Παρασκευή 2 Ιουνίου 2023

How a Repair Shop Built a Car FASTER than the F40! | The Story of the Ruf CTR “Yellowbird”






Τρίτη 10 Ιανουαρίου 2023

This 1970 Mercedes 280 SE packs an S55's AMG V8 and a 6-speed manual






Παρασκευή 18 Νοεμβρίου 2022

Ferrari 550 Maranello: V12 Perfection


Having looked at the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 (otherwise known as the Daytona) in the first film (see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFj5n... ) , this time it’s the turn of the 550 Maranello. Once again, it was sourced by Bell Sport & Classic and seeing the two cars parked up outside their showroom I was surprised that the 550 didn’t look vastly bigger than the Daytona given the decades between them. To my eyes it’s not as attractive as the earlier front-engined, V12 supercar, but as soon as you get into the Maranello it is obvious how much things moved on between 1973 and 1996. The whole interior is vastly better laid out and the car feels smaller and more intimate as a result. Get going and the 550 immediately feels possessed of a totally different level of performance, too - right up there with more modern machinery, in fact. It might have ‘only’ 478bhp and 420lb ft of torque (131bhp and 102lb ft up on the Daytona but 134bhp and 141lb ft down on the current junior Ferrari, the Roma) but the 550’s 5.5-litre V12 has an incredible muscularity and flexibility to it. I was genuinely stunned by just how strong it feels. Like the Daytona, the Maranello has wishbones all round with anti-roll bars front and rear. However, the trick up the 550’s more modern wheel arches is the electronically controlled variable dampers. There are only two options, Normal and Sport, but the change in character when the firmer setting is selected is noticeable and welcome. It’s still not that firm by 2022 standards, but with a bit of extra support and control in the corners the 550 really comes alive, feeling as playful and easy to drive as an M2 CS. The fact that you can currently get one for similar money to the BMW makes it an absolute bargain in my eyes. The Daytona is undoubtedly the more iconic car, but I think we have a huge amount to thank the 550 Maranello for. It successfully brought back the front-engined V12 Ferrari supercar at a time when mid-engined really seemed to be the only way forward. Without the huge success of the 550 we wouldn’t have had the 599, F12 and 812 Superfast and I think the motoring landscape would be a slightly poorer place as a result. Subscribe for more Carfection videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/carfection/




Παρασκευή 11 Νοεμβρίου 2022

The Ferrari F50 is the Goldilocks Supercar: Just Right - ISSIMI DRIVES



Derek Tam-Scott is an outspoken critic of many (perhaps even most?) supercars but his experience with the Ferrari F50 is different. Existing somewhere between the unforgiving nature of the Lamborghini Countach and the far too fast to properly use on the road character of modern supercars, the F50 is among the most enjoyable Ferrari road cars for the last 40 years. Employing F1 technology for the road such as a composite chassis, stressed member naturally-aspirated 8500 RPM V12, 6-speed manual transmission, and complete lack of driver aids, the F50 is a thrilling yet still surprisingly easy to drive supercar that truly is super.






Τρίτη 31 Μαΐου 2022

Walter Röhrl and the Porsche 964 Carrera 3.8 RS



“This Automobile is a real Pleasure”, these are the exact words Walter Rorhl used to describe the Porsche 964 Carrera 3.8 RS when he wrote the famous article on Christophorus Magazine in 1993. He said more, on the engine for example: “This engine responds spontaneously to the throttle, the intake noise pleases me”. But, reading the Christophorus article almost 30 years later made us feel how would it be for Walter to drive this very car now, and how would it be to take the same exact photos Michael Moesch took for the article and that became the official photos of one of the rarest and most desirable Porsche ever made? Well, since here at ISSIMI we like to take things seriously, when we found the car in 2022 somewhere in Europe, we wanted to recreate the same pictures and have Walter to describe the car now, after almost 30 years. Let the Expert Speak is an informative conversation between Luca Venturi and a prominent guest from the automotive world. An expert. In a world where everybody has an opinion and a need to communicate it to the world, Let the Expert Speak will let the expert speak about something they've mastered. ISSIMI is an enthusiast-owned, full-service specialist offering sales, consignment, collection management, service, and consulting to discerning enthusiasts and collectors. Specializing in complex transactions that include international services for exceptional cars, ISSIMI’s San Francisco Bay Area and Europe-based teams of experts pride themselves on transparency and knowledge. #ISSIMI #PORSCHE #CARRERA RS 3.8 Don't forget to visit: https://www.issimi.com/ ISSIMI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/issimiofficial