Posted on 05/03/2007 at 14:32
The Turini mountain pass on an ACMA...
The Turini mountain pass is a legendary stage for all the Rallye enthusiasts, and so since the late 50's! This stage is part of the Monte-Carlo Rally (Monaco).
A 32 kilometers stage, serpentine as hell (34 hairpins turns!), 1200m. to climb up to the top...
Here is a picture a friend of mine gave me : the picture was taken on winter 1959, and you can see several members from his family (his father is riding the second Vespa), riding theirs '56 ACMA's to the snowy Turini... I know this place, the temperatures there, the low performance of those scooters, their poor road holding, and this makes me feel much respectful!
Thanks Régis for this never-seen-before photograph!
Wanna know more about the Turini : Col-de-Turini.com (available both in French and English)...
A 32 kilometers stage, serpentine as hell (34 hairpins turns!), 1200m. to climb up to the top...
Here is a picture a friend of mine gave me : the picture was taken on winter 1959, and you can see several members from his family (his father is riding the second Vespa), riding theirs '56 ACMA's to the snowy Turini... I know this place, the temperatures there, the low performance of those scooters, their poor road holding, and this makes me feel much respectful!
Thanks Régis for this never-seen-before photograph!
Wanna know more about the Turini : Col-de-Turini.com (available both in French and English)...
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Posted on 27/02/2007 at 15:53
History of the Albatross
Establishing the history of the brand took me longer than I expected... So here is a short summary of what I've learned about those boats.
The beginnings
By applying the techniques they knew, an using the after-war surplus of aluminium, they created the first Albatross Mk1 runabout in 1949. The first models were sold in 1950, equipped with the 100E engine from the Ford Anglia (marine converted, 4 in-line cylinders, 1172cc, side valves, SU carburetor, giving 35 hp at 4500 rpm).
The success
Many celebrities then became Albatross owners : Prince Rainer of Monaco (he owned 6 Albies, see my article from 27/12/2006!), Grace Kelly, Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Prince Philip (Duke of Edimbourg, Queen Elizabeth II's husband), John Pertwee, Stirling Moss, George Formby, etc...
We now are in 1954, and the Albatross Marine company, with its 60 employees, produces 150 boats a year! Not only small runabouts, but bigger boats as well, all of them out of riveted aluminium. The British Rail company even built a train station right next to the factory to quickly take the speedboats to Italy and Southern France...
As the sales keep growing, a 4-seater version of the runabout is proposed from 1957... A bigger engine is proposed as optional from 1955 (Coventry Climax, 1220cc, 70hp), propelling the little MkII (created in 1960) at 47 knots (87km/h)!
The little Albatross' performances allow him to win many victories, both in England and in France (Six Hours of Paris). For the same reasons, many water-ski clubs (a sport in full expansion by that time) will use those boats...
The decline...
Unfortunately, the end of the make is near, as in the 60's arrive the fiberglass... Polyester-made hulls are more competitive, easier to make, though cheaper...
The Albatross Marine Ltd. last attempt will be a fiberglass 18 foot boat, powered by a 3,8L Jaguar engine. But the success is not there any longer, and the company closes in 1966.
Archie Peace will even die forgotten by everybody... He was affected since his forties by a multiple sclerosis.
Albatros today
Around 1200 Albatross were built, from which 800 two-seaters (600 MkI), and 400 four-seaters. Only 164 models were equipped with the Coventry Climax engine, which make them the most wanted ones.We estimate that les than a hundred Albatross still exist as of today...
Sources :
- Magazine Neptune Moteurs N°123, June 2006
- VintageSkiBoats.com
- National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Posted on 29/01/2007 at 14:05
Soon in my garage?
The beast doesn't belong to me yet, but the deal is almost done... Here are the pictures of this very first visit.
This is a 1960 Vespa Acma 150 N, bought new by its current owner in Algeria. He brought it back with him, hence the ID number which is late 62...
So, this beauty is complete, all original but the paint re-done in 1993, with several period accessories... It was still running four years ago, so putting it back on the road shouldn't be a big deal...
Here we are! Sham, after his Lambretta, gets back to the Italian
No full restoration planned for now, only an overall cleaning, and ride it... More information on this project soon!
Posted on 18/01/2007 at 20:12
July 30th 2003
Here is a beautiful tribute (I almost dropped a tear! ), broadcasted in Mexico, while the Beetle was definitely off the production lines in Puebla.
While the VW is not more built in Europe since 1978, the Puebla factory, opened in 1964, will produce more than 5 millions vehicles until this bloody July 30th 2003.
More than 22 millions Beetles were built worldwide... Bye bye Herbie.
), broadcasted in Mexico, while the Beetle was definitely off the production lines in Puebla.
While the VW is not more built in Europe since 1978, the Puebla factory, opened in 1964, will produce more than 5 millions vehicles until this bloody July 30th 2003.
More than 22 millions Beetles were built worldwide... Bye bye Herbie.
Posted on 27/12/2006 at 13:55
Period pictures
Two more old pictures of Albatross boats...
The first one looks like it's been taken at the "Amsterdam Yacht Show", maybe in 1959 (it seems to be written on the poster .
The second picture is more interesting... From the informations I got (many thanks Fred!), the big yacht to which the Albatross is hanged to belonged to the Prince Rainier of Monaco. Which confirms the information that he owned several Albatross runabouts...
Well, I'll have to take care of this little boy if I want to play with it next summer...
The first one looks like it's been taken at the "Amsterdam Yacht Show", maybe in 1959 (it seems to be written on the poster .
The second picture is more interesting... From the informations I got (many thanks Fred!), the big yacht to which the Albatross is hanged to belonged to the Prince Rainier of Monaco. Which confirms the information that he owned several Albatross runabouts...
Well, I'll have to take care of this little boy if I want to play with it next summer...