As
Bloody Hell, I'm always suitably Impressed by Anyone who can Build
His own Car from the Ground Up!
I
suppose in some small way, it's ironic, Isn't It Alanis? Err Karmic
or more likely symbiotic that I began Scribblin' this on the very
same day Jolly 'Ol Silverstone was hosting the 70TH Anniversary
Grand Prix.
Which
was won seven decades ago by the very same racing car that Starred in
the Motortrend TV television show Ant Anstead Master Mechanic that I
watched all six weeks of its two half hour vignettes from May 20th
until June 24th "Encore" presentation.
If
you're a Formula 1 Diehard like Mwah, then you'll already know that
the car in Questione is none other than the All Conquering Alfa Romeo
Tipo 158. Having enjoyed Domination of the Sport A la Mercedes is
currently enjoying, albeit for a far shorter duration "technically"
if only considering the beginning of our current Formula One World
Championship in 1950.
although
it was as every bit Uber Dominant a la Mercedes over its very long
racing tenure, beginning in 1937 thru 1951, interrupted obviously by
World War II. Racking up a most impressive Win Tally of 47/54 Grands
Prix outings! Not to mention the only racecar to go Undefeated in a
season, winning 11 of 11 Races in 1950 Me Thinks...
As
Giuseppe Farina and Alfa Romeo won the inaugural Formula 1 race of
the modern day F1 series sanctioned by the FIA held at Bloody
Silverstone Wayback on May 13, 1950, which I've previously chronicled
in the following No Fenders tome.
Birth
of the modern F1 championship
Ant
Anstead
is a most interesting character to Mwah, since although I like the
main cog of Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer, it's Anstead which keeps me
tuned into Ye Motortrend TV show, as I just find him to be hugely
charismatic.
As
Ant, whose first name is Anthony was previously a British Constable,
reportedly one of the youngest to become a member of the Tactical
Firearms Unit (TFU) permitted to carry a Firearm in Bloody England!
Whilst
he also played Semi Professional European "Football," what
us Yanks refer to as soccer here. First as Goalkeeper and then moving
to Striker for Ryman
for
15 years, claiming to have made over 700 Caps.
As
I particularly enjoyed him telling about his extremely modest
beginnings when he Quit the Police Force in 2005 to chase his Dream
of becoming a Car Builder. Noting he'd made a Deal with Arse-sumedly
a Farmer, that if he made his One room Cow Barn fully functional,
i.e.; lighting, heating, Cleaning etc. He could have the Barn the
first year rent Free.
As
the premise of the show which was produced in 2019 was that Anstead
has three months (12 weeks) to build his Dream Car. As he'd better be
Done by then because he's got a Son on the way! For which Hudson was
born on Sept 6, 2019.
Ant's
Dream Car is the aforementioned legendary Alfa Romeo Tipo 158, for
which he muses how he'd like to have been a part of those Heady late
1930's era, presumably as a Mechanic at Alfa Course, fabricating the
magnificent voiturette
Tipo 158's.
Whilst
a few times when mentioning how much larger he was than Juan Manuel
Fangio, noting how El Maestro appeared to be almost spilling out of
the Alfa's Cockpit, anstead mused he was 6 Feet two inches and
230lbs, I immediately muttered Out-loud He's a Big boy!
The
series began with Ant having acquired a Knackered Out 1950's era
MGTD, for which wisely includes rack & pinion steering, for which
he effectively Chucks everything minus the front suspension and
ladder chassis frame rails, which is the basis of his new racecar. As
Ant then takes it to a nearby Bead Blaster, where he goes into the
Blasting Shed himself to "Sand Blast" his frame, using
walnut shells I believe.
My
favourite episode follows, as Thars a Hilarious bit 'O Slapstick when
he goes to retrieve what he thinks will just be a live rear axle. As
the Auto Wrecking Shop's proprietor plays along Beautifully, telling
him, Yours is Outside. To which Ant says Deadpan, you Didn't tell me
it's still on a Car!
Then
he ends up taking the Clapped-out Alfetti Spyder for a brief spin.
Growling there's No clutch Pedal, before merrily Grinding Gears with
the proprietor saying I Hope he Doesn't take it on the Freeway!
As
I think it's really Cool that Ant ended up using much of the Alfa
Spyder's Guts for his racecar, i.e.; engine, transmission, rear axle
with locking Differential, and many of the car's gages and various
sending units et Al.
Next
Anstead flies Across Thee Puddle, back to his former European
Workshop where he just so happens to have an Alfa Romeo 158 Fiberglas
Mold in Storage, from a previous One-off he built for a charity
Drive.
While
I'm still Cornfuzed over how exactly he Detached his Bicep muscle
playing Football? Which adds extra Drama to the Car's build Deadline.
Along with one Episode's "Intro" having him whisper Never
Wake a Sleeping Pregnant Woman," i.e.; his wife Christina, a TV
Actress who previously co-Hosted Flip or Flop on the HGTV Network,
and subsequently has her own TV Show aptly titled Christina On the
coast on the same television network.
Meanwhile
Anstead's back in California and the show takes a few Detours,
notably visiting somebody with a "real" Alfa Romeo 158,
albeit I could never discern if it's a replica somebody built? Since
the apparent owner said it took four years to build, and claims is
worth a cool $20m as in Millions, Aye Karumba!
Although
apparently this Alfetta is a real Honest-to-Goodness Racecar, having
all aluminum panels and being built from a Treasure Trove of left
over surplus Alfa Romeo 158 Bits that came up for sale several years
ago.
Birth
of an Alfeta: The Alfa Romeo 158 Made from Spare Parts
As
I've never heard the name Peter Giddings before, who reportedly was
the guiding force and Backer behind the exquisite Tipo 158 creation,
who succumbed to Cancer in January, 2019...
Peter
Giddings Racing Bio
Along
with visiting the Car Collection of a noted Ferrarista owner. Since
Thars Michael Schumacher's F2002 on-hand, presumably that year's f1
Championship Winner. Along with a Ferrari F40, F50, Enzo and la
Ferrari...
Ant
has his Alfa Romeo two-litre straight four rebuilt by an engine
specialist who does serious porting, polishing and rebuilding work to
boost the 'lil Four-banger's Horsepower, including converting to Dry
Sump lubrication. Which naturally Ain't what real Tipo 158's have.
Although
Ant cleverly pays Homage to the magnificent Gioacchino
Colombo 1,479cc
Straight 8-Cylinder Roots Supercharged Formula 1 lump' by adding four
fake exhaust headers to his Bundle 'O Snakes pipes exiting the side
of his fiberglass bodied replica.
And
while Ant's anxiously awaiting the arrival of his Alfa transplant
lump', he sets about welding together his integral Space Frame
amongst thou myriad 'O tasks still awaiting completion.
As
Ant wisely upgrades All four corners with Disc Brakes, along with
separate Master Brake Cylinders for the Front/Rear Brakes, with a
slick Cockpit adjustable Brake Bias lever. And also upgraded to new
modern era Shock Absorbers; Err Dampers.
Then
for the car's paint scheme, Anstead consulted his Pal', renown
Automotive Designer Chip Foose, who does a quick rendering and gives
some tips regarding potential liveries, including a mustache on the
nose? Telling Ant whatever you do, it has to reflect you...
As
the race was on for the car's public Debut no less than at the 2019
United States Grand Prix Formula 1 race at Circuit Of The Americas
(COTA) in Austin, for which Anstead claims got much praise over the
race's weekend, since they weren't allowed to bring any cameras
inside the circuit.
As
the only part of the whole build that puzzles me was the brief
mention of how he'd be running lights on the racecar, Huh? Like does
this imply he was adding headlights to it? Which makes No sense to
Mwah for a Track Only vehicle.
As
the show concludes with him spending the day at Willow springs
raceway I believe? Running the car Solo, for which I seem to recall
him saying he needed to add an extra silencer to the exhaust since
it's too Bloody L-O-U-D! Whilst we're left watching 'N listening to
the soothing sounds of his tweaked Alfa Romeo two litre Four Banger
singing around the race course...
Ant
Anstead Drives his Alfa Romeo 158 Replica for the First Time video
As
I highly recommend watching the whole 12-part series, which weighs in
at 6hrs running time if you're a Car Nut, as the whole show's quite
entertaining...
