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Richard Hammond Is Selling His 1969 Porsche 911T

This beautifully presented 1969 Porsche 911T is currently owned by Richard Hammond, who has decided to part with and some other cars to fund a new TV series he’s working on about classic car restoration – the working title is The Smallest Cog.

There are likely very few people in the automotive world who don’t already know who Hammond is, but for the uninitiated he’s a former presenter from the Top Gear television show, appearing alongside James May and Jeremy Clarkson.

Under their stewardship Top Gear became the single most watched factual TV show in the world, and the three men now present a show together on Amazon Prime called The Grand Tour.

Fast Facts

✱ Richard Hammond bought this 1969 Porsche 911T a number of years ago and it has formed a favorite member of his own personal collection of notable cars and motorcycles.

✱ The car is an American-delivered, left-hand drive model with 56,000 miles, which are believed to be original.

✱ The Porsche 911T was the “Touring” model of the car, and as a 1969 model it benefits from the upgrades applied to the car in the late 1960s including the larger 2.2 liter engine and the slightly longer wheelbase that helped improve handling.

The Porsche 911T – T Is For Touring

When the Porsche 911 was first introduced in 1964 it had large shoes to fill, it was intended to eventually replace the aging but much-loved Porsche 356, a car that had been in production since the late 1940s.

Above Image: Hammond is selling off a few members of his car and motorcycle collection to fund an all-new TV series about classical vehicle restoration.

Porsche was planning to call their new car the “901”, however French automaker Peugeot owned a trademark on three letter model names with an “0” in the middle, so the name was famously changed to “911” at the last minute.

The 911 featured a slew of upgrades over its predecessor, it was built using modern unibody construction and it featured more modern McPherson strut and trailing-arm suspension. The engine used was a new air-cooled flat-six with a capacity of 2.0 liters, and single overhead cams per bank with two valve per cylinder.

Although no one new it back int 1964, the 911 would go on to become one of the most successful sports car models in history, over one million of them have been built over the past 57 years, and 911s have won countless races and championships.

The early 911s from before the “impact bumper” years of 1973 onwards are widely considered the most beautiful thanks to their more aesthetically pleasing styling. Styling that was lost to a degree when the large impact bumpers were fitted to pass increasingly stringent US safety legislation.

Richard Hammond’s Porsche 911 Shown Here

The nicely preserved Porsche 911T you see here benefits from the above mentioned celebrity ownership of Richard Hammond, one of the most enduringly popular automotive media figures of the past 20 years.

Above Image: This Porsche 911T benefits from the slightly larger 2.2 liter engine and the longer wheelbase.

The reason he’s selling, as mentioned above, is that he needs to raise capital to fund an all new Discovery+ TV series about a classic vehicle restoration business. The plan at the moment is to call it “The Smallest Cog,” possibly a reference to the fact that Hammond is a little shorter than his two longtime co-hosts.

“The irony of me supporting my new classic car restoration business by selling some of my own classic car collection is not wasted on me. It is with a very heavy heart that they go, as they have a great deal of personal sentimental value, but they will be funding the future development of the business and giving life back to countless other classic vehicles.” – Richard Hammond

His 911 is the 911T variant, the “T” indicated that it was a “Touring” model as opposed to its siblings in the Porsche model line up, like the 911S, 911L, 911E, and the 911 Targa.

As a 1969 car (1970 model year) this 911 benefits from the upgraded 2.2 liter (up from 2.0 liters) flat-six with 125 bhp, it also has the slightly longer wheelbase (+57mm) that was designed to help improve handling and reduce the tendency of the car’s brake lights to overtake its headlights at inopportune moments.

The 56,000+ miles currently on the odometer are believed to be original, the car was originally delivered to its first owner in California finished in the color scheme it still carries – Silver Metallic, with a black interior, and polished Fuchs 5-blade alloy wheels.

If you’d like to read more about this car or register to bid you can click here. Its due to roll across the auction block with Silverstone Auctions on the 1st of August with no reserve price, and at the time of writing there’s no price estimate.

Images courtesy of Silverstone Auctions

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from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/richard-hammond-porsche-911t/
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For Sale: A Ferrari 126C4 Junior Formula 1 Car

This is a Ferrari 126C4 Junior, a mini Formula 1 car replica designed for younger drivers. It’s powered by a rear-mounted, single cylinder motor and it has a single speed transmission to keep things easy.

There original Ferrari 126 Formula 1 car won 10 races and took 10 pole positions, the C4 model was the fourth generation of the car best known for winning the 1984 Belgian Grand Prix.

Whereas the original 126C4 had 850 hp for drivers to play with this junior version has just 6.5 hp, although that’s still enough to get it up to a decent clip – more than enough to please children and worry parents.

This “Junior” Ferrari 126C4 has a tubular steel frame with an integral roll bar and a single rear disc brake. Both rear wheels receive power from the engine and the driver controls the car with two pedals and a steering wheel as you’d expect.

The fiberglass body is a single removable unit for easy access to the motor and other aspects of the car. It can be fitted with a battery if the new owner wants to fit a starter motor, starting is currently done with a standard pull cord.

This Junior Ferrari measures in at 225cm long (88.5″), by 140cm wide (55.1″), and 95cm high (37.4″), the weight isn’t listed however it’s clear from looking at the pictures that it won’t be particularly heavy.

If you’d like to read more or place a bid you can click here to visit the listing on Collecting Cars, this unusual little Ferrari is currently being auctioned live and it’s based in Belgium.

Images courtesy of Collecting Cars

The post For Sale: A Ferrari 126C4 Junior Formula 1 Car appeared first on Silodrome.

from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/ferrari-junior-formula-1-car/
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A Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 6×6 With Art By Ornamental Conifer

This is a Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 712DK 6×6 and unlike its contemporaries, it’s been covered with artwork by Nico Sclater, aka Ornamental Conifer, a celebrated British artist who works on a vast array of canvasses from skateboards and motorcycles, to buildings, Formula 1 cars, and of course, the Pinzgauer shown here.

The unusual-looking Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer was developed in the late 1960s as a replacement for the Steyr-Daimler-Puch Haflinger, a smaller military 4×4 that bares a strong resemblance with its successor.

Over the course of the 1971 to 2007 production run almost 20,000 examples of the Pinzgauer were made in 4×4 and 6×6 specification, and they were used by militaries around the world.

Fast Facts – The Pinzgauer

✱ The Pinzgauer was available in both 4×4 and 6×6 versions, both used portal axles to keep the differentials up out of the way and provide excellent ground clearance.

✱ People often mistake the Pinzgauer for the Unimog, its fellow European off-roader with similar looks and a forward cab design.

✱ The 4×4 version of the Pinzgauer is remarkably capable and can carry 10 people or two NATO pallets, it can tow 5,000 kilograms (11,023 lb) on road and 1,500 kilograms (3,307 lb) off road.

The Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 712DK 6×6

The Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 712DK 6×6 you see here is a little more unusual than most, as the model name suggests it’s now a six-wheel drive 712 version of the vehicle but it started out as a 710 4×4.

Above Image: This Pinzgauer is adorned with art from Ornamental Conifer, setting it apart from its standard military green counterparts.

Due to the modular design of the Pinzgauer this one was able to be upgraded with an extra set of driven wheels at the back, with a modified four-door crew cab pickup body. It’s now equipped for serious off road use with a bullbar, twin sand ladders, a high-lift jack, a roof rack, and that famously high ground clearance enjoyed by all Pinzgauers.

Ornamental Conifer

Apart from the above mentioned modifications what sets this Pinzgauer apart from its brethren is the custom paintwork by celebrated artist Ornamental Conifer. The front and both sides of the vehicle have been given his signature touches including patterns and messages, ensuring that no other Pinzgauer on earth will ever look the same.

“Ornamental Conifer is the moniker of British artist, Nicolai Sclater. Over the past few years Conifer has travelled internationally producing work for exhibitions and private collectors, as well as working closely with large brands on commercial projects.

Painting onto motorcycles, cars, clothing and an ever-increasing array of objects, Conifer’s work focuses on humour, wordplay, mischief and often-controversial yet motivational messages. Through the medium of hand painted typography and patterns, using traditional sign writing brushes and enamel paint, Conifer pays homage to the tradition of sign painting whilst allowing his earlier influences in graffiti and design to help him carve out his own progressive niche.” – Ornamental Conifer bio by Bernstein and Andriulli

Pinzgauer Specifications

As a 1971 model this vehicle will be fitted with the unusual 2.5 liter inline four-cylinder air-cooled engine that was designed to be as simple as possible to maintain and repair. It produces 87 bhp and 133 lb ft of torque which is enough for it to reach a maximum speed of 62 mph on the asphalt.

Above Video: An original Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer promotional video showing them being put through their paces off-road. It’s worth watching just for the jumps.

Power is sent to all six wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission and a 2-speed transfer case which gives a total of 10 forward gears – five in high range and five in low range for off road use. Vacuum assisted drum brakes are used all round, and the Pinzgauer has a military specification 24 volt electrical system.

Most Pinzgauers have now been retired from military service and many are finding their way into private hands. Some are kept in exact military specification but many are being converted for civilian use into campers and adventure vehicles like the one you see here.

Spare parts are widely available and there are committed ownership clubs dedicated to keeping the Pinzgauer on the road, or off as the case may be.

The modified Pinzgauer you see here has a crew cab design with seating for up to eight in the front two sections. There are benches in the rear, as well as ample space for equipment and luggage, and there are two sand ladders and a high-lift jack should you happen to get stuck.

This vehicle is due to roll across the auction block with RM Sotheby’s in mid-August in California. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Above Image: The cab-forward driving position gives excellent visibility of the terrain ahead.

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from Silodrome https://silodrome.com/steyr-puch-pinzgauer-6x6/
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For Sale: An Alfa Romeo 8C Engine – The Pre-WWII Grand Prix Legend

This is an Alfa Romeo 8C engine, it’s widely considered to be one of the most important pre-WWII automobile engine designs and it helped power the Italian marque to wins in the Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a slew of Grand Prix victories with icons of the age like Tazio Nuvolari at the wheel.

From a technical perspective the 8C engine is an advanced design, with all-alloy construction, double overhead cams, a cross-flow head design, and a supercharger. These are all features we might expect to see on a modern sports car engine, so it’s all the more remarkable that Vittorio Jano developed the Alfa Romeo 8C engine all the way back in 1931.

The Alfa Romeo 8C was originally developed solely for racing, however due to popular demand they began selling powered rolling chassis later in 1931 which customers would buy and have sent to their preferred coachbuilder to have the body made.

The continued on-track successes of the 8C greatly assisted with the road car’s popularity, soon becoming one of the most desireable sports grand touring cars of the pre-WWII age. Production of the 8C ran from 1931 until 1939 when the war began, today both the grand prix and the road-going versions of the 8C are among the most collectible cars in the world.

Above Video: An Alfa Romeo 308C being driven up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The 8C engine you see here is a fantastic example of just why the cars it powered was so successful. While many of its rivals were making do with much heavier iron block/head designs with simple pushrod actuated valves, Vittorio Jano and his engineering team integrated all of the state-of-the-art technologies they could into the engine.

In so doing they created a power unit that we still look at today, almost 100 years later, as a work of art.

This engine was previously rebuilt by Auto Restorations of New Zealand, it’s now due to be offered for sale by RM Sotheby’s in mid-August. It will likely either be bought by someone with an 8C who wants a spare engine for racing to avoid putting track hours on their original motor, or it’ll be bought by someone who wants to put it on display just as it is.

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