The mighty Chrysler VH Valiant Charger R/T – 1971 to 1978.
E Type Jaguar
On its release in 1961, Enzo Ferrari called it ‘the most beautiful car ever made’. Enough said.
Bullitt – 1968 Ford Mustang GT
There were two Mustangs prepared for the movie Bullitt, the ‘hero’ car and the stunt car. The hero Bullitt Mustang sold earlier this year for US$3.4 million and the new owner has confirmed the car will not be restored. In its current state, it bears the scars from filming the famous car chase scenes in 1968 and decades of daily use. The car was purchased 1974 and became a daily driver for several years, eventually being hidden away until 2018. The stunt car was discovered in Mexico in 2017, unfortunately I haven’t sleuthed out it’s full story yet.
1925 Bugatti Type 35
The Type 35 was the car that made Bugatti famous and is arguably one of the most beautiful racing cars ever built. It was phenomenally successful, winning over 1,000 races in its time. It took the Grand Prix World Championship in 1926 after winning 351 races and setting 47 records in the two prior years. At its height, Type 35s averaged 14 race wins per week. Bugatti won the Targa Florio for five consecutive years, from 1925 through 1929. This illustration is based on the car Nathanael Greene raced through the mid 1920’s.
1953 Buick Super Estate
Citroën 2CV
The Citroën 2CV (as in ‘deux chevaux-vapeur’ which means ‘two steam horses’) was launched at the 1948 Paris motor show and stayed in production until 1990. With its canvas roll back roof it was often called ‘an umbrella on wheels’. Between 1948 and 1990, more than 3.8 million 2CV sedans were produced and in total, Citroën manufactured 9 million 2CVs and variants. The 2CV has been compared to the Model T Ford for its ingenuity and was once described as ‘the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car’. It has also been compared to the Volkswagen Beetle, both conceived in the 1930s, bringing affordable motoring to the masses in their respective countries. Both cars sold into the millions for more that four decades.
This from a reader
The largest production of 2CVs was achieved in 1974. Demand for a small, fuel-efficient car was fuelled by the outbreak of the oil crisis. Subsequently, the 2CV was more of a toy for young people than a real, functional vehicle. Citroën tried to maintain the car’s popularity by organising the 1,000-kilometer endurance rally, the Citroen Raid. Anyone could participate in them – just buy a new 2CV, equipped with a special reinforcing ‘body kit’ that helps to withstand a long run on bumpy roads and off-road. The most famous were the rally Paris – Persepolis – Paris with a length of 13,500 km – about five hundred 2CVs were going to them. Also in Europe were popular off-road circuit racing “2CV Cross”, where young drivers could crash their 2CVs with equal success without leaving their native continent.
And this from another
In 1970, the 2CV received an updated 602 cc engine, rectangular headlights, taillights from Citroen Ami and side windows in the rear pillars. From now on, all vehicles are designed to run on unleaded petrol.
Piaggio Vespa GS 150
Holden HQ SS
The Holden HQ SS came out in 1972 and was basically a Belmont in fancy garb, and even fancier colours – They had very seventies names like Infra Red, Ultra Violet and … Lettuce Alone for green. Lettuce Alone? Only the SS had these colours and they sold like hot cakes.
Volkswagen Kombi
The Volkswagen Type 2 was introduced in 1950 by Volkswagen as its second model following Type 1, the Beetle. The Type 2 went on to become the best selling van in history.
Known officially and unofficially as the Transporter, the Kombi (or Combi), Microbus, Split screen (or the Splittie) the Bus (in the US), Camper (in the UK) and Pão de Forma (in Portugal, meaning ‘Loaf of Bread’).
It was eventually adopted by the 1960’s counter culture, seen as something rebellious, not the conventional sedan choice of the ‘Squares’, and became affectionately known as the Hippie van – well suited to surfie road trips, ‘no fixed address’ accomodation and groupies following the Grateful Dead on tour.
By the 1980’s the Kombi became the wheels of choice for thousands of Aussies and Kiwis on their Great (OE) European Tour.
