55 replies to this topic

[Mistron]

Hi Folks.

Now I know this is a bit of a long shot, but TNF has rarely failed in the past........ (and I hope this is better suited to the historical research thread than the general TNF 'melting pot')

Today I picked up a new project. From what I can work out so far I'm pretty sure it's an early Clubmans formula car, built to take a BMC 1000cc engine.

Here are a few photos:






As you can see, the engine mounts suit the A series engine, and it has the small BMC back axle (I unfortunately didn't actually get the diff shown in the photos)

The back axle modifications are quite distinctive, but in it's current state without any bodywork , and the roll hoop having been removed (along with the rear bodywork support tubes by the look of it) there isn't a lot to go on by way of identifiable features, I know.

So my first question is obviously: does anyone recognise it? I think that from what I have, it would probably only be a scrutineer who would recognise the chassis details!

Also, when did 1000cc stop being run in Clubmans? I assume it's when 1600 Ford power took over from the 1500cc class as well?

All I know about the car is that it's been in storage in the current condition since the early '90s. Prior to that it may have been in North Wales or the Cheshire area. There is a suggestion from the guy who I got it from that it may have raced in Scotland, but he wasn't too sure. Both of these locations lead me towards the Northern Clubmans championship - does anyone have the details of non 'mainstream' cars which competed in the early years? By that I mean one offs, and not Mallock, Lotus etc

It does look quite similar in construction to my old Coldwell Mink chassis, so I might try Bill Needham to see if he recognises it.

I have already picked up a 948 engine and smothe case box to start the dummy build, but I am equally keen to try and track down the cars origins if I can. It isn't going to be a quick restoration!

Any thoughts on the car or it's possible origins would be much appreciated.

Al

Edited by Mistron, 14 April 2013 - 10:27.

[Cirrus]

Now - this might very well turn out to be a wild goose chase, but that chassis looks very similar to one which I saw when I worked at Gordon Spice's warehouse in Staines in the mid-seventies. I don't think it was red though. It was owned by a guy called Ivor Jauncey who worked there at the time. I seem to recall him trying to sell it to me.

A bit of Googling suggests that Mr J might live in Kent. John Winfield, who is a TNFer, might be able to help - he worked at Gordon Spice's warehouse around that time and would remember Ivor Jauncey, I'm sure.

As I say - possibly a complete wate of time, but anyone with a sixties Clubmans connection might be able to offer something. Sadly, another GS employee, Hugo Tippet who raced 1000cc Clubmans is no longer with us. I think his brother, Charles with whom he shared a car is still racing (I think he races a BMW with Masters).

Anyway - good luck!

Edited by Cirrus, 28 November 2011 - 19:35.

[Garsted]

To try to answer some of your questions:

"Also, when did 1000cc stop being run in Clubmans? I assume it's when 1600 Ford power took over from the 1500cc class as well?"

Clubmans started in 1965, and, according to 'The Lone Furrow' the story of Mallock cars, the 1 litre class was still running in '74 when; " for the new B sport class...the 1600cc Kent engine would run alongside the increasingly out-dated and expensive 1 litre F3 screamer". I have not found out when 1 litre engines ceased. maybe they were never banned but just died out for the reasons implied in the quotation. I very much doubt that BMC engines were used as late as the 70s as they were outclassed by the Ford units by then.

According to my information there was a thriving 1 litre class for sports cars running from 1960 (maybe even earlier) in which BMC engines (often in Lotus Sevens) were very successful, and I suspect your car may be from that era.

" does anyone have the details of non 'mainstream' cars which competed in the early years? By that I mean one offs, and not Mallock, Lotus etc"

From the material I have accumulated about my BMC powered Seven that raced from 1960 to 69, I could give you the names of some such cars and their drivers, but no "details"

"I have already picked up a 948 engine and smothe case box to start the dummy build" the smooth case boxes were not favoured in period, they were not as strong as the ribbed boxes and I think there was something about the ratios not being so good

I think you are going to need some photos of the car to approach any thing like a "restoration", but good luck with it, this kind of investigation can be a lot of fun.

Regards, Steve

[Mistron]

Thanks Chaps, any info or thoughts are an advance on what I know already! Any leads i can follow up, whether dead ends or not, are worth exploring.

Interestingly I have found out that the car was owned for many years by Caterham Midlands, and that someone mentioned to them that there was a Godron Murray connection - that the car may have been owned by him at some stage. I very much doubt this, as he didn't come to the UK until the late '60s, and the Clubman car he built was in South Africa, so I suspect this is just a tantalising red herring..... I am also told that when they bought it it came with a pre crossflow 1500 Ford engine (which hadn't been fitted)

One notable feature is that the roll hoop which as been removed appears to have been of oval section, or more accurately, rectangular with semi circular short sides. There are traces of it where it has been cut off at the rear, showing it to have been full width. The back axle has a removable rear plate behind the diff which has clearance for the crown wheel, as normal for this type of axle, but also has 2 long, round ended 'boxes' let ito it for some reason. perhaps to increase oil capacity??

Steve, I would be very interested to hear any info on 'potential' id's you have from your research. I'll drop you a message with my email address. I agree it could be from a slightly earlier period and class, but it's hard to tell.

Having had a better look at it, it's clear that various modifications have been made to the chassis (not to as high a standard as the original build). I now have to work out if the engine mounts fitted at the moment are new ones for an A series, or if they were perhaps even for a Ford. Maybe the car was actually Ford powered and planned to switched to A series, or (more likely) vice-versa. No doubt when I go to fit the engine into the frame, things will become a lot clearer!

If I don't find out any details of how the car was originally, I'll just build it up in a way which is appropriate for the period I THINK it dates from - i.e. '65- '69 ish and have fun with it. I plan to fit the A series as I just prefer them to Ford, as well as the fact that it appears this is the last engine fitted to the car.

It's not as though it is a super 'significant' car and as such, I feel a fair bit of freedom with the build, but I also enjoy the challenge of tracking the history, if possible. perhaps recomissioning and rebuilding is a more acurate term than restoration?

Edited by Mistron, 29 November 2011 - 13:19.

[Garsted]

"Interestingly I have found out that the car was owned for many years by Caterham Midlands, and that someone mentioned to them that there was a Godron Murray connection - that the car may have been owned by him at some stage" - well the great man is contactable - search on gordonmurraydesign.

"I am also told that when they bought it it came with a pre crossflow 1500 Ford engine (which hadn't been fitted)" if so it widens the net a great deal. Does sanding gently through the paint on the engine mounts & the frame reveal whether they were made at the same or different times?

"One notable feature is that the roll hoop which as been removed appears to have been of oval section, or more accurately, rectangular with semi circular short sides." this could be the result of a large dia roll hoop (say 1.5ins) being flattened in order to weld onto a smaller square frame tube.

"The back axle has a removable rear plate behind the diff which has clearance for the crown wheel, as normal for this type of axle, but also has 2 long, round ended 'boxes' let ito it for some reason. perhaps to increase oil capacity?? " How is the rear axle located laterally? I just wonder if this may be a mounting for a Watts linkage or Mumford link - probably a bit implausible

Regards,
Steve

[Mistron]

well the great man is contactable - search on gordonmurraydesign.

-The email was sent within hours of the connection being suggested to me! No response as yet - probably still laughing at the very idea!

Does sanding gently through the paint on the engine mounts & the frame reveal whether they were made at the same or different times?

-Most of the frame is red paint over a grey layer below. The modifications haven't been painted by the look of it, so I assume they are later

this could be the result of a large dia roll hoop (say 1.5ins) being flattened in order to weld onto a smaller square frame tube.

-I did wonder, but this seems overly crude compared with the rest of the frame (certainly the original bits) and the visible ends look more uniform than I'd expect if they had been squashed

How is the rear axle located laterally? I just wonder if this may be a mounting for a Watts linkage or Mumford link - probably a bit implausible

-Looks to have been a Panhard rod, which sadly I don't have. there is a clevis on the Near side of the chassis and a threaded boss on the outer end Off side of the axle.

Edited by Mistron, 30 November 2011 - 20:08.

[petestenning]

Among the possible 1000 cc cars would be the Melvyn/Chris Coon's Dino 4/6, the Marler Ellova, and couple of DRW'S , OR Gryphons which i am sure someone would have recognised by now.

The upper class oddities were, The Ellova again, an Alexis mk21, which i dont even recall, Mike Sales Question, Rob Cochran's Bladon, Richard De La Rue's Apogee 1c a former f1172/f1200 car i believe.

There was also a car called the B.W.M.?

Pete

[Mistron]

All good leads, many thanks.

I've just recieved an email from a chap who thinks it could be his old F1300, but he needs to check against photos.

I've exchanged answerphone messages with Mr Jauncey, and have emailed him photos. I've also emailed Sid Marler, Bill Needham and John Haughton

No responses back yet, but fingers crossed!

Al

[Mistron]

well, I've been in touch with various former clubmens and F1200 folks, and so far have drawn a complete blank!

I have to say, it's rather liberating to think I can just restore / rebuild the car as I'd like, rather than trying to recreate whatever it as like before - it means no one can tell me I got it wrong!

Unless anyone else remembers the chassis?

[David McKinney]

The irrelevant posts that were in this thread are now in the main Nostalgia Forum under the heading of 'Them and Us'

[Mistron]

Thank you David.

Al

[Stephen W]

I know they don't like us to mention the "opposition", but have you posted the same question on Ten-Tenths? Their demograph seems to have more ex- club racers than here.

I don't really understand the 'us and them' divide, but yes, I've tried in their 'motorsports history' section, though sadly with similar results. also via classic clubmans and the 750mc forums

The irrelevant posts that were in this thread are now in the main Nostalgia Forum under the heading of 'Them and Us'

David, you might consider moving the first two above as they were the instigation for the diversion.

[David McKinney]

David, you might consider moving the first two above as they were the instigation for the diversion.

I'm sure the people involved in the diversion, now in the main forum, can work out what it was about

[Mistron]

I have to say, it's rather liberating to think I can just restore / rebuild the car as I'd like, rather than trying to recreate whatever it as like before - it means no one can tell me I got it wrong!

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I think I have to accept this one is going to remain a mystery. Ah well

Still, I'm making slow progress on the project, so I thought I'd post a wee update of my current thoughts - an offset single seater. I can see it having elements of the front engined Juniors or the Monzanapolis lister. Will be interesting to see how slab sided it ends up looking.

plans will of course keep changing, so if anyone who hasn't seen this thread before recognises it, do please let me know.

Al

[Mistron]

A wee 'bump' to the top in case anyone missed it previously.

I've made a bit of progress, but the last job was to dismantle it all to get ready for an imminent house move (nearer to Knockhill)

Al

[Ray Bell]

A couple of things come up in the photos...

Brakes are from Riley 1.5/Wolseley 1500, I would think the housing and axles are from the same (aren't they a tad wider than the Minor 1000?).

Suspension detail to me looks to be further into the decade than you would have found in '60 and'61, but not later than '66 or so. Perhaps the Spitfire front brakes will date it?

[Mistron]

Many thanks Ray - I will have to do a bit of digging into brake sizes to confirm.

The problem with using the front suspension to date the car is of course that it might not have been built with new parts, or, being standard (or rather Triumph!) bits, they could have been replaced during the cars life. I agree with your general time frame though.

House move completed, so just need to move car into the new garage and crack on.

Al

[Mistron]

Can't believe I've owned this car for just under 2 years, and I'm still not really any the wiser as to what it is.

 

Is there anyone who has joined since my previous pleas for help who recognises it?

 

Al

[Mistron]

Thinking about it, does anyone have contact details for any of the drivers in the early years of the Clubmans championships? Tim Goss won, did he not? Does anyone have an email address for him?

 

I've been in contact with Derek Walker and Ron Welsh who both agree with my thoughts on the date of the chassis, but didn't recognise it. Any other suggestions?

 

Al

[bradbury west]

Al, I think I have his no. somewhere here. ISTR he was in the Newbury area.
Roger

[Mistron]

Hi Roger,

 

Did you have any joy finding the number?

 

In the mean time, I kind of got carried away and started building a body........

 

Still, I can always change it if I find out what it DID look like!

 

Al

 

IMG_3703 by alastairbrownuk, on Flickr

[bradbury west]

Sorry Alastair. I have looked in all the logical places, perhaps it was on a piece of paper. I will try to find his address on the old Electoral Roll CD. Delay caused by computer problems.
Roger

[Mistron]

Does anyone have a contact email for Alan Baillie? I see from the web that he was racing his Pegasus III in Clubmans in '65, so may have been aware of other one offs? and he's still around in racing.

 

And in the mean time, it's starting to look like a car, so sods law dictates that it's about time I discovered what it SHOULD look like! (rather than being so heavily inspired by the Coldwell Mink)

 

 

Al
 

[bradbury west]

Alastair, pls see PM for you with last known number.
Roger

[Mistron]

I had a chat with Alan Bailie today, and he suggested that I speak with Cyril Lyford, who raced a F1200 called the Squeg U2 in the late '60s, and who was one of the more prominent  guys racing the 'non mainstream' cars(as opposed to Lotus, Malock, DRW etc

 

Does anyone know if he's still around? or where in the country he was based?

 

This got me thinking, I think I'll start a thread in the main forum, 'club level self built & driven racing cars' (not modified from others) to celebrate the efforts of the F750 and clubmans races etc who self built cars but never went on to become the next Chapman, Broadley or Bennett. But who called their cars things like 'Overdraft special' etc.

 

Of course, we know there are still these guys out there racing today, but many of the classics like Magaloysius, the magnesium bodied monocoque '7' style F1172 really are fading from memory - no one races them at Monaco or practices on a cold wet wednesday at Mallory, so they arent seen, and their values are more EBay than RM! 

 

Any thoughts? worth a thread or is it just me that finds this type of car amongst the most interesting? maybe it's 'cause I feel an affinity with the builders - out there in the garage with only my beard and oil stained old jumper to keep me warm in the garage on  a cold winters night as I wrestle to get decent power cheaply out of an un willing old saloon car drivetrain.........

 

Al

 

Edited to add - here is a quick list in no particular order, taken from one of the many web databases:

 

Dingo 2 (1200) Peter Bush

Mistron (1200) John Sutton

Dison (1200) Angelo Farina

Wells Forest (1172) Richard Hurdwell

J.M.T. (948) R.J. Fenton

LMC BMC (990) P. Lackington

Tavenor GT (1475) Raymond Nash

Intertech GT (1098) Tony Goodwin (Lord Clydesdale)

Concord GT (1098) A. Pearce

Sheldon GT (998) Ray Watson

Mercury GT (1598) Alan Fowler

JCM Mk3 (1200) John Clarke

Jenoby (1200) Peter Loakman

Deb Mk3 (1200) Sheila Kemp

Claydon (1200) Jonathan Rope

Dino (997) Rod Mansfield (EARC Ltd)

Humbug (997) Barry Foley

Wavendon Wombat (? / 1150+) Arthur Cook / Jacquie Bond-Smith

Pole Special (?) E.J.Reaver / Team Pole

Orva Special (998) John Lancaster

FTB Mk1 (1172) Fred Burbury

Clanford S1 (1172) Peter Clansford

Elova BMC (999) Sid Marler

DCM (997) Joe Corfield / J.Gadd

U.F.O. Spyder (1000) Donald Duplas

A.D. Climax (1098) Peter Bargus

Morris Minnow GT (997) Robin Henderson

Pegasus (997) Chas Bayley

Aquila (1172) Bill Cooper

Juno 1A (1172) Hugh Pain

Wescott Pegasus (1498) S.B. Appleton

Dino Ford (1498) Peter Field

Sportive (1098) Peter Barguss

Gloster Gambit (1498) Peter Watts

Orchard (1498) A. Deacon / P. Barber

Pole (997) Ian Halliday

Westover U2 (1498) G. Lewis

WRA (1098) W.G.Eade

Lawrencson GT (1600) Tony Beeson

JCM Mk3 (998) J.E. Clarke

SWH (998) R. Wilson

Squeg U2 (1000) Cyril Lyford

FTB (1172) Fred Burbury

Harman 3 (1172) Roger Romney -Brown

Jenoby (1200) Peter Loakman

Lomas K (1172) R.H.F. Gibson

Relik (600) M.Kirby

Aftermath (600) Noel Stanbury

Ingham 2 (750) Andrew Ingham

Complexity (750) Richard de la Rue

Whico (750) J.L. White

onabacis (598) R.H. Duffield -Harding

 

Maybe my car is one of them???

Edited by Mistron, 09 January 2014 - 00:12.

[Stephen W]

Alan Fowler's Mercury GT was a Lotus 23 under the new bodywork.

[Tim Murray]

Wot, no 'Tatty Knickers'? 

[Allan Lupton]

Lots of 'em had names of strange origin.

There was a series of 750 specials called Marrow but someone made a very similar-looking car which eventually made the grid as TINA Marrow. To avoid confusion I can reveal that the name came from This Is Not A Marrow

Mind you some of the Brooklands names . . .

[h4887]

There was one called a Perigee...presumably because it was down-to- earth...I'll get me coat!

[rbm]

Alan Fowler's Mercury GT was a Lotus 23 under the new bodywork.

 

Steve are we sure that Alan Fowler's was a re-bodied 23 and not one of his own space frame chassis that D & A Frames ltd also supplied?

 

Al, sorry but if or if not Alan's Mercury GT was at 23, one thing I can confirm having seen both nude 23's and and a Mercury frame your car is neither.

 

cheers Richard 

Edited by rbm, 20 January 2014 - 21:14.

[Mistron]

ah, I must have been sitting in it back to front!!!

 

:-0

 

Al

[Mistron]

I came across this photo, which it turns out is from Aintree, 17th May 1980. The car in the background pointing the wrong way is interesting, as its visible features all match up with mine - the length and location of the trailing links, the relative level of the engine bay and body sides etc. Interestingly, my car was found in Cheshire / north Wales, having last raced in the early '80s, so it is possible it is the car in the photo.

 

Based on the programme for the day, the F1300s were out after the classic saloons, so if it is my car , it must be one of the following cars which were either wifhdrawn or failed to quaify, and possibly went out for a couple of exploratory laps before the race before?

 

26 Wally Agus Messer Mk. 2 dnp

1 Chris Kite EMU U2 Mk.20B withdrawn

34 John O'Sullivan Cub F134 withdrawn

42 Brian Wilsher F1300 withdrawn

48 Derek Simpson Rainger R2C withdrawn

 

Does anyone recognise the names of any of these drivers or cars, or at the most outside chance, have any photos from the event?

 

Am going to get in touch with Don Rawson and Keith Messer to see if any of this would tie in with my chassis, but any other suggestions are welcome.

 

In the mean time, I'm making progress

 

 

Al

Edited by Mistron, 19 April 2014 - 08:58.

[Bloggsworth]

Well, I can tell you one chassis it's not; Richard Groombridge's Hustler-Ford, though, that was built by Richard Scott who was the chassis builder at Diva. He left during 1964 and set up shop in Walberswick, on the east coast between Aldeburgh and Lowestoft boy, where he custom made chassis for clubmen and 750 MC racers. IIRC he was a product of art school and a little digging reveals http://www.southwold...ichardscott.htm who may be one and the same - There is a remote possibility it is one of his, specially if it was used in the 750 class.

 

I'm getting fed up with having to open Firefox every time I need to paste anything into the Autosport Forum - It's getting tedious, other less professional sites seem to have managed to make IE11 work with their forums.

Edited by Bloggsworth, 03 March 2014 - 18:29.

[Mistron]

who may be one and the same - There is a remote possibility it is one of his, specially if it was used in the 750 class.

 

 

One and the same it is! Just had a pleasant chat with Richard, and have sent him photos of the chassis, though by the sounds of it the details of my car differ from those he built, but he is happy to have a look in case anything rings a bell.

 

Certainly mine can't be a 750 car though, as it doesn't have the 2" box section chassis, so it's either F1172/1200 or Clubmans, and given that it had changes made to the chassis to apparently take a Ford engine, it seems likely it was not Ford powered origionally (Ford blocks of the time sharing engine mount locations), hence my choice to buld it up with A series power as the most likely alternative, i.e. 1000cc Clubmans.

 

Al

[Bloggsworth]

If you are still wondering about the oval tube, it is freely available, much used in the shopfitting trade as you will see if you look at the rails on which they hang things, though that is usually the resistance welded stuff (ERW) and not best suited to roll bars. HUB Le Bas .... oh sh*t, I've got to change to Firefox so that I can paste their web address into the post...

 

Back again http://www.hublebas....5f-b2e5dc3ed789 You want the Cold Drawn Seamless stuff...

Edited by Bloggsworth, 11 March 2014 - 22:12.

[Jiggler14]

Hi there,

 

I'm new to this forum. I just put the name of an old F1200 car I have owned for the past 16 or so years into Google search and found this thread. 

 

I have a car known as the "Perigee C" - I believe built and raced by a Mr Rhodes - it is very similar to the chassis that the OP has shown. The car is supposedly the 1971 or 1972 F1200 Championship winning car. It sit in my workshop and does deserve to be restored but it sits alongside a one-off Buckler 90 called "The Helix Special" and that too craves my affections.

 

I'd dearly love to know of a 1200cc Anglia, Cortina engine with all the period goodies to put back into the Perigee C.

 

Stephen

[Mistron]

And I've just bought what I think is a Yimkin, or at least a car  based on one....... If it is, I think one of them will have to go. that'll be a tough call, but I've only a single garage (and limited funds).

 

I see the Ian Brady car 'Ibec' is on Ebay at the moment and looks a nice project, (but not for me!).

 

I'll have a look at the Championship sheets for the period and see if they show race results for the Pedigree C

 

Al

[Mistron]

I just remembered I sent a copy of the results to Allan to hosto on his website. You'll find the link in this earlier thread:

http://forums.autosp...from-1954-1972/

 

Pedigree C was runner up in '70, and winner in '71

 

Al

[Jiggler14]

 

I'll have a look at the Championship sheets for the period and see if they show race results for the Pedigree C

 

Al

 

Thanks Al,

 

I do have a selection of Autosport magazines of the period and it does get a few mentions - I've also got a period photo of it racing (large photocopy).

 

Stephen.

[Jiggler14]

I just remembered I sent a copy of the results to Allan to hosto on his website. You'll find the link in this earlier thread:

http://forums.autosp...from-1954-1972/

 

Pedigree C was runner up in '70, and winner in '71

 

Al

 

Brilliant - so I suppose it is would restoring !.

 

Stephen

[Jiggler14]

And I've just bought what I think is a Yimkin, or at least a car  based on one....... If it is, I think one of them will have to go. that'll be a tough call, but I've only a single garage (and limited funds).

 

Al

 

 

If it's a Yimkin chassis designed for 1172 racing then I'd be very interested in it.

 

I have collected 1172 goodies for the past 20 years and have numerous race parts such as Aquaplane (enough to build several engines Inc speedos and rev counters), Shorrocks, Wooler remotes and Ballamy wheels / axles also a genuine Eltos remote gearbox for a 1172.  I've owner a Tornado Typhoon, Watford Cheetah and a Falcon Mk 11 (and still own a 1172 100e Trials car). I'm thinking that I better join properly and introduce myself instead of crashing this post just because I read the word Perigee !

 

Stephen

[Mistron]

Re-reading 'The Lone Furrow' by Paul Lawrence last night, I see he describes someone North of Northampton building a series of Replica Mk8 U2 chassis, this being the first Mallock to feature Wishbone front suspension. I wonder if it might be one of these which I am restoring? It is certainly 'Mallockesque' (how's that for making up a word!?!) - The book mentions John Baily suggesting they may have built more Mk8s thean Mallock(!) and that Alastair Douglas-Osborn may have hillclimbed one.

 

does any one know who this mystery builder was, or have any pictures of Alastair D-O in action? Are John Baily or he still around?

 

Al

[Mistron]

Having got no further with the history, I have had a decent bit of progress with the restoration.

 

A wee bit of trimming needed, but looks pretty good! It turns out that Halfords aerosol paint has a weird reaction with GRP moulds, so it'll need to be painted, but not bad for what it's cost me.

Right, on with the rest of it !  

 

 

<a href="https://www.flickr.c...00/14896330756/" title="IMG_5368 by alastairbrownuk, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.static..._d883bf359e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_5368"></a>

 

<a href="https://www.flickr.c...00/14916241671/" title="IMG_5367 by alastairbrownuk, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.static..._d4640f81de.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_5367"></a>

 

<a href="https://www.flickr.c...00/14732665949/" title="IMG_5366 by alastairbrownuk, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.static..._9ebbd9e849.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_5366"></a>

 

 

Al

Edited by Mistron, 14 August 2014 - 20:00.

[Graham2]

Hi there,

 

I'm new to this forum. I just put the name of an old F1200 car I have owned for the past 16 or so years into Google search and found this thread. 

 

I have a car known as the "Perigee C" - I believe built and raced by a Mr Rhodes - it is very similar to the chassis that the OP has shown. The car is supposedly the 1971 or 1972 F1200 Championship winning car. It sit in my workshop and does deserve to be restored but it sits alongside a one-off Buckler 90 called "The Helix Special" and that too craves my affections.

 

I'd dearly love to know of a 1200cc Anglia, Cortina engine with all the period goodies to put back into the Perigee C.

 

Stephen

 

Stephen,

 

I knew Mr Peter Rhodes before he emigrated to Spain in the late 1980's from South Oxfordshire. 

He was the Formula 1200 Champion in 1971 with Perigee C.  The motor was a 100e, 1172cc side valve. When the next generation of 1200cc OHV engines came in, they made it too costly and loads left the formula including Peter.

He was something of an electronics expert back then and devised his own electronic ignition systems.

After a break from racing he returned to compete in 100 National kart racing in the early 1980's and once again he devised his own electronic ignition system for the 100c Komet K88 motor. When the ignition was turned on it let off a high pitched whistle which often made him the centre of attention on the dummy grid. At one event the spark plug used was without the tang and it still ran thanks to his electronic ignition.

He drove a Mk1 Cortina with a 1500 engine on a 1200 gearbox so it could tow his race car. Never forgotten when towing the big trailor, I was a passenger,  we went round this corner at 55mph using all the road and he said I think we can get round there at 60mph next time. Happy days, a really nice, clever chap.

Edited by Graham2, 07 February 2015 - 23:00.

[Mistron]

I've sort of run out of steam with the project, so have listed it for sale on Ebay ( http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1555.l2649 )

 

Someone has been in touch to say they looked at the car when it was offered for sale in Rhuddlan, North Wales in 1982, when it was offered by a member of the local grass track club. He describes it as being dismantled and mid way through the fitting of a Lotus Twin-cam, and having a selection of alloy 7 style bodywork.

 

It sounds like the owner at the time may have bought it  with a view to some cheap sport as an out of date racer, so I imagine probably wouldn't have traveled too far to get it, so maybe it last raced in the same sort of area, but who knows. The chap who contacted me is going to try to recall the details, but after 30 years, I can't remember what I did last week, so it'll maybe be a long shot to get a useful lead from it - a frustrating glimmer of progress!

 

It does tie in with the time and location of the car in the A35 photo though

 

Anyone who happens to know who was buying / selling old race cars in that area in the early '80s, do please get in touch......

 

Al

Edited by Mistron, 22 October 2015 - 20:30.

[Mistron]

Thinking about it today, If the car was offered for sale, and attracted interest both locally, and from the owner of Caterham Midlands, it may well have been advertised wider than just through a local club. Does anyone have 1982 Autosports to hand? It's a shame they don't have them digitised like Motorsport.

 

All I need to find is an advert for a Lotus 7 dismantled project in the Rhyl / Ruddlan area of North Wales. There is a possibility that it may have been with Richard Peacock who now runs a performance driving school at Anglesey circuit and who worked in the Rhyl area at the time.  I've dropped them an email, but an old advert would be great.

 

Al

[Mistron]

Richard Peacock has confirmed it's not a car he has seen before, so if anyone has Autosports from 1982, that's looking like my best bet at the moment.

 

Al

[Mistron]

Almost a milestone today! I received a message from the chap who recals viewing my car when it was offered for sale in Rhuddlan, North Wales in 1982, and he thinks he can recall the name of the guy who offered it for sale!

 

'Little' Dave Evans, son of......... Dave Evans. 

 

 

How hard can it be to find a Dave Evans in Wales?

 

Still, it's better than NOT knowing his name.

 

Al

[Paul Taylor]

Peter Rhodes c.1962 - was this the car sold recently on eBay, or perhaps the one he raced before?

 

[Mistron]

Having made less progress than I'd hoped, and having been offered a fun tin-top I can use on the road, I've listed the project on evil bay. seems old racing cars have no value at this end of the market, so only asking £2250 - roughly the same as required to purchase a rotten to the core Morris Minor, not enough for even  more rotten 1960s mini, and yet it's  real racing car. I really don't understand it

 

Ah well

 

Al