17 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

I have been contacted by Barry Shean who has owned the ex-John Tojeiro / Bob Vincent Tojeiro Max 500 for 44 years and is currently restoring it to 2 litre Bristol spec.

Here is the car pictured in June 1955


By giraffe138 at 2011-03-25



''Bob Vincent's Tojeiro with it's original MGA 1600 cc engine. Later modified to take a 2 litre Bristol engine. The SU carburettors can be seen in the bonnet cut out. The Bristol had Solex downdraught carburettors."

The name "Jean Mees" is in the logbook for 5 months of 1955, and we are trying to establish if Jean was related to Bob.

Does anyone on the forum have any information regarding the car & it's history? Barry would be most grateful for any help we can give him.

Edited by Giraffe, 25 March 2011 - 10:48.

[David McKinney]

According to my records, Hamish Hunter had MAX500 built with an MG engine in 1953, and by 1955 had a Bristol under its bonnet

The man who wrote the Tojeiro book is a TNF member...

(Cue Graham Gauld)

[Sharman]

So it was NOT an MGA engine

[David McKinney]

I didn't say a word

It could have had an MGA between the Bristols

(And yes, Carruthers, I knew you were going to make a comment...)

Edited by David McKinney, 25 March 2011 - 16:15.

[Giraffe]

The pic was most certainly taken in the summer of 1955 and the current owner has spent a substantial sum of money on a Bristol powerplant for the rebuild. The car has had all manner of different engines in it since acquired by him in 1969.

[Giraffe]

As a result of someone spotting this thread, I have now received the following e-mail.......

We were advised of this topic on the Nostalgia forum by a Bristol friend in Australia. We have a very light tubular frame aluminium bodied 2 seat sports racing car (which looks similar in some ways to MAX500) which we obtained in England in 1969 prior to emigrating to New Zealand with our Bristol engine cars. We were informed when we bought the car from Biggin Hill in Kent that it was a Cooper Bristol Le Mans, but on contacting Bill Boddy Motorsport editor many years ago, he said that it looked like one of the Tojero specials from the early '50s. The car came with a BMW 328 engine (not fitted), a Bristol gearbox all of which we still have. We were told that in its earlier days it had an MG engine fitted. There is evidence of extra engine mounts and gearbox mounts. The suspension is all independent via transverse leave springs front and back with various parts drilled out for lightness. From my recollection the registration number which was painted on the rear of the car was "FLY...." or "SLY...." but despite attempts over the years we have not been able to find out anything about the car. We only joined the forum today after being advised of the MAX500 picture. This may not add to the knowledge of MAX500 but it is possible that other members who are interested in historic racing cars may be able to assist in its identification and any history it may have. Regards, Brian Flegg

[David McKinney]

Greetings Brian

I remember discussing your car with the late Peter Bruin many years ago, when it was thought to be a Cooper-Bristol, but subsequently shown not to be

As far as I can see there were no Tojeiros registered FLY or SLY from new, though of course the registration could have been changed between the first owner and 1969. The closest among original registrations were LOY500 and LOY501, both accounted for today

Without wishing to hi-jack this thread, I hope someone can help with ID'ing your car

[RWB]

Forgive me if I chuck in another one. I have a 'photo of Bert Croucher driving a Tojeiro MG registered NGK524 at Thruxton 3-8-53. It has an "AC Ace" style of body. Anyone know any more about this car? I could also mention the SunPat Special........

[David McKinney]

Can't help with the Croucher car

But ISTR the Sun Pat Special was a candidate for the Brian Flegg car in NZ (until it was found that it was already somewhere else)

[RWB]

David - I was hoping you would clear up both for me. As you know, the Sun Pat Special only managed half a racing lap before Bert Rogers' fatal accident. As a result I have only found one 'photo of it. It looks to be the same body style as a car advertised some time later in (I think) Autosport which also looks like the car raced in South Africa in 1963 by Michael Nurse ("Sunshine on Kyalami 1961-71" Kegel/Bennett 2007 page 64). I've seen no other Tojeiro with this body style but, as always, open to correction.

[David McKinney]

The SP was advertised by Chequered Flag in 1958 (with Aston Martin engine)
I have a note in my records saying it was in the Netherlands but, foolishly, I neglected to put a date alongside it, so whether that was before or after any South African career I cannot begin to guess

[RWB]

The SP was advertised by Chequered Flag in 1958 (with Aston Martin engine)
I have a note in my records saying it was in the Netherlands but, foolishly, I neglected to put a date alongside it, so whether that was before or after any South African career I cannot begin to guess

Do you recall where and when the Chequered Flag ad appeared? The ad I have in mind was from a different firm and I'm still looking for it.

[David McKinney]

Sorry, Robert

I usually add at date to ads (if it's something like 23/08/58 I know it's Autotsport, if it's Aug 58 it'll be MotorSport)

But in this case, nothing. Which suggests the note was made later, not from the primary source

[RWB]

Thanks David. I'll get back to you if I unearth any more.

[Giraffe]

Lovely unidentified Tojeiro in the member's carpark at the VSCC Silverstone yesterday


By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

[Graham Gauld]

Lovely unidentified Tojeiro in the member's carpark at the VSCC Silverstone yesterday


By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

By giraffe138 at 2011-04-24

There is not much information on this car as I found out. It was, however, bought by John Baker from Cliff Davis in the 1980s. It was just a chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels. It did have Turner wheels and drums on it but you must remember that John Tojeiro would build a chassis for anyone who had an engine but on those chassis he did not put a number. He put numbers on the chassis of complete cars he built.
John Baker put a Bristol B series engine into it and had a body designed to be similar to the original LOY500. He sold the project on to Kevin Webb and Barry Salmon.. The car has been taxed and MOT's since 1997 but has been little used and as far as I know Kevin Webb still owns it.

[Bauble]

This particular car is present at most Silverstone meetings, often parked outside the Silverstone Club, the owner probably lives close to the circuit, as it not the sort of car you woulld travel long distances in for a day's racing.

[Garyf]

As a result of someone spotting this thread, I have now received the following e-mail.......

We were advised of this topic on the Nostalgia forum by a Bristol friend in Australia. We have a very light tubular frame aluminium bodied 2 seat sports racing car (which looks similar in some ways to MAX500) which we obtained in England in 1969 prior to emigrating to New Zealand with our Bristol engine cars. We were informed when we bought the car from Biggin Hill in Kent that it was a Cooper Bristol Le Mans, but on contacting Bill Boddy Motorsport editor many years ago, he said that it looked like one of the Tojero specials from the early '50s. The car came with a BMW 328 engine (not fitted), a Bristol gearbox all of which we still have. We were told that in its earlier days it had an MG engine fitted. There is evidence of extra engine mounts and gearbox mounts. The suspension is all independent via transverse leave springs front and back with various parts drilled out for lightness. From my recollection the registration number which was painted on the rear of the car was "FLY...." or "SLY...." but despite attempts over the years we have not been able to find out anything about the car. We only joined the forum today after being advised of the MAX500 picture. This may not add to the knowledge of MAX500 but it is possible that other members who are interested in historic racing cars may be able to assist in its identification and any history it may have. Regards, Brian Flegg