MY FEEDLY

A Kawasaki W650 Bobber By Deus Ex Machina

This Kawasaki W650 bobber was built by Australian company Deus Ex Machina in Sydney back in 2009, long before the company became the global juggernaut it is today.

This bike is a great example of the custom motorcycles built by Deus, with its simple lines and real world rideability. Many of the motorcycles built by Deus used Japanese motorcycles like the SR400 and W650 as their starting points, due to their simplicity, affordability, and reliability.

Fast Facts

✱ Deus Ex Machina is today the most famous custom motorcycle company in the world, though they’re now better known for their apparel.

✱ The custom motorcycles built by Deus were initially almost all related to surfing or beach-side cruising, some even had surfboard racks on the side.

✱ This X650-based bobber has a simple hard-tail design, with a sprung saddle, a low curb weight, and an unsilenced open exhaust.

Kawasaki W650 Bobber By Deus

Deus Ex Machina was founded in Sydney, Australia by Dare Jennings in 2006, he was also the founder of 1980s Aussie surf brand Mambo.

Above Image: The W650 engine is a parallel twin with an unusual bevel gear driven overhead cam operating two valves per cylinder.

Deus was originally known for their t-shirts, custom motorcycles, surfboards, and lifestyle gear. Initially Deus grew largely by word-of-mouth, eventually snowballing into one of the biggest surf and lifestyle brands of its kind in the world, and it’s now owned by luxury behemoth LVMH.

This Kawasaki W650 was built back in 2009, the early days of Deus and just three years after the company was founded in 2006. It uses the venerable 650cc parallel twin from the W650, a unit-construction engine with an unusual bevel gear driven overhead camshaft influenced by mid-20th century British engine designs.

With 50 hp at 7,000 rpm the 429 lb (195 kg) Kawasaki W650 was aimed squarely at the modern classic offerings from British motorcycle maker Triumph, the Bonneville in particular.

The W650 has a 5-speed transmission and a chain final drive, and from the factory they came with a relatively standard duplex steel tube frame, twin rear shock absorbers, telescopic forks up front, and a front disc brake paired with a rear drum.

The Kawasaki W650 was introduced in 1999 and sold until 2007, it was later superseded by the Kawasaki W800, a remarkably similar motorcycle with a larger 800cc parallel twin offering more power.

Above Image: This bike is a bobber, characterized by its hard tail rear end and sprung saddle.

This bobber custom from Deus features an entirely new rear end, the original swing arm and twin shocks have been replaced with a rigid tubular steel subframe converting the bike into a hard tail.

Back in the early days of the motorcycle they were essentially all hard tails due to the fact they were made using frames directly influenced by the early safety bicycles.

Although it looks like it might struggle pass a roadworthy inspection the bike actually does tick all the required boxes thanks to its subtle front and rear indicators, head light, tail light, rear license plate, front and rear fenders, and centrally-mounted speedometer.

The engine now breathes through twin carburetors fitted with high-flow, pod-style air filters, this combined with the open exhaust will result in an engine that’s slightly more powerful and considerably louder than the original would have been from the factory.

This Deus W650 is being auctioned live on Collecting Cars at the time of writing, it has just 3,050 kms on the odometer and it’s being offered for sale directly by Deus from their original Camperdown headquarters in Sydney.

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 A Kawasaki W650 Bobber By Deus Ex Machina appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/kawasaki-w650-bobber-custom/
via gqrds

Vintage Race Car For Sale: Datsun 240Z

This Datsun 240Z has been completely rebuilt to compete in vintage motorsport events, and thanks to the remarkable racing successes of the 240Z in period competition the car should be eligible to compete in a significant number of events.

Described simply as a 1973 Datsun 240Z Racing, this car was built into a track car in England before being exported to the Netherlands to compete in historic racing. In 2016 the car was completely restored by SC-Automobil KG in Austria, and today it presents in ready to race condition.

Fast Facts

✱ The Datsun 240Z is one of the most important Japanese sports cars of all time, and played a significant role in establishing the Japanese as credible builders of world class sports cars.

✱ The 240Z enjoyed a number of major motor racing successes including winning the SCCA C Production national title in 1970 and 1971, a third place in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1972, and a win in the East African Safari Rally in 1973.

✱ With styling that’s been compared to both the Jaguar E-Type and the Porsche 911, the 240Z remains one of the most desirable Japanese sports cars of its era.

The Datsun 240Z

Datsun 240Z was critical to establishing Japan as a nation of genuinely competitive sports car builders, alongside other period cars like the Toyota 2000 GT, the Mazda Cosmo, and the Datsun 510 (also known as the Datsun 1600).

Above Image: This car has a body kit that gives it wider wheel arches for wider wheels and tires, as well as a more aerodynamic nose and a front air dam.

Before this time Japan had been seen by many as a nation that manufactured small, inexpensive cars that offered good reliability and often good fuel economy to boot.

Nissan released the Datsun 240Z in 1969, in various world markets it was also known as the Nissan S30 or the Nissan Fairlady Z.

The car followed a relatively standard formula for a sports car of the era, it has a steel unibody chassis, a front mounted engine feeding power to the rear wheels, two doors, a long hood, and a fastback style roofline.

Power was provided by a 2.4 liter (2,393cc 146 cubic inch) single overhead cam inline-six cylinder engine that sends power back through a 4 or 5-speed manual transmission. All four wheels are independently sprung, with MacPherson struts, drag links, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, and an anti-roll bar up front.

In the rear the car rides on Chapman struts with lower wishbones, coil springs, and telescopic shock absorbers. Steering is by rack and pinion, and it has disc brakes up front with drums in the back.

As you can see the formula behind the car wasn’t revolutionary in itself, however it mixed all the ingredients together well enough to earn the company over 500,000 sales of the model worldwide while enjoying a significant boost to their reputation.

The Datsun 240Z Race Car Shown Here

The car you see here started out as a stock standard 1973 240Z and spent much of its life this way, in more recent years it was rebuilt for vintage racing.

Above Image: The original 2.4 liter engine has been replaced with a 2.8 liter unit from a Datsun 280Z, producing 280 hp.

As mentioned in the introduction above, the car was sent to the Netherlands to race in historic events and was later restored to the condition you see in the images by SC-Automobil KG in Austria.

The car’s current specification list is impressive, it includes a newly rebuilt 2.8 liter engine from the Datsun 280Z, now with triple Mikuni 48 carburetors and a racing exhaust, capable of 280 hp. It’s clear that the engine must have had a lot of internal work done to achieve that power output however the listing doesn’t go into detail.

Power is sent through a twin-disc sintered clutch and a 5-speed gearbox into a a limited-slip differential with cooling. It has adjustable front and rear suspension, Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners, Ronal magnesium wheels, and a 60 liter racing fuel cell.

The car is fitted with an aerodynamic body kit that features a longer nose, flared wheel arches, a deep front lip spoiler and a small rear spoiler. It’s listed as being ready to race following service checks with a price guide of €40,000 – €60,000 which works out to approximately $47,200 – $70,800 USD.

If you’d like to read more about this 240Z or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Artcurial.

The post Vintage Race Car For Sale: Datsun 240Z appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/datsun-240z-race-car/
via gqrds

(via Shooting - JAGUAR E-Type Cabriolet Série III V12 Manual...

(via Shooting - JAGUAR E-Type Cabriolet Série III V12 Manual Gearbox - PCH Automotive)

from Tumblr https://somar78.tumblr.com/post/656881762373353472

Ex-Ayrton Senna: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16

Two examples of the Mercedes-Benz 190E Cosworth were supplied to Team Lotus in 1986, a multiple-championship winning Formula 1 team, for use by Ayrton Senna and other team members.

The car you see here is believed to be the one used by Senna, with documentation to back this up, and it’s now being offered for sale by Bonhams on the 17th of July with a price guide of £25,000 – £30,000 or $34,600 – $41,500 USD.

Fast Facts – The 190E Cosworth

✱ The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 was originally developed for rally, however the dominance of the Audis with their all-wheel drive systems made this form of motorsport less appealing to Mercedes.

✱ The engine in the 190E 2.3-16 was developed by British engineering firm Cosworth using the standard Mercedes block with a new DOHC head and a slew of new parts.

✱ The car would race in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM or the German Touring Car Championship) against the best saloon cars of its day.

The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth

Mercedes originally began the project to develop the car that would become the 190E 2.3-16 in the early 1980s with a view to taking the car rallying.

Above Image: The interior of the 2.3-16 was kept very similar to the standard road car.

This was around the same time that Audi appeared with their soon-to-be dominant all-wheel drive Group B rally cars, and it was clear that the 2.3-16 with its rear-wheel drive wasn’t going to be a match for them.

Mercedes executive didn’t have to look far to find a new series for the 2.3-16 to join, it was modified for touring car duties and sent to fight for wins in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft or the German Touring Car Championship).

Rather than developing the car in Germany, Mercedes had contracted British engineering firm Cosworth to create a motorsport version of the standard Mercedes-Benz W201 190E. This was perhaps a slightly controversial decision as there was no shortage of homegrown German talent capable of doing the work, however Cosworth was one of the most respected motor sport engineering firms in the world, a title they retain to this day.

190E 2.3-16 – Specifications

Cosworth engineers took the standard inline-four cylinder engine in the 190E and created a new DOHC head for it, with the largest valves they could fit and aggressive cam profiles.

Above Image: Cosworth badging was kept off the engine, possibly to avoid advertising that it had been hopped up by the Brits.

Lightweight pistons were added however the connecting rods, bearings, and bearing caps were tested and found to be strong enough for the application.

A slew of additional changes were made to the engine, resulting in power output figures of over 350 bhp in race trim. The road cars developed for homologation purposes produced a slightly more reasonable 183 hp at 6,200 rpm and 174 lb ft at 4,500 rpm.

Power was sent back through a Getrag 5-speed manual dog-leg gearbox into a limited slip differential (LSD) to the rear wheels, with later cars receiving driver adjustable LSDs.

The Cosworth 190E was sold in two major iterations, the 2.3-16 and the 2.5-16, with the latter car also being offered in both Evolution I and Evolution II forms in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Today these cars are highly collectible, along with their period arch rival, the BMW E30 M3.

Above Video: The 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions, featuring Ayrton Senna announcing his arrival to the Formula One world in no uncertain terms.

Ayrton Senna And The 190E 2.3-16

The story of the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 and Ayrton Senna will be forever intertwined thanks to the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions.

This was an exhibition race organised by Mercedes-Benz and held at the Nürburgring, with a grid made up of 20 of the world’s top drivers including nine of the fourteen Formula One World Champions.

This grid contained the most F1 World Champions of any major motor race in history, a title it retains to this day. The new and little-known Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was included in the race, all drivers were piloting identical 190E 2.3-16s making it a true test of skill, with the equal speed of all cars offering level playing field.

Senna famously won the event, nearly driving the wheels off his Mercedes in the process. As a result of this win it’s likely that the 190E 2.3-16 always occupied a special place in his heart.

Above Image: A subtle bodykit was added to the 2.3-16, it would get more outlandish as the model series continued.

The 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Shown Here

The car you see here is one of two supplied new to Team Lotus International in 1986, it’s not explained why these two cars were given to the team, however we do know that they were intended for use by Senna, and other team members including Lotus F1 Management.

In December of 2020, the car has had quite a bit of work done, including having its floors, sills, and wheel arches repaired professionally. It is reported to be running and driving well, and it has a full service history that includes old bills, MOTs, and tax discs.

The car is now being offered for sale by Bonhams, the seller explains that they have research and documentation on hand to prove that this was the car used by Senna, however it would be critical that any prospective buyer investigate this thoroughly before bidding.

If you would like to read more about this car or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images courtesy of Bonhams

The post Ex-Ayrton Senna: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/mercedes-benz-190e-2-3-16/
via gqrds

(via Shooting - PONTIAC Bonneville 455 5.7 V8 Cabriolet - PCH...

(via Shooting - PONTIAC Bonneville 455 5.7 V8 Cabriolet - PCH Automotive)

from Tumblr https://somar78.tumblr.com/post/656859076225040384

For Sale: A Ferrari 642 F1-91 F1 Car Front Wing – Ex-Alain Prost 1991

This is a front wing used by Alain Prost on his Ferrari 642 F1 car during the controversial 1991 season. The four time F1 World Champion could manage only five podium finishes and no wins in 1991, and was fired before the end of the season due to conflict between himself and the team.

The Ferrari 642, known as the F1-91, was an evolution on the previous 641 chassis. It was slightly longer and wider, but kept many of the same parts as its predecessor. The car was powered by the Ferrari Tipo 291 engine, a 3,499cc 65° V12 capable of 725 hp at 14,500 rpm, producing 207 hp per liter.

Formula One cars like the Ferrari 642 were fitted with quickly removable front wings, like the one you see here, as front wings are often damaged during close quarters racing. Cars were able to pull into the pits and get a new set of rubber, a splash of fuel, and a new front wing and be back out on track without losing too much time.

Above Image: Onboard footage of the Ferrari 641 F1-91, there is some Japanese commentary however there’s plenty of engine sound and it gives you a good idea of just how brutal these cars were to drive.

This front wing is made from carbon fiber and it still carries its original livery and sponsor’s logos including Goodyear, Magneti Marelli, Weber, and Digital.

The wing was acquired by its current owner from a former Ferrari Formula One mechanic, and it measures in at 140cm wide and 108cm long. The weight isn’t listed however it’s safe to say that it’ll be surprisingly light due to the fact that it’s made from carbon fiber.

If you’d like to read more about this front wing 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 in Monte Carlo with a price guide of $7,070 to $9,430 USD.