Thursday, May 1, 2008

THE HISTORY OF THE CAR IN THE DAY OF ASSASSINATION


On the event of assassination of the President of America, John F. Kennedy in 1961 in this circumstance, result to no manufacturer has produced a model of the car he was killed in- until now. Minichamps has broken the taboo.



The readers whose 50 years up might remember the circumstances of a shocking the world. They�ll know that on November 22, 1963, while riding through the streets of Dallas in a 1961 Lincoln Continental special parade vehicle, Kennedy was shot three times by lone gunman, Lee Harvey Odwald, who was hidden on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. They�ll know that Oswald himself was killed days later by Mafia-connected nightclub owner, Jack Ruby.

For an interested of the collectors who collect the model cars. The car itself was specifically built to show off the President and so had a number of unique elements, including two radio telephones, extra jump seats, interior floodlights and retractable steps for Secret Service agents. It even had a hydraulically operated platform which could raise the President so the crowd could see him better. After the assassination, it was rebuilt with a permanent removable top to incorporate transparent armour, flat-proof tyres, improved telecommunications, inflammable fuel and a bigger engine. It continued in this new form, protecting Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter, before being retired in 1977.






Now, let�s mention to this model, Lincoln Continental X-100 was produced in 1999 by Paul�s Model Art Company, under the name of Minichamps, the production of the model cars. It scale is 1:43; the length is 15 cm. the width is 4.7 cm. It weighs 440 gram, including casting.

No models is perfect. The Lincoln is no exception to this rule, although it doesn�t feel quite fair pointing them out on such an excellent model. The most obvious error is the lack of floodlight on each side, just in front of the wing mirrors. The details of the wind shield should be a better one. However, this one of the model car has been noted in the page of history. If Kennedy has survived today�s world may have been very different. But he didn�t and all we have left of him are pictures, a few film reels, memories and now this model, as reminders of the past.

BMW Proudly Presents the M1 Homage at Villa D Este



The Concorso D�Eleganza Villa D�Este, in the lake Como, in Italy, is sponsored by BMW since it was revived, in 1999, and the German brand always finds space to show amazing concept cars there. Sadly, none of them has made it into production so far. Some of the stars have been the Mille Miglia Concept and the Rolls-Royce 101EX. In this year�s edition of the event, BMW will pay homage to one of its most important cars, the M1, which celebrates 30 years in 2008. But the Bavarian company did not intend only to cherish its creation, it also wanted to present a modern interpretation of that supercar. Meet the M1 Homage concept. With it, the tradition on Villa D�Este�s concepts may be about to change.It is not only the concept�s striking looks that may give it a chance to be produced, even if in a small scale. The new car may also have come to life in a proper moment for BMW to give its production a serious thought. Mercedes-Benz has realized it may be a good idea to offer supercars and, when SLR�s production ceases, in 2009, it already has plans to revive the Gullwing, currently being tested under a Viper-like body. Even Audi has given it a try and is not complaining about R8 sales and brand-image benefits. Hence, why would BMW stay out of such a market?It is obvious no one likes to bet if there is no chance of winning, so BMW will probably wait to see public�s reaction on the M1 to consider production. Expect it to be present in the most important autoshows in the next few years, such as Paris and Frankfurt. Anyway, if BMW demands anything else than enthusiastic reception to give the greenlight to this machine, we are sure thousands of World Car Fans will be willing to know what it is. And to have it done.
UPDATE: Full press release now added below.
Source: Asphalte.ch via Autoblog