Vintage Thing No.18.1 - The Salamanda Special

What sort of art can you race? This sort

The Salamanda Special is for sale here. Of course, I would like to own it but the price is POA and I'm fresh out of POAs. What this car is, though, (and sorry if I go on about this) is the best example of steam punk as applied to the internal combustion engine that I can think of. It doesn't look Victorian but is sort of Victorian-plus-in-a-good-way. I read somewhere that steam pink was the celebration of the joy of making and this little car has that in shed loads.

You can use it or just gaze at it. Designed and built by Oliver Way and his team, it's one of those rare cars where I don't think I'd want to change anything about its looks. It's art but not in the way culture vultures might know it - to their loss of course.

It's the detailing that sets the Salamanda special apart. Look at this distressed strip of leather or canvas (or something) that protects the plywood laminate bodywork from drips of fuel

The link above provides some details about Salamanda specifications. (Or the Salamanda's specifications. I'm never really sure about the protocol when addressing specials.)

Engine size is 747cc but you knew that. It boasts forged steel rods and a Pheonix crank, beloved of classic triallers and circuit racers alike, which really makes the engine rev and maximises the benefits of the enlarged inlet valves and aluminium cylinder head. Pistons are special, too, "built to a racing pattern" and "specially stepped in profile to give extra high compression".

The Marchal headlights are real period pieces and the instruments are Jaeger just like a Bugatti would've had. The front bulkhead is finished in rivetted copper and if I ever clap eyes on this "bolide" again I'll take greater pains to notice it.

The gearbox is a three-speeder (personally I'd prefer a four) and the gearing is really low (numerically high) so Salamanda squirts up the hill like the proverbial ferret up a drainpipe.

Fuel is fed by a brass hand-operated pump. This might be taking the vintage driving experience a little too far for me as I'm used to this sort of thing happening electrically or mechanically. I suppose it would make you feel you were really stoking up its little motor.

One of the many things that makes this special so - er - special is the rear axle mounting.

The Austin 7 rear axle mounting is inspired by that used by Mrs Jo-jo, which is interesting as the cars share a link.  And if you want to know what that link is, use the link to read my original post here.

Whatever the price is (and I have a feeling that if you have to ask you can't afford it), this car is a work of art and to make another would a) diminish its uniqueness and b) probably wouldn't be as much fun as making the original. And c), it would probably cost a hell of a lot of money - probably less than a POA.

If you don't need to ask what the price is, buy it. I don't think you'll regret it.