Classics, hot rods at motor show
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22 2017
THE 2017 Killarney Motor Show on Sunday, October 15 is shaping up to be an all-action affair in part. The “part” is going to include a rather macabre exhibition by a monster truck that travels on chest high wheels and has tyres that are almost a metre wide – as it demolishes a small fleet of cars.
There are also going to be parades of genuine vintage and classic cars as well as fleets of hot rods that, while based on models from manufacturers like Ford and General Motors, have been completed by their owners in a far more imaginative and often artistic manner. However, to the uninitiated viewer, they sometimes come across as being plain wacky!
Then, for those who prefer the way it is today, the show will also feature the exhibition of a range of new cars and light commercial vehicles, as well as motorcycles and scooters of all capacities.
A section of the race track is being set aside for test drives of any of the two- or four-wheelers and, provided a booking is made in time, there will be no problem.
Fiat plans to feature a full range of its refreshed Panda, that includes the 4x4 and Cross versions, for the first time in almost a decade. These will represent a change from the front-wheel-drive Easy and Lounge versions of a few years ago. And, of course, it will bring back memories of the cute little Fiat 500, from the immediate post-war era.
While the Panda remains a city car, the new 4x4 versions offer an off-road capability that was not previously available.
This is going to be particularly useful for exploring all the magnificent coastal hideaways here in the Western Cape. But two wheels or four, it’s what’s driving them that catches the imagination.
Because while the engine is a tiny two-cylinder 875cc turbocharged petrol unit, it’s the power it develops that’s important. And this starts with a 63kW/120Nm unit, moving up to 66kW/120Nm of torque in the top-spec Cross.
The exhaust note is a pleasant throaty surprise for any first-time driver who may be expecting to hear a twin-cylinder thumper. The engine power apart, it is a relatively lightweight unit with a power-toweight ratio that helps it offer a relatively muscular performance on the N2 or the N7, for instance. The Panda’s performance is assisted by a 5-speed manual gearbox in the basic unit or a 6-speed manual in the 4x4 and Cross models.
As far as the other manufacturers are concerned, Jaguar and Land Rover have an exciting exhibition planned, while almost every other brand name will be present.
Wingfield Motors have a selection of the best, hardly used cars ready for disposal, and Burchmore’s Auctions will also be present. Certainly a show not to be missed.