Engine Punk

Of all the four wheeled contrivances at Wiscombe earlier this month the Salamanda Special was the one I wanted to take home the most. It was cute enough to wear as a badge. It looked as if it might have been piloted by a glamorous aviatrix, like the Wind Flower from Phillip Reeve's Mortal Engines quartet. The Salamanda Special is a recently built Austin 7 special but it looks like no other. The overall style, craftsmanship and attention to detail are what made it stand out. The more I looked at it in the paddock at Wiscombe Park at this month's recent VSCC meeting, the more I noticed to admire. The rear bodywork is beautifully made out of laminated strips of birch wood ply. A wide leather strip running down from the filler cap prevents fuel spills from staining the woodwork or affecting the varnish. Inside, the aluminium bracing hints at airship construction. The headlamps are authentic Marchal items and contribute to the Salamanda Special's frontal expressio...