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1980s Supercar Review: The Rare Cizeta-Moroder V16T

This short film from a 1980s-era Australian television show gives a glimpse into what was then the newest and most exciting supercar manufacturer in the world Cizeta-Moroder.

The Cizeta-Moroder V16T is the most extraordinary supercar that most people haven’t heard of, it was built by a small team in the 1980s and 1990s, and it was powered by a mid-mounted V16 engine that was mounted transversely (sideways) behind the driver and passenger seats.

The design of the V16T typically reminds people of the Lamborghini Diablo, which isn’t surprising when you discover that both the Diablo and the V16T were designed by the same man – Marcello Gandini.

Gandini’s original vision for the Diablo was softened somewhat by other designers before production, an act that disgusted the famous Italian designer. It’s been said that the V16T is far closer to his original vision for the Lamborghini.

The project to build the car that would become the Cizeta-Moroder V16T began in the late 1980s when former Lamborghini engineer Claudio Zampolli began to develop an all-new supercar that would be capable of over 200 mph.

Rather than using an outside engine or developing his own V12, he decided to go one further. Claudio realized that as a new automaker he needed to get headlines and push the envelope, so along with his small team he developed a new V16 using a custom crankcase with heads and some other parts coming from the Lamborghini Urraco 90° DOHC flat-plane V8.

Above Image: This photograph shows the unusual engine and transmission orientation.

Fellow Lamborghini alumni Marcello Gandini joined the project to provide the styling and it was funded in large part by legendary record producer Giorgio Moroder. The first prototype carried the Cizeta-Moroder V16T name and badging, the “Cizeta” comes from the Italian pronunciation of Claudio Zampolli’s initials “Ci-Zeta,” and of course, Moroder contributed his surname.

The model designation V16T comes from the V16 in the back of course, with the “T” referencing the unusual fitment of the transmission, which gives the powertrain a “T” shape when viewed from above (see image above).

All production cars after the first prototype carried only Cizeta V16T badging as Moroder pulled his support, though it’s believed that he still owns that original prototype.

Sadly, Claudio Zampolli died this past week in hospital at the age of 82. Tributes to the great man poured in from all over the world, including from former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar who was a lifelong friend of Claudio’s. In fact it was Claudio who introduced Hagar to Edward Van Halen and helped create one of the most memorable bands of all time.

This film gives a rare glimpse into the early days of the Cizeta and includes footage of Claudio Zampolli talking about his new car. It’s believed that only approximately 20 examples of the car were built, and today they’re start to be discovered by a whole new generation of fans.

If you’d like to read about a V16T that came up for sale recently you can click here to visit our article.

The post 1980s Supercar Review: The Rare Cizeta-Moroder V16T appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/cizeta-moroder-v16t/
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(via » Brazilian Boy Rawcar.com Automobile photography —...

(via » Brazilian Boy Rawcar.com Automobile photography — Classics, Drag Racing, Drift, Rally, F1, GT, DTM, Custom, Supercars, Exhibitions and Museums)

from Tumblr https://somar78.tumblr.com/post/656376357856690176

The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla – A Parachute Deployable Italian Off-Roader

This is the Fiat 600 Savio Jungla, it was originally developed for the Italian military as an ultra-lightweight vehicle that could be deployed by parachute.

The idea was inspired by the British Mini Moke and the instruction to develop and build the Savio Jungla came from the big man himself – Gianni Agnelli.

The Mini Moke was also an ultra lightweight car that had been developed to appeal to the military, with a simple, utilitarian body and a drivetrain made up of widely available production automobile parts – from the famous Mini.

Fast Facts – The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla

✱ The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla was developed to be parachute-deployable by the Italian military.

✱ It was designed with a lightweight body and the drivetrain from the mass-produced Fiat 600, helping to keep costs down.

✱ The military didn’t use the vehicle in the end but it was used by the Italian Forestry Service, the Carabinieri (Italian police), and the rich and famous who wanted a simple beach car.

✱ Just 3,200 examples were ever made and today they’re highly collectible.

The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla

The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla followed the same basic recipe as the Mini Moke, though with the engine mounted in the back driving the rear wheels rather than in the front driving the front wheels as with the British car.

Above Image: The Savio Jungla can seat four adults and carry approximately 88 lbs of luggage.

Simplicity was a key element of the design criteria and as such the car used a very basic, squared off metal body designed to accommodate four adults and up to 40 kilograms of equipment. The Fiat 600 was being produced in large numbers in Italy at the time as an inexpensive car for the masses, and so many of its parts were used to ensure that the Savio Jungla could be produced cheaply, quickly, and easily.

The car was powered by a 767cc inline-four cylinder, overhead valve engine from the Fiat 600 and power was sent through the 4-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. Maximum power wasn’t blistering by any means at 32 hp, however it only needed to move a 578 kg curb weight and so a top speed of 95 km/h was still possible depending on the load.

Although it was intended for military use the Savio Jungla was never used by the Italian armed forces in any significant numbers. It did become the go-to vehicle for the Italian Forestry Service and it was used by the Carabinieri.

Perhaps the most famous users of the boxy little Fiat were the wealthy holiday makers of France, Italy, and Monte Carlo. These open-topped four seaters were perfect for the short drive down to the waterfront from your manor house up on the hillside, often with an Aperol spritz in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.

The most famous of these beach cars was the Kelly 600. This was a special version of the Savio Jungla with a tassled folding fabric roof, woven rattan seats, and some other rattan features. They were made by a Monaco-based Fiat dealership and original examples are now worth a king’s ransom.

Many of these cars were fitted with simple canvas tops to help hold the sun at bay and it was common to fit the cars with rattan seats as they were better for accommodating people still wet from swimming in the sea.

Above Image: The Savio Jungla uses the same engine and transmission as the Fiat 600.

Mini Mokes were also used for this purpose, and the French equivalent, the Citroën Méhari, was also a common sight at waterfront restaurants during the period. The Méhari looked remarkably similar to the Savio Jungla and many have suggested that it drew very direct inspiration from the Italian car, first appearing just three years after the Fiat.

Fiat would keep the Fiat 600 Savio Jungla in production from 1965 until 1974 when it was discontinued. With just 3,200 examples made the model wasn’t a major success, however it has become a cult classic in recent years and many of them have been exported to countries across Europe and over to North America.

The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla Shown Here

The car you see here has been modified by its current owner into semi-Kelly 600 specification, including the rattan seats, rope doors, and tassled folding top.

The listing explains that the owner used the car in this specification for three summers in the South of France, as you do, and he’s only selling this one now as he’s found another one he wants to buy.

If you’d like to read more about this unusual Italian car or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Artcurial. It’s due to cross the auction block on the 19th of July with a price guide of €20,000 to €30,000 with works out to approximately $23,700 to $35,600 USD.

Images courtesy of Artcurial

The post The Fiat 600 Savio Jungla – A Parachute Deployable Italian Off-Roader appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/fiat-600-savio-jungla/
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For Sale: A Porsche 911 (996) GT3 R Engine And Gearbox – 411 HP at 8,200 RPM

This is an original Porsche 911 (996) GT3 R Porsche “Works” engine and gearbox that has been disassembled, refurbished, and reassembled by Michael Kessels Sportwagen & Mobiler Rennsportservice.

This engine now has zero operating hours since its 2014 rebuild and it’s ready to once again take to the street or track.

Porsche first unveiled the 996 version of the GT3 in 1999, 1,868 of them would be built between 1999 and 2005, they were created specifically to homologate the car for the FIA GT3 cup.

The 3.6 liter liquid-cooled flat-six used in the 996 GT3 (Type M96/77) is capable of up to 411 hp at 8,200 rpm, it could likely have produced more however it was fitted with the 43.1 mm air restrictor plate to comply with FIA class regulations.

The 996 GT3 would go on to become wildly successful for Porsche, taking class wins at the 1999 and 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, and racking up a slew of other wins on tracks in Europe, North America, and around the world.

This engine uses the Bosch Motronic 3.1 engine management system and it send power to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, with external cooling, pressurized lubrication, and a limited-slip differential.

The package you see here comprises an original engine and H-pattern gearbox from a 996 GT3 R that was built in 2004. It was removed because the car was being upgraded to a 3.8 liter RSR specification engine with its matching sequential transmission.

This engine and transmission is now being sold as a single package through Collecting Cars, it’s essentially a plug and play solution for any 996 911 GTR owner looking for a second engine to use for racing, or a replacement engine for a blown original.

If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing. It’s being auctioned live at the time if writing, with the bidding currently sitting at £600.

The post For Sale: A Porsche 911 (996) GT3 R Engine And Gearbox – 411 HP at 8,200 RPM appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/porsche-911-996-gt3/
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A Land Rover For Hikmet Sugoer – Berlin’s Sneaker King

This unusual Series 3 Land Rover was built to the exacting specification of Hikmet Sugoer, otherwise known as Berlin’s “Sneaker King” and a name that’ll be immediately familiar to anyone with a passion for shoes.

Although we often associate Series Land Rovers with men who have oil under their fingernails and a fascination with leaf springs, this Land Rover wasn’t built for one of them.

Hikmet Sugoer had it built specifically for his wife, Katja Sugoer, who is an ardent, life-long fan of classic four-wheel drives, Land Rovers in particular, and has always wanted one.

Fast Facts

✱ This 1974 Series 3 was saved from the scrapheap and restored to better-than-new condition by Falcon Design in Germany.

✱ The project was overseen by Berlin’s Sneaker King Hikmet Sugoer, who had it built for his wife Katja Sugoer.

✱ The completed Land Rover was paired with a matching Toylander Series 3 for the couple’s young son, in the same colors as Mom’s car.

The Sugoer Land Rover

Above Image: The Sugoer Land Rover features a fully galvanized frame, disc brakes, new suspension, and a fully restored engine, transmission, transfer case, and axles.

Not that long ago Katja agreed that Hikmet should get himself a Porsche 912, a car he’s loved for years and had finally decided to buy. In return, Hikmet approached his fellow German’s at Falcon Design and together they set to work laying out the details of Katja’s dream Land Rover.

The project started as they all do at Falcon Design, with an extremely rough vintage Land Rover that many might consider beyond saving.

Once it had been rolled into the workshop by hand the painstaking inspection and disassembly process began, consuming countless hours of labour and resulting in one pile of parts that are destined for the scrap heap and another pile of parts that are going to be carefully restored.

The project vehicle was a 1974 short wheelbase Series 3 Land Rover that had seen better days, it was fitted with a homemade bull bar and rust had had its way with much of the steel. The suspension was noticeably lower on the left than on the right, but the chassis and engine were able to be saved, as well as a number of original body panels, though all needed repair work.

Once repaired the chassis was galvanized and given a bespoke paint job, all new suspension and disc brakes were fitted, along with new wheels and tires, and side steps to make it easier to get in and out. The engine, gearbox, and transfer case were all meticulously rebuilt, as were the axles, all to a condition that is likely better than it was when they left the factory originally.

Above Image: This is the rolling chassis before the body went back on, you can see the unpainted zinc coating on the chassis from the galvanizing process.

The body was finished in light blue which is offset with a black roof and tan leather upholstery throughout. Marine-style wooden paneling is fitted in the rear between two fold down seats, and the dashboard is also upholstered in leather rather than the original black plastic.

The completed Land Rover has both a hard top and a folding soft top that can be swapped over depending on the season, there’s also an Isofix anchor point inside for their baby’s car seat – an unusual feature in a vehicle of this vintage.

The final touch was to have a Toylander Series 3 made for their son in the same colors as Mom’s, which can be seen in the image up at the top of this article.

If you’d like to see more from Falcon Design you can click here to visit their website, and if you’d like to see more of Hikmet Sugoer’s work you can click here to follow him on Instagram.