27 replies to this topic

[Beech_boy]

Spent a nice afternoon at the (free!) Coventry Transport Museum today, great collection of racers on display, mainly thanks to Martin Stretton Racing



1924 Bentley Tourer



Tyrell P34



1928 Alvis FWD



Two Lea Francis Hyper's - the one on the right won the 1928 Ulster TT



Lotus 20



1955 Maserati 250F



1954 Sunbeam Mk III which competed in the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally



1965 Lola T70



1932 Alvis 12/60

[rdmotorsport]

Nice pics

[Mondiale 41]

I can recommend a trip to Coventry Motor Museum to anyone. It has something for everybody to look at, it also has a nice model and gift shop and best of all, its absolutely free. There are a few donation boxes dotted around though so don't be tight folks!!

Another bonus point is that it is right in the city centre so you can drop the breadknife off at the shops and have 2/3 hours of uninterrupted bliss.....................

Edited by Mondiale 41, 12 July 2009 - 20:07.

[Mark Ballard]

I can recommend a trip to Coventry Motor Museum to anyone. It has something for everybody to look at, it also has a nice model and gift shop and best of all, its absolutely free. There are a few donation boxes dotted around though so don't be tight folks!!

Another bonus point is that it is right in the city centre so you can drop the breadknife off at the shops and have 2/3 hours of uninterrupted bliss.....................

I think the other Lea Francis in your pic is the 1929 Le Mans car which finished 8th (and 1st in class)

[Mark A]

Might take a trip in next weekend, haven't been for a while, looks like there are some interesting cars there at the moment.

[Rob29]

Thanks for that-might be worth a visit.I never imagined that a "transport'museum would contain anything to do with motorsport.

[Bjorn Kjer]

With the transport musum having racing cars , I would be very interested if they had anything on race transporters ? (Sitting in Danmark it is a bit difficult to take a trip around the corner to visit).

[Macca]

Think the Lotus is actually a 24 with BRM V8 engine that Martin races at the Revival.....

Great pics.


Paul M

[Beech_boy]

Rob29, I believe it's marketed as a 'transport' museum because it covers all aspects of road transport - starting off with velocipedes and other bicycles (it has a large collection of bicycles if those are your thing), as well as motorbikes and commercial vehicles, but mostly cars.

Bjorn, unfortunately I didn't see anything on race transporters i'm afraid

[f1steveuk]

I know I shouldn't say this, but.....

The Tyrrell, why spend all that time and effort, and then paint and "sign write" it so inaccurately???

Edited by f1steveuk, 13 July 2009 - 12:13.

[Bjorn Kjer]

Thanks Beech_ Boy.

[Vitesse2]

Thanks for that-might be worth a visit.I never imagined that a "transport'museum would contain anything to do with motorsport.

There's also a large cabinet containing all the Rootes Group's rallying trophies and a small one devoted to the Guild of Motoring Writers, which contains some surprising stuff:

http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=2824653

[Dutchy]

Think the Lotus is actually a 24 with BRM V8 engine that Martin races at the Revival.....

Great pics.


Paul M

It's a 21 surely and would have a four pot Coventry Climax engine.

Edited by Dutchy, 13 July 2009 - 13:02.

[Roger Clark]

It's a 21 surely and would have a four pot Coventry Climax engine.

Looks like 24 front suspension to me.

[David Beard]

Looks like 24 front suspension to me.

Are you sure?

[RA Historian]

What is the s/n and history of the Maserati 250-F, the Lotus 19, and the Lola T-70?

Tom

[David McKinney]

The Maserati is 2522, previously 2523, and before that 2507
It started as the Gilby car 1954 and 1955, then run by the factory with the later numbers in 1956
Centro-Sud 1957-59, then to Brazil

[RA Historian]

The Maserati is 2522, previously 2523, and before that 2507
It started as the Gilby car 1954 and 1955, then run by the factory with the later numbers in 1956
Centro-Sud 1957-59, then to Brazil

Thanks, David.

[Alan Cox]

What is the s/n and history of the Maserati 250-F, the Lotus 19, and the Lola T-70?

Tom

I believe the Lotus 19 is the car owned by Baron Otto Reedtz-Thott since the mid-1990s, which begn life as a UDT-Laystall car 952 and was rebuilt when owned by the Rosebud Team. Any other offers? Mr Oliver where are you?

[Michael Oliver]

I believe the Lotus 19 is the car owned by Baron Otto Reedtz-Thott since the mid-1990s, which begn life as a UDT-Laystall car 952 and was rebuilt when owned by the Rosebud Team. Any other offers? Mr Oliver where are you?

Yes Alan, you are quite correct, it is indeed the ex-Rosebud car, chassis #952, owned by Otto Reedtz-Thott, fitted with a 2-litre Climax engine. Martin Stretton Racing prepares and runs this car on behalf of its owner.

[NanningF1fan]

Two Lea Francis Hyper's - the one on the right won the 1928 Ulster TT

VC5461 is the car in which Kaye Don won the Tourist Trophy. It was then sold in 1931 to Tom Delaney. He competed with it in the first ever car meeting at Donington park in 1933 and raced it continuously until his death quite recently. He was always a character at VSCC races. He and his brother, who was also no spring chicken, prepared the car themselves. Tom was still competitive in handicaps at a right old age. I remember seeing him almost win a race at Silverstone in his 90s.

It is great to know that this legendary car has found such a good home.

Edited by NanningF1fan, 14 July 2009 - 09:23.

[Roger Clark]

The Maserati is 2522, previously 2523, and before that 2507
It started as the Gilby car 1954 and 1955, then run by the factory with the later numbers in 1956
Centro-Sud 1957-59, then to Brazil

How much metal remains from when it ws 2507?

[David McKinney]

I think pretty much everything, except the body, which was replaced in 1956 and again in 1957
Of course what some historic-250F owners do these days is take out the factory-built engine and race with a modern replica

[Barrie Hobkirk]

When I first viewed this 250F in 1992, it had just come out of its restoration by Peter Shaw's Intertech Engineering in Grantham. The car had not run since the early 1960's in South America. During the restoration, Peter told me he had sent the chassis for a sand sweep to remove all the years of rust. He took great care to cover and protect the original 2507 stamping in the chassis tubing. (all the first 250F's had the number stamped in the tubing rather than a removeable plate.) When the chassis returned from this cleaning Peter was livid because the shop had removed the protection and blasted the hell out of the stamping to remove the rust. All Peter could do was apply a thin coat of primer and protect the area again from the thicker enamel coating. I could just make out the 2507 numbers and the rosettes either side.
Since 1992, subsequent owners have had further restorations done with layers of paint and I see little trace of the number today.
A clear case where restoration, instead of preserving history, has destroyed it. Sad.
Cheers,
Barrie

[Roger Clark]

Thank you both. Would it have had a new engine (several?), bigger brakes and (5-speed) gearbox fitted in 1956?

[Peter Morley]

Are you sure?

I think it's the 24 as well.
The steering arm is inline with the rocker on a 24, it is lower on a 21 since that still uses Herald uprights with the steering arm in the original place (unlike a 27).
Also the engine bay frame looks to be V8 style, with two top tubes at each side, as does the exhaust which is very shallow.

[eurocardoc]

i made a point to visit last year to see the Thrust SSC. It was a surprise to find so many other displays. The wartime and british car company exhibits were very interesting. well worth the entry fee! and so easy to get to by road or train.

[Mark A]

I think it's the 24 as well.
The steering arm is inline with the rocker on a 24, it is lower on a 21 since that still uses Herald uprights with the steering arm in the original place (unlike a 27).
Also the engine bay frame looks to be V8 style, with two top tubes at each side, as does the exhaust which is very shallow.

Taken today.