Good Old Valves

This is the end.

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:45:00 +0100

My only friend, the end.

After giving it some thought over the past few weeks (you probably noticed it), it saddens me to tell you that Good Old Valves is coming to an end.

I’ve had very little time for the blog and my petrolheaded life, which is now maybe less than 1% of my life. I want to write each post feeling like I actually want to write it, take some pleasure out of it, and this hasn’t happened for quite a while - it has become sort of an obligation.

So, about three and something years later, this is it. I won’t shut down the blog, I still think there’s some awesome content in the archives (yes, modesty is one of my qualities, clearly) to be explored. Also, I’ll still be around Tumblr; creeping on your posts and nagging you when you least expect it :) so it’s not like I’m going away.

Hopefully I’ll return to being active around here, maybe with something related with wheels, maybe not. Meanwhile, you can follow me on my other *almost personal* Tumblr, Sessions of Light.

To everyone I’ve met around here, thank you for everything. I’ve learned so much, met many wonderful people.

Next week I’ll be around Copenhagen (Denmark) and Malmo (Sweden), so drop me a message if you’re nearby (or just to tell me where I should go!)

See you soon.

Ricardo Magalhães.

1972 Buick Riviera promo shot.

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:14:08 +0100

1972 Buick Riviera promo shot.

What not to do to a Buick. (unsure of the model, but I think...

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 15:14:59 +0100

What not to do to a Buick.

(unsure of the model, but I think this is a ‘58 Buick)

Ford Mustang / Shelby GT350 (1965) So, when are we leaving?

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:36:59 +0100

Ford Mustang / Shelby GT350 (1965)

So, when are we leaving?

Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda (1971) Desgined by Paul Bracq &...

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:00:03 +0100

Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda (1971)

Desgined by Paul Bracq & Bela Barenyi. The Pagoda name comes from the style of the hard-top roof, which is visibily concave.

Mick Jagger on a Morgan Plus 8, possibly around the very early...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:02:40 +0100

Mick Jagger on a Morgan Plus 8, possibly around the very early 70’s.

Why? Because god gave him everything he wanted (ah, bet you didn’t see that coming. Kudos to Silodrome for the find!)

Citroen GS Basalte (1975) Quoting Ran When Parked: “To...

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:58:28 +0100

Citroen GS Basalte (1975)

Quoting Ran When Parked:

“To keep the public interested in the GS until its replacement was ready to take the torch, Citroën started working on the first special edition of the model, dubbed the Basalte.

The starting point for the GS Basalte was the GS Club, which was powered by a 1,220cc air-cooled flat-four rated at 65 horsepower and 67 lb-ft of torque. No modifications were made to the engine, and it was still bolted to a four-speed manual transmission.

On the outside, the body was painted in a glossy shade of black, and it wore specific red decorative bands on the side. A “Basalte” sticker was found on the hood, right above the driver’s side headlight, and another one was on the trunk lid. Interestingly enough, buyers could order the car with their initials affixed next to the exterior handle on the driver’s door.”

Cool!

Renault 17 Gordini (1975) Do you have any idea how hard it is to...

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:31:20 +0100

Renault 17 Gordini (1975)

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find decent pictures of the R17?

Very. And for the sake of my life, I can’t figure out why: look at it. It’s a Renault, in Gordini trim, mad from every possible angle, eager to make every head turn and ask what the hell is that; it couldn’t possibly be a Renault.

The Gordini version evolved from the previous TS, now fitted with a 1.7 liter engine. It even won a few rally stages out of the blue, at the hands of Jean Luc Therier himself.

And if you’re still not convinced, here’s one in yellow.

Opel Rekord Caravan PII (1960) The sexiest/happiest Caravan Opel...

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:55:00 +0100

Opel Rekord Caravan PII (1960)

The sexiest/happiest Caravan Opel has ever made. Alright, it isn’t saying much.

Nelson Piquet / Brabham BT52 Spa, 1983. The BT52 was powered by...

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:21:32 +0100

Nelson Piquet / Brabham BT52

Spa, 1983.

The BT52 was powered by the BMW M12, and could, in qualifying mode, reach about 850bhp, perhaps the highest power output of that same season.

The gorgeous Eagle Weslake Mark I (1966), at Mexico. Dan Gurney...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 22:34:36 +0100

The gorgeous Eagle Weslake Mark I (1966), at Mexico.

Dan Gurney was a very lucky man.

Photo by the Cahier Archive.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud 1.2 (1971) I love it so much I hate it,...

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:05:17 +0100

Alfa Romeo Alfasud 1.2 (1971)

I love it so much I hate it, because I love it.

Ignoring all the problems we know it has today (those which survived), the fact is that the Alfasud was once a really successful move from Alfa Romeo in the early 70’s, mainly due to its very appealing design from Giugiaro’s Italdesign and the rather peppy engines, which ranged from the original 1.2 liter to the 1.7 introduced in late 1987.

(from)

AC Ace Bristol (1957) (on SportsCarDigest)

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:04:05 +0100

AC Ace Bristol (1957)

(on SportsCarDigest)

You know what’s about to happen. Colin Chapman prepares...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:23:19 +0100

You know what’s about to happen.

Colin Chapman prepares for another ‘hat trick’ as Mario Andretti takes first place during the 1978 Belgian Grand Prix (Zolder) with the Lotus 79.

Jim Clark / Colin Chapman (1965) Celebrating the Lotus win at...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:18:27 +0100

Jim Clark / Colin Chapman (1965)

Celebrating the Lotus win at the Nurburgring, which would give Clark his second world champion title.

Chevrolet Corvette (1966) American muscle on American...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:07:27 +0100

Chevrolet Corvette (1966)

American muscle on American background. This is apparently one of the best 66 Corvettes you could ever buy, since it was given the top rating by the Corvette Restorers Society.

Plus, there’s something particularly cool about driving in a baby blue V8.

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso (1963) There’s...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:16:08 +0100

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso (1963)

There’s something deeply poetic about the sight of cars with a lot of history / pedigree in a museum, all sparkling clean and standing in the very same position for years in a row.

This Lusso was one of the few intended for actual racing, not road cruising, and yet, there it is, in its own form of casket.

1936 Monaco Grand Prix poster.

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:47:45 +0100

1936 Monaco Grand Prix poster.

Fiat 600 (1956) I’d never noticed how early models had...

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 16:12:08 +0100

Fiat 600 (1956)

I’d never noticed how early models had their front indicators at the top of the headlights, I quite like that touch. In the last picture, in Multipla form, which actually managed to have 6 seats.

I still see some people running around traffic in 500/600 models today, almost as many as original Minis, and I find it delicious. In my mind they’re almost as practical as a bicycle anyway, so why not?

Porsche 936 (1976-1981) The Le Mans successor to the 908, which...

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:40:47 +0100

Porsche 936 (1976-1981)

The Le Mans successor to the 908, which managed to get a few wins with Jacky Ickx behind the wheel.