Franschhoek Motor Museum | November Nuusbrief

Ons November Nuusbrief praat oor die volgende artiekels: A century of movement, Cape Classic Car Show, Fly/Drive by, Capri Peranas, Alfa Romeo 4C, 2014 COTY, Exhaust blips, FMM General Info

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A CENTURY OF MOVEMENT

Henry Ford’s dream was always to give the world an affordable and reliable car, something he achieved with the introduction of the Ford Model T back in 1908, which was reliable and fairly inexpensive but still not the prize he had in mind. Ford had been trying to streamline car production for years, even with the T’s predecessor the Model N that was assembled in a very basic and crude linear ‘step-by-step’ process. Ford took this system and refined it for the Model T, dividing up the manufacturing process into 84 steps, or production procedures, then also introduced machines to press out body panels and parts faster and neater than any man. Ford then drew inspiration from a Chicago meat packing plant and how they managed the animal carcasses, which led him to introduce the first ever moving chassis production line on the 1st December 1913. This system worked so well that Ford was able to produce his 10-millionth Ford on the 4th of June 1924.

What about the effect on price? Let’s take the Model T two-seat Runabout: in 1910 it was advertised at $900 but by 1927, the final year of production, the showroom sticker showed $360. I think Henry Ford achieved what he set out to do – in today’s highly competitive world of mass-produced automobiles, it is hard to grasp that the basic principle is the same as Ford introduced 100 years ago. But as for the economies of scale and the effect on pricing, Ol’ Henry was the only chap to ever get that right! WH

CAPE CLASSIC CAR SHOW

FMM took part in the biennial Cape Classic Car Show, held on November 3 at the Jan Burger Sports Complex in Parow. With temperatures in the mid-20s and only a mild breeze blowing, exhibitors and spectators had a sunny day hot – a welcome start to summer and the usual calendar of car shows.

Curator Wayne Harley was on hand with some of the workshop staff and the cars on show were a trio of Fords – 1932 Model 40 pick-up, 1934 Model 40 Roadster and 1937 Model 28 Club Coupé. MM

FLY / DRIVE BY

The museum will be attending the Wings and Wheels show again this year at the Ysterplaat air-force base in Cape Town on 7/8 December. We have been asked to exhibit some of the museum’s cars amongst the base’s museum collection of aircraft, so if you can make it why come along and experience this rare opportunity to see classic wings and wheels on display together. The cars FMM will be taking along will have a slightly ‘aerodynamic’ flavour including the 1934 De Soto Airflow, 1936 Chrysler Airflow, 1936 Tatra T97, 1947 Lancia Aprilia and 1953 Bristol 403. Joining these wind-cheating thoroughbreds will be a 1942 Willys pick-up, 1958 Chevrolet Impala, 1961 Alfa Giulietta Spider, 1964 Morris Cooper plus two motorcycles, a 1922 AJS and a 1956 Arial Square-Four. Last – but definitely not least – is the recently-restored 1939 Peugeot hillclimber that will be having its first public outingWH

CAPRI PERANAS

 

Image from http://4c.alfaromeo.com/

Check out the December issue of TopCar magazine that includes a feature on the Basil Green Capri Peranas, which features Anthony Corin’s sole-surviving works Group 5, Charles Arton’s and Ferdi van Niekerk’s Group 2-spec continuation models built by Peter Lindenberg plus FMM’s original road car. Legendary drivers Koos Swanepoel and Peter Gough were on hand, too, reminiscing about their races during the 1970s. An interview with Basil himself is included in the story. Some time ago, Basil was inducted into the Capri Club of North America’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his exploits and the trophy in recognition of this has finally reached him. MM

ALFA ROMEO 4C

 

Image from http://4c.alfaromeo.com/

Image reference: http://4c.alfaromeo.com/

Is this a classic in the making? That’s the question put forward by Alfa Romeo when the newest addition to the Alfa family, the 4C, became the latest model from the brand to conquer the Nürburgring’s infamous Nordschleife with a time of 8min04sec. The time, attained by driver, journalist and Green Hell expert Horst von Saurma set a record for production cars with engines under 184 kW (250 HP). The 4C makes its local début in early 2014 with the arrival of the numbered Limited Edition, which numerous carbon fibre parts to distinguish it from its regular cousin and all units allocated to South Africa have already been pre-sold. The regular 4C will then become available locally towards the end of January from selected Alfa Romeo outlets. Pricing has not been announced.

2014 COTY

The 2014 WesBank/SAGMJ Car of the Year finalists have been announced following a vote cast by a 30-member jury, elected by their peers, on the 40 semi-finalists.

The nine finalists are (in alphabetical order):

  •  Audi A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI Manual
  • Jaguar F-Type 3.0 V6 S
  • Lexus IS 350 F-Sport
  • Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
  • Peugeot 208 GTI
  • Porsche Cayman S
  • Renault Clio4 66kW Turbo Dynamique
  • Volkswagen Golf 7 1.4 TSI 90kW Comfortline DSG
  • Volvo V40 D3 Geartronic Excel

The next step in the process is a stringent two-day evaluation session to be held in Gauteng in January 2014, including testing procedures at the world-renowned Gerotek test facility near Pretoria. The winner will be revealed at a gala banquet in February 2014 – a classic in the making? Don’t hold your breath, methinks… MM

EXHAUST BLIPS

Watch out for the December/January edition of Classic & Performance Car Africa magazine that includes a feature on FMM’s very original and ‘Oily Rag’ eligible 1926 Talbot 14/45.

DATES TO DIARISE:

November 9: Rockabilly festival, Cape Town Ostrich Ranch, N7

(http://www.capetownmagazine.com/events/dusty-rebels-and-the-bombshells-rockabilly-festival/2013-11-09/11_37_55269)

November 9: Historic Tour Racing, Zwartkops (events@zwartkops.co.za)

November 9: Houw Hoek Rally, Cape (crankhandleclub@gmail.com)

December 1: Classic Car Show, NASREC Expo Centre, Johannesburg (www.classiccarshow.co.za)

December 7: Vintage, Classic, Sports Car Auction, EPVCC Motor Fair, Newton Tech High School, Port Elizabeth (www.hocasc.co.za)

December 7: Midas saloon car day, Killarney (www.wpmc.co.za)

December 7: Historic racing, Kyalami (www.historicracing.co.za)

December 7-8: Wings and Wheels Show, Ysterplaat, Cape Town (pb.vermaak@ysterplaat.org.za)

December 16: Pro Tour, Kyalami (www.motorsport.co.za)

(Clubs are invited to send details of upcoming events to

mike4m@telkomsa.net for inclusion in Exhaust Blips.)

WHERE, WHAT TIMES

AND HOW MUCH

The Franschhoek Motor Museum is situated on the L’Ormarins Estate along the R45 in the Franschhoek Valley in the Western Cape. The opening hours are:

Monday to Friday 10h00 to 17h00 (last admittance 16h00),

Saturday and Sunday 10h00 to 16h00 (last admittance 15h00),

and the museum is open on most public holidays.

Admission prices are R60 adults, R50 pensioners, R30 children. An on-site delicatessen offers refreshments and tasting of L’Ormarins estate wines is also available. MM