Now that the Stanquellini is safely tucked in Jim Kinsella's shop, we are setting the date for another "fun run/meeting" for Saturday, September 15th at 10AM.

Where:
JHK Garage
141 South Main Street
Beacon Falls, CT
Building 15, Unit 2 (around back)

When:
Saturday, September 15th, 2018 at 10AM

We had a terrific time last meeting, hanging out with Jim and talking about the various project cars he has in his shop. The ultra rare Stanquellini race car is being prepared for it's Pebble Beach debut in the Spring of next year.

For those wanting to know more about these rare cars, please see Frank T's earlier post under the "Upcoming Event's -> The Stanguellini Has Finally Arrived" topic. Good stuff Frank! There is lot's of other auto "eye candy" to see in the shop.

I look forward to seeing you folks on the 15th. PLEASE respond to this post by next Thursday the 13th so we know how many will be attending. Bring your Z's if you can, but it's not required.

I will be bringing the coffee and donuts!

_________________
John Kish
1971 240Z original owner

I'll be there waiting for you to arrive!

_________________
1970 240Z

Count me in. Short trip for me.

_________________
2004 350Z Touring Roadster

Here's the link to our earlier discussion about this car:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9488

Visiting Jim Kinsella's is a fun trip anyway, but seeing this car is a sound reason to go back again. I just want my photograph taken sitting in a real Stanguellini, and especially one which has been raced by so many top-name drivers in world-class Grands Prix.

_________________
1970 240Z

Well the weather for this Saturday looks good, much better than for those poor folks in the Carolina's.

If you haven't already done so, please confirm by the end of the day tomorrow, Thursday, if you plan to attend the gathering at Jim Kinsella's shop.

Frank, the Stanguellini is waiting for you to bathe in all its glory!

There will be coffee and donuts for all.

_________________
John Kish
1971 240Z original owner

Planning to be there

_________________
W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)

Me too. I ain't afraid o' no hurricane.

_________________
1970 240Z

Zee y'all there tmrw!
Bring yer camera.

_________________
1970 240Z

Sorry not going to make it, family stuff.

_________________
W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)

I had a GREAT time at Jim's this morning! Thanks to Jim for hosting about a doZen of us and to Johnny Z for setting this up and bringing the coffee and donuts Well done!

Hey, I got to to sit in a real Stanguellini! That was a lifetime-first for me and another thing to check off my bucket list. Jim installed a seat just so I could leap in there, get my picture taken and hop back out. It was a thrill. The car was built for little Italian race drivers but everything had been modified just enough to make it snug for Americans, and the floor was 3ft above the ground on the shop dolly, so it was really easy for me to mount and escape from ( ) The floor pans were not permanently installed yet, so I was able to give the car some "Flintstone" mobility on the dolly. Vroom, vroom!

As we suspected, this car is chassis number CSO1120, the "American" car. It came here in 1957 and has been raced by everyone who mattered for the past 70+ years. CSO1121 stayed in Europe and was raced there in the Fiat 1100cc racing class. When today's car came to America, they raced it in the 1500cc class, giving away 400cc to the competition. Because it was so light, it usually finished on the podium and, depending on who showed up to race against it, it often finished first overall. When Porsche introduced their 1500 Spyders and Speedsters, the little Stanguellini was very out-gunned and Vittorio stopped making cars in the early 1960s.

Like all career race cars, the little Stanguellini shows a lot of battle scars. Much of the body forward of the doors bears witness to heavy social interaction with other vehicles, patched up and hammered-smooth as much as possible btwn races. Vittorio Stanguellini's tubular space frame is very interesting to study; he copied the larger Fiat frame from their 1100 sedan, shortened it, strengthened it, then re-fabricated it with lightweight tubular sections of different diameters as needed. The result was strength, rigidity and light weight, which a few of us guys could have lifted right off the rolling floor dolly if we'd wanted to. None of us dared risk public execution if we had dropped the body while showing-off, so we didn't try.

The engine is currently in another CT garage, but the mechanicals and body pieces are all carefully laid out and labeled in storage at Jim's, as well as a set of 72-spoke wheels and 4 skinny Dunlop bias-ply tires. I got John to take a picture of me holding the two tail lights; aside from the pair on CSO1121, they are the only two in the world, irreplaceable and valuable beyond my estimate.

Jim is smoothing the rough body for one of his world-class paint jobs (Italian Red, of course) and the car will be finished and reassembled later this year. We are invited to return and see the car as often as we wish until he gives it up in time for next spring's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Struggling to post pictures to this website, once again.

FrankT

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1970 240Z

Thanks Jim for allowing us to visit the shop.

Frank, this is the best I could do with just the shell of the car.

https://youtu.be/q0nHo0l5tJk

https://youtu.be/q0nHo0l5tJk

_________________
W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)

Watching Frank in his words, "Leap in" and "Hop Out" of the Stanguellini was worth the trip!

_________________
John Kish
1971 240Z original owner

Hahaha! You guys kill me!

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1970 240Z