Bristol 406 Zagato

Last updated
Bristol 406 Zagato
1959 Bristol 406 Zagato 2.2 Front.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Bristol Cars (then Bristol Aeroplane Co.)
Production1959-1960
Body and chassis
Class Upper class
Powertrain
Engine Otto engine 2.2 liters (78–97 kW)
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2896mm
Length4700mm
Width1600mm
Curb weight 1120kg
Chronology
Successor 407 GTZ Zagato

The Bristol 406 Zagato is a British-Italian sports car that combines the technology of the Bristol 406 Saloon with a body designed and built by Zagato. This special model, often considered eccentric, was commissioned by Bristol dealer Tony Crook and was produced in very limited quantities. It is known for being lighter, smaller, and faster than the factory-bodied base car. In addition, some older Bristol chassis also subsequently received similar Zagato bodies. Today, the 406 Zagato is considered one of the most expensive classics within the brand’s lineup.

Contents

Origin story

Bristol Cars, the automotive division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, was established after the end of World War II and began producing luxury cars based on BMW technology in 1946. [1] The chassis and engines were derived from pre-war BMW Types 326, 327, and 328. [2] These design plans were reportedly brought to Britain as reparations during the war, [3] although others doubt this narrative. [4] The debut 400 model, featuring bodywork based on a BMW coupé, [note 1] was followed by the Touring-bodied 401, 402, and 403 models, [5] which are treated as a single-model family in most literature. [6] In 1953, the third generation of Bristol cars emerged, with the two-door 404, followed by the four-door 405 a year later. These models still retained BMW designs in their engineering. However, production levels in the mid-1950s were only about half of what they had been in the early years. During the autumn of 1958, Bristol introduced the fourth-generation model, the four-seat 406 Saloon. This model represented a departure from the brand's initial focus on sportiness. [7] It was larger, heavier, and more luxurious compared to earlier Bristol's. [8] [9] However, these changes resulted in a loss of the typical agility associated with Bristol cars, and despite having a larger engine, the 406 Saloon was slower than its predecessors. [10] As a result, it was sometimes perceived as underpowered. [11] [12]

Bristol's standard model from 1958: 406 Saloon Bristol 406 (1960) - 21067175289.jpg
Bristol's standard model from 1958: 406 Saloon

Initially, Bristol intended to create a shorter and faster two-seater version of the 406 Saloon at their factory, and a prototype built in 1958 [note 2] was abandoned due to cost considerations and uncertain prospects for the company. [13] In the following spring, Tony Crook, a Bristol Cars board of directors member and the brand's largest dealer revived the idea of a special sport model based on the 406. This led to the development of the 406 Zagato, which was not officially a Bristol Cars model but an independent project by Anthony Crook Motors. The 406 Zagato was aimed to bring Bristol to its origins: [7] it was designed for drivers who were prepared to make sacrifices in comfort and space for the sake of sporting performance, as stated by Tony Crook. In Crook's understanding, the key aspect was a light and compact body. He commissioned the renowned Italian Carrozzeria Zagato, known for its expertise in lightweight construction [14] [15] and whose British general importer Crook had been for years, to design and build it. [16] [17] Additionally, Abarth was tasked with increasing the engine’s power.

British-Italian cooperation: Bristol-Zagato 1959 Bristol 406 Zagato 2.2 Badge.jpg
British-Italian cooperation: Bristol-Zagato

The 406 Zagato prototype was unveiled exactly one year after the introduction of the 406 Saloon. It debuted at the Earls Motor Show in London from October 21–31, 1959. The prototype was displayed either on the Bristol Cars, [13] Anthony Crook Motors, [18] or Zagato stand, [17] depending on the source. Regular production began in the fall of 1959, ending a year later. Notably, the Bristol 406 was exclusively available through Anthony Crook Motors, as the other Bristol dealers could not access it. [19]

The 406 Zagato did not achieve significant success as initially planned. Instead of the planned production of ten vehicles, only six were produced, and even those were challenging to sell. Nevertheless, despite its limited commercial success, the sporty Gran Turismo was the starting point of a longstanding collaboration between Bristol and Zagato: [20] In 1960, a compact sports car with 406 technology and a hatchback body from Zagato (406S Zagato) was produced, followed in 1961 by a similarly designed car based on the Bristol 407, incorporating an eight-cylinder V-engine from Chrysler (407 GTZ Zagato). While these two models remained one-offs creations. [21] Bristol went on to sell a total of about 90 units of the 412 Targa coupe and its successor, the Beaufighter, whose body was designed by Giuseppe Mittino for Zagato, from 1975 to 1993. [22]

Nomenclature

The factory produced four-seater by Bristol Cars, which took over the Bristol 405 in the role of the main model in 1958, which is commonly known as the 406 Saloon. [23] On the other hand, the lighter special edition model with Italian bodywork was marketed as the 406 Zagato. In more recent literature, the designations 406 Z, [17] 406 GTZ, [20] or 406 GT Zagato [24] (not used in 1959) are also sometimes found.

Model description

Chassis and suspension

The 406 Zagato is built on a steel box frame with longitudinal members and cross members, which shares the construction and dimensions with the regular 406 Saloon. The frame traces its basic features back to the chassis of the 1936 BMW 326. The front wheels are individually suspended on wishbones and a lower transverse leaf spring. At the rear, the car is equipped with a rigid axle featuring Watt linkage and a trailing arm, torsion bar springs with suspension levers, and self-designed shock absorbers. [25] [26] Additionally, the car decelerates with four Dunlop disc brakes.

Engine and transmission

Bristol's six-cylinder Arnolt Bristol 'Bolide' engine, 1954.JPG
Bristol's six-cylinder

All 406 Zagato models are powered by Bristol's inline six-cylinder gasoline engine. The 2.2-liter version used here (2216 cm³, bore × stroke: 68.69 and 99.64 mm) is a further development of the engine already installed in the 400, which goes back to a 1938 BMW design (328). [26] [27] In essential features, the Bristol engine shares the features with the BMW engine; however, Bristol's version is designed in inches rather than metric dimensions, and some of the materials are used differently. [28] The engine has hemispherical combustion chambers with V-shaped hanging valves controlled by the bottom-mounted camshaft via tappets, pushrods, and rocker's arms. Additional pushrods across the cylinder head and a second rocker arm on each actuate the exhaust valves. [28] [29] The fuel mixture is conditioned by three 32 PBI/7 Solex downdraft carburetors mounted above the engine block. [23]

In the 406 Zagato, the engine was available with two different power ratings: [30]

Engine power is transmitted to the rear axle via a hand-shifted four-speed transmission with an overdrive and a prop shaft. The first gear of the Bristol-built transmission is not synchronized. The Laycock de Normanville overdrive, which has been standard on all Bristols since the 405 can be engaged in fourth gear and disengages automatically when downshifting. [36] [8]

Bodywork

The body of the 406 Zagato is independent. It has neither stylistic nor technical references to the body of the 406 Saloon designed by Dudley Hobbs and Dennis Sevier. [34]

Design

Front end with echoes of Lancia Bristol 406 Zagato 1959 (3).JPG
Front end with echoes of Lancia

The design of the notchback body can be traced back to Gianni Zagato, the son of the company's founder, Ugo Zagato. The front end of the car features style elements inspired by the Lancia Flaminia Sport, another car designed and built by Zagato. [20] [37] [38] The radiator grille is directly borrowed from Lancia and, on individual cars even features Lancia's crest encircled by the Bristol Cars emblem. [39] The roof structure follows the trapezoidal shape that gained popularity in Europe in the late 1950s. [40] With the horizontal roofline and the C-pillar set well back, Zagato implemented a Tony Crook specification that the car had to have four full-size seats for adults. [41] However, the interior of the Zagato is tighter than that of the 406 Saloon. [30] The roof is profiled: It has the typical Zagato bulges called double bubbles in the rear. [37] [42] On the 1959 prototype and the car produced thereafter, the roof is slightly lower than on the following four cars. [43] The doors are frameless. [18] The front headlights are recessed into the fenders and covered with Plexiglas. Due to the tall engine, a cowl is required in the middle of the hood, which also serves as an air intake. [23] [30] A step in the beltline is present above the rear axle, with a higher height at the rear compared to the front. The rear overhang is shorter than that of the standard 406. Consistent with Bristol's tradition, the spare wheel is vertically housed in one of the front fenders in an externally accessible compartment located between the front wheel and the A-pillar. On the other side of the vehicle, a similar compartment accommodates the battery. [12]

Lateral line with crease 1959 Bristol 406 Zagato 2.2 Side.jpg
Lateral line with crease

Decorative elements on the 406 Zagato vary from vehicle to vehicle, including the radiator grille and the side trim. [30] [44] On certain cars, the side trim extends horizontally to the rear wheel cutout or onto the rear fender, [35] [43] while on others, it may feature a Z-shaped bend, or be missing entirely. [10] Additionally, some cars have three horizontal trim strips on the C-pillar, while others do not. [45]

The Zagato design has received mixed reviews in stylistic terms. Some sources consider it "eccentric", while others are undecided whether it is "a charismatic classic or a classic faux pas." [12] Criticism has been directed towards the Zagato design for its styling choices. [41]

Lightweight Design

Short tail 1959 Bristol 406 Zagato 2.2 Rear.jpg
Short tail

Zagato consistently focused on lightweight construction throughout the design of the 406 Zagato. In contrast to the heavy steel substructure of the 406 Saloon produced by the London coachbuilder Jones Brothers. [46] [note 3] Zagato opted for a lightweight frame made of thin steel tubes to which the body panels made of aluminum sheets were attached. The shorter body also contributed to weight reduction. In the interior, Zagato took a minimalistic approach, omitting decorative elements. For example, unlike the factory model, the instrument panel in the 406 Saloon, is not covered with walnut wood; instead, it is made of thin sheet aluminum painted to match the color of the seat covers. [31] However, it is worth noting that at least one car features the comfortable armchairs found in the 406 Saloon. [10]

Faults

The body of the 406 Zagato exhibits certain defects, such as the rear wheel arches being too small. As a result, when encountering bumps on the road, the tires often meet the top of the wheel arches during impacts. [44] Crook acknowledged 40 years after production ceased and admitted that the build quality of the Zagato bodies did not meet the expected standards. He mentioned that in many instances, his mechanics had to make adjustments to address issues such as fits, gaps, and finishes. [33]

Dimensions, weight, and performance

With an unchanged chassis, the Bristol 406 Zagato is 280 mm shorter than the 406 Saloon. In terms of weight, the 406 Zagato weighs approximately 1100 kg (1,100 lb), which is significantly lighter compared to the standard model (1350 kg) [24] and close to that of the 1946 Bristol 400. [35] According to contemporary test drives, the 406 Zagato equipped with the more powerful 110S engine achieved a top speed of 122 mph (196 km/h). In contrast, the 406 Saloon could only reach 102 mph (164 km/h). [36]

Production process

interior Bristol 406 Zagato 1959 Interieur.JPG
interior

The production process for the cars involved multiple locations. The chassis were manufactured at the Bristol plant in Filton. After completion, the chassis was transported by truck to Zagato's facility in Milan. There, Italian mechanics would join the hand-built bodies to the chassis, finalizing the assembly of the vehicles. Tony Crook assigned two employees from his workshop to supervise the work at Zagato's factory and ensure compliance with Bristol's quality requirements. [33] The finished cars then arrived in Great Britain "on their own wheels," [35] where they underwent additional reworking and final adjustments at Crook's workshop in Hersham in Surrey.

Production and Prices

Based on various sources, it is evident that the production of the Bristol 406 Zagato did not reach the originally intended quantity of ten cars. [47] It is widely agreed upon in literature that only six Bristol 406 Zagato vehicles were actually produced. [37] [24] [48] [49] While some sources indicate a production run of seven cars, that includes the short-wheelbase 406 S Zagato as a separate model. [27] [50] [51] [52]

Anthony Crook Motors offered the Bristol 406 Zagato for sale in late 1959 for £4,792 (vehicle price £3,380 plus £1412 purchase tax), [13] making it £550 more expensive than a regular factory-bodied 406 Saloon (£4,244 including tax). The price of a 406 Zagato was the equivalent of seven Triumph Heralds [28] or nine Mini (£500). [53]

Bristol 406 Zagato’s slow sales led to discounted pricing, with the final new car at a substantial discount in October 1961 for £3,500 including tax. A used 406 Zagato with 6,000 miles was listed for £2,800 at the same time. [54]

Of the original six 406 Zagato, four [31] or five cars are believed to still exist today, depending on the source. [13] [51] Unfortunately, the third car produced, which featured a higher roof - was involved in a serious road accident in the 20th century. Tony Crook had the car dismantled; the usable components were used as spare parts. [43]

The Bristol 406 Zagato and its competitors

The Bristol 406 Zagato was considered a competitor to other luxury sports saloons of its time, such as the Alvis TD 21, the Aston Martin DB4 (or DB4 GT), and the Jaguar Mark 2. [55] However, a comparison shows that these competitor models were each significantly less expensive than the Bristol 406 Zagato, but had larger and, for the most part, significantly more powerful engines.

For example, the £4,100 Aston Martin DB4 GT - the short sports version of the DB4 -, had an engine rated at 222 kW (299 bhp, 302 PS), more than twice that of the 406 Zagato, according to factory figures. More expensive than the Bristol 406 Zagato was only the high-performance Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato model, which reportedly produced 231 kW (309 bhp, 314 hp) and is similarly rare to the Bristol 406 Zagato.

The combination of a higher price and a less powerful engine, coupled with the fact that the Bristol 406 Zagato utilized an engine design, which was now over 20 years old and had reached its limits, contributed to the low demand for the vehicle. [13] [38]

Bristol 406 Zagato

(110S-Motor)

Alvis TD 21 [56] Aston Martin DB4 [57] Aston Martin DB4 GT [58] Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato [59] Jaguar Mark 2 [60]
  1959 Bristol 406 Zagato Front.png Alvis TD21 (1967) - 14082858328.jpg 1960 Aston Martin DB4 S. I (late).jpg Aston Martin DB4 GT (16263224085).jpg 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato - fvr3.jpg Jaguar (3567357051).jpg
Engine typeSix-cylinder four-stroke engine, in-line
Displacement2216 cm³2993 cm³3670 cm³3781 cm³
Maximum power97 kW

(130 bhp, 132 HP)

86 kW

(115 bhp, 116 HP)

179 kW

(240 bhp, 243 HP)

222 kW

(299 bhp, 302 HP)

231 kW

(309 bhp, 314 HP)

164 kW

(220 bhp, 223 HP)

Top speed196 km/h169 km/h224 km/h246 km/h247 km/h195 km/h
Price (1959)4.750 £2.877 £3.967 £4.169 £5.400 £1.779 £

The Bristol 406 Zagato as a classic

The Bristol 406 Zagato is highly regarded as one of the brand's rarest and most exciting classics. [38] [50] It has become a sought-after vehicle, fetching the highest sale prices of any Bristol. In the early 21st century Zagato was trading for 20 to 30 times the price of a new car. [13] A 1960-built car sold for £169,500 (€187,390) in fully restored condition in 2014. [61]

Zagato's bodies for older Bristol chassis

Upgrade model: 406 Zagato body on the chassis of a 1949 Bristol 400 (VIN 400-1-568) 1949 Bristol 406 Zagato.jpg
Upgrade model: 406 Zagato body on the chassis of a 1949 Bristol 400 (VIN 400-1-568)

Since Anthony Crook Motors had only managed to sell six out of the ten 406 Zagato vehicles produced in Italy according to the contract, a surplus of bodies remained. To make use of these surplus bodies, Crook made the decision to retrofit them onto older Bristol chassis starting in 1961. By repurposing the surplus bodies in this manner, Crook aimed to utilize the available resources and give new life to the remaining Zagato bodies. In a process known in the UK as upgrading, several Bristol 400 and 401 chassis were retrofitted with the remaining 406 Zagato-style bodies, which had been stylistically reworked in detail in Crook's workshop. [44] The upgraded cars left Crook's workshop with a 2.2-liter engine (Type 110 or Type 110S); rather, they all retained the 2.0-liter engines (Type 85) with which they were equipped as standard. However, at least one of these cars was fitted with a Type 110 engine at the owner’s request. [19] [62] [63]

Like the regular 406 Zagatos, these upgrades were projects of Anthony Crook Motors; there was no direct link to Bristol Cars. Crook offered the conversions from the summer of 1961 at a third of the price of an original 406 Zagato (£1,550). [13] The exact number of these mixed models produced is unknown, but Tony Crook stated in 2001 that the demand had been good. Brand documentation suggests "at least three" cars were reworked in this way. [64] Based on the 1949 chassis number 400-1-568, one of these mixed models was found in disrepair in Devon in 2013. As a so-called barn find (Barnfind), the car was auctioned unrestored for £29,000 in the same year. [63] Since then, the car has been fully restored and is repeatedly shown at exhibitions.

Bristol 406 S Zagato

Based on the Bristol 406 S Zagato: Aston Martin DB 4 GT Zagato 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato - rvr.jpg
Based on the Bristol 406 S Zagato: Aston Martin DB 4 GT Zagato

The 406 Zagato can be distinguished from the 406 S Zagato, a stylistically distinct vehicle characterized by its shorter wheelbase. The "S" suffix (for English short) refers to this special feature. The two-seater car, designated factory 406S-P2, is a one-off built in 1960 at Zagato in Milan on behalf of Anthony Crook Motors. It is based on a Bristol 404 chassis that was slightly lengthened. With a wheelbase of 2743 mm, the 406 S Zagato lies between the short 404 (2438 mm) and the regular 406 Saloon and 406 Zagato (2896 mm). This chassis is the same as that of the prototype 406S-P1 produced in 1958. The aluminum body of the 406 S Zagato features soft curves and a semi-hatchback. The rear fenders are rounded, and a panoramic rear window is taken from a small-production Zagato-bodied Lancia. The 406 S Zagato is equipped with the 130 bhp Type-110S engine that was also used in the longer 406 Zagato. This particular car was utilized by Tony Crook’s family for several years and still existed at the beginning of the 21st century. [65]

Interestingly, the design of the 406 S Zagato body was later adapted, with slight modifications, for the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. [44] [64] The Bristol 407 GTZ Zagato, introduced in 1961, also received a similar, although significantly longer, body design.

Specifications

Bristol 406 Zagato
2.2 Liter Type 1102.2 Liter Type 110 S
Engine: Six-cylinder in-line petrol engine
Engine displacement: 2216 cm³
Bore × Stroke: 68,69 × 99,64 mm
Performance: 105 bhp (78 kW, 106 HP)130 bhp (97 kW, 132 HP)
Max. torque: 177 Nm at 4700 rpm165 Nm at 3750 rpm
Compression ratio: 8.5 : 19.0 : 1
Mixture preparation: 3 × Solex downdraft gasifier type 32 PBI/7
Valve timing: chain-driven bottom-mounted camshaft;

Tappets, pushrods and rocker arms (Outlet: 2 pushrods and 2 rocker arms)

Cooling: Water cooling
Transmission: manual four-speed transmission, gears 2 to 4 synchronized, overdrive
Front suspension: Wishbone above and transverse leaf spring below
Rear suspension: Rigid axle, guided at the bottom by the support levers of the torsion bar springs via short connecting rods,

above by a trailing arm and laterally by a Watt linkage

Brakes: front and rear disc brakes
Chassis: Tubular frame
Body: Aluminum on lattice frame
Wheelbase: 2896 mm
 Dimensions (Length × Width × Height):4700 × 1600 × 1397 mm
Curb weight: 1120 kg
Top speed: approx. 170 km/happrox. 196 km/h

Notes

  1. Bristol's designer Dudley Hobbs based the design of the 400's body on a body that Peter Schimanowski had designed for the BMW 327 in 1938 and that the Darmstadt-based Autenrieth body plant had built. Cf. Classic Cars Special: English classic cars, p. 6 ff.
  2. Balfour, Christopher (February 2010), This factory-named 406 S-P1 prototype was built on an extended chassis of the Bristol 404, whose wheelbase of 2743 mm was between the short 404 (2438 mm) and the regular 406 Saloon (2896 mm). The car received a two-seat hatchback body by Dudley Hobbs that combined elements of the 404 with those of a Beutler design for the standard 406 chassis as a special design feature pointed tail fins. The 406 S-P1 still exists. Cf. Christopher Balfour: Bristol Cars. A very British story, Haynes Publishing, 2009, p. 241, ISBN   978-1-84425-407-1
  3. The 406 saloon was the first Bristol so constructed; on all earlier models, the body panels were supported by an ash frame. S. Dieter Günther: Bristol Cream. It's all in the engine: The Bristol models 406 and 407 , in: Oldtimer Markt special issue 14 (“Gran Turismo: The Great Travel Coupés”), 1994, p. 33.
  4. The picture shows a 2.0-liter version in an Arnolt-Bristol.

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References

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  2. Balfour, Christopher (February 2010). Bristol Cars: A very British story. Haynes Publishing. pp. 52–61. ISBN   978-1-84425-407-1.
  3. Günther, Dieter (September 1996). "Man lebt nur zweimal. Modellgeschichte des Bristol 400 und des 401" [You only live twice: history of the Bristol 400 and 401]. Oldtimer Markt (in German). No. 9. pp. 228 ff.
  4. Balfour 2010, p. 48.
  5. Alessandro, Sannia (2017). Enciclopedia dei Carrozzieri Italiani[Encyclopedia of the Italian Coachbuilders]. Vol. 2. Turin, Italy: Societa Editrice Il Cammello. p. 552. ISBN   9788896796412.
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  8. 1 2 N. N.: Bristol 406 with four-wheel disc BrakesSportscars Illustrated, Oktober 1958.
  9. Dieter Günther: Bristol Cream. Der Motor macht’s: Die Bristol-Modelle 406 und 407, In: Oldtimer Markt Sonderheft 14 („Gran Turismo: Die Großen Reisecoupés“), 1994, pp. 34.
  10. 1 2 3 L. J. K. Setright: And now a quick look at Setright's Bristols. Car, Januar 1974.
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  12. 1 2 3 Dean Bachelor, Chris Poole, Graham Robson: Das große Buch der Sportwagen. Müller, Erlangen 1990, pp. 100.
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  16. Simon Taylor: Soul Survivors. Classic & Sports Car, Heft 8/2006, pp. 132 ff. (139)
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  18. 1 2 Till Schauen: High Fashion, British Classics, Heft 6/2014, pp. 89.
  19. 1 2 A.G. Pritchard: Bristol built – but air inspired. Sporting Motorist, Oktober 1962.
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  22. Rex Greenslade: Bristol Fashion. Road Test Bristol 412, Motor vom 5. März 1977.
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  25. Zu den Einzelheiten s. Motor vom 6. November 1946
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  27. 1 2 Peter Hingston (2007). The Enthusiasts' Guide to Buying a Classic British Sports Car, Hingston Publishing Company, 2007. p. 48. ISBN   978-0-906555-25-5.
  28. 1 2 3 Till Schauen: High Fashion, British Classics, Heft 6/2014, S. 88.
  29. Zum Motor insgesamt: Dieter Günther: Man lebt nur zweimal. Modellgeschichte des Bristol 400 und des 401, in: Oldtimer Markt, Heft 9/1996, pp. 230.
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  32. Für die technischen Daten des Bristol 406 Saloon s. N. N.: Seventh of the Line, Autocar vom 29. August 1958.
  33. 1 2 3 4 Martin Buckley: Bristol Fashion. Vorstellung und Fahrbericht des Bristol 406 Zagato, in: Classiccars 9/2001, pp. 106.
  34. 1 2 Balfour 2010, p. 248.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Till Schauen: High Fashion, British Classics, Heft 6/2014, pp. 87.
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  40. Caspers, Markus (2016). Designing Motion: Automobildesigner von 1890 bis 1990 (in German). Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag. p. 67. ISBN   978-3-0356-0981-3.
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Further reading