10 replies to this topic

[BritishV8]

I'm preparing an article about Tornado Cars Ltd. and specifically about their ThunderBolt racecar.

For those who aren't familiar, Tornado was primarily a kit-car builder and in their short history they built over 300 stylish "Tempest" fiberglass bodies for customers to mate with Ford 10 / "Popular" components. However, the company principles dreamed of establishing a relationship with Triumph and offering a higher performance model. A prototype - named "ThunderBolt" and registered "WAU 637" - was built and raced. I'd like to confirm reports that the ThunderBolt anchored a team of Tornados to victory in a 750 Motor Club six hour relay race held at Silverstone in September 1960. I don't know if it raced in other events. The company failed before further factory-built ThunderBolts could be produced. WAU 637's chassis was updated with a later generation Tornado Talisman body. The original ThunderBolt body was evidently sold to a customer named Colin Ford who put it on a Ford Thames van chassis (eeek!) with Triumph drivetrain and registered it "345 LNP". I understand that Colin Ford's version of the ThunderBolt was occasionally club-raced throughout the sixties. Colin Ford's ThunderBolt eventually ended up in U.S.A. where a couple veteran Triumph enthusiasts exhaustively researched the original factory design and rebuilt the car to duplicate same. They race it very frequently and enthusiastically, and with quite good success.

I need some Nostalgia Forum help!

To really complete my article properly, I need to discover more information about the true sixties-era racing history of WAU 637 and also 345 LNP. Remembrances? Photos? Comments about the Tornado works or staff? Help researching entry lists or race results? Other clues or leads? Do any of you guys remember these cars?

Here are a couple recent pictures that might stir some memories:


The ThunderBolt body looks like a Tempest body, but lengthened.

Note that the original hardtop was removed to suit its current owners' height - 40 bolts! - but in period it would've been installed for racing.


I believe that in period, WAU 637 was painted red and 345 LNP was painted black.


Triumph TR4 engine... (WAU 637 originally had a TR3 engine, which is similar but with smaller displacement)

[kartman24]

You need to speak to Dave Malins on tornadoregistrar@aol.com or David Martin at tornadocarsltd@hotmail.com they will be able to give you all the information you need. All the best.............Martin

[bradbury west]

Running 4 cars with three drivers in the 750 relay was a neat trick. Have you contacted Tony Bunce, the team driver of a Typhoon with the Ford 8 engine? Do you need a copy of the 1960 Relay entry lists and the race report? Are messrs E A Martin and W G G Woodhouse still alive? What were their given names?
Roger Lund

Edited by bradbury west, 01 May 2011 - 06:07.

[kartman24]

Eric Martin and Bill Woodhouse, both Bill and Eric are alive and kicking and Bill still drives a Tornado Talisman to Fairthorpe Sports Car Club events. He is one of the Vice presidents of the FSCC which incorporates the Tornado register. My father is also a Vice president having been one of the original three Fairthorpe `works team` drivers.........Martin Collins

Edited by kartman24, 28 April 2011 - 20:27.

[Allan Lupton]

Can't add a lot but don't be misled by the phrase "Thames Van" into thinking of a Transit-sized job. Ford (or Fordson) vans were on much the same chassis as their contemporary cars, so the 100E range included Prefect (4-door) and Anglia (2-door) saloons, Squire and Escort estates and Thames van (pretty well an Escort without windows or back seats). Someone called Terry van der Zee put a TR engine in a 100E van/estate and raced it to good effect.
I was probably at that six-hour in 1960 but didn't get involved in it (as assistant handicrapper) until a dozen years later so can't look anything useful up.
Good to hear that some of my 8-Clubs customers such as Martin and his father are still involved!

Edited by Allan Lupton, 29 April 2011 - 08:07.

[kartman24]

Hi Allan, Dad and i miss the Eight Clubs meeting it was everything club racing should be. I remember sitting on the outside of the circuit as a young lad waiting for a practice session to end so we could cross to the paddock (no bridge in those days). I remember Terry Van Der Zee`s TR powered van as well as such delights as the ex Police MG Magnette with bell ringing coming through Woodcote Everything from an Austin 7 Special, Reliant 750 Formula car, James Augustus Tiller`s Mighty Allard through to something that was once on the grid at Le Mans, handicapping that lot must have been a nightmare! Nothing matches this nowadays, even the 6 hour relay seems like a lotus 7 lookalike event. Getting a bit closer to the original topic i have a great picture of me sitting on the grid in my Anglia with dad giving me a last bit of advice and you can see on the row behind Dudley Guest in his Tornado Talisman............Martin

[BRG]

Can't add a lot but don't be misled by the phrase "Thames Van" into thinking of a Transit-sized job. Ford (or Fordson) vans were on much the same chassis as their contemporary cars, so the 100E range included Prefect (4-door) and Anglia (2-door) saloons, Squire and Escort estates and Thames van (pretty well an Escort without windows or back seats). Someone called Terry van der Zee put a TR engine in a 100E van/estate and raced it to good effect.
I was probably at that six-hour in 1960 but didn't get involved in it (as assistant handicrapper) until a dozen years later so can't look anything useful up.
Good to hear that some of my 8-Clubs customers such as Martin and his father are still involved!

Yes, but surely the Tornado was built to use the E93A range chassis? This was presumably a separate unit from which you could remove and replace the body, whereas I think that the 100E range were of monocoque construction without a separate chassis. But your point about the vans using the same basic chassis as the cars remains valid.

[TornadoDave]

"TORNADO TYPHOON" The first Tornado produced was the Typhoon in 1958 . A purpose built chassis was used that accepted the running gear from the then long running Ford e93a, Ford Pop. The original
Ford Pop chassis was never utilised but was used quite commonly with other car designers at the time. The Ford 1172cc engine was used with the three speed gearbox, mated to the torque tube that was directly
bolted to the rear axle. Front axle was split in half to make it fully independent. A 2+2 body was available with a 2 seater competition version as well. Around 300/350 cars were made mostly in kit from. Hard tops were available. I would imagine 15% of these cars still exist. These cars were raced quite regularly by the factory and private individuals. A Typhoon was part of the winning team that won the 6 hr relay in 1960, driven by Tony Bunce. A couple of Sportsbrakes (estates) were made as well. This is just general info on the Typhoon, anybody wanting specific details, just ask. David Martin

[TornadoDave]

"TORNADO TEMPEST"
The next model designed by Tornado cars ltd. A stronger and more complex chassis. The Ford 105e engine was used with the Ford 4 speed gearbox. The back axle came from a Standard 10. The front independent suspension was
also used from the Standard 10 but was slightly strengthened and discs fitted. Again the body could be the standard 2+2 or the shorter 2 seater. Around 10 of these cars were made. Only 1 exists. A competition race version was made with a tuned Cosworth engine, close ratio gearbox, twin webers and the rear suspension coming from a formula junior, including inboard alfin drums. Everything on the car was lightened and weight kept to a minimum. This car still exists. This car was raced on a regular basis and ended up in New York in the mid 60's. The car is now fully restored and back in the UK. One other Tempest was made known as the MK2, this was a standard car with a triumph diff. The rear suspension was made by the factory, having two lower transfer links attached to the chassis and the upright. Two forward links of the upright were fitted and the drive shafts formed the upper link. I mk2 exists. From all the Tempest models, 4 cars are known to survive. David Martin

[TornadoDave]

"TORNADO THUNDERBOLT"
Built in early 1960 and again a similar chassis to the Tempest but a little stronger. This had a tuned TR3 engine and 4 speed gearbox with overdrive
fitted with a mk2 Ford Consul live back axle. The front suspension came from a Ford Thames 400e and the 15" wheels were also used. Most parts of
the car were lightened with many holes drilled in strategic places, including the wheels. The 2 seater body was used with only the smallest of alterations.
This car was registered as WAU 637 and was raced regularly up until early 1963. Yes the car was part of the 6hr relay in 1960. The car today is owned
by the driver of that very day. With the factory about to close in early 1963, the body was removed, the chassis lengthened and the more popular Talisman
body was fitted. The hard top was sold to a customer and the body was left behind the factory until it was disposed of.
This car was then sold and raced a few times in the mid sixties. Taken of the road in the very early 70's and garaged until 2003. The Thunderbolt
was then bought by the original builder and works driver. Only 1 Thunderbolt was built. The car is now fully restored to it's original spec from when it was first built in 1960.

"345 LNP" STANDARD SPECIAL.
This car was originally designed and built by Colin Ford in the uk. The concept started in late 59/60. A Standard Vanguard van was bought, the body was sent
to the scrap yard and the chassis was altered to take a fibre glass sports body of the time. The Vanguard engine was used with a TR3 head. A few more modifications
would appear with the end result in the 16" wheels being replaced with 15". A Black self coloured Tornado Typhoon body was ordered from the factory
in 1960, complete with hard top. The car was registered and known as a Standard Special in 1963. A comment came from his step father that it resembled a Black Pig,
this name seemed to have stayed with the car until it was sold. There are no records that we know of that the car raced here in the uk.
345 LNP ended up in the states and finally was bought by the Beady Eye Racing Team. Not happy with the chassis, a trip to the uk and with some help from Tornado enthusiasts,
a replica Thunderbolt chassis was made. After a full restoration a replica Thunderbolt was produced. This car has now been fully restored to a beautiful condition and raced at every opportunity.
Any other info that might be off interest please make contact. David Martin

[BritishV8]

I guess I'll wrap-up this thread by announcing publication of the article. Thanks to everyone who helped! The article includes three vintage black-and-white photos of WAU637 in action, plus some 58 large color photos of 345LNP as currently raced. With particular help from Mr. Richard Page, I was able to include a detailed spreadsheet of the earlier car's racing history. Check it out!

Here's the link:
The Tornado ThunderBolt Race Cars: History, Design, and Construction