Collection of Infamy

[BMW325]

This is a place for cars that live in infamy; the great cars that hardly anyone knows about. ultra-rare versions of popular icons...one-off prototypes that never saw the light of day...normal chassis with special-bodied coachwork...anything unknown that deserves admiration

please post pictures and information (techinical specs, history, production numbers, serial #s, etc..)

[Matra et Alpine]

Bagheera U8.

Wanting more power to comepte with Ferrari, Matra bolted 2 of the Simca I4 engines together. Performance was so fast that they then realised they had to uprate the suspension and the brakes and the chassis. It retained the 3-seats abreast layout and the driver was NOT in the middle despite what Clarkson 'wrote' in his book :)

The oil crisis hit - as well as a bit of common sense as projected price was seemingly going to be MORE than a Ferrari - and it was canned.

So prototype only. Rumours of two built, but only one known about.

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=1243

[BMW325]

The LT2 is a lightweight XK120 with a one-piece magnesium body.

Jaguar prepared 2 examples to run at LeMans in 1951 in the event that the XK120C (aka C-Type) was not ready in time to compete. However, the C-Type was ready and it would go on to win the race.

(it was very hard for me to find any information or photos of this car, so if you have any of either, send me a PM...i do know that it was featured in the Victory by Design special hosted by alain de cadenet, so if anyone has the DVD it might prove useful)

im not sure if both examples still exist...i can only find information on one owned by a guy by the name of Chris Jaques...

this photo was taken at the 2001 LeMans Legend race...it is labeled a LT2, but i think it may be simply a mislabeled shot of a standard XK120 http://www.maranello.cc/All.Ferraris/the-legends-race---gallery/jaguar-xk120-1.html

[blackcat77]

http://www.corvaircorsa.com/feature/Astro1-2000.jpg

The Astro 1 showcar from the 60s. Yes, it was a Corvair. Yes it kicked extreme butt.

[blackcat77]

One more view of the Astro 1.

[Wouter Melissen]

One more view of the Astro 1.
Do you have any more info on it? I have shot it earlier this year, and with some info we could feature it on the site.

[NuclearCrap]

Should this be in here?

Alfa Romeo B.A.T.

[NuclearCrap]

OMG THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE IN HERE LMAO!!!

Covini C6W

[BMW325]

The Abarth 1500 Biposto is a one-off concept built by Bertone for the 34th Turin Motor Show in 1952. It was built on Fiat 1400 mechanics reworked by Abarth. It is said to be the forerunner to the '53 BAT 5, '54 BAT 7, and '55 BAT 9 Alfa Romeo concept cars; thus it is referred to by some as "BAT 1". (B.A.T. stands for Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica) In 1952 it was bought by Packard (as an example of modern styling) and brought back to the US where it practically vanished untill it was found in a barn in Connecticut and sold at auction in 2003. Including buyer's premium, at the Christie's Rockefeller Center auction on June 5, 2003 the car sold for $296,500.


Pics/Info from these sites:
http://www.rickcarey.com/Catalog%20Descriptions/Abarth%20Biposto/AbarthBiposto.htm
http://www.bertone.it/en/scheda_50_abarthco_timeline_en.htm
http://www.sportscarmarket.com/profiles.php/2003/November/Etceterini/index.html

[blackcat77]

Do you have any more info on it? I have shot it earlier this year, and with some info we could feature it on the site.

http://www.corvaircorsa.com/astro1_01.html
http://www.corvaircorsa.com/monzap12.html

Here are a couple pages from my main source on Corvair information. I saw this car in person when it first came out and I was just blown away.

If you don't post the pictures to the site, could you at least send the pictures to me? I have an extensive collection of Corvair images and that sounds like something I'd like to add.

[P4g4nite]

Mercedes W125
Built to destroy the 1937 GP

It had a supercharged DOHC 5.7L V8 making almost 600hp, handy in a 833kg body.
An aluminium skin over oval tube frame.
It topped out at over 320Kph which would have been fun on it's skinny arsed tyres.
I included it because of the techno marvel it was back then, and that it worked so well.

http://www.stevproj.com/Carz/Merc125.jpeg

[bc-clay]

the jag racing at le mans you mentioned had a brother...sister...ok twin, named LT1. It looked exactly like the picture shown and was owned by a fellow in vancouver canada called bill mackin, a family friend. He died and the car was sold back to the UK I think. I drove in it as a child. I remember going along the freeway having to hide under the dash board as the wind was blowing my eyelids off my eyeballs! It had straight pipes to scare children and cats. It was stored down town and recieved many...bumps...by being moved to a fro in the warehouse. Super cool car...I should look out the photos. I remember my dad trying to drive it and stalling it so many times...how embarrasing! I now have an xk120...I stall that occasionally.

thought you might like the info.

gerald

[BMW325]

the jag racing at le mans you mentioned had a brother...sister...ok twin, named LT1. It looked exactly like the picture shown and was owned by a fellow in vancouver canada called bill mackin, a family friend. He died and the car was sold back to the UK I think. I drove in it as a child. I remember going along the freeway having to hide under the dash board as the wind was blowing my eyelids off my eyeballs! It had straight pipes to scare children and cats. It was stored down town and recieved many...bumps...by being moved to a fro in the warehouse. Super cool car...I should look out the photos. I remember my dad trying to drive it and stalling it so many times...how embarrasing! I now have an xk120...I stall that occasionally.

thought you might like the info.

gerald

awesome! great story. great info.

[BMW325]

Probably the most famous Zagatos ever; 1 VEV and 2 VEV were both ordered especially lightened for racing by John Ogier's Essex Racing Stable. Although this was not a works team as such, it enjoyed strong factory support. Both cars competed at Le Mans and have been raced by such famous names as Roy Salvadori and Jim Clark. 2 VEV was seriously damaged in 1962 during a crash at Spa and was replaced by a new car built to DP209 specification, with the same registration number and incorporating many modifications. Another accident in 1993 except this time on the road returned the car to Works Service at the factory which returned it to 1962 specification.
Three DP209 cars were produced. They are easily distinguished with their lower roofline, broader rear wings, a reshaped tail and flatter, longer nose.

Pictured here is "2 VEV"

http://www.astonmartins.com/db4_5_6_s/db4gt_zagato.htm

[MRR]

This could have been the most powerful production BMW, the M8 that was never produced. According to e31.net it was the original car with the S70 (the engine that would later power the McLaren F1. The prototype was 550 bhp and if it was produced would have been the most powerful factory BMW ever (shame it was never produced :( ).

http://www.e31.net/pics/M8.jpg

http://www.e31.net/navmodelle_e.html

[BMW325]

This could have been the most powerful production BMW, the M8 that was never produced. According to e31.net it was the original car with the S70 (the engine that would later power the McLaren F1. The prototype was 550 bhp and if it was produced would have been the most powerful factory BMW ever (shame it was never produced :( ).

http://www.e31.net/navmodelle_e.html

Wow! I can't believe that I'd never heard of it before!

I found a couple more pics:

[henk4]

Wow! I can't believe that I'd never heard of it before!



well if you read how BMW is (and has been) treating the car, it is not so strange that it is new to you (as it was to me:) )

[jezmoore]

I know your message was posted sometime ago. However if you are still interested in LT2 I saw it today! Chris Jaques is still the owner, he is my Sister in laws cousin. Very nice chap. The car is in excellent condition and does turn out occasionly for historic events. You are quite correct the car in the picture is NOT LT2, LT2 has a revised bonnet (Hood, for you American guys) it is much smaller and does not lift the radior grill as in standard XK120's, it also has cooling louvres in the top. If you are still interested and would like details pictures etc please contact me [email protected] and I will see what I can do for you. The car is located in the county of Sussex UK (South east England) . I have been invited back by Chris to take some pictures. So if you would like anything specific please ask and I will try to oblige.
PS understand from Chris LT3 is still in the USA, incidently LT1 was never completed.
LT 2 and 3 were bought by USA importer for racing in US to promote XK120 sales. Chris has signed photo taken by Phil Hill of LT2 and 3 prior to first race in US



QUOTE=BMW325;354337]The LT2 is a lightweight XK120 with a one-piece magnesium body.

Jaguar prepared 2 examples to run at LeMans in 1951 in the event that the XK120C (aka C-Type) was not ready in time to compete. However, the C-Type was ready and it would go on to win the race.

(it was very hard for me to find any information or photos of this car, so if you have any of either, send me a PM...i do know that it was featured in the Victory by Design special hosted by alain de cadenet, so if anyone has the DVD it might prove useful)

im not sure if both examples still exist...i can only find information on one owned by a guy by the name of Chris Jaques...

this photo was taken at the 2001 LeMans Legend race...it is labeled a LT2, but i think it may be simply a mislabeled shot of a standard XK120 Jaguar XK120~0711-062831-51 (http://www.maranello.cc/All.Ferraris/the-legends-race---gallery/jaguar-xk120-1.html)[/QUOTE]

[henk4]

Hi and welcome to UCP. Very interesting story, and I reread the complete thread after your post:)
Has LT2 been out at events in the UK during the last ten years? Does it carry a normal road registration and if so, what is it?
It would be great to have some pics of the car here, maybe next to a normal XK120 just to make it more obvious where the differences are.

best regards

Pieter

[csl177]

At Monterey 2007. Brutish and truck like in the flesh (appropriately so.):p

[csl177]

Lovely cars, too bad only 26 were built. One was actively vintage raced for awhile but I can't find any of my pix of it. :(

This one photo'd last year at the RM auction.

[Ferrer]

At Monterey 2007. Brutish and truck like in the flesh (appropriately so.):p
That's a Z-102 Barchetta Touring Competicion.

Thanks for the pics. :)

[BarneyBoy]

Bagheera U8.

Wanting more power to comepte with Ferrari, Matra bolted 2 of the Simca I4 engines together. Performance was so fast that they then realised they had to uprate the suspension and the brakes and the chassis. It retained the 3-seats abreast layout and the driver was NOT in the middle despite what Clarkson 'wrote' in his book :)

The oil crisis hit - as well as a bit of common sense as projected price was seemingly going to be MORE than a Ferrari - and it was canned.

So prototype only. Rumours of two built, but only one known about.

1974 Matra Bagheera U8 - Images, Specifications and Information (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=1243)

Quite a pretty looking car, really. Very clean.

[jezmoore]

Hi Pieter

I will try to find out what events LT2 has been to recently.
Yes the car is road registered.
If you google: Jaguar LT2 or follow this link there are some great pictures. As you will see from the picture the main external difference other than the magnesium body is the design of the bonnet.
Jaguar XK120, 1951 XK120 Pictures, News, Reviews, and Info | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Wallpaper, Pricing, Information, History (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z2062/Jaguar-XK120.aspx) - 34k

All the best
Jez Moore




QUOTE=henk4;840993]Hi and welcome to UCP. Very interesting story, and I reread the complete thread after your post:)
Has LT2 been out at events in the UK during the last ten years? Does it carry a normal road registration and if so, what is it?
It would be great to have some pics of the car here, maybe next to a normal XK120 just to make it more obvious where the differences are.

best regards

Pieter[/QUOTE]

[henk4]

Hi Jez,

Bingo:Chassis 660748

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/gallery/pb2006/4495.jpg

the license plate was the give away, I actually shot the plate near the car at Pebble in 2006, which clearly says LT2....Here is the car departing for the Pebble Tour on Thursday early morning

It also raced at the Monterey Historics in 2005, where the car is shown in the assembly are before the garages.

[durian]

The LT2 is a lightweight XK120 with a one-piece magnesium body.

Jaguar prepared 2 examples to run at LeMans in 1951 in the event that the XK120C (aka C-Type) was not ready in time to compete. However, the C-Type was ready and it would go on to win the race.

(it was very hard for me to find any information or photos of this car, so if you have any of either, send me a PM...i do know that it was featured in the Victory by Design special hosted by alain de cadenet, so if anyone has the DVD it might prove useful)

im not sure if both examples still exist...i can only find information on one owned by a guy by the name of Chris Jaques...

this photo was taken at the 2001 LeMans Legend race...it is labeled a LT2, but i think it may be simply a mislabeled shot of a standard XK120 Jaguar XK120~0711-062831-51 (http://www.maranello.cc/All.Ferraris/the-legends-race---gallery/jaguar-xk120-1.html)

Hi, when I was a teenager, I was interested in drag racing in the UK. A friend of mine who had a drag car introduced me to a person who owned one of these cars. I remember that the (I believe it was) LH headlight was omitted, and it had the cold air intake fed from the hole. It also had no trunk (boot) lid, as the body in that area was all one piece. It was BRG in colour, and was located, as far as I remember, in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The owner was maybe upper class judging from accent, and was about maybe 25 at the time, mid 1960's, and I believe had a two syllable family name. I believe that he mentioned that he raced it from time to time. Hope this helps. John

Additional info 10th March 2009:
I have the name Dave Cottingham springing to mind, but it might be a case of crossed memory it was a long time ago. If it was Dave C, I believe he was doing UK Stock car driving, maybe at Harringay Arena, using Jaguar engines, and that might have been the reason why my friend was in contact with him, as his drag car also used Jag drivetrain. The favoured source was MkVII Jags, large saloons. I can also remember seeing some metal working going on in the garage adjacent to the one where the mag body car was stored, which would tie in with the stock car racing.
I also remember firmly that I was told that there were only two ever made with the magnesium body. What confuses me are your other replies, one of which puts one car in Canada, and later in UK, and I am assuming that the other car has whereabouts that are known. The one I saw might have been the one from Canada, but this was not mentioned at the time, or has faded from memory.