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Lowood Super Squalo


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#1 ellrosso

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 06:54

This is a Brier Thomas shot of a Ferrari Super Squalo from Lowood. Its pre 1959 most probably - anyone have any idea who is driving and what year? Thanks in advance.

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#2 mercnut

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 07:11

This is a Brier Thomas shot of a Ferrari Super Squalo from Lowood. Its pre 1959 most probably - anyone have any idea who is driving and what year? Thanks in advance.

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methinks it would be des kelly

#3 Jean L

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 07:35

Arnold Glass ?

#4 Jean L

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 07:35

Arnold Glass ?

#5 David McKinney

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 07:53

If it's pre-1959 it would have to be Arnold Glass

#6 starlet

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 08:21

Definitely pre-1959 and Glass. Possibly 1958.

#7 ellrosso

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 09:32

I know it certainly adds up to being Glass, especially if that helmet is white and the car is red. Tonally its not a great shot so its a little hard to tell, but its certainly possible. I've just been checking thru the Gold Star meetings at Lowood via David Shaw's site in 1957,58,59 and Glass isn't entered in 57,58 and Arthur Griffiths is driving it in 1959 (different striping etc). A bit odd he's not on the entry list, unless this shot is from a non Gold Star meeting.

#8 David McKinney

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 10:15

Glass raced the Squalo at a non-championship Lowood meeting on 3/11/57

#9 Bruno

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 13:31

I have on my file:

10-jan-59 Gp de Nouvelle Zelande - Ardmore ? Lowoods ?

10 Tom Clark 555 Super Squalo "9001"
11 Pat Hoare 625 Special "0007"
12 Arnold Glass 555 Super Squalo
14 Ken Harris 750 Monza
n.q Ron Roycroft 375 F1

# ????

and 1958:

1-nov-58 GP d'Australie - Albert Park?

3 Tom Clark 555 Super Squalo #10
Arnold Glass Dino 246 F1 #2


#10 David McKinney

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 14:14

Lowood is in Queensland (Australia), Bruno, so the New Zealand Grand Prix would not have been held there

1-nov-58 GP d'Australie - Albert Park?

3 Tom Clark 555 Super Squalo #10
Arnold Glass Dino 246 F1 #2


The 1958 Australian Grand Prix was held at Bathurst
The Albert Park race was called the Melbourne Grand Prix
Tom Clark wasn't third in it
Arnold Glass did not drive a Ferrari Dino 246 in it


#11 Bruno

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 14:35

Thank David:


6-oct-58 GP d'Australie - Bathurst
1 A. Davidson 625/750


? ? 1959 Bathurst
3 Norm Crowfoot 750 Monza "0462M"

#12 mercnut

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 15:37

Thank David:


6-oct-58 GP d'Australie - Bathurst
1 A. Davidson 625/750


? ? 1959 Bathurst
3 Norm Crowfoot 750 Monza "0462M"

i just blew the photo up,doesn't look like arnold glass so i reckon it's arthur griffith 1959

#13 David McKinney

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 16:44

elrosso says it's pre-1959, so it's Arnold Glass

...and looks like him to me :)

#14 ellrosso

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 20:22

Mercnut, I've got a shot of Griffiths in the car at Lowood in 1959 from Brier which I'll post later and its a very different appearance. Thanks for info David, I reckon that is probably the meeting. Out of interest, Glass had John McMillan entered at the Gold Star round 6 at Bathurst on Oct 5th 1957 - it was a DNS - piston. Did McMillan do anything of note with the car in NZ after purchase from Parnell?

#15 David McKinney

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 21:35

Working from the bottom - not really. He was certainly not in the same league as Tom Clark in the sister car

He then ran the car in a couple of events in Australia, the last of which was to have been the October Bathurst race. However, he sold it a few days before. Hence the entry being in McMillan's name, not Glass's

McMillan then stuck with the car as Glass's mechanic, continuing to work on later Capitol Motors entries (250F, Cooper-Maser, BRM etc)

#16 ellrosso

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 06:00

Here is Arthur Griffiths in the car at Lowood in 1959 - quite a different look to the Glass shot

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#17 D-Type

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 09:24

Is that a Super Squalo? It looks more like a F500/625/750.

But how should I know, being 50 years and half a world away?

Edited by D-Type, 21 October 2011 - 12:42.


#18 David McKinney

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 09:49

I see what you mean, Duncan, but the bulging sides are the giveaway

#19 Repco22

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 10:28

Is that a Super Squalo? It looks more like a F500/625/750.

But how should i know, being 50 years and half a world away?

IIRC the cars were rebodied before Whitehead and Parnell brought them south in 1956. The bodies are not the same as the original Super Squalos.

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#20 David McKinney

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 11:52

The only real difference between the late-1955 cars and the Whitehead/Parnell versions was a raising of the bonnet-line, which had the effect of doing away with the raised scuttle. This has remained something of a puzzle, as the 860 engine was no taller than the 555

#21 Repco22

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 12:32

The only real difference between the late-1955 cars and the Whitehead/Parnell versions was a raising of the bonnet-line, which had the effect of doing away with the raised scuttle. This has remained something of a puzzle, as the 860 engine was no taller than the 555

Another difference is the shape of the nose air intake, always a character defining feature [ which many restorers get wrong]. I suspect the side bulges might have a touch more curvature in them too. The original bulges appeared to have slightly more of a straight side section in plan view. Another minor point; I think they did away with the big 'gill' in the bulge. Anyway, I can understand D-Type's query as the net result was a different looking car.

#22 David McKinney

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Posted 21 October 2011 - 14:22

The air-intake on the Glass car is different from in the Whitehead/Parnell period, presumably after its rebuild following McMillan's flip at Mount Druitt

#23 Repco22

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Posted 22 October 2011 - 04:55

The air-intake on the Glass car is different from in the Whitehead/Parnell period, presumably after its rebuild following McMillan's flip at Mount Druitt

I hope this is not getting too pedantic for TNF!  ;) These quick sketches of Super Squalo air-intakes have accurate proportions;
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There is obviously considerable difference between the two. David, I don't think the second shape is very different from its appearance during Australian ownership after McMillan's prang.

#24 David McKinney

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Posted 22 October 2011 - 06:06

Haven't got all my research material to hand, Rod, but I think your drawing of the 1955 F1 car is from earlier in the season (eg, Spa), whereas the noses were rounder later in the season

(But I may have to withdraw all that, as I'm relying on memory. Not from 1955, but from photos I've seen since :) )

#25 wenoopy

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Posted 22 October 2011 - 09:58

Having exchanged several emails with a certain TNFer a year or two ago on this topic, I believe Repco22 is right with his sketches. At Spa and Zandvoort in 1955 Ferrari had longer noses on the Squalo cars with a smaller opening, but at the Italian GP they changed to a wider, flatter opening like Repco's sketch (and a Motor Sport photo). The Parnell/Whitehead cars of 1956/57 season were like the second sketch, from my recollection. The same width as 1955 but higher.

As for the rest of the car, the higher bonnet line seems to be due to the engine being mounted much higher than in the factory cars. In the only 2 pictures I have seen of the engine bay of the 56/57 cars, there is virtually no clearance at the rear of the motor between the top of the valve covers /oil filler and the top of the bulkhead. My thought was that the exhaust manifolds led downward to exit under the car on the 860 sports engine, and the raised engine in these Squalos was to allow a side exit.

The Glass car later had a 2.5 motor installed and a picture of it (at Giltrap's Museum?) shows several inches of the (raised)bulkhead clear above the engine, so presumably the 2.5 was able to be mounted lower, for the above reason.

Both car bodies were somewhat bent in Australia by their NZ drivers, and straightening-out probably gave each a slightly different shape. The Whitehead / Tom Clark car was also partly rebodied by subsequent owner Bob Smith in NZ, using panels from other cars.

Stu

#26 ellrosso

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Posted 23 October 2011 - 21:32

Is the Glass car still at the Gilltrap museum? Is the Clark car still with Bob Smith in NZ? Thanks again for all the great info TNFr's. Cheers, ellrosso

#27 David McKinney

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Posted 23 October 2011 - 21:50

No, both long since gone

The Giltrap Museum lost theirs about 30 years ago: it's now with a Mr Ecclestone. Bob Smith sold his in 1963 and it now lives in Spain

#28 BT 35-8

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 00:02

Gents,

Whilst being well out of my comfort zone with these early to me cars , I have Lowood programme
from 25th Oct. 1959 .
Entrants include the following ,

# 154 , Ecurie California [ USA] [ Driver Rod Carveth ] Ferrari 2992cc
# 24 , A. Glass , Maserati 250 F , 2493cc
# 15 , A.A.Griffiths , Ferrari , 2500cc.

That may or may not help define time line on who had what at a given time.

Interesting that Rod Carveth had three cars entered for the same race , others were Aston Martin 2922cc
and Taraschi R.A.M. 1089cc.

Bryan.

#29 Dick Willis

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 02:08

I have looked through my Brier Thomas CD of Lowood pics and found the pic shown above but the caption on the pic doesn't name the driver or the date of the meeting, except that it is 1960 or before.

Then I found a pic in an album I have captioned "Arnold Glass, Ferrari, Lowood 1957" but no month or date. Obviously A. Glass in the above pic as my pic shows the same helmet and "driving suit"

My Lowood programme of 11/8/157 shows A. Glass entered in the HWM Jag and you would think this would be the major open wheel meeting of the year at Lowood being the Gold Star meeting. The famous Blanden book says that he first drove the Ferrari at Mt Druitt in November 1957 so when was the subject Lowood pic taken ?

#30 ellrosso

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 02:16

Interesting Bryan. Mr Carveth was a lucky (wealthy!) man in those days to have such an array of cars. On the same Brier Thomas disc are some good shots of the Taraschi
(and no doubt the Aston - no captions though so hard to tell).
Shame both Squalos have long since gone - would love to see one run in anger. They did a demo with Ted Gray's Tornado Mk 2 at the Sandown 1977 Rothmans F5000 round which was very impressive, open pipes etc. First time I'd ever seen a front engine openwheeler run in the flesh (newsreels just don't really cut it from that era).
Certainly gave me a eye-opening respect for those guys who drove them on the limit.......

#31 David McKinney

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 06:03

I found a pic in an album I have captioned "Arnold Glass, Ferrari, Lowood 1957" but no month or date. Obviously A. Glass in the above pic as my pic shows the same helmet and "driving suit"

My Lowood programme of 11/8/157 shows A. Glass entered in the HWM Jag and you would think this would be the major open wheel meeting of the year at Lowood being the Gold Star meeting. The famous Blanden book says that he first drove the Ferrari at Mt Druitt in November 1957 so when was the subject Lowood pic taken ?

Arnold would still have been in the HWM-Jag at Lowood in August.
His first drive in the Squalo was at Bathurst on the first weekend of October that year
As in post 8, he drove it at Lowood the following month

#32 Dick Willis

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 06:28

I should have re-read the whole thread !

#33 Hank the Deuce

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 23:09

that would be the car which John Hough's Cooper-Maserati climbed over at Lowood, wouldn't it? What year was that?

#34 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 October 2011 - 00:31

Pretty sure that was either '61 or '62...

Certainly since I started buying magazines. Check 'Hough' in the 'Ultimate Price' thread.

#35 Dick Willis

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Posted 25 October 2011 - 01:00

September 9th, 1962, I was there. He hit Charlie Whatmore's Lotus Eleven, the Ferrari wasn't entered at that meeting.

#36 Hank the Deuce

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Posted 25 October 2011 - 01:27

September 9th, 1962, I was there. He hit Charlie Whatmore's Lotus Eleven, the Ferrari wasn't entered at that meeting.

thanks, Dick. Now that I've been sitting here chewing it over, I think the Glass connection was that Hough had obtained the car on HP from Arnold Glass, and that the family sat the wreck under the house in the Clarence Valley and paid it off...

The only reference I'd seen to it was undated and in a Bill Tuckey book, and it was Glyn Scott's name that was mentioned as the other party... but I now have it first-hand. I went to school with Hough's nephew, and while I had heard of the accident in retrospect through family connections, the Houghs never spoke of it at all.


#37 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 October 2011 - 13:05

And they hoarded that car under the house for some decades, if I've got the story right...

Another example of just how quickly things could go horribly wrong back in those days.

#38 John Ellacott

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Posted 26 October 2011 - 06:17

Arnold would still have been in the HWM-Jag at Lowood in August.
His first drive in the Squalo was at Bathurst on the first weekend of October that year
As in post 8, he drove it at Lowood the following month

I have video of Arnold in the Ferrari at the November 1957 Mt. Druitt meeting transferred from 8mm movie I took at the time.
It is interesting that at the NSW Sprint Championships at Mt. Druitt the following May 1958 he used the HWM Jaguar for second fastest time after Len Lukey in the Cooper Bristol.
I also have video of this event.
I remember around this time the Ferrari on display in the Capitol Motors showroom on the Haymarket end of George Street :)

#39 David McKinney

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Posted 26 October 2011 - 06:21

Interesting, because in the 1957 NSW Sprint Championship the Supersqualo - McMillan up - was fastest, with Lukey's Cooper-Bristol second and Glass in the HWM only sixth

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#40 wenoopy

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Posted 27 October 2011 - 08:44

Before this thread disappears from Page 1, it should be recorded that after Bob Smith's ownership of the Tom Clark Super Squalo, it was converted to an "all-comers" saloon car by the addition of a Morris Minor body (of identical wheelbase, apparently) to the Ferrari chassis, along with a Chevrolet motor. Driven by Garth Souness, it proved fast but not easily controllable, originally entered as a Morris-Chevrolet or Morris-Corvette, but quickly became known as the "Morrari"

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In this early appearance in 1965 the Borrani wire wheels were still used, but later they were replaced, and holes were cut for 8 stub exhausts to poke through the bonnet. The "all-comers" class disappeared within a season or so, and most of the original Ferrari parts were eventually reunited with the chassis.

Stu

#41 pacerman

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Posted 14 February 2014 - 05:04

thanks, Dick. Now that I've been sitting here chewing it over, I think the Glass connection was that Hough had obtained the car on HP from Arnold Glass, and that the family sat the wreck under the house in the Clarence Valley and paid it off...

The only reference I'd seen to it was undated and in a Bill Tuckey book, and it was Glyn Scott's name that was mentioned as the other party... but I now have it first-hand. I went to school with Hough's nephew, and while I had heard of the accident in retrospect through family connections, the Houghs never spoke of it at all.

The car is still owned by the Hough family, It has been partly restored and is carefully stored at the moment to preseve it until some more work can be done on it. It was not bought directly from Glass but rather he sold it to Denis Geary who traded it with a blown motor to John and Ralph Hough on the ex Moss/Davison HWM Jaguar. While the car was partialy financed it was also insured and that paid the car out. The family is happy to talk to anyone who wants to know about the car and they are currently restoring the above mentioned HWM. The Cooper will follow in the next year or so. The accident was caused by a sheared gear in the fuel pump which caused the car to suddenly slow and it was hit from behind. I hope this is informative and clears things up a bit. I am happy to answer any other questions that are within my knowlage.