35 replies to this topic

[a1topdog]

Does anyone know the fait of the two Team Lotus Marshall bodied Ford Thames transporters , registration numbers 428 VRO and 429 VRO?

I recently asked Bob Dance about them and he is not sure of what happened to them , but he seems to recall they cost £6000 each new , which was fair sum back then.

[rhegra]

...one of it in later days?

[a1topdog]

Great period photo - thanks for posting it.

[Mr Plug]

Originally posted by rhegra
...one of it in later days?

I just had a brief image of the late, great 'Yogi' Muir's spirit laughing his head off at the thought of his Capri being described as a Thames transporter!

[sterling49]

Originally posted by rhegra
...one of it in later days?

I saw "Yogi" race this car, amongst many others, what a great car the Capri was (although I understand that many drivers did not like it's "wayward handling", John Fitzpatrick being one).How times change, the local factory that made NCR paper, has just announced closure.

[Mr Plug]

Originally posted by sterling49


I saw "Yogi" race this car, amongst many others, what a great car the Capri was (although I understand that many drivers did not like it's "wayward handling", John Fitzpatrick being one).How times change, the local factory that made NCR paper, has just announced closure.

With sincere apologies to a1topdog for the derail!

The year that was taken, Wiggins Teape sponsored the British Saloon Car Championship; that followed a successful previous year's sponsorship of Brian's Camaro, and the Capri was called the Pacemaker because Wiggins Teape expected him to be 'the hare', or pacesetter. Brian was always there or thereabouts, if not a regular winner, and the car was beautifully prepared and presented, fast, and driven with the usual Muir brio! As he was running the Champion engine dyno facility at the time, it was expected he would use their plugs; as Ford had a lot of interest in the car, it was expected he would use Motorcraft....and it certainly bore their decals!

I think the folically challenged guy is Brian's mechanic whose name was (IIRC) Ted Grace. It may be Brian in the red jacket, but I am not certain; he looks a little short, but then, I'm a bit short of memory...!!

[a1topdog]

Does anyone else have anymore period shots of these two transporters that could share with us?

[clarko1230]

Here is another one (partial) from guards trophy race

[Peter Darley]

Originally posted by Mr Plug



I think the folically challenged guy is Brian's mechanic whose name was (IIRC) Ted Grace. It may be Brian in the red jacket, but I am not certain; he looks a little short, but then, I'm a bit short of memory...!!

Correct with the late Ted Grace. The person in the red jacket is Pat Salter, the other mechanic. They are talking to the guys from AVJ Racing, who also were based at Pershore

[Peter Darley]

Originally posted by a1topdog
Does anyone else have anymore period shots of these two transporters that could share with us?

You could do worse than to buy a copy of my book(if you can find one), plenty of shots there, along with other transporters of that period.

Peter Darley

Jim Clark - Life at Team Lotus.

[Michael Oliver]

Originally posted by clarko1230
Here is another one (partial) from guards trophy race

Edit: well great minds, eh?! It seems Peter beat me to it while I was leafing through his book...

There is a great shot of both these transporters on p125 of Peter Darley's book, "Jim Clark: Life at Team Lotus", also a part view behind Sir John Whitmore and his wife on p141, part view again on p145, a whole page devoted to them (including internal shots) on p148, another part shot on p149, a good shot of one of them decanting a Lotus-Cortina on p165, possibly another on p193.

As you might guess, I would heartily recommend that you get a copy of this fabulous book...although you may struggle as there may not be many copies in circulation now, I think they were down to the last hundred or so in February this year.

I notice that you have colour paddock shots from the 1965 Guards Trophy. I don't suppose you happened to snap the Mecom Racing Team Lotus 19, entered for Walt Hansgen to drive, car no 9? It would have been light metallic blue with a white stripe.

Michael

[Michael Oliver]

Incidentally, Peter, you were at the Guards Trophy 65, don't suppose you got any shots of Hansgen?

Michael

[bradbury west]

[i]Originally posted by Peter Darley
Correct with the late Ted Grace. ]

Was that the same Ted Grace who raced one of the first 1,000cc Ginetta G4s so very effectively in the early 60s?
Roger Lund

[Gil Bouffard]

When I was doing my saunter around the paddock at the Monterey Historics at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca I spied the original SCARAB transporter that Lance Reventlow used to haul his Grand Prix cars around Europe. It was headed for the Concourse with a brace of GP cars and one (IRRC) of the sports cars. The bloody thing was well turned out and spiffy. Didn't have a camera or a camera phone handy and I haven't seen any shots of the thing anywhere. I was visiting with John Fitch at the time and I didn't want to leave.

I own the video collection "A Gentleman's Motor Racing Diary," filmed by John Tate and there are many shots of contemporary transporters. Stirling's transporter, The Aston Martin team as they prepare to go to the 1956 Nurburgring in their AEC Transporter, Rob Walker's garages and a trip in his transporter. Great stuff!

Gil Bouffard

[Michael Oliver]

Please ignore my earlier request for photos from the 65 Guards Trophy race, I actually need them from '64.

Too early in the morning and I should learn to check my facts before fingers connect with keyboard

Now, back to transporters...

Michael

[Bjorn Kjer]

Gil what year are you talking about ? Camera phone handys did not exist in 1960 !

[a1topdog]

Originally posted by Michael Oliver


Edit: well great minds, eh?! It seems Peter beat me to it while I was leafing through his book...

There is a great shot of both these transporters on p125 of Peter Darley's book, "Jim Clark: Life at Team Lotus", also a part view behind Sir John Whitmore and his wife on p141, part view again on p145, a whole page devoted to them (including internal shots) on p148, another part shot on p149, a good shot of one of them decanting a Lotus-Cortina on p165, possibly another on p193.

As you might guess, I would heartily recommend that you get a copy of this fabulous book...although you may struggle as there may not be many copies in circulation now, I think they were down to the last hundred or so in February this year.

I notice that you have colour paddock shots from the 1965 Guards Trophy. I don't suppose you happened to snap the Mecom Racing Team Lotus 19, entered for Walt Hansgen to drive, car no 9? It would have been light metallic blue with a white stripe.

Michael

Peter / Michael - I do already have a copy of the book , and it is now fully signed by all of the speakers at the Jim Clark Film Festival Great book , excellent for reference and has already helped me settle a couple of minor disagreements!! If anyone is having trouble finding a copy then contact Club Lotus as they were selling a copy (for £75) a couple of weeks ago at the Team Lotus open day.

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
Gil what year are you talking about ? Camera phone handys did not exist in 1960 !

Obviously Gil is refering to a more recent event at the "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca". I am sure it wasn't called that back in the 1960s!

[Bjorn Kjer]

Right there Steve.

Then please let me point out that the original open Scarab transporter does not exist anymore .

And Gil , we have a large transporter thread where you can find it and others , just use the searchBB on the top right screen and type : Transporters

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Michael Oliver
Incidentally, Peter, you were at the Guards Trophy 65, don't suppose you got any shots of Hansgen?

Michael

I have not found my programmes yet, but I have a faint recollection that Walt was in a McLaren in '65?

[raceannouncer2003]

Originally posted by Gil Bouffard
When I was doing my saunter around the paddock at the Monterey Historics at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca I spied the original SCARAB transporter that Lance Reventlow used to haul his Grand Prix cars around Europe. It was headed for the Concourse with a brace of GP cars and one (IRRC) of the sports cars. The bloody thing was well turned out and spiffy. Didn't have a camera or a camera phone handy and I haven't seen any shots of the thing anywhere. I was visiting with John Fitch at the time and I didn't want to leave.
Gil Bouffard

Photo by Mike Currie



Vince H.

[Bjorn Kjer]

"A" Scarab transporter , not THE ex Scarab transporter!

[Gil Bouffard]

A Scarab–The Scarab Transporter. I was talking with the guy who drove it and he gave me the impression that it was THE Scarab transporter rebuilt...It is still a pretty nifty looking rig.

Gil

[Bjorn Kjer]

Not really belonging on this thread , but since the reaction to my comment came here (no reaction on the transporter thread) :

It is the transporter with the most illustrous carreer of all having had between a half and a full dozen of colours, owners or team services ( plus the Le Mans film)since it started out . To cap it short :

1960 Fiat based build by Bartoletti for Reventlows Scarab F1 effort ( with 2 axles)

1964 Modified with a 3rd axle for Cobra/Ford transports

1970's early , taken over by JCBamford and modified with a new Leyland drive line

2008 A fantastic restauration/rebuild of the ex JCB car being a combination of the above.

[eldougo]

Twinney .
Could This be in the Transporter Thread..


Thanks Doug

Edited by eldougo, 24 April 2011 - 05:42.

[colinsays]

One of the Ford Thames ex Team Lotus with Alan Mann livery

Has someone photos of the one with GLTL or JPS liveries?

[Myhinpaa]

Reposting this photo, since the ones at the start of the thread have all disappeared....

 

 

https://www.flickr.c...in/photostream/

 

 

 

https://live.staticf...19da0a238_w.jpg

 

Matcbox made a "SWB" version inspired by this type of  transporter, with BP livery.

 

 

https://matchbox.fan...ansporter_(K-5)

 

 

 

 

Edited by Myhinpaa, 08 November 2023 - 12:18.

[colinsays]

https://ibb.co/txdfcG9

 

Mallory Park 1971

[colinsays]

Alongside Barber´s Lotus 62

 

 

Edited by colinsays, 23 November 2023 - 11:11.

[Lee Nicolle]

Alongside Barber´s Lotus 62

 

 

Bloody hell, that is unsafe standing still! Lets say 900kilo car on a very basic single axle trailer. 4 stud hubs so no doubt light car hubs and probably tyres as well.

And the wagon it is hooked too is dragging its bum on the ground.

[Roryswood]

Trying to read the team name on the box trailer in the background ,appears to be F3 team

[GTMRacer]

Trying to read the team name on the box trailer in the background ,appears to be F3 team

Looks like Haj Haj Racing? 

https://www.racingye...Haj Racing Team

[9203RW]

Looks like Haj Haj Racing? 

https://www.racingye...Haj Racing Team

 

That fits - Croft, 10th July 1971.  Trevor Taylor down to drive Chris Barber's Lotus 62, Freddy Kottulinsky a Lotus 69 in the Forward Trust F3 race.

[Roryswood]

Many thanks great work

[RTH]

Bloody hell, that is unsafe standing still! Lets say 900kilo car on a very basic single axle trailer. 4 stud hubs so no doubt light car hubs and probably tyres as well.

And the wagon it is hooked too is dragging its bum on the ground.

Very common at the time .

[Lee Nicolle]

Very common at the time .

And even 50 years later still very dangerous. And the car would be worth a good value so to lose it with  trailer accident would be even more dumb.