Repco Research experimental car
Started by
Dick Willis
, Aug 24 2009 11:00
15 replies to this topic
#1
Dick Willis
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 11:00
Sighted at Phillip Island Historics last year the "Repco" was announced with great fanfare in 1959 but I have heard little of it since, does anyone know how long Repco kept it and what they did with it and how many owners it has had since. It does seem to now have some subtle changes from the original pics, wire wheels, no front bumperettes, no tailfin etc.
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#2
Catalina Park
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 11:12
I have a couple of period photos of it and it never looked the same twice. I think that there may have been three different rear window treatments and two of them featuring fins, one larger than the other.
#3
garyfrogeye
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 11:20
Sighted at Phillip Island Historics last year the "Repco" was announced with great fanfare in 1959 but I have heard little of it since, does anyone know how long Repco kept it and what they did with it and how many owners it has had since. It does seem to now have some subtle changes from the original pics, wire wheels, no front bumperettes, no tailfin etc.
What a pretty looking car. Reminds me of a Harrington Alpine.
#4
thunder427
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 14:25
...perhaps contact Laurie Nelson, Capri Components, his names on the sreen ,just might mean he knows something about the lil car............regards427
#5
bradbury west
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 14:57
In original split rear screen format it reminded me of the GSM Flamingo from ZA, as I may have mentioned previously..
Roger Lund
Roger Lund
#6
Ray Bell
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 21:56
Originally posted by garyfrogeye
What a pretty looking car. Reminds me of a Harrington Alpine.
I immediately thought of the similarity of the regular Alpine when I looked at that pic (I don't think I've ever seen a pic without the big centre tailfin, and that seemed to dominate the car), and I wondered if the Alpine might have taken some cues from it...
Maybe a pic of the same angle of a Harrington Alpine would be appropriate on this thread?
#7
Dick Willis
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 22:51
Thunder, that would be the obvious thing to do but I was hoping someone on this forum would have the information on this interesting car and be able to share it with the other members rather than me finding it out and keeping it to myself.
#8
thunder427
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Posted 24 August 2009 - 23:40
Thunder, that would be the obvious thing to do but I was hoping someone on this forum would have the information on this interesting car and be able to share it with the other members rather than me finding it out and keeping it to myself.
...obvious !!,Yes but I wasnt sure if every body knew the 'Jovial' Mr Nelson and his where abouts,so if I was being obvious then I apologise !!
...Dick Bates (the Bates rally Family/Canbera)Had me work on a very simular Fibre-glass coupe that he owned some years back now,it was produced by the Haines family business that built boats in Sydney..Haines-Hunter, might be worth some research!!!..........................obviously427
#9
cooper997
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Posted 25 August 2009 - 06:57
Period articles for Charlie Dean's Repco Record, Victorian rego 'GYT 111' (with centre tailfin) are in Modern Motor Jan 1960. With a Sunbeam Alpine on the cover of that issue. So I doubt either provided too much towards the other design.
The other is Sports Car World March 1960 and 'Automobiles Australia' (the 1960 AMS book) has a full page Repco advert featuring it.
Can scan if anybody wants them.
Stephen
The other is Sports Car World March 1960 and 'Automobiles Australia' (the 1960 AMS book) has a full page Repco advert featuring it.
Can scan if anybody wants them.
Stephen
#10
Dick Willis
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Posted 25 August 2009 - 07:22
Here's a pic of the Repco car at its announcement showing the centre tail "fin" which is not on the car now, when did it change ?
#11
Catalina Park
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Posted 25 August 2009 - 09:17
I have these two photos that show different styling treatments.
I don't know when they made the changes.
I don't know when they made the changes.
#12
garyfrogeye
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Posted 25 August 2009 - 09:57
The rear on that last image looks a bit like the Williams & Pritchard triumph Spitfire top.
#13
275 GTB-4
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Posted 25 August 2009 - 10:08
...Dick Bates (the Bates rally Family/Canbera) Had me work on a very simular Fibre-glass coupe that he owned some years back now,it was produced by the Haines family business that built boats in Sydney..Haines-Hunter, might be worth some research!!!..........................obviously427
Dang bust it!! wish I'd know this a few days back at the Motorkhana talking to Neil and his sons....damn
#14
Dutchy
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Posted 25 August 2009 - 11:46
Looks very like a Tornado Talisman to me http://www.hunneybel... rear photo.jpg
Edited by Dutchy, 25 August 2009 - 11:47.
#16
Gordon Graham
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Posted 26 August 2009 - 02:56
According to the story on the car in "Great Australian Sports Cars" (a 1987 0ne-shot mag) which looks to be the source of the B&W photos posted by Dick Willis, after it's debut at the 1959 Melbourne Motor Show, some members of the press: "pondered about the need for, and function of, the 'aerodynamic' fin on the centreline from roof to tail. Dean's Dorsal?"
And: "in spite of, or because of, the controversy, the fin was retained, though reduced in size."
And: "in spite of, or because of, the controversy, the fin was retained, though reduced in size."
