GTCC #797

[Colin]

Famous (and valuable) car. But what is it?

[cawimmer430]

Singer?

[Colin]

No.

[cawimmer430]

Alvis?

[Colin]

No, though heading in the right sort of direction.

[cawimmer430]

Aston Martin?

[Colin]

No.

[cawimmer430]

Rover?

[Colin]

Far more exclusive than Rover.

[cawimmer430]

Bentley? Wild guess, but I'm pretty sure it's not a Bentley...

[Colin]

You are right that it is not a Bentley.

[Rupert]

Jag?

[cawimmer430]

Triumph?

[El Barto]

ERA?

[Colin]

ERA?

Bingo!

This is an ERA (English Racing Automobiles), one of a select few cars that were built by this company founded in 1934 to try to compete against the successful Alfa, Audi and Mercedes that were dominating motor racing. They were small and light, generally powered by 1.5 litre engines. Only a small number of cars were produced, and these days they are ultra competitive in historic racing events. Owners push them hard even though they are all worth a lot of money (not that they come up for sale very often).

I believe this one is ERA 14B.

More details here: http://members.madasafish.com/~d_hodgkinson/ERAcars.htm

[cawimmer430]

That was truly the end of an era. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

I thought all of the cars back then had more like 15 litre engines that made 80 hp. How did they get a 1.5 litre to make more than 8 hp?

[cawimmer430]

I thought all of the cars back then had more like 15 litre engines that made 80 hp. How did they get a 1.5 litre to make more than 8 hp?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitzen_Benz

The vehicle was one of six built with a 21.5 litres (1,310 cu in), 200 horsepower (150 kW) inline four engine enlarged from the company's Grand Prix racer.

[FoMoJo]

I thought all of the cars back then had more like 15 litre engines that made 80 hp. How did they get a 1.5 litre to make more than 8 hp?

You mean like a Napier Railton...23.97 Litre W12 engine that made about 600 bhp.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You mean like a Napier Railton...23.97 Litre W12 engine that made about 600 bhp.

Surely that engine was meant for a tank or an aircraft.

[FoMoJo]

Aero engine, but it worked well in race cars.