Cars, people and events in this week’s Motoring Milestones include: Ford Capri, M4, Sunbeam, Rolls Royce, Minardi, and Formula 1.
90 years ago this week, the first US built Rolls Royce Phantom I was completed and delivered to Harry C Orndorff of Rhode, Island [21 December 1926]. Like the Silver Ghost, the Phantom was constructed both at Rolls-Royces’ Derby
factory in the United Kingdom and at a factory in Springfield, Massachusetts in the United States. The US factory produced Phantom Is from 1926 to 1931.Principal differences between the US and UK models included wheelbases and transmissions. Both versions were specified with the same standard 143½ in (3644.9 mm) wheelbase; the long-wheelbase U.S. model was 146½ in (3721.1 mm) and the UK 150½ (3822.7 mm). Both versions used a single dry-plate clutch,[citation needed] with US models equipped with a centre change 3-speed transmission and UK a 4-speed. Other minor differences included fuel gauge placement, with the UK Phantom I’s at the tank but some US models having one on the dash, and manual central lubrication systems. The UK Phantom employed Enots nipples, some times as many as 50, which required attachment of a special Enots oil pressure gun and needed time-consuming service at 500, 1000 and 2000 mile intervals; the US model used a centralised Bijur system which lubricated all the oiling points with a stroke of a single pump…..The first party to drive by car from Cape to Cairo, Major C Court Treatt with two 25/30 hp RFC-type Crossley tenders completed their journey [24 December 1926]…… 60 years ago this week, at least six people died and several others were injured in road accidents in thick fog [19 December 1956]. Most of England, south of a line from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blackpool was shrouded in fog, with visibility in parts of East Anglia reduced to five yards (4.5 m) in places. In Bedfordshire two men in a van were killed when it crashed into a lorry. In Birmingham, a 16 year old girl, was killed when she was struck by a bus which mounted the pavement after colliding with a car. In Wales, forty-one miners on their way to work were taken to hospital when a double-decker bus overturned near Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorganshire. Ten were kept in for treatment….. Carl B Parsons, Swedish-born Chief Body Engineer for Mitchell, Nash, Cadillac and Studebaker, who is credited with designing the first closed sedan passenger car body (for a 1910 Marmon), died aged 72 [21 December 1956]…… 50 years ago this week, two Sunbeam Tiger Mk II production prototypes were completed [19 December 1966]. The Tiger was
introduced to American buy valium suppositories buyers in 1964, and launched in the UK the following year. The first 6,155 cars, built between 1964 and 1966, were powered by the 260; they were followed by just 534 examples of the Mk II, which used Ford’s 289cu in (4727cc) V8 engine pushing out 200bhp; giving it a top speed rose to 125 mph. Who knows how long Tiger production might have continued if Rootes Group, which produced the Sunbeam, had not come under the control of Chrysler in 1967. Selling a car powered by a competitor’s engine was impossible, and no Mopar V-8 was judged suitable for the task. And so, the Tiger was retired…… The film Grand Prix was launched in the USA [21 December 1966] – although it was criticised for its lack of plot, fans loved the real race scenes mixed in with staged action. The lead character – Pete Aron – was played by James Garner and numerous F1 drivers made cameo appearances. These included Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt and Jack Brabham. The film was finally released on DVD in 2006. During filming at Brands Hatch in July 1966, Garner had to be pulled free from a blazing car after a stunt got out of hand. He suffered minor burns. “I must remember not to wear nylon socks next time,” he quipped. “They melt in the heat.”….on the same day, the 100,000th Porsche was produced [21 December 1966]……45 years ago today, the English section of the M4 was completed when the 50-mile (80 km) stretch between Junctions 9 and 15 (Maidenhead and Swindon) opened to traffic [22 December 1971]……30 years ago this week, the 1,886,647th and final Ford Capri rolled off the production line (at the Halewood plant in Merseyside [19 December 1986]. This car was one of the last models called the Capri 280, also known as the Brooklands Capri. The car was based on the 2.8i model but was fitted with leather upholstery, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, Recaro front seats, low-profile tyres and alloy wheels……20 years ago this week, Minardi signed Japan’s Ukyo Katayama for the 1997 season. Katayama, 33, had been with Tyrrell, the British team, for three years [19 December 1996]. “I think that Minardi will be a big surprise for many in the course of the season,” he said. The only surprise was on the occasions he finished the race in what was yet another deeply disappointing season for the team…. On the same day [19 December 1996], Formula One team owner Frank Williams was charged with manslaughter over the death of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
