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Luigi Chinetti vs Walter Becchia


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#1 cabianca

cabianca
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Posted 04 August 2015 - 13:28

In 1936 Luigi Chinetti was given the unenviable task of turning Tony Lago's sluggish T-150 into something more sporting. This was done by taking the engine out to 4 liters (from 3) and creating a new aluminum head. However, both of these put pressure on the remaining parts and the racing results were not impressive. A big problem was the difference in expansion of the aluminum head and iron block, resulting in blown head gaskets.. At the end of the season, Chinetti and Talbot engineer, Walter Becchia, agreed to disagree and went their separate ways, although Chinetti would continue to sometimes prepare factory Talbots for racing from his independent shop. The only published account of this I have seen is in an Acturial  auction catalog for a T-150 lot. Can anyone direct me to any other published accounts of this incident.

It is worth noting that by the time of the French GP (run for sports cars) in 1936, Becchia had new iron heads cast to try to solve the gasket problem.

Many thanks.


Edited by cabianca, 04 August 2015 - 15:07.