Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen two very different machines that both clearly boasted the distinct rumble of a V8 engine. The earliest of the pair is the very rare BRM P167 Chevrolet. Built for the 1971 season, it was an evolution of BRM's original Can-Am design and featured more aggressive aerodynamics. First raced in the European Interseries championship, it scored a pair of wins in the hands of Brian Redman. The car did not fair quite as well in the Can-Am series, which prompted BRM to abandon the project. The cars were then raced by the late David Hepworth in Europe. His family has retained both P167s along with all but one of the other BRM Can-Am cars. This year, the featured P167 was restored with the help of original mechanic John Brooke. The work was completed, literally in the paddock of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and as can be seen in this 19-shot gallery, the very rare BRM was run to the top on each of the event's three days.
Powered by an altogether more sophisticated but similarly sounding V8 is the Isdera Imperator 108i, which we captured at last month's Modena Trackdays. This rare, German supercar was created by the highly talented engineer Eberhard Schulz. His skills were so diverse that he was offered jobs in both the engineering and design departments at Porsche. Following his spell at the German company, he started to produce cars of his design. Among them was the Imperator, which was built in very small numbers between 1983 and 1991. Inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, it featured a spaceframe chassis, gull-wing doors and a Mercedes-Benz or AMG V8 engine. The pictured example is the fourth Imperator built and was originally owned by a German Olympic gold medal winner. In its current ownership, it was restored and subtly modified with the help of Eberhard Schulz himself.

Enjoy the links:

1971 - 1972 BRM P167 Chevrolet - Images, Specifications and Information

1983 - 1991 Isdera Imperator 108i - Images, Specifications and Information