"Vapor e Gasolina", the automobile around Galicia

On the occasion of the Semana Caixanova del Atlántico, in the city of Vigo, the Real Club Náutico has organised an exhibition entitled “Vapor e Gasolina. Historias de traballo e lecer en Vigo”, which will remain open at the Estación Marítima in this city until 4 November.

The exhibition is divided into 4 thematic areas. One focuses on the history of land communications in Galicia; another on the automobile industry in this region, where the figures of Eduardo Barreiros and Citroën take on great importance due to their Vigo factory; another devoted to Galician motorsport, focusing on names such as Luis Moya, Beny Fernández, Estanislao Reverter and Guillermo Barreras; and finally a space dedicated to leisure and education, which features a children’s traffic park equipped with electric cars, as well as other entertainment for the little ones.

Getting straight to the point, one of these days I dropped by to see how it was going, and well, it’s not very big, but it’s interesting. Camera in hand, I gathered the best that was there, and here are more photos and detailed explanations…

We start with this diesel-engine conversion by Barreiros, loaned by the foundation that bears his name. It is an engine originally belonging to ZIS trucks from Russia that arrived in Spain during the 1930s. The original consumption of this petrol engine was 40 litres per 100 km, but after the conversion it consumed 30 litres of diesel per 100, which for the era was very good, hence the great demand there was for this conversion.

This is a Ford Lotus Cortina, with which the Galician Estanislao Reverter competed in 1964 at the Rallye Internacional A.C. Portugal.

The Lancia Fulvia Coupé HF from 1967, with which Roberto Angiolini and his mother (incredible, right…) finished third at the VI Rally Rías Baixas.

This is not a competition model, but it has the genes of one: it is a Lancia 037, the evolution of the famous Stratos. It dates from 1988, and the signature on the bonnet belongs to Marku Allen, who was a driver in the British RAC rally with the Lancia Stratos.

A Pegaso Z103 with panoramic bodywork. The star of the show and a jewel like no other; only 7 units exist in the world, and its price is estimated at 1 million euros.

The Citroën DS, which also “posed” alongside the new C6. A mythical car, a design that broke the mould for its time, ahead of its era… what more can be said about it!

A Ford Escort RS2000 which has recently served as a coche 0 at the Rally de Ourense.

The Ford Escort WRC with which Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya won the world championship in 1997 and 1998.

The Renault 5 GT Turbo with which Alfonso Fernández Pavón raced the Rally de Ourense in 1988. Dubbed the “widow-maker” car… a legend that is hard to tame, but it is better this way.

And finally, the Porsche 911 Rothmans of Beny Fernández.

To coincide with this event there will also be lectures. Those still to be given include the one by Paco Costas on 24 October on road safety, and on 25 October a round table with Luis Moya, as well as Beny Fernández, Luis Reverter, José Salas and Guillermo Barreras. These lectures will take place at 8 in the evening and, like the exhibition, admission is free.

Also next weekend the I Rallye Ciudad de Vigo will take place, for which there is an interesting list of registered drivers and cars, and I will try to attend to take a few snapshots and bring back some information.

You know, if you happen to be nearby, don’t hesitate to drop by and see one of these events.

Photos | Eduardo M.
More information | Real Club Náutico de Vigo