Getting Around - Italian Style

Bumped into this little Fiat wagon on a street corner in Rome.

The streets are full of Fiat 500's -- mostly the new ones, but the old models are still around in pretty good numbers. The streets of Rome are made for small cars -- no room, no rules, and no parking. I don't understand how the bigger cars can get around.

1957 St. Simons Cup

Not sure exactly where this one came from, but there is a small trophy that's been collecting dust in my office for the past few years.

On the bottom of its plastic (or maybe it's Bakelite) base is the name of the maker -- "Trophies for Champions, by F.N. Noble & Company, Chicago, No. 62".

But, the more interesting information is on the small brass plaque. It is inscribed, "1957 St. Simons Cup, Second H Modified".

Can anyone out there tell me where this race was run?

Better yet...tell me who came in second.

The "Big" DKW

The DKW 3=6 is often described as the big DKW. (Der grosse DKW) It claims room for six, with space for luggage -- all powered by a 2-stroke, 3-cylinder, 891cc engine. (A straight three.)

The car, manufactured from 1953 to 1959 went by many names. It was the DKW 3=6, the DKW Sonderklasse, the DKW F91, and the DKW 900.

One would assume the 3=6 is in reference to the 3-cylinder car with seating for six. But, according to the Audi history site, "Three equals six! This simple mathematical equation greatly impressed the public. A three-cylinder two-stroke engine, since it has twice as many working strokes as a four-stroke engine, therefore benefits from a power flow as smooth as a six-cylinder four stroke."

Auto Union 1000 Sp Rally Car

Some artistic license was probably taken on this image -- making the "baby Thunderbird" look much faster than the 87mph top speed it was credited with.

Introduced in 1958, the sports version of the 4-seater Auto Union 1000 -- it boasted a 3-cylinder 981cc 2-stroke engine with a 4-speed gearbox. About 5,000 of the fixed-head coupe sports cars were manufactured between 1958 and 1965.

MINUTIA compared the 1000 Sp with the Ford Thunderbird back in March 2009.

New Morgan Trike: And Who Wouldn't Want One of These Little Beasts?

The new Morgan 3 Wheeler was introduced on March 1st at the Geneva Motorshow. Apparently the company has received more than 300 advance orders for the car. (It's amazing how much it looks like the original -- unlike the retro Mustang, Camaro or Challenger that Detroit has put out recently.)

Racing smart Cars...How Cool Would That Be?

It's a unclear how much these little cars "caught on" here in the States -- but the idea of a racing series with smart cars sounds like a great idea. (They are kind of built like a big crash helmet anyway. So...why not?)

I ran across this ad in the March 3rd issue of AUTOSPORT magazine. It really makes you wish you were in the UK. They have lots of fun with little cars over there.

Check out the 4two cup action.

The Mystery of the Missing Fairthorpe Atomota

Fairthorpe Ltd. was founded by Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett in 1954. One of his first cars, but certainly not one of his most successful, was the Fairthorpe Atomota. The Atomota was powered by a 650 cc BSA in-line twin.

Well...rumors have it that an Atomota made its way to the US -- ultimately to have its frame and engine replaced by a Subaru (probably a 360). But the car (if it ever existed) has disappeared. (Cue the spooky music.)

Have you ever heard of -- or seen -- the mustery US Atomota? Better yet...do you know where it is today? (And we certainly hope that changing automotive styles haven't led to the amputation of those wonderful wings.)