BMW Alpina B7 Turbo/1 '1984-1987

Shark nose as its best. Source: forums.mwerks.com

Merry Christmas! As a present here comes the BMW's finest. E28 is already a cool thing with it's perfect shark nose, elegant lines, perfect proportion, and center exit exhaust. In addition it's the backbone of the first M5 -mother of all Wolf cars. First M5 might be the fastest production saloon of it's time, but in the wolf car world of "not always so production cars" Alpina B7 Turbo ate its lunch.

Actually B7 Turbo (based on 535i) was born before M5 already in 1979 and holded the world fastest sedan title with a top speed of 163.9mph (263.8Km/h) until 1984. Alpina modifications include lighter Mahle pistons, a modifeid cylinder head, 264 degree cam, and KKK -turbo with intercooler with adjustable boost control from the cockpit! Besides the massive power increase the Alpina's are built to handle too with upgraded chassis which was not always the case with modified E28's of the era. Check out this über B7 Turbo project.

 

In details:

 

Treasure from Sweden. Source: unknown

Engine
In-line 6, 3430cc, 20-valve, Bosch Motronic (M106)
compression ratio 9.00:1

KKK “K27” turbo (0,7 bar)
air-to-air intercooler

Alpina modified cylinder-head

Mahle pistons

Alpina camshafts (264)

Alpina exhaust manifold

The boost knob. Source: davintosh.com

Alpina engine bay plaque
Numbers (depends on year, best figures listed here)
320hp/5800rpm
509Nm/3000rpm
Top speed: 260+km/h

0-100km/h: 4,8s!!!

0-160km/h: 12,8s

0-200km/h: approx. 17s

0-400m: 13,4s (168km/h)

0-1km: 24,4s
1410kg

Cd 0,39
Transmission
Getrag ‘265’ 5 speed manual, RWD
Strenghtened differential with pump-driven oil cooler
Chassis

Alpina-Bilstein suspension with progressive springs and gas-pressure dambers

Alpina sway bars

Girling Ventilated disks/disks, 4/1 piston calibers

Alpina 7 and 8x16” alloys with 205/45VR16 (f), 225/50VR16 (r) tires
Exterior
Alpina front spoiler

Alpina rear spoiler

Alpina contour line decoration

Alpina front grill and trunk badges
Interior

Recaro sport seats with Alpina upholstery

Alpina leather 3-spoke steering wheel 360mm

Alpina gear knob

Alpina instruments ->300km/h

Alpina digital boost gauge

Alpina dashboard plaque
Turbo boost selector in center console
Other
Total of 236-278 E28 Alpina B7 Turbo’s was built between 04/1984-12/1987

Tickford Capri '83

'Ultimate 80'

When I was a child our family friends had a golden mk1 Capri that I jused to drool over. It still is a cool car drawing its styling cues from US, extremely long hood, somewhat odd dimensions, rear wheel drive and classy air vents in rear fenders. Somehow Capri always looks extremely British for me. Well, the mk2 wasn't that cool...dimension and characteristics are there, but classy and light impression was totally gone. If the cool cars bad transformation was not enough in the beginning of the 80's, Aston Martin's subsidiary Tickford was offering ultimate kit to convert Capri to little Aston!

This car is almost too 80's! Source: storm.oldcarmanualproject.com

Perhaps the intention was great, when Victor Gauntlett from Aston took the crazy idea of transforming Capri to almost Aston. Aston Martin tweaked the engine by adding turbo, tailored 'luxury' retrim and made minor chassis changes, but the bodykit they added is just awful. "at that time the design side was not valued" -John Miles (chassis development engineer working in a project)

In details

 

Engine

V6, 2972cc, fuel injection

Compression 9.2:1

IHI 'RHB6' turbocharger

Garrett intercooler

Large bore stainless steel exhaust

Transmission

Modified 5-speed manual, RWD

Ford RS -limited slip differential

Numbers

205hp/5000rpm

352Nm/3000rpm

0-100km/h: 6s

Top speed: 225Km/h

1245kg

Drag coefficient lowered from original 0,39 to 0.37 with the bodykit

Chassis

Bilstein dampers 

Additional locating 'A' links rear

Polymer pushes

Upgraded brake pads front and 10.43" rear disks

7x15" alloys with Pirelli 'P7' tires

Exterior

Front air dam and grille blank

Side skirts

Rear spoiler

rear lower valance

Coach finish paint in any sincle plain or metallic colour or special pearlscent white paintwork

Wheels painted in body colour

Interior

Connolly leather interior

Wilton interior and boot carpet

Grey wool headlining

Walnut panels and matching center console

Boost gauge and quartz clock

Other
Electrically operated door mirrors and adjustable rear wiber delay
Digital electronis stereo cassette system
approx. 100 cars were manuafactured

Alfa Romeo 155 TI.Z & GTA.Z '1993-1996

'SuperCorsa'

Alfa's ever cool 8-hole wheel design. Source: italiaauto.net

Alfa 155 and Lancia Delta Integrale has always been my great heroes; these cult cars share one of the most aggressive and race styling, both dominated race tracks and even civil versions are delighted with magical reputation. Somewhat Alfa 155 Q4 is more desirable of the two, because the ultimate  combination: Alfa's impressive styling, racing reputation in DTM and Lancia's heart developed in rally. 

Source: alfa155club.nl

Alfa Romeo 155 TI.Z (International Tourism Zagato) and GTA.Z are very rare and special models of the range topping Q4. Alfa 155 is designed by Ercole Spada (man behind some iconic designs such as BMW E34 & Fiat Tipo) while working in Zagato.  Together with race engineer Giuseppe Bizzarrini guys developed TI.Z and proposed it for the production. Unluckily this aggressive styled masterpiece with performance to match didn't fly and TI.Z/GTA.Z's ended up for a very limited production funded by Luca Zagato himself and bunch of Japanese businessman.

Source: leblogauto.com

In details

Engine
In-line 4, 1995cc, 16 valve, Marelli fuel injection, Turbo
Garrett 'T3' turbocharger
Compression ratio: 8:1
reprogrammed engine management
Zagato's signature in engine cover 
Transmission
5-speed manual, FWD
Central differential (47% front & 53% rear)
Torsen rear differential
Numbers
215hp/5500rpm
313Nm/3500rpm
Top speed: 225Km/h (Q4)
0-100Km/h: 7s (Q4)
0-400m: 15,2s (Q4)
1390kg (Q4)
Bodywork modifications reduce drag from 0,31 to 0,296 
Chassis
Electronically adjustable gas dampers
Uni ball front suspension
Ride height lowered by 34mm
Wider front (from 1.477 to 1.517mm) and rear track (from 1.402 to 1.446mm)
Ventilated disks (284mm) front and disks (240mm) rear, ABS
Steering 2,9 turns lock to lock
O.Z Racing 17x6,5" (f) and 17x7,5" (r) alloys (signed by Zagato)
Pirelli P-Zero 204/45Z17 tires 
Exterior
Flared DTM-style wheel arches made of lightweight composite
Redesigned side arches
Modified rear doors
More aggressively styled front bumber with lager air intakes
Rear bumber with cut-outs for DTM's venture
Boot mounded spoiler
Racing style fuel filler cap
Interior
Leather interior and sport steering wheel 
Other
TI.Z is a one-off prototype  
Z Automobili produced 24 Zagato bodied GTA.Z models based on TI.Z
All GTA.Z models ended originally to Japan markets

Volkswagen Golf GTI G60 Fire and Ice ( A3)'1990

'Purple Element'

Beautifully painted Fire and Ice GTI with upgraded ever cool BBS RS's. Source: volksforum.com

Source: ffp.fi

In 1990 Volkswagen released Fire and Ice edition of the mk2 Golf for the German markets. Dark violet pearl finished and very contemporary trimmed edition was offered in several engine options.

G60 prefers the fastest and rarest versions of mk2 Golf that are equipped with "G-lader" magnesium supercharger with 60mm inlet. Engines are highly sensitive for the air temperatures and performance depends much of the weather. The G60 engine is developed from the earlier and smaller G40 version used in Polo G40. Original G40 unit was produced to compete with Polo's more powerful hot hatch rivals, such as Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9. Engine deputed in 1988 at B3 Passat's nose and was produced until July 1993. The ultimate G60 unit can be founded from VW Motorsport produced Golf Limited with 209hp and 247Nm.

In details

Engine
Straight 4, 1781cc, 8-valve, supercharged (G60 PG)
Side-mounted intercooler
Compression ratio: 8:1

Numbers
160hp/5600rpm
225Nm/4000rpm
Top speed: 216Km/h
0-100Km/h: 7,8s
0-400m: 16,3s
1032kg

Transmission
5 -speed manual, FWD

Chassis
McPherson, coil springs, anti-roll bar (front)
Torsion axle, trailing arm, coil springs, anti-roll bar (rear)
Ventilated disks

Estoril 15" alloys with 190/50VR15 tyres

Exterior

Dark violet pearl metallic lacquer paint finish

Green tinted glass

Double head light grille

Colour coded 'big' bumbers with deep front spoiler

Clear front indicators

Darkened rear lights

Large Fire & Ice -logo on the rear head quarter panel

Pink rear Golf badge

Interior

Sport seats

Custom trim with various Fire & Ice -logos

Other

Approx. 2,500 produced;

1.8 8V, 90hp - 2.200 made

1.8 8V GTI, 107hp -  200 made

1.8 16V GTI, 129hp - unknown

1.8 8V G60 GTI, 160hp - 70 made

1.6 8V GTD, 80hp - 60 made

Porsche Boxster 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition (986) '2004

'Perfect match'

Today I got inspired of the first Boxster while dreaming of having convertible in my garage. It's not the prettiest Porsche with its straight character line, ugly roof lump -shared by many and also spoiled numerous of otherwise great designs, somewhat symmetrical front and rear design and the ever-ugly roll bars. Mazda Miata from the same era don’t have roll bars, so why Porsche? Anyway, it's a Porsche with sympathetic frog face and fabulous soul. 

GT Silver, dark chrome and cocoa-brown makes a perfect match. Source: auto-power-girl.com

Porsche is a master of producing limited edition models -the cars that Wolf Cars celebrates. There's a tremendously of different versions, most of them ridiculous sales boosting make overs, but some of them are really special, like RS-models. The one that I felt in love today is a 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition released in 2004 -exactly one of those make over editions, nothing really special, but has a perfectly matching colour scheme. GT Silver Metallic from Carrera GT concept and cocoa-brown leather interior makes a one of the most sophisticated marriages I have seen.

Cocoa-brown leather and silver detailing. Source: 6speedonline.com

In details:

Engine
Flat 6, 3179cc, 24-valve
Compression ratio: 11:1
Boxster S sport exhaust with special end tip 
Numbers
266hp/6200rpm
310Nm/4600rpm
Top speed: 266km/h
0-100km/h: 5,7s (Tiptronic: 6,4s)
0-400m:14,1s
1420kg 
Transmission
6-speed manual, RWD
Sport shifter -15% travel 
Chassis
'M030' sport suspension -10mm
Silver four piston brakes with cross-drilled and ventilated 318/299mm disk
Two-tone seal grey and silver Carrera 18" wheels with 5mm spacers   
Exterior
Painted in GT Silver metallic (from Carrera GT concept car)
Grills finished in body colour
Cocoa-brown soft-top  
Interior
Cocoa-brown full leather interior
Special silver detailing
Sport seats with silver back
Production number plate in centre console
Bose-high-end sound system 
Other
Grey natural leather interior as a no-cost option
1953 pieces produced (celebrates the 550 Spyder from 1953)
American model has a fully red rear lights

Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (W201) '1990

Source: motors.goods2send.com

'Black Widow' 

She’s having the phattest tail ever seen in a Mercedes. The large tail takes us back to 90’s when Group A Touring Car Championship allowed only aerodynamic modifications introduced in production versions. Thus baby-benz came on sale with a full race outfit. 

Exterior modifications are fully functional and developed in wind tunnel.  BMW research and development Chief Wolfgang Reitzle said when EVO 2 was introduced: “If that rear wing works, we will have to rebuild the BMW wind tunnel" and they did! Rules also limited that rear wing should not impede vision backwards, but benz-boyz made a clever move and limited the vision with rear window lip and made wing invisible! All-in-all aerodynamic changes were successful and Klaus Ludwig took the DTM driver’s title in 1992.

It's hard to get any closer to DTM spirit. Source: mb190.de

It’s not only the exterior that makes this wolfcar such a masterpiece, but the engine too. Thanks to race-engine builder Cosworth who took the standard 190E 2.5-16 engine (introduced 1988) and changed the compression ratio, shorter stroke crankshaft, bigger cylinders, intake and exhaust system and a raised peak rpm that helped unit to produce 235hp (+40hp) at 7200rpm! Redline cuts in at 7700rpm that’s something that very few Mercedes features and could give Honda’s VTEC a run for its money. The engine note gooses pimples!
  

Limited rear visibility. Source: maydaygarage.com

The chassis tweaked to suit the engines performance with huge brakes, electronically adjustable suspension and 17” wheels. Even the exterior is full of drama and race spirit the interior is almost standard with a huge steering wheel, typical for the Mercedes in that era and modifications are limited to sportier seats and couple extra gauges.

 

  In details

Engine

Cosworth Straight 4, 2463cc, 16-valve, Bosch KE-Jetronic suction tube injection (M102E 25/2)
compression ratio 10,5:1
Numbers
235hp/7200rpm (redline 7700rpm)
245Nm/5000-6000rpm
Top speed: 250km/h

0-100km/h: 7,1s

0-400m: 15,5s
1340kg

Cd 0,30 (standard 0,32)
Transmission
‘Dog-leg’ 5 speed manual, RWD

Limited slip-differential
Chassis

MacPherson struts front/ 5-link rear, anti-roll bars

Individually mounted springs and electrically controlled hydraulic dambers (three settings: normal, low -15mm and high +30mm)

Brembo ventilated disks (300mm) with 4 pot calibers, ABS

8 ¼ x 17” (ET 34) alloys with 245/40ZR17 Dunlop SP Sport tires
Exterior
Arc extensions

Bumper extensions

Special bumpers

Adjustable front splitter

Two-piece boot spoiler with adjustable trailing edges

Rear window lip

Side skirts

Skirt extensions

Door extensions

Aerodynamic modification reduced lift by 40% in rear axle and rear 47%

“EVOLUTION” plates in front wings

Oval exhaust exit
Interior

Black leather/checker interior (full black leather with comfort package)

Sport seats

Individual back seats

Wood trim

Three extra gauges in center console (oil temp, lap time and volt)

Consecutive number plate in shift knob (written in the following way: 001/500 up to 500/500).
Other

Only 502 Evolution 2 models was produced and all of them were sold before the production, 2 of them were painted in silver (test cars) and others in Blaushwarz (blue-black) metallic

Construction period: 01/05/1990-07/19990

Most EVO2’s were fitted with the optional comfort package which included a full leather interior, air-conditioning, sunroof, etc.

Purchase price when new: 109,440 DM (around 72,960$)

Swiss-versions has a plastic gap in front intake and tube mounted in the exhaust manifold to reduce the noise. Additionally the huge rear wing was not road legal; therefore the EVO 2 was officially sold with EVO 1 spoiler.