21 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

Just going through images in my archive and have come across a single negative that features a paddock shot of a single seater that has an 'Arden' badge on the nose. I have absolutely no info about the where/when/what for on the picture.
It looks mid 60s and isn't an F1 car, so maybe an F2 or F3? It has no wings. Obviously this isn't related to the Arden International team. Would anyone have any info on the company or the car? Thanks indeed.

[Derwent Motorsport]

Jim Whitehouse of Arden made engine conversions for A series engine and ran successful Minis in the 60s.  You can even get a Scalextric one!   he did race others cars, perhaps it was a FJ with an Arden A series engine? 

[Gary C]

Could be!

[Rupertlt1]

Arden Conversions, Tanworth-in-Arden, Solihull, Warks. Wythall 3368.

 

R. Hickman with the Arden 1500, sprinting in the Midlands, also Steve Neal at B.A.R.C. Wellesbourne, 7 July 1962:

"a most convincing B.T.D. over the one-mile-plus course was eventually to go to Steve Neal who on his first really successful outing with the attractive new 1½-litre Arden-Ford, apparently made a nonsense of a gearchange and spoilt one run, and then went out again to record a shattering 39.4 secs., no other car managing to break 40 seconds during the day."

 

NATALIE GOODWIN now offers her successful Lotus Seven fitted with outstandingly reliable Arden-Ford 1,100 c.c. engine. Maintained regardless of expense and ready to race. £520 o.n.o.

 

Graham Eden, Equipe Arden Lotus-Climax.

 

"Graham Eden has his Arden-engined flat-four F1 Cooper" — Snetterton, 14 July 1963.

 

BLMC fought back in 1969 with Irishman Alec Poole's 1-litre Equipe Arden Mini snatching the title.

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 January 2023 - 00:16.

[Gary C]

Excellent, thanks for the replies, guys.

[BRG]

"Graham Eden has his Arden-engined flat-four F1 Cooper" — Snetterton, 14 July 1963.

[Collombin]

The legendary Arden of Eden.

[Rupertlt1]

 

I thought that might wake somebody up — quote from Autosport, 12 July 1963, Page 45.

 

See also: https://library.revs...ring-cars/11461

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 January 2023 - 11:35.

[Rupertlt1]

You can read about the Arden of Eden here:

 

https://www.oldracin...com/cooper/t53/

 

Could the photograph be based on a Cooper FJ?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 January 2023 - 13:05.

[D-Type]

Is this the same Arden as the maker of the 1958 Arden-Climax 1100cc sports car?

[BRG]

So, this 1475cc  AJB Arden engine was a flat-four?

Edited by BRG, 31 January 2023 - 16:51.

[Rupertlt1]

So, this 1475cc  AJB Arden engine was a flat-four?

 

The AJB bit stands for Archibald James Butterworth.

 

RGDS RLT

[RAP]

I believe that the Arden of Steve Neal was a modified Kieft FJ.

 

The Graham Eden Cooper-Arden F1 never appeared in Formula 1. It entered many Formule Libre races but actual races are very hard to establish.

 

see "European Formule Libre 1962-66" by Formula One Register

www.formulaoneregister.com/product/formule-libre-europe-1962-66

[Rupertlt1]

The Cooper-Arden was, as indicated above, entered at Snetterton, 14 July 1963.
It was #15 (with thanks to Leigh Trevail).
The intriguing question is what does the photograph show in a paddock long ago?

RGDS RLT

[RobMk2a]

JM Whitehouse Arden Special 750cc 19th Sept 1953 Silverstone, Chris Summers also raced the Arden Austin in 1954. 

 

Arden Ford in 2nd July 1955 at Oulton Park 1st ahead of Lotus VI. 

 

Crystal Palace 26th May 1958 Arden Climax 

 

Mallory Park 26th May 1958 Arden Racing and Sports Cars entered John Lawry's 2nd Pre Production Lotus Elite but did not race 

 

Chris Summers raced Equipe Arden Cooper Climax 2nd August 1959 Mallory Park. 

 

Chris Summers Lotus Elite O 606 was also entered by Equipe  Arden for the 1960 season (First in the Autosport Championship). 

 

Chris Summers TVR Grantura (ent by Oakes Richards) had an Arden tuned MG engine in 1961. 

 

P McNally also raced an Elite for Arden Racing & Sports Cars Limited. 

 

Roger Nathan's Elite was Arden tuned. 

[dgs]

26th May 1958 Crystal Palace.

Details of race from  'A Record of Motor Racing at Crystal Palace, Volume 1- Richard Page

 

Sports Cars up to 1100cc, Heat 2  (10 laps)

No 71 Chris Summers , Arden Climax  (OF 6427)  Grid 6th, Result, 1st, 10 laps, 12'17.6"  - 67.85mph

 

Sports Cars up to 1100cc Final (15 laps)

No 71 Chris Summers, Arden Climax  (OF 6427), Grid 7th, Result, 10th, 17'32.6" 

[Cirrus]

Here's the picture to which Gary was referring...

 

Edited by Cirrus, 02 February 2023 - 22:52.

[Gary C]

Thanks indeed for posting the pictures, Alan.

[Rupertlt1]

Does this photo come from a reel or set? Any clues in associated pics as to location?

Is it a Kieft FJ?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 03 February 2023 - 10:01.

[BRG]

No idea where that shot was taken, but the little marker pegs in the background hint at a temporary location where the organisers have allocated a space for each car.  So maybe a sprint somewhere?

[Roger Clark]

The suspension looks like a Kieft FJ.

[Gary C]

The picture is a one off.