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In 1953, Genichi Kawakami, Yamaha motorcycles’ first president, was looking for a way to make use of idle machining equipment that had previously been used by the company to make aircraft propellers. Market and competitive factors led him to focus on the motorcycle market. By 1954, Yamaha had produced its first motorcycle, and four years […]
Almost as a hobby, in 1977 Guy Duport built a prototype, first-of-its-kind diesel-powered microcar. It was a small car with a plastic body and 2 doors, equipped with a 510cc (about 31 cu. in.) Lombardini diesel engine. According to Duport, that 10HP engine assured 3,500 hours of operation, allowing it to travel potentially more than
The Pionier is a 3-wheeled economy vehicle that was designed for the German market. It’s robust, yet light, because of its wood frame body covered by a synthetic fabric. Carl Borgward designed this car to evade the annual German tax that was put on 4-wheeled vehicles. Three-wheel vehicles escaped this tax until 1933, and this
Goliath Pionier-1933 Read More »
The Vignale-designed Tatra T613 was introduced in 1975, and was too primitive to attract Western buyers after the fall of Communism across Europe in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Tatra was evaluating two approaches to the new proposed Project T625 – a front-engined, water cooled sedan, and also a more traditional rear air-cooled option. Unfortunately, Czechoslovakia’s
In 1925 Tatra decided to enter the famous Targa Florio road race in Italy to help publicize its name. Since Tatra had only been making cars for two years, many outsiders believed the Tatra cars would never be able to finish the grueling 450-mile road race. It seemed even more unlikely that Tatra would be
Tatra T12 Targa Florio (replica)-1925 Read More »
The Lotus Super 7 was the brainwork of famous race car designer Colin Chapman, who loved the phrase “less is more.” The Super 7 was a simple, fast, minimalist sports car. Production started in 1957, and continued until 1972 under the Lotus name. In 1973 Lotus sold the Super 7 rights to Caterham, which continues
Lotus Super Seven S2-1965 Read More »
Bill Devin, aka “The Enzo Ferrari of Okie Flats”, grew up around cars – his family owned a Chevrolet dealership – and he and his brother opened a Chrysler-Plymouth franchise after a stint in the Navy. But, his passions ran more toward Siata and Ferraris. Feeling shunned by the European dealers in southern California, he
Devin-Renault Special-1959 Read More »
Production of the 3800 continued until 1988 when VéloSoleX stopped manufacturing mopeds. However, in 2004, the Cible Group purchased the brand and launched the e-Solex, an electric bicycle, notably designed by the famed Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina. The designers at Pininfarina wanted to hearken back to the look of the iconic 3800 model.As a nod
In 1985, Renault redesigned the 310 series. This GTA is larger and more rounded. It has a 6 cylinder engine. This car is very light (1800 pounds) and quite fast. In this respect, it is very similar to its contemporary Lotus–light fiberglass bodies with a taut, sophisticated chassis, small lively engines, and beautiful coachwork. Though
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo-1986 Read More »