21 replies to this topic

[arttidesco]

One of two marques I had never heard of before Race Retro was Bowden.



I have found out a bit about these vehicles from a Motorbase page



but I am wondering if any one knows anything about this particular vehicle which has distinctive markings on the nose



and on the side ?



With all the shiney new replica's on display at the exhibition this vehicle appealed to my purist sensibilities along with the Elva seen on the Race Retro thread and the Mini Marcos on the trailer parked at the entrance to the Exhibition on Friday, unfortunately I have neither the time or space to take on such a project, but I hope whom ever bought the Bowden has fun putting it back together and that we shall see it out on the circuits where it appears to obviously belong soon :-)

Thanking you in anticipation of your responses

[Terry Walker]

A few years back one of the contributers to either UKs Thoroughbred and Classic, or Classic and Sports Cars, was running a Super Two. No doubt someone here will know the car well.

Not the same one, by the way - in the UK, and red. This one you've shown is clearly US by the class painted on the side. Looked the same though.

Edited by Terry Walker, 02 March 2011 - 06:01.

[arttidesco]

A few years back one of the contributers to either UKs Thoroughbred and Classic, or Classic and Sports Cars, was running a Super Two. No doubt someone here will know the car well.

Not the same one, by the way - in the UK, and red. This one you've shown is clearly US by the class painted on the side. Looked the same though.

Thanks Terry I was guessing the letters on the side might have something to do with a US history

[Roy C]

I vaguely remember a couple of rough Super Twos for sale at last year's RaceRetro.

These, I think.

Edited by Roy C, 02 March 2011 - 10:27.

[Leigh Trevail]

I think that I am correct in saying that the origins of the Super Two were in the Hamblyn Cadet. This kit was Austin Seven based; whereas the Super Two was made to take the 1172c.c Ford sv engine.

[arttidesco]

I vaguely remember a couple of rough Super Twos for sale at last year's RaceRetro.

These, I think.

Looks like the trailer in the flickr pic and in my pics might be one and the same, I wonder where the owner keeps finding all these Bowden Super Two's Roy ?

Leigh your information tally's with the Motorbase information thanks

Edited by arttidesco, 02 March 2011 - 12:47.

[Sharman]

I think that I am correct in saying that the origins of the Super Two were in the Hamblyn Cadet. This kit was Austin Seven based; whereas the Super Two was made to take the 1172c.c Ford sv engine.

I am sure you are right, like Topsy it "growed when 1172 racing took over from 750 as a vehicle for invention ACBC Eric Morley(noth the Miss World one ) etc

[Alan Cox]

Its genesis explaned here:
http://www.1950sspec...cessories 1.htm
And one offered by H&H in 2009
http://www.motorbase...by-id/903382230

[arttidesco]

Thanks for the 1950sspecials link Alan

Interesting that your link mentions 200 Super Two's being produced but Motorbase and the vendor of the vehicle at the top of the thread seem to think less than 100 were built !

[bradbury west]

A few years back one of the contributers to either UKs Thoroughbred and Classic, or Classic and Sports Cars, was running a Super Two.

Malcolm McKay, who sold his well-used and documented car last year IIRC.
Roger Lund

[arttidesco]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to today's Bowden Super Two blog

Edited by arttidesco, 03 March 2011 - 12:35.

[Leigh Trevail]

URL=http://img600.imageshack.us/i/hamblyncadet003.jpg/][/URL]


Whilst in the loft of my mates shed today I took the opportunity to photograph this unused Hamblyn Cadet body.

[arttidesco]

URL=http://img600.imageshack.us/i/hamblyncadet003.jpg/][/URL]


Whilst in the loft of my mates shed today I took the opportunity to photograph this unused Hamblyn Cadet body.

Nice find, is your mate ever going to get round to using it ?

[Leigh Trevail]

He made a point of saying that it is not for sale!

[arttidesco]

He made a point of saying that it is not for sale!

Look forward to seeing it on the road soon then

Turns out that I'll probably never own a Super Two either I understand they are not suitable for those of us vertically challenged with a height of over 5'10" :-(

[RTH]

They used to advertise in "Car Mechanics" or "Practical Motorist" magazine in the 1960s

[Marticelli]

I used to own a Hamblyn Cadet bodied Austin Seven special in the early 80s, and to be frank it was a horrible thing, and I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Its one of the few vehicles I ever owned I have absolutely no regrets about selling, and felt lucky to have sold it for what it cost me (175 quid from memory) and relieved to have off-loaded it. I see they are now fetching quite good money but goodness knows how or why... The Bowden has a slightly larger and more robust engine but is in the same 'mould' (almost no pun intended!)...

Marticelli

[RogerFrench]

Can't let Marticelli's comments pass unanswered.

If I've done this right, this is me, in my Hamblin Cadet, New Brighton Autotest 1966 on my way to a class win. I had this car for 12 years or thereabouts and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sharman]

Can't let Marticelli's comments pass unanswered.

If I've done this right, this is me, in my Hamblin Cadet, New Brighton Autotest 1966 on my way to a class win. I had this car for 12 years or thereabouts and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This topic is subjective, at 6'31/2" I would not fit into one. Once. many years ago, when I had more money than sense. i went to buy a Dino. I walked away because I was just too tall. Having said that I must confess to driving a 750 up the Catterick Hill in 1957, we, the car and I did not figure in the results.

[Marticelli]

Can't let Marticelli's comments pass unanswered.

Fair point, Roger... But perhaps I should have said I thought mine was a horrible thing rather than classed them all as horrible. Maybe part of the Cadet's problem was I am six feet tall and it was a squeeze, but that wasn't the main issue. Realistically it had all the disadvantages of an Austin Seven without the charm. Fairly soon, I 'graduated' (if that is the right expression) to Bullnose Morris ownership, and although it had conspicuously less performance than the average Austin Seven, it was an amazingly fun and reliable car which I enjoyed for 15 trouble free years and thousands of miles before selling it as the family had by then outgrown it. I am glad I have moved on to older and more interesting things nowadays

Marticelli

PS I wondered whether you are related to the doyen of Austin Seven enthusiasts, Jack French, which might explain some of your enthusiasm...

[arttidesco]

Can't let Marticelli's comments pass unanswered.

If I've done this right, this is me, in my Hamblin Cadet, New Brighton Autotest 1966 on my way to a class win. I had this car for 12 years or thereabouts and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fab pic, no expense spared on the audio warning device then

[RogerFrench]

Well I'm 6 feet tall as well, and you'll notice that the tail of the Cadet is scalloped a lttle to let me in.
And yes, Jack French was my father.

Fair point, Roger... But perhaps I should have said I thought mine was a horrible thing rather than classed them all as horrible. Maybe part of the Cadet's problem was I am six feet tall and it was a squeeze, but that wasn't the main issue. Realistically it had all the disadvantages of an Austin Seven without the charm. Fairly soon, I 'graduated' (if that is the right expression) to Bullnose Morris ownership, and although it had conspicuously less performance than the average Austin Seven, it was an amazingly fun and reliable car which I enjoyed for 15 trouble free years and thousands of miles before selling it as the family had by then outgrown it. I am glad I have moved on to older and more interesting things nowadays

Marticelli

PS I wondered whether you are related to the doyen of Austin Seven enthusiasts, Jack French, which might explain some of your enthusiasm...