Rare thing - A Clan Crusader

[tonycordon]

I spotted one in Waitrose's car park in Lutterworth a few weeks ago!

[Corpulent Tosser]

Skyedriver said:

So where would a 998 Clan fit in today's Hillclimb classes both in England and the Scottish Championship. I'm thinking road going?

In Scotland it would fit in A7 Classic and Thoroughbred, cars manufactured before 31st Dec 1979.

I was looking at the one at Hexham Horseless Carriages a couple of months ago and thinking about just that class. I bought a Cerbera instead though.

[onomatopoeia]

Kevlardave said:

onomatopoeia said:

Mine:

Took us quite a while to make that shell - no polyester resin or chopped strand mat in it.......!

Epacryn (this is possibly the correct spelling). Dave Weedon did tell me he was constructing shells in alternate materials when he had my five speed in for a complete rebuild over a decade ago. At the time I never imagined I would actually own a Clan at all, never mind one made out of something more exotic than fibreglass, but when it came up for sale I raided the piggybank.

[Skyedriver]

Corpulent Tosser said:

Skyedriver said:

So where would a 998 Clan fit in today's Hillclimb classes both in England and the Scottish Championship. I'm thinking road going?

In Scotland it would fit in A7 Classic and Thoroughbred, cars manufactured before 31st Dec 1979.

I was looking at the one at Hexham Horseless Carriages a couple of months ago and thinking about just that class. I bought a Cerbera instead though.

Thanks CT
Can I ask you another SHCC question please.
Off the top of my head, at Doune, the seem to miss out the up to 1400 class road going. Is there a reason for that.

[Corpulent Tosser]

Skyedriver said:

Thanks CT
Can I ask you another SHCC question please.
Off the top of my head, at Doune, the seem to miss out the up to 1400 class road going. Is there a reason for that.

I don't know, but Lothian Car Club do things a bit different from the rest of the clubs, maybe because they run a round of the British Championship.

I know my son and I were in different classes even though we were in the same car because I had a Nat A licence and he was Nat B.

However, as far as championship points go the up to 1400cc class still applies, so even though a 1400 probably wouldn't win the class on the day championship points according to class (up to 1400) would still be added to the competitors points tally.

I hope that makes sense.

Murray

[dinkel]

The ally Imp screamer was quite an engine. Shame it did not get the recognition it deserved. What was the follow up ... or was it ditched when Hillman went pop?

[Steffan]

dinkel said:

The ally Imp screamer was quite an engine. Shame it did not get the recognition it deserved. What was the follow up ... or was it ditched when Hillman went pop?

The history of the Imp which I am old enough to remember in detail was a classis example of poor development that typified UK motor cars then. The Conventry Climax engine which formed the basis of this engine was an outstanding advanced design at the time. Sadly the position at the rear and using ancillaries which were hopeless when fitted to such an engine resulted in repeated failure of the cooling system and by the time this was sorted the opportunity had gone.

The water pump used was never able to run the engine. I think they were up to the Mk5 pump before any really effective cooling was offered. The whole car was very different from the older Hillmans and by the time the series of inherent weaknesses had been resolved the reputation of the cars had been ruined.

I had several Imps then including three Sunbeam Silettos. I loved them but the damage to the mark was done by then and the cars never achieved their potential. By the time the Chryser takeover occurred the model was beyond recovery. Yet another example of the British car business failing totally to develop the cars before launching the model. Pity, that car really was potentially very good.

[dinkel]

Thanks for the update!

Cooling was a huge problem at the Imp pictured: Snetterton 360 2010.

What happend with the engine development? Was the Cov Climax small four project ditched and long forgotten?

[rallycross]

dinkel said:

Thanks for the update!

Cooling was a huge problem at the Imp pictured: Snetterton 360 2010.

What happend with the engine development? Was the Cov Climax small four project ditched and long forgotten?

That was the end of the line for that motor, when production of the Imp ended it was not carried into any other models (there was not small car in the range) that and the unreliability problems caused by the engine killed it off.

[john2443]

The engine carried on a bit longer in the Chrysler/Talbot Sunbeam.

[rallycross]

john2443 said:

The engine carried on a bit longer in the Chrysler/Talbot Sunbeam.

I never knew it was carried on to the Sunbeam here's some details on the sunbeam 1.0 LS all 928 cc

http://www.imps4ever.info/chrysler/928.html

I learned something new today!

Edited by rallycross on Friday 19th December 12:21

[dinkel]

I found usefull info here:

http://www.houtkamp.nl/lotus-talbot-sunbeam/

[onomatopoeia]

john2443 said:

The engine carried on a bit longer in the Chrysler/Talbot Sunbeam.

And with some conversion work to allow for canted over installation, the 928cc engines make a good basis for a roadgoing Imp, without the expense of the wet liner conversion for 998cc or more.

[velocemitch]

Didn't the Imp Engine find it's way into the Samba, or was that a different little screamer?.


Clan moved over to the Alfa Romeo Boxer engine from the Sud, with the Clan Clover, quite a different proposition.

[rallycross]

velocemitch said:

Didn't the Imp Engine find it's way into the Samba, or was that a different little screamer?.


Clan moved over to the Alfa Romeo Boxer engine from the Sud, with the Clan Clover, quite a different proposition.

Anyone driven a Clan Clover?
I never saw one but remember the article in performance car mag when they launched the new model, the demo car was in White, around 1986 I think?

[rallycross]

another one listed on ebay, race prepared shell, no engine (was running a Honda Blackbird motor)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clan-Crusader-race-car-/...

[eccles]

Why does it have a fridge on the boot lid?

[Steffan]

eccles said:

Why does it have a fridge on the boot lid?

Possibly housing additional pipe work? Obviously a permanent addition. Above the engine therefore presumably mechanical. Never a good looking car IMO. Ntot improved by this addition.

[dryden]

I think the downdraught carbs and air box have something to do with it.

[Steffan]

dryden said:

I think the downdraught carbs and air box have something to do with it.

Indeed. Could well be a Plenium chamber.