The Magazine

Home of the flower power generation: the VW Camper

Mention Volkswagen vans to the average American or Brit, and the first image that appears in their minds is a so-called hippie van emblazoned with peace symbols and flower power decals, with surfboards strapped on top or sticking out the back. But to rabid VW collectors, the mental images that arise are those of 21-window Safari "Kombis" and Westfalia campers, like the exceptional vehicle being auctioned at Bonham's sale of "Collectors' Motorcars and Memorabilia" at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, June 2, 2013. Westys, as VW collectors term these officially-sanctioned camper conversions by the Westfalia-werke of Franz Knöbel & Söhne in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, have climbed enormously in value in recent years but it is quite unusual to see one as heavily-optioned as the 1967 Type 2 Westfalia Deluxe Camper being offered by Bonhams at this sale. The 1968 Westfalia trailer is rare to the point of almost never being seen. This camper is also equipped with just about every option available for the vehicle in the day: the framed side tent, the pop-up roof, pop-out front windows, the water dispenser, the deluxe wood-trimmed roof rack, side window wind wings, accessory side step, the original tool kit, and VW mud flaps. Unseen but possibly even rarer than the trailer is a genuine VW "Y" full undercarriage trailer hitch. This vehicle will not go cheaply, based on Bonhams' pre-sale estimate, but Westys in this condition and with this number of options are probably scarcer than hen's teeth (and a lot more fun to own!). (photo credit: Bonhams/Pawel Litwinski.)

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Dragster restoration mystery

Julla Heikkinen from Finland sent  these photos some time ago. One of his friends is restoring this late sixties drag racer. We'd never heard before about the superfast hobby of driving and restoring classic dragsters. For some reason it never "clicked" with us after receiving the details of the car involved. We're sure that the North American readers can help us fill in some blanks. Anybody who can date the car the car and tell us some tech details? While thinking, check this classic drag footage.

any text ?

Monday, 20 May 2013

British style, Italian flair

Stewart Wilkie from the UK is showing off his 1951 Rolls Royce Continental Coupe, designed and manufactured by Pininfarina and most likely a sensation at the Torino motorshow where it was  sold. Well this is a set of wheels one can be proud of. Very un-RR like in a way. It almost seems a crossover with the Lancia Aurelia coupe.  Would you like to display your very special car here? You're welcome. Start your engine here.

Sunday, 19 May 2013

About Quiz #58: 1969 Vincent Hurricane Triumph Spitfire

Sorry, no Ginetta, no Fairthorpe Electron Minor, still we had three competitors coming in with the right make. John Elema, Gerry Barrett, and jury member James Helms. This last one seems to know the car, or at least found it on the web! James writes: "1969 Vincent Hurricane based on Triumph Spitfire EOK486L. Planned restoration/development 2009 to 1500cc 125hp." We think he is right. However James is jurymember and not eligible for the prize. We decided Gerry Barrett had the best answer: "A Vincent Hurricane, a Triumph Spitfire, with replacement fibreglass bodywork. Designed by brothers Martin and Robin Vincent in 1982, using the Spitfire as a basis due to its separate chassis, plus their mother had a rusty Spitfire at the time. Triumph GT6s could also be used. First car sold in January 1983, and over 50 have been built, kit still available today from Caburn Engineering." Congratulations Gerry! More about the Vincent Hurricane here.

Saturday, 18 May 2013