Tag: rally
-
For Sale: Rover Mini Sprite
This 1993 Rover Mini Sprite has had a full nut and bolt rebuild and themed as a tribute to Monte Carlo Rallye winning Cooper 33EJB. If you’ve not heard of the legend of the 33EJB Mini Cooper you should 1) get out from under whichever rock you’re under and 2) go read this quick explainer…
-
Mini but mighty: The Monte Carlo Winning Mini
Whether you associate it with The Italian Job, Mr Bean or the Swingin’ 60s – the Mini is undoubtedly a British icon. It’s a car that has stayed mostly unchanged for 40 years (much like the Land Rover Defender and its predecessors). For fans of Motorsport the Mini, namely the 33EJB, holds a special place…
-
Bloody Heroes: Michèle Mouton
Our Bloody heroes editorials celebrate the icons in motorsport who have, against the odds, risked their lives to display their immense skill, bravery and ( possibly) insanity behind a steering wheel. Introduction You may have heard the saying “WRC is for boys, Group B was for men.”. At The Mechanists, we beg to differ.…
-
A Little Insane: The Renault 5 Turbo
As the 70s came to a close, the Lancia had been absolutely CRUSHING it on the world rally stage for the better part of a decade, and this was starting to upset the French, Renault being no exception. Lancia had stolen the WRC crown from Renault’s Alpine A110 in 1974 with the introduction of the…
-
The OG WRC Champ: Alpine’s A110
Launched in 1961, the rear-engined, air-cooled, rear-wheel drive Alpine A110 shared many similarities with the iconic Porsche 911, which would be unveiled two years later. However, the A110 is by no means “just a French 911”, as this sexy little coupe would go on to become a legend in its own right. The A110 was…
-
The Dark Horse of the Audi 80 Range
The Porsche-assembled Audi RS2 is to many the ultimate evolution of the Audi 80, and with good reason. However, its popularity means that the more obscure, and therefore more affordable, yet still fantastic Audi S2 is often overlooked in the search for a classic fast Audi. Released 1991, the S2 featured a longitudinally-mounted turbocharged inline-five…
-
The reign of the “Killer B’s”
Ah the good old days… When rally cars were actual cars modified to compete in different championships rather than being manufacturer prototypes developed as a technological window for the world to witness. I am not saying that current rally cars are not impressive or interesting, but they surely lost the appeal that made them so…
-
How Italians move dirt
Known for being the most successful rally car ever, the Lancia Delta Integrale still remains one of the most exciting hatchbacks ever created. Its compact and boxy look was designed by Guigiaro, the creator of the Golf Mk.I, Lotus Esprit, and BMW M1 among many more. It offers a contained weight of around 1,200kg,…
-
The Lancer King!
Tommi Mäkinen marked the history of the WRC with his raw talent and 4 consecutive titles at the wheel of 4 different Evo generations. There are definitely some affinities between the Finn and the Japanese Manufacturer for which he won 22 of its 24 total victories between 1994 and 2002. Mäkinen’s started to get noticed…