21 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

Gentlemen, do any of you have any other images of this ludicrous vehicle?



I'm particularly interested in head on or rear view shots.

[David McKinney]

Have you done a search BB?

I'm sure it's featured several times

[Barry Boor]

Possibly but not with the views that I need. Anyway, it's late!

[Tim Murray]

There's a good one in this post from 'Wrotham' in the Firle hillclimb thread - he's obviously associated with the car:

Hi
I have attached scans of the covers of the following programmes: BDC 12th Sept 65, BRDC 29th Aug 65 and BARC 2nd October 60.
Also there is a single page of results for the October 1960 event for classes 12, 13 and 14. You will see that at this meeting the MONACO driven by J Bedford broke the Class record with a run of 29:20 faster than J Tiller in the Allard!!
We are still running the Monaco at various Race, Hillclimb and Sprint events and I also show a picture taken at this years Crystal Palace Sprint.
Hope this is of some interestsorry there is not more results.

[Allan Lupton]

Well this one shows the front a bit



That comes from this site. - click on "marques" then "Monaco"

Edited by Allan Lupton, 15 December 2010 - 00:04.

[Tim Murray]

There's also this video clip on Youtube taken by our own Gary C:

[Tim Murray]

A few more photos (one is wrongly captioned, but is clearly the Monaco):

http://vintageman.ze...D8B99E#hbd8b99e

http://www.motorsnap...otts-1.jpg.html

http://www.motorsnap...g2_itemId=54719

http://www.zipp.co.u...lery/John Potts

http://www.flickr.co...N02/4672474389/

http://www.flickr.co...57624210940376/

http://www.flickr.co...57624169140944/

I wonder if one of the gentlemen in the last shot is TNFer Wrotham.

[Eric Dunsdon]

Well this one shows the front a bit



That comes from this site. - click on "marques" then "Monaco"

That fine snap of George Hartwell at Shelsley Walsh appears in C.A.N Mays excellent book 'Formula 3. A Record Of 500cc Racing' which is highly reccomended to those interested in the early days of 500cc Formula 3. Well worth searching out.

[Odseybod]

Barry, here's the device at Crystal Palace earlier this year. Braver man than I ...

[Bloggsworth]

Judging by the colour it was painted, it was probably made by Ransome & Rapier of Ipswich, well known for their Suffolk Punch motor mowers...

[bradbury west]

Or Ransome, Sims and Jefferies, agricultural machinery manufacturers of that area.
Roger Lund

[Bloggsworth]

My car was so slow, I was overtaken by their walking dragline in Corby one day...

[Odseybod]

Judging by the colour it was painted, it was probably made by Ransome & Rapier of Ipswich, well known for their Suffolk Punch motor mowers...

And powered (using the word loosely) by a mighty Suffolk Iron Foundry engine, like all proper (pre-Atco) Suffolk Punch and Colt mowers.

[Sharman]

And powered (using the word loosely) by a mighty Suffolk Iron Foundry engine, like all proper (pre-Atco) Suffolk Punch and Colt mowers.

Charnock again:-

"...and turned his mighty Merc mit blower into a 12" Atco mower"

[rbm]

...

http://www.flickr.co...57624169140944/

I wonder if one of the gentlemen in the last shot is TNFer Wrotham.

yes.

and maybe the best source for the pictures Barry wants?

Edited by rbm, 15 December 2010 - 19:32.

[Barry Boor]

I think it only fair to say that this information is being sought by a gentleman (not me, I hasten to add) who is planning a slot race version of this tiny car.

[Ted Walker]

The car is owned by Alta owner David Baldock from Kent

[Wrotham]

I hope the information below provides some detail of this cars background and performace in its early years not really a ludicrous little car more a car achieving the best performance from the early F3 regulations.

The Monaco

Built for George Hartwell in 1947 by Monaco Engineering in Watford with a wheelbase of just 60 inches and weighing less than 500 pounds. Competed in the first Goodwood event in 1948 and held many sprint records and class FTD’s.
E.g. Beat the World Record standing start Kilometre time with a run at the Brighton Speed trial in 1948 with a time of 32.11 secs. Also in 1948 broke the Class record at Weston Super Mare with a time of 27.38 secs.
The following advert appeared in the Autosport in September 1951:
Monaco 500 sprint car – ex C Tipper and G Hartwell, fitted Norton engine. Holds numerous course records and is one of the fastest F3 sprint cars in the country. P Binns, 327 Ballards Lane, Finchley N12.
In respect of the present colour this was matched with original paint found under the seat frame but may be a little to bright.

[bradbury west]

Built for George Hartwell in 1947 by Monaco Engineering in Watford

Monaco Motor and Engineering Co being the garage business operated by Rivers Fletcher, qv "More Motor Racing, the postwar years" by RF.
Roger Lund

[Gary C]

one of my Tube Of You clips from Brands 2007 :

[David McKinney]

Monaco Motor and Engineering Co being the garage business operated by Rivers Fletcher, qv "More Motor Racing, the postwar years" by RF.
Roger Lund

And founded of course by Peter Monkhouse and Ian Connell

[Rupertlt1]

And founded of course by Peter Monkhouse and Ian Connell

Please don't beat up on this delightful and historically significant vehicle!

There is a description of the car here: John Bolster, Specials, Pages 125-126, G.T. Foulis & Co Ltd, Reprinted 1971. Gives wheelbase 5-ft. Track 3-ft six inches front, 3-ft three inches rear. Fiat i.f.s.
"At Brighton Speed Trials, where sheer maximum velocity comes into its own, it proved that what the Norton engine hasn't got at the bottom end, it more than puts back at the top, and was successful in vanquishing the fastest J.A.P.-engined cars."

I am interested to know more about Peter Monkhouse, arguably still the course record-holder at the Lewes Speed Trials. [The Bugatti O.C. and the Kent & Sussex LCC used different methods of timing - see "The Lewes Record", The Autocar, August 28, 1936, Pages 396-397.] http://en.wikipedia....es_Speed_Trials