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The Classic Maserati A6 Series

If you want a classic car that can deliver the speed and power that you want, all you need is a car from the Maserati A6 series. The Maserati A6 are actually several cars which are all made by Maserati of Italy, for the founders of Maserati, the Alferi brothers. The Maserati A6 is also equipped with a straight six engine with the power and speed that will no doubt get your attention in a hurry. The Maserati A6 is the perfect example of a car that delivers optimum performance, resulting to break neck speeds incomparable to its peers.

One of the Maserati A6 models that you can get is the A6 TR or Testa Riportata. This is 1.5 liter straight six car that was based on the pre-war Maserati 6CM, which can manage 65 boiler horse power. Initially, it appeared as the A6 Sport or Tipo 6CS/46. This type of car is a barchetta or little boat type. It’s built for speed, and can really go fast depending on the driver’s whims. This type is developed by Ernesto Maserati and Alberto Massimino. This model eventually became the A6 1500, a two door berlinetta or your typical sporty coupe. It was first shown in Geneva, Switzerland at the 1947 Salon International de l’Auto. A spider or convertible model is then showcased in 1948 at the Salone dellautomobile di Torino.

There are also 2-liter straight six versions of the Maserati A6. This is the A6 GCS, which is made from cast iron block and can be used for racing and sports. This car is capable of producing 120 boiler horsepower, and was commonly used for high-speed races during its initial release. The A6 GCS also has a single seater, cycle winged racing version called the monofaro. This first appeared at Modenain in 1947. In 1948, it was able to win the Italian Championship while piloted by driver Giovanni Bracco. In order for this classic car to compete in the World Sportscar Championship, it was overhauled, giving way to the creation of the A6GC S/53, capable of delivering up to 170 boiler horse power. It was able to capture the Italian Grand prix in 1953 and 54, by drivers Sergio Montavani and Luigi Musso, accordingly. The latest incarnation of the A6GCS was the A6GC S/54 which was shown at the 1954 Mondial de l’Autombile in Paris. This model was then referred to as A6G/2000, and only around 60 were made worldwide, making it a true classic.

To learn more about our feature classic, the 1969 Dodge Charger, visit our MuscleCarMonster.com blog today.

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Posted on April 24, 2011 by , Reply

Jaguar Mk 1: How It Changed The Car Industry

If you are looking for a car that exudes class even after decades have gone by, perhaps you need the Jaguar Mark 1 or the Mk 1. This is usually referred to as the Jaguar 2.4 liter or 3.4 liter Saloon in contemporary documentation. The Mark 1 or Mk 1 tag was appended when it was replaced by the Mark 2. The Mk 1 had success early on, as it was the first small saloon that rolled out of the car maker’s doors. It easily outsold other larger saloons from the same maker, and was an immediate competitor against cars of the same class.

The Jaguar Mk 1 is considered as a classic car not just by its age but also because of its impact in the car industry. The 2.4 and 3.4 Mk 1s introduced a modern style and upgraded the level of performance for cars made by Jaguar. It was the first Jaguar that featured a unitary construction of its chassis and body. This was one of the earliest attempts at unibody construction, and it was greatly successful. The Mk 1 has an independent front suspension, which has double wishbones, coil springs, as well as an anti-roll bar to boot.

The interior of the Jaguar Mk 1 is one of the best proofs that this car exudes class well beyond its years. The design of the interior is similar to the succeeding Jaguar saloons and even modern day sports cars. You’ll find that sitting inside the Mk 1 would feel luxurious. The dials and switches are located on the central dashboard between you and your passenger. It has authentic leather upholstery and a polished walnut trim. There is a Special Equipment version of the Mk 1, wherein it features an additional rev counter, heater, windscreen washers, fog lights, and a cigarette lighter. It was meant for mass consumption, but the thought given behind its designs was truly outstanding that it is one of the most sought-after cars today.

In terms of performance, a 2.4 liter Mk 1 was tested and was found to have a top speed of 101.5 mph or 163.3 km/h. It is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in just 14.4 seconds. It also has a decent mileage of 18.25 miles per imperial gallon, or in modern day measurements, around 15.2 mpg. The 3.4 version garnered better results, and because of this, the Jaguar Mk 1 3.4 liter saloon has competed in a lot of rallies, touring cars, and saloon races, and was quite successful during its run.

If this article got your blood flowing, then visit MuscleCarMonster.com to read more features on the 69 Ford Mustang and other classics.

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Posted on April 20, 2011 by , Reply

Jaguar XK 140: The Epitome Of Class and Luxury

Looking for a classic sports car that still exudes luxury and class even at present? Well, perhaps you’d love the Jaguar XK140. The XK140 is a sports car made by car maker Jaguar from 1954 to 1957. The XK140 is a successor of the highly successful Jaguar XK120, and because of this, it featured better brakes, rack and pinion steering, as well as increased the suspension travel and modern tube type shock absorbers, among others. The Jaguar XK140 is the perfect classic car for speed loving drivers who won’t settle with modern day sports cars. The appeal of a classic car is a lot stronger than its modern counterpart, so choosing the XK140 is really a no-brainer.

Moving back a bit in time, you’ll know that the XK140 was really introduced in 1954 but was sold as a 1955 model. One thing that you’d notice from its older brother the XK120 is that it has a more substantial front and rear bumpers featuring huge overriders. It was one of the first cars to feature a modern flashing turn signal, which is operated by an added switch on its dashboard. One thing that would’ve set the XK140 and the XK120 apart was the twin amber lights just above the front bumper; but the owners of XK120 also installed such an equipment to give their cars an updated look.

Another great improvement that you’ll see from this classic car is the addition of 3 inches for the legroom, allowing it to accommodate even the taller drivers of its time. This was achieved because the engine was relocated, along with the firewall and the XK140s dash forward. However, this new configuration left no room for a battery compartment like the one found on the XK120. Because of this, the single battery is now placed low down inside the wing on the inlet side. This is one drawback because it is really hard to remove, thus making it hard to replace.

As a classic car, the Jaguar XK140 also made an impact in the car world. 1956 models of the XK140 became one of the first sports cars to feature an automatic transmission. It also features the famous Jaguar XK engine, but this time, it features modifications that weren’t available with the XK120. It has increased the specified power of the engine by 10, which is now 190 bhp at 5500 rpm.

There are a lot of things that you could enjoy with the XK140. These features have revolutionized the way people see sports cars, and most of these features are available even with the modern models; a sign that the Jaguar XK140 is truly a classic car.

William has just posted about the 1965 Ford Mustang on his classic car blog, MuscleCarMonster.com.

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Posted on April 18, 2011 by , Reply

The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

If one is to talk about the top classic cars, one could not, and should not, avoid talking about the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. The sleek Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa boasts a 3.0 liter V12 engine that dished out 300 horsepower and has a max speed of 168 miles per hour or 270 kilometers per hour. This shiny red car got its name from the color of its valves as Testa Rossa means “red head.” Dominating various arenas in race car driving, this surely is one of the, fastest vehicles of its time. Sadly though, only 34 of these bad boys were built from the mid-50s ’till its end. For you to have an idea how much this car is valued, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa was sold for an astounding $12,100,000 back in 2009, which is a world record price for a single car.

The 250 Ferrari Testa Rossa had unconventional bodywork which was designed and built by one of Ferraris top designers, Carrozzeria Scaglietti and it is one of their most famous works. The car has a sleek aerodynamic design as it was primarily used for racing. What made the design very unique are the pontoon-like front fenders. From the words by Sergio Scaglietti himself, the 250 Ferrari Testa Rossa is in many ways a Formula 1 race car with fenders. The main similarity of the Testa Rossa to Formula 1 cars is the way it brings air to cool the brakes. A formula 1 car has pods on its sides and the idea to cool the brakes of the Testa Rossa was born from this.

Of course, the 50s is parent to many classic cars but the Testa Rossa sure made a niche for itself amidst the number of many muscle cars and super cars manufactured at the time. It won many races and events during its international race career. This was due to how the Testa Rossa was built. It’s aerodynamic, super light, and it had a five-speed gearbox. For those unaware, cars back then only had four. Not only was the Testa Rossa extremely fast, it was also reliable as Ferrari had put a priority on reliability versus outright performance when conceptualizing this super car.

The 1950s was such a great time for automobiles as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Materasi along with Ferrari continued to top each other by designing and manufacturing faster and more powerful cars. Truly, the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is but one of the many amazing and captivating classic cars ever built on that decade.

If you have ever wanted to learn all about muscle cars and which models are considered the best of all time, you can read all about it on my site, MuscleCarMonster.com.

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Posted on March 8, 2011 by , Reply