FOR THE 1954 JUNIOR TT, race development chief Ike Hatch developed a threevalve version of the 348 cc 7R. As well as changes to the cylinder head and cam box, the bore and stroke dimensions were revised to a near-square 75.5 x 78 mm. The 7R/3A, or “Triple Knocker,” so called because of its three […]
THE D.O.H.C., PARALLEL-TWIN Porcupine first appeared in 1947. The nickname derived from the quill-like cylinder head finning between the twin cam boxes, although this feature had been deleted by 1954. Initial plans to cast the cylinder heads in silver for good thermal conductivity were abandoned due to cost. It should have had a supercharged engine,
DEVELOPED BY THE AMC race shop for the 1939 Senior TT, the formidable Supercharged V4 was built to respond to the supercharged Italian and German factory racers dominating the TT and Grand Prix circuits at the time. It was the first machine to lap a Grand Prix course at over 100 mph (161 km/h). The
IN THE EARLY 1920S, AJS achieved legendary sports success with its o.h.v. 350s, winning the Junior TT for four straight years from 1920. It also won the Senior in 1921, despite the 150 cc capacity advantage of the opposition. The factory racing machines of 1922 were nicknamed “big ports” because of the exceptional size of
THE FUTURISTIC AERMACCHI CHIMERA caused a sensation when it was launched at the 1956 Milan show. Under the easily removable alloy and pressed-steel bodywork was some slick engineering. The o.h.v. engine had a horizontal cylinder and was available first in 175 and then 250cc capacities. The frame was a tubular spine with rear suspension controlled
Volkswagen began life with the humble Beetle, Adolf Hitler’s vision of a car for the masses. It was a huge success, becoming the best-selling car of its era, and giving VW a foundation from which it grew into Europe’s biggest automaking group-before the 2015 diesel emissions scandal rocked it to its core. Mass production of
THE ACE WAS DESIGNED by William G. Henderson after he left the Henderson company in 1919. The new machine followed the style of the Henderson, with the i.o.e. engine mounted in line with the wheels. There was a three-speed, hand-operated gearbox, and final drive was by chain. The front forks were a typical leading-link construction,
ADLER REENTERED THE MOTORCYCLE market in 1949 after a gap of over 40 years. The new machines were lightweight, two-stroke singles. In 1951 a 195cc twin was added to its expanding line. The new model was the M200. A 250 version was also produced from 1952. To achieve the 247cc capacity, the bore was expanded
THE ACE WAS DESIGNED by William G. Henderson after he left the Henderson company in 1919. The new machine followed the style of the Henderson, with the i.o.e. engine mounted in line with the wheels. There was a three-speed, hand-operated gearbox, and final drive was by chain. The front forks were a typical leading-link construction,
From respected component manufacturer to automaker to core brand of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Dodge has become a fixture in US motoring history that survives and thrives today. Merged into Chrysler as a mid-priced brand, it blossomed in the ‘60s’ muscle car boom, and was the pioneer of the minivan in the ‘80s. Brothers Horace and