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Alfa Romeo Matta AR51 – The Rare Mille Miglia Class-Winning Italian 4×4

Alfa Romeo Matta AR51 was Italy’s answer to both the American Jeep and the British Land Rover, though truth be told it was more advanced than either of them thanks to its DOHC inline-four which gave it Mille Miglia class-winning performance.

Alfa Romeo set to work developing the Matta (Italian for “mad”) in the hopes of winning a contact with Italy’s Ministry of Defense who were seeking their own home-grown military vehicle to rival the Jeep – many of which remained in the country after WWII.

The British Land Rover has been designed in the late 1940s and released in 1948, Alfa Romeo’s head of design Giuseppe Busso considered the Land Rover to be superior to the Jeep and so the company acquired one and set about building a prototype that included by Land Rover and Alfa Romeo parts – including the twin cam Alfa Romeo 1900cc inline four-cylinder engine.

This prototype proved the concept but was considered a little too primitive, so the Alfa Romeo design team developed a new chassis with independent front suspension with torsion bars and double unequal length wishbones, and a live axle on leaf springs in the rear. This live axle was fitted with a limited-slip differential though there was also provision for manually locking the axle via a lever positioned next to the driver.

Above Image: The model designation AR51 stands for “Autovettura da Ricognizione” or “Reconnaissance Car.”

The utilitarian steel body of the Matta was influenced by the Jeep however the Italians did refine the lines and add a subtle Alfa Romeo shield in the grille between the headlights.

Unlike the exceedingly simple engines used in vehicles like the Jeep, Land Rover, and in the Italian Fiat Campagnola, the Alfa Romeo Matta used an advanced double overhead cam engine with an alloy head, a dry sump, and hemispherical combustion chambers.

This stands in stark contrast with vehicles like the Jeep that used a solid iron flathead engine, and the Land Rover and Campagnola that used simple pushrod overhead valve designs.

Once approved for production Alfa Romeo built approximately 2,000 examples of the Alfa Romeo Matta AR51 for military and police use, and just over 150 examples of the Alfa Romeo Matta AR52 for civilian use.

Although a highly capable 4×4, the Matta was competing directly with the Campagnola which was considerably cheaper and more mechanically simple. In the end of the day the Campagnola would win out over its rival and the Alfa would leave production by 1954.

Above Image: The AR51 used an advanced engine for the time, a DOHC 1.9 litre inline-four cylinder capable of 65 hp.

This could have been the end of the road for the plucky little Matta but fate and the motorsport gods had other ideas. In the 1952 Mille Miglia (in the Military vehicle category) the Matta would trounce the Fiat Campagnola by 42 minutes and take a decisive class victory – this of course means that the Matta is now eligible to take part in the modern day Mille Miglia.

Elsewhere in the world of motorsport there Matta would compete in the Vaticano–Peking, the Monte Grosso, Artico Lualdi, Fratellanza, Peace, and it would take part in the Bonzi Expedition to Indonesia.

Many original Alfa Romeo Mattas succumbed to rust over the decades between their production and now, surviving examples are becoming popular with collectors as the vintage four-wheel drive sector continues to grow.

The fully restored Matta AR51 you see here is now being offered by Collecting Cars, it was put through the famously rigorous German TÜV inspection process in May 2020, passing with no issues, and it remains valid until May 2022.

If you’d like to read more about it or place a bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images courtesy of Collecting Cars

The post Alfa Romeo Matta AR51 – The Rare Mille Miglia Class-Winning Italian 4×4 appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/alfa-romeo-matta-ar51/
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Restore Or Preserve? A 1965 Volkswagen Splitscreen Panel Van

There are few vehicles as universally loved as the VW Type 2, the air-cooled van has a number of different names depending on region and specification including Transporter, Kombi, Microbus, Bus, Camper, or Bulli.

Much like their distantly-related Porsche 911 cousins, the Type 2 has seen their values skyrocket in recent years, but good deals can still be had by buying examples that need some work done.

The current owner of the Type 2 you see here have embraced the rat rod ethos, proudly displaying the van’s decades of patina and sun exposure. This is a look that will appeal to many, others may prefer to restore the van back to factory original specification, and others still would want to drop a Subaru engine in the back and really upset the purists.

The Volkswagen Type 2

Being a famously logical people, the Germans named their new van the “Type 2” as it used a modified version of the drivetrain and running gear from the Type 1, otherwise known as the VW Beetle.

Above Image: As a “Double Door” this Type 2 has twin opening doors on either side for easy loading and unloading.

As the story goes it was actually Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon who conceived of the idea of a VW van after seeing the simple parts movers or “Plattenwagen” used at the Wolfsburg factory that had been built on the Beetle platform.

Pon sketched the first design in 1947 and it would set the basic architecture for the Type 2 including the driver/passenger sitting at the very front with a long cargo section in the rear, and boxy styling to maximize interior space.

Volkwagen was flat out filling Beetle orders and so the Type 2 wouldn’t see production until 1949. Secondhand versions would be cheap by the 1960s and as a result they would form an essential part of the Hippie movement, providing an all-in-one solution for cheap transportation, a home on wheels, and flat-sided billboards for messages of peace, love, and flower power.

So popular did the van become that Volkswagen has kept vans in production from 1949 to the modern day, the sixth generation is called the VW Transporter T6, it was released in 2015 and it remains as popular as ever.

The 1965 Volkswagen Splitscreen Panel Van Shown Here

The Type 2 you see here is a 1965 Volkswagen Splitscreen Panel Van, as you may have guessed the “split screen” part of the name refers to the dual windscreen arrangement, a key feature that distinguishes earlier Type 2 T1 vans from later Type 2 T2s.

Above Image: Originally an American-delivered vehicle this VW is left-hand drive.

This van is believed to have an air-cooled, flat four 1641cc engine, though this engine capacity isn’t confirmed, and it sends power to the rear wheels via a four-speed transmission.

The van is wearing what is believed to be mostly original Pigeon Blue paintwork, with the surface rust and paint fading having been kept deliberately in place for that popular rat rod-look.

The vehicle has had some bodywork done in the past and it would now benefit being in the care of a new owner who can choose the next direction for it – be it a full restoration or a light refurbishment.

The van is currently for sale on Collecting Cars, at the time of writing there’s still some time to bid with the current high bid sitting at £6,200. If you’d like to read more or visit the listing you can click here.

Images courtesy of Collecting Cars

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from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/volkswagen-splitscreen-panel-van/
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The 1970 MTD Minibike – An Unusual American Minibike

Starting in 1970 the American company MTD released its first line of minibikes, this was right in the middle of the minibike revolution that was sweeping much of the United States and the western world, and within a few short years MTD were producing some of the best minibikes on the market.

MTD is one of those companies that has tried their hand at manufacturing almost everything over their 89 year history (and counting). The company name stands for (Modern Tool and Die Company), it was founded in 1932 right in the heart of the Great Depression, despite this they managed to thrive, growing rapidly and providing much needed employment to people in Ohio.

Over its first few years MTD manufactured an extraordinary range of parts, everything from window channels and automotive stampings, to pedal bikes, kiddie cars, and playground equipment.

During WW2 they made mess kits for the Army and shortly after the war they began building the product line that would become their bread and butter – powered gardening implements like lawn mowers, garden tractors, and other power equipment.

By 1970 its was clear that minibikes weren’t just a flash in the pan, there were popular model lines being made by Fox, Rupp, Honda, and even Indian were in on the game. MTD was well positioned to enter the market as they already had a suitable engine supplier, and they had all the tooling and expertise they would need to make these simple motorized two-wheelers.

All MTD minibikes were powered by Tecumseh engines rather than the popular engines made by Briggs and Stratton. Tecumseh is a fascinating if little known company that was largely focussed on manufacturing air conditioning systems.

Interestingly Tecumseh was the first to develop and in-window air conditioning unit and the first to develop a hermetically sealed compressor – vastly improving the performance and reliability of refrigerators.

In 1956 Tecumseh brought Lauson Manufacturing Company in order to acquire their small gasoline engine designs and tooling. It would be this new wing of Tecumseh that would provide the engines used by MTD minibikes, including the bike you see pictured here.

Over the course of the MTD minibike production run, which lasted a few years, they developed some quite unique designs. Many of their minibikes had both front and rear suspension which was unusual for the time, and some high-end models had leading link front suspension that was arguably the best in the industry at the time.

The MTD minibike you see here is an SS400 model, it has both front and rear suspension, a tubular steel duplex cradle frame, a drum brake in the rear, and a unique seat that attaches directly to the top of the twin rear shock absorbers, hinging at the front to provide some cushioning from bumps for the rider.

These little motorcycles typically had a simple torque converter and no transmission to make them easy to ride for kids and novices. The exhaust was tucked up under the seat and it exits out over the rear fender – this design was created specifically to keep hot exhaust pipes safely away from children’s legs, arms, and hands.

It’s increasingly rare to find MTD minibikes in great condition, Honda minibikes are the most common of course but in recent years there’s been more interest in these early American designs.

The bike shown here has been through an extensive nut and bolt restoration, it has a candy apple red frame, a 4 bhp Tecumseh engine, a pull start, chrome fenders, chrome handlebars, and it appears to be in as-new condition throughout.

If you’d like to read more about this MTD or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Mecum. It’s due to cross the auction block in late March, and there’s no reserve.

Images courtesy of Mecum

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from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/mtd-minibike/
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The Matra Murena – A Rare (And Affordable) 1980s Mid-Engined Wedge

The Matra Murena is an unusual mid-engined French sports car from the early 1980s, it features the wedge-shaped styling that was so in vogue at the time, and it looks almost like a sibling of cars like the Fiat X1/9 or the DeLorean DMC-12.

Much like the sports cars being built by companies like Lotus and Matra’s fellow Frenchmen at Alpine, the Murena uses a steel chassis with a glassfibre body, all independent suspension, and there’s a four cylinder engine in the back.

Matra was a fascinating company, they built everything from supersonic aircraft engines and air-to-air missiles, to race winning Formula 1 cars and a series of unusual sports cars for the road like the Murena you see here.

The project to build the Murena began in the late 1970s, Matra needed a replacement for the Bagheera model that addressed the ongoing issues with rust in the car’s steel chassis. An entirely new design was created that shared some styling influence with its forebear, and an all-new steel chassis was designed – this time it was fully hot-dip galvanized to effectively eliminate the scourge of corrosion.

This chassis was fitted with an all-new fiberglass body consisting of 12 individual panels which helped keep the weight of the car relatively low, depending on which model you chose the car had a curb weight of between 930 kgs (2,050 lbs) to 1,030 kgs (2,271 lbs).

Above Image: The Murena has an unusual three-abreast seating arrangement, the middle seat folds down to become an arm rest.

Over the course of the 1980 to 1983 production run there were three primary engine options offered in the Murena – the lowest powered version was the Murena 1.6 specification which included a 1.6 litre Poissy four-cylinder producing 88 hp and 98 lb ft of torque.

The next engine up the list offered a significant boost in power and performance, the Murena 2.2 was powered by a 2.2 litre Type 180 engine was capable of 115 hp and 134 lb ft of torque.

The highest specification option was the “Préparation 142” used in the Murena S, this was essentially a modified version of the Murena 2.2 engine with 139 hp and 138 lb ft of torque.

Unusually, the Matra Murena features three-abreast seating much like its predecessor. The central seat is designed to fold down and become an armrest when not in use – which is how many owners kept their cars semi-permanently.

The reason for this seating arrangement was that there wasn’t adequate space for 2+2 seating and it was decided that having more than two seats would make the cars palatable to a wider range of buyers.

Above Image: The 2.2 litre engine in this car is now producing 144 bhp thanks to a series of upgrades.

Over the course of its production run just over 10,600 Matra Murenas were built, many have survived to the modern day thanks to their galvanized chassis and fiberglass bodies. A slight majority of cars built were the Murena 1.6 version, however there were just over 5,000 examples of the Murena 2.2 and Murena S built – which are the models typically sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

The car you see here is an original 2.2 model that has had significant engine upgrades to take power from 115 hp up to 144 hp. The engine now has a reground crankshaft, a re-bored block, a reconditioned water pump, the cylinder head was replaced, it has twin 45mm Dellorto carburetors, and it has a new camshaft especially made by Piper Cams.

The car sends power back through a new clutch on a lightened flywheel and a 10% higher fifth gear has been fitted for better highway cruising. There are invoices on file for over £6,600 including the engine work, a new paint job, and extensive Waxoiling of the chassis.

The car is now due to roll across the auction block at the Bonhams MPH March Auction with an estimated hammer price of between $14,000 and $21,000 USD. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.