My 5 Favourite “Chieftain”-named Vehicles

Chieftain: A supreme ruler of a clan or tribe.

This name is a symbol of great power and strength, and is arguably one of the greatest names for a motor vehicle, along with Mustang (Ford), Spitfire (Triumph), Hurricane(Armstrong Siddeley), Riviera (Buick), Barracuda (Plymouth), Jaguar, and Tiger (Sunbeam).

Here are the 5 vehicles in question:

1. Albion Chieftain

Built by Scotland’s best known contribution to the motor industry, the Chieftain was one of Albion’s top selling models, and was available with a 6 speed gearbox, the 6th gear being overdrive. This particular model is a PF107L 6×4 flatbed unit.

 

2. FV4201 Chieftain

One of the most popular tanks of its kind, the FV4201 was, in the 1960s and ’70s, the United Kingdom’s main battle tank, and, during it’s 1966 introduction, has been described as the “most formidable main battle tank in the world”. It’s main armament, a L11A5 120 millimetre rifled turret, was the most powerful of any main armament of all the tanks that have been constructed. Engine-wise, it is powered by a 19 litre, 6-cylinder, two-stroke, multifuel,  Leyland L60, delivering 750 horsepower. Used in the past, still being used today.

3. Indian Chieftain

One of the most radically styled and striking motorcycles of it’s kind, the Chieftain is a true representative of the company’s reputation as a maker of fast, dependable, rugged, reliable, high quality motorcycles. Acquired by Polaris Industries in 2011, the Chieftain was then a new face in the motorcycle industry, along with the base model Chief Classic, and mid range model Chief Vintage. The Chieftain of course was the flagship of the entire range. One of the key elements to the Chieftain’s appeal is its engine: a 111 cubic-inch, air-cooled Thunder Stroke V-twin, which has been designed to imitate Indian motorcycle engines of yesteryear, externally. A very beautiful engine. Sounds good too. The Chieftain is arguably the best touring motorcycle on the market today.

4. Pontiac Chieftain

Pontiac: A name that has plunged into the divides of the history books and long gone. But that doesn’t mean it’s forgotten, as people still remember it. Well, I certainly do. Anyway, the Chieftain. Originally launched in 1949 as Pontiac’s then new base model of the range, the Chieftain came with a choice of two six-cylinder and two eight-cylinder motors, the most powerful of which was a 248.9 cubic-inch L-head 8-cylinder making 106 horsepower. I said it was the most powerful of those engines, not the most powerful. This particular Poncho is a 1951 Deluxe Eight Catalina Hardtop Coupe, my personal favourite of all the Chieftains, chiefly (get it? Chiefly?) due to the styling, of which is typical of this era in the American auto industry. Quite distinguished, wouldn’t you say?

5. Ransomes, Sims & Jeffries 7nhp Traction Engine “Chieftain”

Founded by brass and iron-founder Robert Ransome in the county town of Ipswich, Suffolk in 1884, Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies was one of the UK’s major manufacturers of traction engines and agricultural machinery and equipment. This example is a 7nhp general purpose engine from 1903, No. 15278, named “Chieftain”, and is arguably the best representative of the company.

5 Cars That Deserve To Be Made Into Hot Wheels Die-cast Models

Around since 1968 (next year will be their 50th anniversary), Hot Wheels is one of the world’s most iconic brands of toy with wild and wacky looking hot rods with names to match, like Twin Mill, Red Baron, or Bone Shaker for example.  But the thing is, Hot Wheels are more than just toys… they are a piece of history, collector’s items, things to play around with or admire when your feeling bored, and are not just for kids… anyone at any age, at anytime, can have all the fun they want with these iconic little things.

There are also some certain cars that I think should be made into die-cast Hot Wheels cars. As I will now show you.

P.S: I’m sorry I haven’t made a post for the past year or so, but that’s because my computer wasn’t functioning properly, plus I lost my password. But it’s all fixed now, so don’t panic. I’m back, baby!

 

1. The Gadgetmobile

The world’s favourite bumblebee of a bionic police detective Inspector Gadget just wouldn’t have been complete without this fine set of wheels. Equipped with the lot: a retractable claw, rockets, oil slick, ejector seat, wheels that can extend, and can be transformed from a minivan into a sports police hatchback (as seen above). Oh, yeah! Mattel really ought to get their Hot Wheels division to make this iconic gadgetized hot rod into a die-cast model. Go-Go Gadgetmobile!

 

2. FAB 1

Remember Thunderbirds? That show where everything was way ahead of time (although nowadays we’d probably take all that kind of technology for granted, but back then it was really something), all those futuristic vehicles and aircraft, and whatever the rescue organisation International Rescue come up against, it is no challenge for them. There is another thing that is truly recognised in this show, and that is the FAB 1, a heavily-customised pink Rolls Royce. Owned by the wealthy, high in society Lady Penelope (and mostly driven by her loyal chauffer, Parker), this is arguably the ultimate Rolls Royce of them all, equipped with a machine gun that pops out of the grill, cannons that pop out of the headlights, oil slick, smoke screen, bulletproof body, rear machine guns, and is capable of reaching high speeds of a phenomenal rate.  Hot Wheels? I think I see you making a die-cast version of this beast!

 

3. All The Cars From The Wacky Races

If Hot Wheels can make wild and wacky die-cast cars, why don’t they do the same for all these equally wild and wacky cars (hence the cartoon being called Wacky Races). As a matter of fact, I think this would be a fantastic way to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary next year! Quite a coincidence, don’t you think? That both Hot Wheels and Wacky Races were first made in 1968?

 

4. Zündapp Janus

Why not? It’s unique, has a certain charm to it, it’s cute, rather stylish (in it’s own aspect) and earned it’s claim to fame as the villain Professor Zündapp in the Disney film Cars 2. I think that should up the ante a bit, don’t you think?

 

5. Bucciali TAV8-32 Saoutchik ‘Fleche d’Or’ Berline

One of the ultimates in French (despite the Italian sounding name of the manufacturer) luxury motoring and quite possibly suitable for a mafia don who’d really want to be recognised, this pimpmobile of it’s time would have drawn quite a crowd, something that it would obviously do today at events such as Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, for example (exactly where it is in this particular photograph).

Hot Wheels? Do your stuff! Now!

 

Carhenge

Located in Alliance, Nebraska, USA, Carhenge is a replica of the famous Stonehenge attraction in England. Unlike Stonehenge, however, Carhenge consists of various cars all spray-painted grey, some stacked on top of each other and some half buried. The man who built it, Jim Reinders, did it during the summer solstice in June 1987 and in 2006, a visitor center was added to it. They have a “gravestone”, which is a car that reads out: “Here lie three bones of foreign cars. They served our purpose while Detroit slept. Now Detroit is awake and America’s great!”. On August 21, 2017, this breathtaking American tourist attraction will be in the path of the Solar eclipse. Quite an appropriate tourist attraction for petrolheads like myself! Have you ever seen anything like it?!

 

My Top 5 Favourite Sunbeams

Although considered underrated compared to the likes of various MGs, Triumphs and Jaguars back in the day, Sunbeam had quite some history and establishments. During World War I, the company built aero engines and in World War II, 647 aircraft. Sunbeam was also the first car manufacturer in the world to make a car that was perfectly capable of reaching speeds of 320km/h and the first British car manufacturer to win a Grand Prix race. Also a Sunbeam was the first car to be properly driven by James Bond in the film, Dr. No. Also, one of Sunbeam’s models, the Tiger, was affiliated with the likes of the bumbling and inept secret agent, Maxwell Smart, in the iconic 1960s TV series Get Smart. Sadly however, the Wolverhampton manufacturer closed it’s doors in 1976, but the name will forever be remembered for it’s reputation.

So here are my 5 favourites.

Sunbeam 1000 HP

Sunbeam Alpine Roadster (MkIII)

Sunbeam Rapier (Series IIIA)

Sunbeam Stiletto

Sunbeam Tiger 260

 

 

My Top 5 Favourite Alvises

Founded in 1919, Alvis got it’s name from a design of piston; Al, meaning aluminium, and vis, the latin for strong. In 1923, the Coventry firm launched the 12/50, which was one of the company’s most important models and was a pioneer in front wheel drive motoring during the 1920s. Many years later in the 1930s, Alvis had an array of models for the buying public, all of which were, imposing, sporty and advanced vehicles of their time. In the mid ’50s, coach-builder, Graber of Switzerland, penned and designed a very seductive looking body which would evolve and take Alvis into the next generation, the Three Litre Series, which eventually became the firm’s final hurrah, as the formation of British Leyland in 1967 persuaded the company to stop making motor cars and was confined to just making military machinery.

So here are my 5 favourites from this legendary British name.

Alvis 12/50 “Ducksback” Tourer

Alvis Speed 20 SA Cross & Ellis Sport Tourer

Alvis TC21/100 Grey Lady

Alvis TC 108G Graber Super Coupe

Alvis TF21

My Top 5 Favourite Plymouths

Founded in 1928, Plymouth was Chrysler’s wade into the low-priced fray against the oppositions, Ford and Chevrolet. By the early 1930s, Plymouth went on to become the third best-selling car manufacturer in the United States, and in the late ’30s, introduced the first mass produced power-operated folding top convertible. By the ’40s and 50s, the firm managed to build up a reputation for making durable and well-engineered automobiles. Then in the ’60s, Plymouth introduced the Barracuda, which was their equivalent of Ford’s pony car, the Mustang, which outsold the Barracuda by a long margin. However, in the early 1970s, the Barracuda was reincarnated and became Plymouth’s definitive muscle car, the most powerful being the 426 Hemi. Decades later however, because of  Chryslers being sold by Plymouth dealers as well as them, Chrysler had no other option than to discontinue the division in 2001.

So here are my 5 favourite models.

Plymouth Belvedere GTX 426 Hemi

Plymouth Deluxe Business Coupe

Plymouth Fury Sport Coupe (1957)

Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda

Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi (1969)

My Top 10 Favourite Coachbuilt Cars

Bohman & Schwartz, Erdmann & Rossi, Mulliner Park Ward, Thrupp & Maberly, Barker & Co, Hooper & Co, Figoni et Falaschi, Vanden Plas, Van Vooren, Freestone and Webb, Pourtout, LeBaron, Fleetwood, Lancefield, Graber, Franay and Brewster & Co. Cars in those days like various Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Bugattis, Delahayes, Delages, Minervas, Packards, Cadillacs, Duesenbergs, and the like, had unique and snazzy bodies as such that exuded exquisite attention to detail and sleek, swooping curves that would beguile you like a slice of New York Cheesecake or a glass of Shiraz. Those really were, the days.

Here are my 10 favourite coachbuilt beauties.

Bentley 4.25 Litre Pourtout Embiricos Coupe

Bugatti Type 57C Van Vooren Cabriolet

Buick Series 80 Roadmaster Fernandez & Darrin Opera Brougham

Cadillac Series 62 Saoutchik Cabriolet

Delage D8-120 S Pourtout Aero Coupe

Delahaye Type 135 Figoni et Falaschi Torpedo Cabriolet

Duesenberg Model JN Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Coupe

Packard Twelve LeBaron Sport Coupe

Riley TT Sprite Pourtout Roadster

Rolls Royce Silver Wraith Franay Drophead Coupe

My Top 5 Favourite Rover V8-powered Cars

Certainly one of the world’s most iconic engines, the Rover V8, light, compact, powerful, easy to maintain, tuneable and reliable. The engine was originally made by the Buick division of General Motors. However, the aluminium engine was relatively expensive to produce and it suffered problems with oil and coolant sealing, as well as with radiator clogging from use of antifreeze incompatible with aluminium. As a result, General Motors killed off the all-aluminium engine after just two years. Happily however, in 1964, a man called J. Bruce McWilliams saw the engine at the works of Mercury Marine, where he was discussing the sale of Rover gas turbines and diesel engines. That was when Rover bought the rights to build the engine and therefore became what it was; an iconic powerhouse.

So here are my 5 favourite cars that it has powered over the years.

Leyland Force 7V

Morgan Plus 8

Range Rover 4.6 HSE

Rover P6B 3500S

TVR Griffith 500

My Top 10 Favourite Electric/Hybrid Cars

Electric cars, as we all know it, are the way of the future, saving the earth from mere extinction of the likes of fluffy polar bears and human life, for example. Some of them are fun to drive, some are oozing with technology, some are even faster than some supercars – can you imagine?!

Environmentalists, please take note, as I give you, my 10 favourite earth-saving, environmentally friendly runabouts.

BMW i8

Buick Riviera Concept (2013)

Chevrolet FNR

Ginetta G50 EV

Holden Volt

Jaguar C-X75

McLaren P1

Morgan EV3

Porsche 918 RSR Concept

Tesla Model S P90D

 

My Top 10 Favourite Pre-GTO Muscle Cars

Many petrolheads lay to claim that when the Pontiac GTO first arose in 1964, it was the world’s first true steroid-filled runabout. But in spite of that, it wasn’t actually the first high-performance American car, nor was it even the first American car to achieve the combination of a mid-sized body and chassis with a whopping, great big thunder cloud lurking underneath the bonnet. There were actually many other manufacturers that made such cars, even before the term was invented. So before you snort with derision, here are 10 of them – all of which are my favourites – to prove it.

Buick Series 60 Century Sedanette (1941)

Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Sport Coupe (1961)

Chrysler C-300

Dodge Polara 426 Hemi Hardtop Coupe

Ford Galaxie Starliner

Hudson Hornet Twin H-Power Club Coupe

Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Club Coupe

Pontiac Ventura Super Duty 421 Hardtop Coupe

Rambler Rebel

Studebaker President State Speedster