The Sports Car Guys

Would the Porsche Cayman Make a Good Race Car?

David Hurth — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:23:14 +0000

All Porsche sports cars were meant to be raced. The cars while quite good at the normal daily driving, really come alive on a track, especially when race prepped. While Porsche mainly races the Porsche 911 and at times special race variants, cars such as the Porsche 914, Porsche 944, Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman [...]

Porsche ALMS Leguna Seca – Video

David Hurth — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:25:49 +0000

Today’s video features highlights from last weekends American Le Man’s race at Leguna Seca. The video shows action from the race and highlights how the top Porsche teams did in the race. While in the GT class the race outcome wasn’t as good as it could have been for Porsche, they did contend for the [...]

Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Nissan GT-R Track Pack – Video

David Hurth — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:37:27 +0000

This video is of the Porsche 911 (997) Turbo S being reviewed against the Nissan GT-R Track Pack. The video features Chris Harris testing both cars on the track and then recommending a car that he would prefer. Will the Porsche be able to keep its top of the heap status or will the Nissan [...]

Porsche 918 Spyder’s Heritage the Porsche Carrera GT – Video

David Hurth — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:58:52 +0000

Yesterday, I posted information and photos of the new Porsche 918 Prototype (you can read that post here). When the Porsche 918 is available it will be the next top level non-911 Porsche supercar. The car will follow the footsteps of the Porsche 928, Porsche 959 and the Porsche Carrera GT. Because of this upcoming [...]

The Breadvan and Stirling Moss’s SWB

Fred Hope — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:12:46 +0000

There are certain cars that, because of their rarity and the role they’ve played in automotive history, simply must be preserved for posterity. 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT and to celebrate that milestone, the Ferrari Museum has organised a series of exhibitions of the most famous cars to bear the 250 moniker. These are the road-going and racing models which, between 1952 and 1963, sported the famous 3000 cc V12 engine designed by Gioachino Colombo.

From today, in fact, visitors can admire two fascinating examples: the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB (competition version) in which the great Stirling Moss won four races in 1961 (Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Goodwood and Nassau), and the so-called Breadvan. The 250 GT SWB, which is finished in the classic blue and white livery of Scot, Rob Walker, was recently restored by the Ferrari Classiche department. It was originally built as part of a chapter in motor racing history that sadly went unwritten: Enzo Ferrari had reached an agreement to supply the highly efficient British team with one of his Formula 1 single-seaters for Moss. Unfortunately, just before the project was to debut, Moss was involved in a terrible accident in a Lotus at Goodwood which ended his racing career. This was the untimely end to a budding relationship between the two teams that might well have changed the path of motor sport history and given Moss the world title he was chasing.

The Breadvan’s story is no less interesting. This is a berlinetta that is extreme both in terms of its forms and its technical content. It was commissioned by Count Volpi di Misurata to compete against the 250 GTO. Developed by Piero Drogo and Giotto Bizzarrini on the same running gear as the 250 SWB, the car looked more like a racing van than a racing car as its square shape was the result of experimental aerodynamic styling. The result was that it was quickly dubbed the Breadvan by the British. Fast but unblessed by fortune, it raced several times, including at Le Mans. However, Enzo Ferrari was opposed to it because he would brook no rivals for his unbeatable 250 GTO.

In 2010, Ferrari awarded the Breadvan the Attestation for Vehicles of Historic Interest, a document issued for Ferraris which, although they do not comply with the strict Ferrari Authenticity Certification criteria, are deemed to be of historic interest because of their competition and/or recognised international show history. The Breadvan is probably the most iconic example of this kind of car.

The Ferrari Museum in Maranello is open every day between 9.30 and 19.00 and plays host to many other high profile historic cars in addition to our most successful Formula 1s and our newest and contemporary road-going GTs.

Source: Ferrari

Porsche Classic Workshop: Keeping the Past Alive – Video

David Hurth — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:44:02 +0000

This video is about the hidden workshop in Stuttgart Germany that is Porsche Classic. The workshop restores classic and future classic Porsches for people all over the world. Porsche Classic not only restores cars, but they make parts available to enthusiasts through Porsche dealers, so if you are looking for a hard to find part [...]

Porsche 918 Spyder Prototype Testing – Includes Photos and Video

David Hurth — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:46:27 +0000

The Porsche 918 Spyder looks like it will perhaps be the most fun hybrid available. The car will be able to be extremely frugal with fuel or can be a monster with more than 770hp available when the electric motor boosts the strong V8 gas powered engine. While I don’t generally like hybrids (they tend [...]

Porsche 918 Spyder Prototype Unveiled – Includes Photos and Video

David Hurth — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:46:27 +0000

Porsche Artwork from Steve Anderson – Perfect Gift for Father’s Day

David Hurth — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:07:29 +0000

This past weekend I received something that I have been looking forward to getting in the mail. The item was a print that had a pictorial history of Porsche automobiles from 1948-2012. This includes images of the Porsche 356, 911, 928, 944, Boxster and other models. The print is of artwork done by Steve Anderson. [...]

Madison and Melanie Snow Collect GT3 Cup Challenge Class Wins

David Hurth — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:28:32 +0000

What began as a “clean and green” beginning for the second round of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama doubleheader at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, rapidly turned into a dogfight that culminated in a five-car incident just before the checkered flag fell on the weather-shortened 40-lap race today. And while foggy, inclement weather may [...]