Aston Martin DB Mark III, 1957

Aston Martin DB Mark III, 1957

Aston Martin DB Mark III was launched at the Geneva Show in March 1957 and was available only for export until it was shown at the London Motor Show in October that same year. Aston Martin DB Mark III was the final development of the cars based on Claude Hill's chassis and the Lagonda six-cylinder twin overhead camshaft engine. It remained in production for circa nine months after the Aston Martin DB4 was introduced. Some 310 cars were exported to the USA.

Tadek Marek had finely re-designed the 3-litre engine. The standard DBA version of this engine had a stiffer crankshaft, a new block, oil pump and timing chain, new exhaust and induction manifolds, the ports were based on the Aston Martin DB3S engine, larger valves, high lift camshafts (after the first 150). With the same capacity (2,922cc) twin SU carburettors and compression ratio (8:16:1) as the VB6J engine, the improved breathing provided an output claimed to be 162 bhp at 5,500rpm.

The main change in the appearance of the car was the adoption of the elegant shape of the radiator opening from that of the DB3S and the consequent compound curves of the front of the bonnet, which can be traced on all subsequent models, including the V8. Inside, the main difference was a completely different facia and instrument panel (which remained in use until the Aston Martin DB6 Mark II was dropped in 1970). In 1959, for the first time, automatic transmission (Borg Warner) was offered (as an extra) for a production Aston Martin; it was installed only in four drophead coupes and one saloon.

Technical Specifications
    * Engine: dohc I-6, 2922 cc, 162 bhp @ 5500 rpm
    * Transmission: 4-speed manual
    * Length: 14' 3.5" (435.5cm)
    * Width 5'5" (165cm)
    * Height 4' 6.25" (138cm)
    * Wheelbase 8' 3" (251.5cm)
    * Weight: 1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
    * 0-60mph: 8.2 secs

Bentley Arnage Red Label, 2000

Bentley Arnage Red Label, 2000

 

Launched in late 1999 was the Arnage Red Label. Volkswagen, who had purchased the Bentley name and Crewe factory was loathe to continue purchasing BMW's engines, and it turned out that Bentley engineers and customers felt the same way. The BMW-powered Arnage, while objectively more modern than the Turbo RT it replaced, was more than a second slower to 60 mph than that car, and lacked the massive torque that Bentley customers had grown accustomed to.

Vickers had outsourced to Cosworth the production of the old 6.75 L Rolls-Royce engine for use in the continued Continental and Azure models, so reverting to the old standby engine was a natural choice for the company. In fact, Volkswagen purchased Cosworth as well, so all the pieces fell into place to eliminate the BMW engine.

The Red Label model reverted to the old V8, which boasted torque of 835 N·m with a single Garret T4 turbocharger. This was the greatest amount of torque for a four-door car at the time. Also returning was the General Motors-sourced 4-speed 4L80-E automatic.

A long-wheelbase version of the Red Label was launched at the Detroit Auto Show in 2001, and the Green Label ended production. The Red Label models were replaced in 2002.

Bentley Brooklands, 1992

Bentley Brooklands, 1992

The Bentley Brooklands was a full-size luxury sedan introduced for 1992 as the marque's new flagship after the Bentley Mulsanne and Bentley Eight were discontinued. The Brooklands was replaced by the Bentley Arnage in 1998 as the Bentley flagship model.

The Brooklands continued Bentley's relatively angular design scheme which was used on both, Rolls-Royce as well as Bentley vehicles, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. The exterior design featured the classic Bentley waterfall grille as well as dual headlights with wrap-around parking lights. As in many Bentley and Rolls-Royce vehicles the Brooklands also featured the trademark descending trunklid and chrome B-pillars.

The interior remained relatively unchanged from previous Bentley models with a more curvaceous design elements surrounding the leather wrapped center console. The steering wheel and interior door panels remained unchanged. The interior continued to be surrounded by ample woodgrain which featured engraved, lighter-colored outlines on the door panels.

Technical specifications
The Bentley Brooklands was driven by a 6.7 L V8 with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle was rear wheel drive and featured independent front and rear suspension. While not as large as some other Ultra-luxury sedans, the Brooklands remained quite large with an overall length of 211.4" and 214.5" wheelbase (207.4" and 120.5" in SWB trim).