15 replies to this topic

[Gerard Gamand]

Here is a pic of a very curious Formula libre : the Kingcraft

The car was drived by Darlington at Snetterton in 1966. I believe the chassis was designed by Len Terry and the engine was nothing more than a Ford V8 4,7 liters direct from a Cobra.

Who know more about this car ?

[Gav Astill]

No doubt there will be more learned replies to this, but this is the famous (in England at least) Kincraft (not KinGcraft), considered by some to the the grandfather of F5000.

Actually built as a libre car (driven by Jim Moore amongst others), it appeared sporadically in F5000 as late as 1972 at Nivelles in the hands of one Max Reinhard, by which time it was really obsolete.

[Vitesse2]

Not Kingcraft, but Kincraft, Gerard. You'll find lots about it here:

http://forums.autosp...&threadid=75690

[Gav Astill]

Or this on Ten-Tenths;

http://www.ten-tenth...ead.php?t=32026

[Gerard Gamand]

the poor frenchman is confused !
Sorry for the name and many thanks to all

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Gav Astill
No doubt there will be more learned replies to this, but this is the famous (in England at least) Kincraft (not KinGcraft), considered by some to the the grandfather of F5000.

Actually built as a libre car (driven by Jim Moore amongst others), it appeared sporadically in F5000 as late as 1972 at Nivelles in the hands of one Max Reinhard, by which time it was really obsolete.

The Kincraft used to race at Brands regularly and was very fast indeed, like a mid '60's F5000 car, IIRC it was white/Gold?

[Allen Brown]

A very remarkable car.

The UK libre scene was thriving in the mid to late-1960s and yet this was by far the most successful libre car of 1966 ... and of 1967 ... and of 1968!

Builder Jack Pearce won first time out at Snetterton on 27 June 1965 but the car was then involved in the accident that killed Adam Wyllie at Dunboyne and Pearce didn't circuit race again. John Hine then won his only race in it at Brands Hatch on 28 November 1965 and then David Bridges tried it early in 1966 before handing it on to Robin Darlington.

Darlington won virtually every race he started in 1966 until he crashed at Oulton Park on 20 August. The car passed to Jim Moore for 1967 and he also won virtually every race he started from Feb 1967 until October 1968. It was then absent from racing for 1969, 1970 and much of 1971 before being raced by Max Reinhardt late 1971 and 1972 and then by Ian Stronach in 1973 and 1974. Its last known libre win - some say its 70th, I can count 56 - came at Oulton Park 31 Mar 1973.

In hindsight, its extraordinary that only one single-seater Kincraft was ever built.

Allen

[Gary C]

And of course, the burning question is, where is it now??

[Andrew Kitson]

Roger Cowman sold it on about 3 or 4 years ago. No idea who to.
It was always red in colour. Remember it well with Jim Moore at the wheel
winning Libre races with ease at Snetterton.
The other Kincraft, the Group 5(?) sportscar, is in the US. Owned by Richard Blenko.

[Pete Stowe]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
It was always red in colour.

Not always, Andrew. In the latter part of 1967 it was white with a blue stripe.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Pete Stowe

Not always, Andrew. In the latter part of 1967 it was white with a blue stripe.

I would not swear on it, but I am sure it was white with a gold stripe when I saw it at Brands.

[Andrew Kitson]

I never saw it in other colours, it was back to a dark red in 1968 when I saw Jim Moore with it several times. Perhaps it had to be re-painted so often or new bodywork made after the shunts!

[Squire Straker]

The Kincraft was white with a pale blue stripe when Jim Moore raced it at Phoenix Park in September 1967, remember it well. The car raced on the Saturday but the heavens opened on the Sunday and Moore did not have rain tyres. He retired to the beer tent after a couple of scary laps.
SS

[Gerard Gamand]

Any color picture for the pleasure ?

[Alan Cox]

Sold at yesterday's Goodwood sale

http://www.bonhams.c.../21906/lot/312/

[eldougo]

Jack Pearce sold the car to David Bridges of Manchester for 1966, who took a 2nd and 3rd place in it

before selling it on to Welsh farmer Robin Darlington, who promptly won no fewer than 18 races with the increasingly charismatic car.

In effect a Formula 5000 design before its time..........Great news" Kingcraft" the 1st F5000 .....