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Straightspeed photo

Some are my photo's, lot's by other's (credited where I can) of all things with an internal combustion power source. There are errors, I do not always double check the sources of information.

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1974 Group 1 Dealer Team Chrysler Avenger GT

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In 1974, my late father, Roger Bell joined Bernard Unett in the works Chrysler Dealer Team Avenger GT, initially 1500cc before the 1600 was homologation later in the season.

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1932 MG J2 Midget

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, from 1932 to 1934, the British marque MG produced a lightweight two-seater roadster known as the J2. Over its three-year production run, only 2,083 units were built. Equipped with an 847cc inline-four OHV engine, the J2 earned a reputation for its lively handling and approachable price, making it a beloved entry point into sports car ownership at the time. Where better than the MG Owners Club to read a brief history and the technical specifications. Announced in August 1932 the J2 Midget was outstanding value for just £199 10s. and was within the reach of many enthusiasts of the era. It was based on the successful design of the C type or Montlhery Midget as it was better known, a direct derivative of the M type. From the outset the car represented everything that was right in basic sports car design incorporating such things as a large rear mounted slab type petrol tank with a huge fast fill1 petrol cap, fold flat win...

Tuner Series - Okrasa - Oettinger KRAftfahrtechnische SpezialAnsalt

This is not a detailed history of Okrasa, although there are some links to the official Okrasa story. You may have seen reference to Okrasa and their air cooled VW parts, this such as in the Belgian built Mach 1 Beetle , this post just provides an insight. Okrasa, or Oettinger KRAftfahrtechnische SpezialAnsalt, was founded in 1951 by Gerard Oettinger after graduating as a mechanical engineer. He immediatly began offering performance parts for the VW Beetle and period manufacturers producing sports cars utilising the Beetles flat floor chassis such as Rometsch and Dannenhauer & Stauss. The Okrasa kit was essentially available in two versions, the TS-1200 and the TS-1300/30, but several variants existed such as the TS-34, up to 1500 versions, in the 60s. The TS-1200 consisted of a pair of twin-intake cylinder heads, a pair of Solex 32 PBIC carburettors, a linkage for controlling the carburetors, hoses, intake pipes and special air filters. Optional extras included a Fram oil fil...

When Japan goes (to) Sebring

The now defunct Speedhunters visited Garage Kamiya and Akamatsu-san’s MGC GT Sebring works car replica. From an MGC GT, the car that Akamatsu-san has built takes a lot of inspiration from the works Sebring GTS racers. Working with (his father) Kamiya-san, who was at the time racing his own yellow MGB, the pair transformed the plastic surgeon’s leather sofa on wheels into a bare-bones weekend race car. Many of the parts were sourced from MG Motorsports in Bovingdon, U To get the body looking right, Akamatsu-san entrusted Yamada-san of Yamada Auto in Kawaguchi to construct the oversized fender flares, by hand, with nothing more than a pile of photos and the book MGC GTS Lightweights: Abingdon’s Last Racers. The rear fenders are still Yamada-san’s work, but the front fenders have since been replaced by an MG Motorsport FRP set, after a wet track day at Tsukuba left the originals beyond repair. They used an alloy cylinder head, just like the Sebring cars, Cosworth forged race pistons,...