Welcome to Must Read, where we single out the best stories from around the automotive universe and beyond. Today we've got reports from MotoringConBrio, Hooniverse, and PistonHeads.
On Driving a Manual Transmission Ferrari V12 – Hooniverse
Enjoyed this write-up from Boosted Lego Wagon. I've never driven one of these but have always loved the way they look.
See how this engine is all shapely carbon-fibre accents and powder-coated trim? No? No indeed – it looks like something Halliburton would use for fracking operations. It ain’t pretty, it’s just colossal, with lungs like Pavarotti and torque like a tractor. Click-clack goes the shifter as I slot it into first, and the 550 shuffles off down the back street without even breathing on the accelerator.
My Lancia Delta Integrale Project – Pistonehads
Hat tip to Petrolicious for bringing this to our attention. I love these, too.
This project came to life when a freind of mine who builds high power Integrale engines offered me a 1988 Integrale 8V rally shell complete with MSA logbook. I was up at his place discussing plans to up the power of my track day Evo2 and saw the shell sat there in the workshop on stands. At this point I was thinking of putting a roll cage in my Evo2 and to turn it into a fully fledged track car. My Evo2 at that point already had a 360bhp motor in it plus Alcon brakes and trick suspension but I wasn't sure that I wanted to put such a nice Evo2 on the track for good. After discussing various options it was decided that my Evo2 would be put back to a standard car and sold on to a buyer we knew in Spain. My forged engine, Alcon brakes, RSR suspension etc would be saved to use on the 8V Rally shell. We negotiated a price for the rally shell and an estimated build time was agreed.
Justin Fox on the pleasures of a weekday Nasho Run – MotoringConBrio
I didn't realize there were great drives in Australia beyond Mt. Panorama.
Sydney’s heritage-listed Royal National Park is affectionately known to locals as the ‘Nasho’. Perfect for bushwalking, cycling, surfing, picnicking or whale watching, but today, we were there for the twisties.