McCandless R2 sports cars

I refer to an article on page 11 of AUTOSPORT dated January 6, 1956 which provides a brief description of the proposed McCandless sports car. Further research on Google provides information about the McCandless R2 which is a 4WD , 500 class racing car. The author of the article goes onto say that the racing fraternity at the time was so impressed with the performance of the little car that arrangements were made for it to appear as a cutaway illustration in AUTOSPORT. My question is has anyone sighted the cutaway illustration and if so can you provide me with the year/edition of the particular AUTOSPORT magazine. 

You could always visit the Goodwood Revival when a 500cc F3 race is being held - the R2 is usually a welcome visitor. As for the proposed sports car from 1956, the prototype is an exhibit at the Ulster Transport Museum. Sorry, can't help with your actual question!

Thanks for the update Nicanary, The Google information that I referred to is taken from the Goodwood event and it provides a few interesting photos of the car with the engine cover/tonneau removed. I am intrigued with the torque tube arrangement and would love to see the cutaway illustration of the major components. Your right I must go to Goodwood one year the only thing is I have to catch a QANTAS jet from Brisbane, Oz rather than a number 56 from cemetery Gates . Cheers

That'll teach me to look at profiles first!

That'll teach me to look at profiles first!

It wouldn't have made any difference!  With the new 'improved' forum software the user profile no longer says where people are nor does it have anywhere to put useful information like that.

Your profile still says you're in Coulsdon, Duncan, but presumably neither Nicanary nor Charger3 have put their locations into their profiles.

Arnie Black of Crossle restored the car and raced it at Goodwood with us in 2011, maybe a potential source of information or pictures from the rebuild?

some info on the 500 owners association website (www.500race.org).

Edited by rbm, 12 February 2014 - 21:19.

Arnie was kind enough to give me a pamphlet on the car at Goodwood, Inevitably I cannot locate it at present, but I am sure a note via the museum mentioned earlier will generate another copy.

Has anyone checked the Autosport index for  a cutaway drawing?

Roger Lund

Has anyone checked the Autosport index for a cutaway drawing?
Roger Lund

I did the same last night, Tim. Mine are all boxed away at the moment. Is our poster just looking for pictures, or specifically the cutaway?

RL

To get back on track, the original question related to the sports car not the pair of Norton engined 500cc 4wd racers.

I was lucky enough to get hold of "Sweet Dreams: the life and work of Rex McCandless" by Gordon Small published by the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. This slim volume doesn't have the cutaway drawing referred to in the original post, but it does have a photo showing the first two sports cars with one stripped showing the backbone chassis tube and all-independent suspension. The 1172cc Ford engine can clearly be seen as can the similarities of the rear suspension with the 500cc racer.

According to the book three sports cars were built (following the work Rex did on 'The Mule'  a 4wd cross country vhehicle he built with a 500cc Norton engine mounted behind the line of the rear axle and developed from the 500cc racers):

The first for Dorothy McGladery wife of Laurie (RZ 6516).

The second for Laurie's nephew Desmond Sloan and

The third for Desmond Titterington (UZ 1066) This car was in the Museum at the time of writing (1989).

Hope that helps.

Edited by fuzzi, 14 February 2014 - 15:34.

To find out more, I suggest you get a copy of " To Make A Better Mousetrap, A Biography of the Remarkable Rex McCandless" by R L Jennings, IBSN 0 9534628 1 1, it details all the designs of Rex McCandless written by one of the engineers who worked with him.

Tried to post some pics, but even ImageShack  wouldn't do for this Board !!

Edited by hillsprint, 14 February 2014 - 21:20.

Thank you very much for the reply's that have been posted to date. The article that I discovered on Google was headed " Vintage Thing No 119- McCandless R2 four wheel drive 500" and posted by a chap called Bob Blackman. The article focusses specifically on the motor cycle engine cars so I suspect that any cutaway illustration will refer to the 4wd cars. I will try to source a copy of The Perfect Mouse Trap and do what I can to contact Mr Blackman to further to obtain a copy of the illustration. Thanks again. 

I have now found/located the pamphlet on the 4wd car given to me at Goodwood.  As I thought, there is a cutaway drawing by Brian Hatton , about 8" x 4".  I have a new scanner so can scan the cutaway and the whole pamphlet  at a very good resolution if anyone wants a copy, due copyright recognised to the Museum.  I have not tried posting a picture under the new system yet but will scan the drawing and try tomorrow.. There are a couple of very nice photographs showing the car body-off and full face from the front, so lots of detail. Not sure whose they are so will have to limit myself to scanning for personal  and educational use  only. If you want a copy of any of this stuff pm me with e mail addresses, please.  I have some shots of the car semi-body-off etc from Goodwood  if you want a copy, copyright to myself, all rights reserved. I might see if I can sort the image posting out too.

I think macca has posted some previously.

Roger Lund

Edited by bradbury west, 26 February 2014 - 23:10.

Hello Roger, Thank you very much for the research that you have undertaken. I would like to receive what ever information is available on the McCandless car. My email address is casscons@bigpond.com Thank you in anticipation, Richard