53
Barchetta at the Classic Adelaide
The Event
The Classic Adelaide has become one of the world's great classic car rallies. With over 350 cars entered this year, with a huge number of these from offshore, it is a truly international event. Run on a hub format, each day's course radiates from the Adelaide CBD start and returns for each night, allowing participants to enjoy the fine dining and hospitality, which made Adelaide famous during its era as host to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
Dave Frow ran a 53 Barchetta in the Classic Touring section of the Rally, here are comments from spectators and the driver!!
General Comments on the 53 Barchetta
"This is a terrific car. I think it is a worthy collector's piece."
"Wherever we were, people stopped to admire the car. Watching the crowds walk past the cars on parade that Friday night, they would stroll past all the others, but stop opposite the Barchetta. They were always impressed when they heard what motor it had. People would often make unsolicited favourable comments. Like one stage marshal who said: "Don't wrap it, I'll take it just like it is." Another said: "this is definitely my favourite car in the rally."
"It is an awesome beast. I didn't often floor it, but I didn't need to. The power to weight ratio is impressive and the Michelin Xs add to the experience. Contrary to their dubious reputation, the grip seems to break away quite predictably and progressively, although I didn't get to try them in the rain. After driving the car a bit I felt quite in control even when pushing it quite hard. It doesn't seem to have any bad habits. You can readily steer it with the throttle, and it doesn't snap back if you lift off in mid corner. Naturally, if the revs are up a bit and you lift off sharply, it does throw the tail out. It doesn't much like mid corner bumps, although I found these were not a problem once I got the feel for the car. After the first two special stage starts, I found the clutch not very strong, so after that I got it engaged gently and then started to feed the juice. Once the motor hit about 3,000 rpm it would wheel spin on demand right through first and second, to the delight of the crowds. On fast sweepers in third one had to be careful not to feed too much power otherwise it would start wheel spinning again (at about 120 kph!) This is not a car for the uninitiated, but it sure is one hell of a buzz once you get the hang of it."
Double click on the thumbnail for enlargement.
The Event
The Classic Adelaide has become one of the world's great classic car rallies. With over 350 cars entered this year, with a huge number of these from offshore, it is a truly international event. Run on a hub format, each day's course radiates from the Adelaide CBD start and returns for each night, allowing participants to enjoy the fine dining and hospitality, which made Adelaide famous during its era as host to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
Dave Frow ran a 53 Barchetta in the Classic Touring section of the Rally, here are comments from spectators and the driver!!
General Comments on the 53 Barchetta
"This is a terrific car. I think it is a worthy collector's piece."
"Wherever we were, people stopped to admire the car. Watching the crowds walk past the cars on parade that Friday night, they would stroll past all the others, but stop opposite the Barchetta. They were always impressed when they heard what motor it had. People would often make unsolicited favourable comments. Like one stage marshal who said: "Don't wrap it, I'll take it just like it is." Another said: "this is definitely my favourite car in the rally."
"It is an awesome beast. I didn't often floor it, but I didn't need to. The power to weight ratio is impressive and the Michelin Xs add to the experience. Contrary to their dubious reputation, the grip seems to break away quite predictably and progressively, although I didn't get to try them in the rain. After driving the car a bit I felt quite in control even when pushing it quite hard. It doesn't seem to have any bad habits. You can readily steer it with the throttle, and it doesn't snap back if you lift off in mid corner. Naturally, if the revs are up a bit and you lift off sharply, it does throw the tail out. It doesn't much like mid corner bumps, although I found these were not a problem once I got the feel for the car. After the first two special stage starts, I found the clutch not very strong, so after that I got it engaged gently and then started to feed the juice. Once the motor hit about 3,000 rpm it would wheel spin on demand right through first and second, to the delight of the crowds. On fast sweepers in third one had to be careful not to feed too much power otherwise it would start wheel spinning again (at about 120 kph!) This is not a car for the uninitiated, but it sure is one hell of a buzz once you get the hang of it."
Double click on the thumbnail for enlargement.
 |
 |
 |
 |
- specifications
- completed cars
- construction
- the story so far
- purchasing
THE
STUNNING 53BARCHETTA HAS BEEN CREATED TO CAPTURE THE PASSION INVOKED BY
THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC MASERATI A6GCS/53.