. V. W. of 4700 lbs., F-135 (M-135) indicates 13500 lbs., etc. Each truck series is rated to its G. V. W. In 1951-52 Ford got back in step with Ford of USA with F-1 (M-1), F-2 (M-2) and so forth. (G. V. W. - Gross Vehicle Weight - weight of chassis, cab and body, plus payload)
The next Pickup style covered the years 1953-1956. The cabs were totally restyled. The front windshield was now smartly slanted, increasing the windshield area tremendously. The "F" series numbers were modified to F-100, F-250, F-350, and so on.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

One unique vehicle, the transporter of course, Renntransporter

It is the recreation of the famous Renntransporter or 'race transporter', used by Mercedes-Benz in the Fifties to carry the Grand Prix Racers to the tracks throughout Europe

Initiated by Mercedes-Benz race manager Alfred Neubauer, who wanted a fast option of getting race cars to the circuit or back to the factory if necessary, the Prototype-Department created a hybrid between a sports car and a truck.

It started with a frame of a 300 S, extended it in the front and the rear, installed a 300 SL engine with direct fuel injection and 192 hp. For the cabin, components of the model 180 or Ponton were used - extended in width by several inches. The grille came from the SL model - only the rear glasses could not be found in any existing model and had to be especially manufactured. This was neccessary to allow a W 196 Streamline to fit on the Renntransporter.

When it first appeared on the race tracks, the Renntransporter received more attention in the paddock than the actual Mercedes-Benz race cars. It did not fail to increase the image of Mercedes-Benz as a manufacturer of superb automobiles : 'If their trucks are already that fast and powerful, how much faster must be their other cars ?' But the days of the original Renntransporter were limited. After Mercedes-Benz withdrew from racing in 1955, it was still used for several years to promote the brand abroad. It even came briefly to the U.S., where it received a Max. Speed 105 mph painted on the rear fenders. Constant questions and rumors about the potential top speed were the reasons. In late 1957, it returned to The Works in Stuttgart and ended up at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Due to limitations of the static of the higher floors in the museum it was denied a permanent place in the exhibition. Ten years later and in the state of disrepair it was scrapped. In 1993 an effort started to recreate what was so easily discarded some 25 years earlier. The result was first presented at Goodwood in 2001 and is expected to be part of all major events in the years to come.

The 1955 race car (no idea what the deal is on the new one) was numbered with 722 for the time of it's start on the 1955 Mille Miglia, when Sterling Moss won driving this particular race car. Stirling set the record that year for the fastest Mille Miglia, averaging about 100 mph, and no one since has beat that speed record in 52 years!

For more on this Transporter : http://oleragtop.blogspot.com/2008/12/vintage-auto-transporters.html

Dean Moon purchased a tribute transporter that is just as cool http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/worlds-fastest-car-hauler-200-mph-had.html#links