[406Special]

Ah yes, I had been in a drug induced haze over last weekend and had
also (somewhere or other) assumed the Concours was late August. I
found my Newsletter next to the bedside later! I really wanted to
go, even had my wife and children keen.

Any photos loaded up onto the forum site would be appreciated.

My 406 Special is currently having the engine rebuilt BUT alas due to
the Maharaja of Jodhpur's Phantom 1 being restored (cosmetically
only) at Alpine Eagle, my car gets left until November, albeit we
will get new back axle, gearbox, brakes, refurb'ed front axle etc.,
in place by then. My aim is to have it ready for its 50th and my
55th birthday next year. Should be ready for the 2009 Concours. I
am in fear of over powering the 406 me thinks as the 2.5 litre
version being built will easily punch out 280bhp but most likely do a
credible 320 with a minimum of 310-330 lbs ft of torque at about
3750rpm starting fatly at below 2500 all the way to near 5000. For
those interested it will weigh in at less than 1400kg about 300+kg
less than a 411 with a better power to weight ratio. IMHO the true
power numbers of the V8 is more like the supe'd up Volvo red block I
am using, but has torque lower down. With a close ratio 5 speed
Getrag box and god overdrive most of that advantage should be
surpassed by my beasty.

The Maharaja's Phantom is very special and apparently the first time
the Indian Govt have let one of their national treasures outside for
restoration. It seems the fines are so prohibitive - you pay before
the car leaves - that no one does it. In this case there is a huge
celebration (I think HRH's birthday) and it has to be ready for
November. As it was getting almost too late to do the necessary
work, it was flown over by 747 as cargo!

Another interesting fact of this huge monster of mechanical
engineering (I must upload my photos from my Nokia) is it had 4 wheel
mechanically assisted brakes - very complex and apparently quite
effective. It has only done 7,000 miles since 1928. When I told my
darling wife (she who has spent many trips to India) she explained
that during many decades petrol was always scarce and that to show
off their wealth and cars, the HRH's would get an elephant or two to
link by chain and drag the car with passengers out to picnic spots
and back again. John Hodson of Alpine Eagle reckons that must be why
most of the silver coating on the front bumper has been worn away.
Even the leather was pig skin (absolutely fantastic grain) to avoid
the religious issue of using cowhide, albeit it is now going to be
done in cowhide - with pigskin grain. I am so impressed with this
new fangled cowhide (must be genetically adjusted!!!) that it's what
is going into my 406.

Clyde (feeling much better and disappointed about last weekend)