When I have taken photos from car meets and exhibitions, I want to show several cars of the same model before they are published. Then it becomes more legitimate to write a story about models not knowing. But what do you do when you've only managed to take one picture? Here are 5 cars from carspotting that I haven't found a match for.
Ferrari Testarossa
The Ferrari, which was produced between 1984 and 1996, became super popular. "All" royalty and celebrities wanted a Testarossa.
Miami Vice
There was a wait of several years. Many got to know the car through the TV series Miami Vice. Ferrari had donated two cars to the production company. They were in black metallic with a cream colored interior, but were repainted because white probably suited Don Johnson better. The last two sales went for 175 and 000 dollars respectively.
Here is one that was for sale but has now unfortunately been sold.
Barrett-Jackson: Miami Vice Car
Celebrity car
Several celebrities have owned - or own a Testarossa. Elton John is said to have received one from the record company MCA Records. It was red with a "tan" interior. It is said that Elton John regularly drives all his cars. Also the Testarossa which was eventually auctioned off - and which has probably been auctioned off at least once more later. Other celebrities behind the wheel of the Testarossa are Mick Jagger, Miles Davis, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Rod Stewart, OJ Simpson, Tom Selleck, MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.
Facts about the Ferrari Testarossa
Engine: 4,9 litres, 12 cylinders (boxer), 48 valves, naturally aspirated, dry sump, 390 HP at 6300 revs, 490 Nm at 4500 revs. 0-100 in 5,8 seconds.
About the pictures
The main picture was taken near the old control tower at Fornebu on the occasion of one of the Norwegian Sportscar Club's spring rallies at Fornebu. The bonus picture is taken of the traffic on the E18 exiting at Holtet in Bærum. Car spotting and car spotting.
Lotus spirit
It is hard to imagine that the Lotus Esprit, the cool James Bond car, has become a proper old car.
There is no getting away from the truth. Beneath the handmade fiberglass bodywork hides one old car, technologically low-tech by today's standards. I heard one owner state that "you don't buy an Esprit because of performance - you buy it because it's an Esprit".
Engines
The Esprit model was produced in several series from 1976 to 2004. The first cars were equipped with mid-mounted 2,2-liter inline-four engines developed by Lotus itself. Performance was a modest 160 HP. The Esprit was never a supercar until 1980 when it got a turbo and 210 HP. Eventually, Lotus managed to extract 300 HP from the turbo engine. In 1996 – twenty years after its introduction – the Esprit got V8 engines. The twin-turbo engine produced 350 horses and lifted the Esprit into the supercar class.
Heavy on the steering. Poor turning radius. Low stance and very direct contact with the road. "Everything" is communicated to the driver. This is a car that takes some getting used to.
The statements come from car testers who viewed the Esprit with today's eyes. One thing everyone agrees on. The interior. Everything is covered in genuine leather - handmade English quality - designed like a "man-cave". It is not only comfortable, but gives a real good feeling.
Source: Supercars.net Lotus Esprit
About the picture
The picture was taken at one of the Norsk Sportsvogn Klubb's spring rallies in Fornebu. It is a Turbo Esprit with an estimated 210 HP. Car spotting.
BMW 503
Only 413 of this BMW model were produced. There should be one other BMW of the same model somewhere in Norway, but the probability of meeting any of them on the road is very small.
A beautiful baroque angel
BMW's distinctive 50s models 501 and 502 were colloquially called baroque angels. First appearing as a 503 model, the 1956 Coupé model was a 2-door, 2+2-seater GT model that was offered with only one engine option. The engine was taken from the BMW 502. 3,2 liter V8, 2 carburettors, 140 HP and 4-speed manual gearbox. There is no doubt that under the beautiful costume was a baroque angel - a very beautiful baroque angel.
Little profitable
Production continued from 1956 to March 1959. Considering the gorgeous design and motorization, the model could certainly have been produced well into the 60s. But BMW stopped production due to poor profitability. A total of 413 cars were produced. Of these, 270 were Coupés with a fixed roof and 143 cabriolets with electric raising and lowering of the canopy.
Expensive car
A simple search on mobile.de after BMW 503 tells about prices between 200 - 250 euros for coupés and 000 - 400 euros for cabriolets. There are several factors that dictate a high price - few copies, built as a quality car, beautiful and lavish for its time. It's a wonder these cars didn't do better. The BMWs could not keep up with the American cars of the time in terms of chrome and external dimensions - but neither could the Mercedes-Benz SL. Despite that, the SL sold well in the US in the 500s.
About the picture
The picture was taken at one of the Norsk Sportsvogn Klubb's spring rallies in Fornebu. The car is a Series II Coupé with a fixed roof – a variant of which only 134 were produced. Car spotting.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
It was typically Italian to make a model with many bodies. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was initially a compact family car, but could also be delivered with special bodies.
The Giulietta Spider follows a genuinely minimalist roadster concept. Under the hood is a 1,3-liter aluminum engine with wet cylinder walls, DOHC and single Solex carburettor (Normale) or twin Weber (Veloce). It produced 80 HP in the Normale and 90 HP in the Veloce version – enough to give a lot of driving pleasure in a car that weighs only 860 kg.
Lived on as the Giulia Spider
The Giulietta range (2- and 4-door) was produced from 1954 to 1965, but the Giulietta Spider was called Giulia Spider when Alfa Romeo started producing the legendary Giulia in 1962. The "New" Giulia Spider got a 1,6 liter engine and an extra air intake on the hood. Otherwise, there were few visual changes between the two models.
Prices
The Giulietta Spider is a real classic, which is also reflected in the prices. They are between NOK 500 and one million mobile.de.
About the pictures
The white Spider is one of the last cars produced as a Giulietta. It is a "tipo 101.03" - as the registration number indicates. The photo was taken at one of the Norsk Sportsvogn Klubb's spring rallies in Fornebu. Car spotting.
Opel Kapitän
1959 was a good year. Lolita topped the charts with "Seemann". Mercedes-Benz launched a brand new model and Opel got a new Kaptein.
It has been a long time since an Opel could measure up to a Mercedes. It could do that in 1959 when both came with completely new models. Mercedes' new W110 and W111 – the so-called "find Mercedes" was perhaps the best mass-produced car of its time. The year before, Opel had launched a brand new Opel Kaptein with large fins and panoramic windows at the front and rear. The P1 looked like an American, but was too strong a diet for sane Europeans. Many complained about poor visibility through the panoramic windows and tight access to the back seat because the rear window actually curved into the door opening. It sold so poorly that the management at Opel began to design a new Kaptein – the P2 – which came already the following year in 1959.
Most beautiful Opel ever
It was no secret that the P2 was designed on the same platform as the P1. The two cars had the same wheelbase, while the new one was a little wider, a little longer – and a little less American. The new Opel Kaptein was not only beautiful – it also sold better than all the Kapteins both before and after.
Facts Opel Kapitän P2
Production time: 1959-1963
Engine: 2,6 liter inline six.
90 HP at 4100 rpm
191 Nm at 1900 revolutions
Front suspension: Double A-arms
Rear: Rigid rear axle with leaf springs
Brakes: Drums
0-100: 16 seconds
Top speed: 150 km/h
Consumption: 1,21 litres/mile
Source: Auto Zeitiung test of Mercedes 220SE against Opel Kapitän
The picture was taken in the parking lot at the Bendix meeting at the Bendix house (old Lunner Dairy). Car spotting.
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