12 replies to this topic

[275 GTB-4]

Interesting car on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com....1QQcmdZViewItem

1962 J&S Hunter Holden Coupe 179

This exciting car was made in 1962 and has an extensive racing history in the hands of the original owner builder, Ian Hindmarsh from 1962 to 1966. It was used as a road car by several owners, including the originator Jeff Simmons of J&S fibreglass, then I purchased the car in 1990. It has been extensively rebuilt and developed as a race and rally car in my hands as I raced it from 1992 to 1996 in historic racing. It currently holds the lap record in its class at Lakeside Qld.. It is faithful to it's period specification with a fresh 179 (2950cc with 256 bhp and 200 ft/lbs torque) engine with triple 2" SUs. Needham MG Close ratio gearbox with straight cut gears, oil cooler, original period power disc brake conversion, original Detroit Locker LSD, full roll cage, race harness, alloy radiator, electric water pump, fully adjustable shocks. The car weighs only 900 kg (wet) and has the same power to weight ration as a D-type Jaguar. With current gearing it can pull 7000 rpm in top which equates to over 150 mph. It is shod with Advans and new "Performance" alloy wheels - 15x6 at front and 15X7 at rear. It is CAMS log booked as a Group M Sports Car.

Spare parts inventory consists of
Spare Body shell
179 race engine in good order complete from clutch to triple 1.75" SUs
Holden differential
Original radiator
4 more 15" x 6" Performance wheels with road tyres
4 more14" x 6" alloy wheels
4 more 13" x 6" steel wheels with period hubcaps
Raced in my hands at Oran Park, Wakefield Park, Lakeside, Phillip Island, Eastern Creek, Mallala & competed in the Grand Prix Rally, Repco Mountain Rally, Classic Adelaide and others.

During the 1960s, it held records at Castlereagh Drag Strip and various hillclimbs with class FTD. It was raced at Mount Panorama (timed at 125 mph on Conrod Straight) Oran Park, Mallala and Warwick Farm. Initially fitted with a Holden "Grey" motor of 2.6 litres, it was fitted with a 179 engine in 1965. I have a file about 10" thick consisting of race records, period photographs and road tests of this very car by motoring luminaries such as David McKay. The car features in "Holden - The Official Racing History" by S. Wilson, pages 130-131. This is a very well documented sports car and a small piece of Australian motoring history that could be used in a host of high profile events.

There were 20 cars built by J&S Fibreglass in the 1960s. This is chassis number PRH/005. There were 3 cars raced including this car and PRH/007 which is in Echuca . Two cars were fitted with Jaguar engines and they both still exist in NSW. I am aware of at least 7 survivors to date up to chassis number PRH/018. In its present form the Hunter is a very powerful well sorted car for its day. As it is well documented and is one of a series, it is eligible for numerous classic race events such as Classic Adelaide, Targa Tasmania & suchlike (subject to current event regulations) as a modified series production sports car

See http://www.jaguarent...Classifieds.htm for a few more pictures.

[Ray Bell]

I guess it must have got one of the prototype 179 engines from GM-H on trial?

1962 is just a little while before the red motor went into production. The Hunters had grey motors initially.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
I guess it must have got one of the prototype 179 engines from GM-H on trial?

1962 is just a little while before the red motor went into production. The Hunters had grey motors initially.

Speed reading and typing without thinking again Ray???

Quote from above:

During the 1960s, it held records at Castlereagh Drag Strip and various hillclimbs with class FTD. It was raced at Mount Panorama (timed at 125 mph on Conrod Straight) Oran Park, Mallala and Warwick Farm. Initially fitted with a Holden "Grey" motor of 2.6 litres, it was fitted with a 179 engine in 1965.

[Ray Bell]

Just a quick quote from the title of this thread:

"1962 J&S Hunter Holden Coupe 179"

Y'know, Mick, you don't have to be at war with me... and I hadn't been able to load up the eBay item before I responded.

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Just a quick quote from the title of this thread:

"1962 J&S Hunter Holden Coupe 179"

Y'know, Mick, you don't have to be at war with me... and I hadn't been able to load up the eBay item before I responded.

War is such a strong word....I think you are reading far too much into what I have written....to parry, your words often manage to stir people up.....which is a pity as your posts are usually encyclopedic and appreciated

[seldo]

Don't feel bad Ray - even I made a mistake once...but I was wrong, because I was actually right...

[Catalina Park]

Hey Seldo, it seem lately that every time I pick up a book or magazine from the 60s, 70s and 80s I find your name. Are you following me? You sure did get around.

[275 GTB-4]

[seldo]

Originally posted by Catalina Park
Hey Seldo, it seem lately that every time I pick up a book or magazine from the 60s, 70s and 80s I find your name. Are you following me? You sure did get around.

You must have a very small collection of mags...;) I think I just dragged it out over a long time...

[seldo]

Originally posted by 275 GTB-4

Isn't it funny how one's tastes change over time...I can recall at one stage in my life as a young bloke thinking that the Hunter was just the best looking thing I'd ever seen....but now it leaves me quite ...umm.....unimpressed..

[PJT318]

Hi to all on this thread,
GTB you may have been in touch with my brother Mark or vica versa.

My brother had two of these in our parents place in Strathfield.

One IIRC was an unfinished project purchased somewhere from South of Sydney i think.
this was modified with a CAMM type rear tail and had a rear window treatment a la bolwell MK7.
This was sitting upon a 68-69 toyota crown chassis.
Bought around 83-84.

I think sometime around 85-86 the second hunter was purchased from Jeff Simmonds factory on parramtta Rd five dock and was a display vehicle that was on the factory awning outside for a number of years.
This one had been on the road for a while until jeff retrived it.
This one IIRc was burgundy in colour and had been built with Citroen FWdrive stuff.
These two sat outside in the weather for a while in the front yard on Homebush Rd.

They had since been purchased by a fellow from lake macquarie whom had house boats for hire.

I turned up one afternoon after work to find the street and driveway full of race car trailers loaded to the hilt with hunter bodies and chassis.
I think Mr paul Samuals had his Lotus trailer there full of stuff to help take it all up to lake Macquarie.

Can any one shed more light on what happened to these two cars??

Peter

[275 GTB-4]

Originally posted by PJT318
Hi to all on this thread,
GTB you may have been in touch with my brother Mark or vica versa.

My brother had two of these in our parents place in Strathfield.

One IIRC was an unfinished project purchased somewhere from South of Sydney i think.
this was modified with a CAMM type rear tail and had a rear window treatment a la bolwell MK7.
This was sitting upon a 68-69 toyota crown chassis.
Bought around 83-84.

I think sometime around 85-86 the second hunter was purchased from Jeff Simmonds factory on parramtta Rd five dock and was a display vehicle that was on the factory awning outside for a number of years.
This one had been on the road for a while until jeff retrived it.
This one IIRc was burgundy in colour and had been built with Citroen FWdrive stuff.
These two sat outside in the weather for a while in the front yard on Homebush Rd.

They had since been purchased by a fellow from lake macquarie whom had house boats for hire.

I turned up one afternoon after work to find the street and driveway full of race car trailers loaded to the hilt with hunter bodies and chassis.
I think Mr paul Samuals had his Lotus trailer there full of stuff to help take it all up to lake Macquarie.

Can any one shed more light on what happened to these two cars??

Peter

Welcome PJT318....sorry, not guilty, just found the car whilst trolling eBay...I probably saw it race in the period but don't remember (when are they going to produce a back-up for our memories!!).

Would love to hear more about the cars and maybe see some pictures??...Paul Samuels can be contacted easily through this forum...Cheers, Mick

[snico]

hi,
just trolling thro rhe internet and found this. may have been a few years ago this was posted, but if you are still around i visited your brother in strathfield at the time. i had just bought a hunter from cremourne and was restoring it with the help of jeff simmonds. i still have the ol girl a has served me very well with a few interstate trips(live in w.a now). as far as i am aware the guy in newcastle still has the hunter your brother had. i , incedently have the only mould left- a bonnet mould. all the others were thrown out to the tip when jeff sold the buisseness-peaved me off as the moulds where ment to go to me but i got there to late.

Hi to all on this thread,
GTB you may have been in touch with my brother Mark or vica versa.

My brother had two of these in our parents place in Strathfield.

One IIRC was an unfinished project purchased somewhere from South of Sydney i think.
this was modified with a CAMM type rear tail and had a rear window treatment a la bolwell MK7.
This was sitting upon a 68-69 toyota crown chassis.
Bought around 83-84.

I think sometime around 85-86 the second hunter was purchased from Jeff Simmonds factory on parramtta Rd five dock and was a display vehicle that was on the factory awning outside for a number of years.
This one had been on the road for a while until jeff retrived it.
This one IIRc was burgundy in colour and had been built with Citroen FWdrive stuff.
These two sat outside in the weather for a while in the front yard on Homebush Rd.

They had since been purchased by a fellow from lake macquarie whom had house boats for hire.

I turned up one afternoon after work to find the street and driveway full of race car trailers loaded to the hilt with hunter bodies and chassis.
I think Mr paul Samuals had his Lotus trailer there full of stuff to help take it all up to lake Macquarie.

Can any one shed more light on what happened to these two cars??

Peter