8 May, 2015
To build a vehicle capable of exceeding 1000mph on land is no mean feat. To date, 763.035mph is the magic number, achieved in 1997 by Andy Green in Thrust SSC.
Now, Richard Noble, the team leader behind Thrust SSC, has assumed the role of project manager for Bloodhound SSC — a supersonic vehicle aiming for the 1000mph barrier.
So, what goes into building such a vehicle, you ask? Well, here’s a video, detailing the build (thus far) of Bloodhound SSC, in a mere 90 seconds.
It’s easy to see why the Morris Minor Traveller was one of the best-loved variants of the Morris Minor. Introduced in 1953, it was equipped with the same independent torsion bar front suspension, drum brakes, and rack and pinion steering as its saloon sibling but, with their foldable rear seat increasing versatility, many Travellers were used as trade vehicles, says Derek Goddard. Derek and Gail Goddard, the owners of this superbly restored example, have run Morris Minors since before they were married in 1974.
“Our honeymoon vehicle was a blue Morris Minor van — it was a rust bucket,” says Derek.
It’s fair to say that nothing much in the classic Mercedes world gets past Mercedes-Benz Club stalwart Garry Boyce so it wasn’t surprising to learn that around 15 years ago he had sniffed out an extremely rare 300SL lightweight Gullwing as well as a 1958 300SL Roadster hiding away in the Waikato. The cars were not for sale but Garry eventually managed to persuade the owner to allow him and his restoration team to take a look at the Roadster. They discovered a very distressed but largely unmolested car. The car was so original that the body had never been off the chassis, meaning most of the parts and fittings were still present and correct, as they had been fitted by the factory.
