Clan Clover

[TurboClan]

Chris, I remember your Clover, still got it ?. Was a good day at Teeside, until my rear wisbone collapsed. I managed to fix it overnight, at the campsite, ready to compete at a Sprint at Elvington the next day.

Steve, Im now using a Quartermaster alloy 7.25" one with an organic plate. Takes the power,

[auyt]

TheLastPost said:

Yes, the Alfa engine and gearbox are both massively heavier than the Imp units - both engine and gearbox on the Imp are by far the lightest car items I've come across, with the exception of Reliant. The double wishbone front suspension and disc brakes add a chunk to the weight too - the Imp swing axles and drums on the Clan aren't perfect, but they are quite light in comparison. Even that lot wouldn't account for a 190kg weight difference, though.

Edited by TheLastPost on Wednesday 27th February 13:58

I took the pictures of the VOODOO at the Stonleigh Show in 1987 I thought what a pretty thing but had my heart set on a G15, which didnt eventuate sadly

Edited by auyt on Thursday 28th February 07:53

[Steve_D]

TurboClan said:

....Steve, Im now using a Quartermaster alloy 7.25" one with an organic plate. Takes the power,

I have the cover plate that suits the engine we are using. What I'm trying to find is a sprung organic driven plate with the .875" x 10 spline and about 180mm diameter. Could probably manage with 184mm (7.25").
Did you buy yours in from the states or does someone in the UK supply?

Thanks
Steve

[witko999]

I don't have the Clover anymore Eric. I saw it on ebay though quite recently and apparently the buyer has taken it to Germany. From the pictures on ebay it looked pretty much the same as when I sold it.

[ClanClover]

Chris,

You may be interested in this video on youtube, presume it is your old clover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7dsvZ8EtA

Apparently the front wishbones on the Clover were not made in a jig so need a bit of work to set up the front suspension correctly. With the engine being between the driver and the rear wheels the car balance was good but as the rear suspension used the Alfa Sud front suspension it is not the best set-up. Mine had rose-jointed suspension at the back which made a huge difference. Unfortunately I do not have my Clover now.

[auyt]

So from what your saying they made there own front control arms?
Did the car suffer from Bump steer?

[TurboClan]

Steve
Sorry for the delay, I'm using a Helix clutch plate 184mm dia organic one with a solid centre. I was advised that the sprung centre ones only fit certain cover plates.

http://www.helix-autosport.com/racing-clutches/184...

[ClanClover]

auyt said:

So from what your saying they made there own front control arms?
Did the car suffer from Bump steer?

If I remember correctly the front suspension was viva based but the top and bottom wishbones were fabricated in the factory. Can't think where the rack came from.

Keith Bisp produced the racing Clover and so knows more about the suspension and its heritage as he modified his road going Clover after spinning it at Castle Combe.

[Steve_D]

TurboClan said:

Steve
Sorry for the delay, I'm using a Helix clutch plate 184mm dia organic one with a solid centre. I was advised that the sprung centre ones only fit certain cover plates.

http://www.helix-autosport.com/racing-clutches/184...

Thanks for that. Had a chat with a guy at Helix today. He could not have been more helpful or enthusiastic so I'm now well on the way to finding a suitable plate.
Cheers
Steve

[witko999]

ClanClover said:

Chris,

You may be interested in this video on youtube, presume it is your old clover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7dsvZ8EtA

Yes, that is indeed the one that I owned. It looks exactly as it did when I sold it other than the German plates.

[Sonic7]

Interesting, was a great car, even if it was a little small for my frame.

I wonder what ever happened to this one that i built 30 years ago !!! (How time fly's)



nigel

[witko999]

ClanClover said:

If I remember correctly the front suspension was viva based but the top and bottom wishbones were fabricated in the factory. Can't think where the rack came from.

I think that the uprights and upper wishbones were Chevette, as was the steering rack.

[auyt]

The Chevette wich is Isusu based and was sold in Australia as the Holden Gemini which mean there are spares and performance parts still available.

[ClanClover]

witko999 said:

I think that the uprights and upper wishbones were Chevette, as was the steering rack.

Yes you are absolutely correct. I was thinking about the Crusader Disc brake conversion!

[ClanClover12]

I've still got one, but it doesn't get out much, but it was every day for a number of years and I have probably driven over 40,000 miles

I have played the most with the suspension set up, rubber bushes in rear arms could produce a do or die characteristic , fine as long as you never backed down in a corner LOL

So I now have the full adjustment. It was suspected that the factory had in mind to try and do some road rallying, the Chapman strut arrangement at the back had a lot of room to travel. The excess gap above the wheels does affect the appearance of the car but dropping in all a couple of inches it looks great, in a very 80's way but you can go too low with these things it is nice to be able to get the jack under so I raised it a little for road use.

I have got a lot more steering feel with additional camber adjustment at the front end
though it is still very light, especially at speed, may be it needs a splitter like the fastest clover that was developed by K Bisp (see image) who went on to drive Radicals. The 1.6 flat four (bored out) with trick pistons and rods was packing some serious bhp at the wheels may be in the 160-180 range and in a lighted shell this car was making mincemeat out of Ferrari 355's in the auto itallia race series.





So It would make a good track day car with all the suspension wound right down , but the flat for engine and twin dellortos along with the short exhaust system create quite a sonic symphony, the car makes more noise when you lift of the gas! The over run would give any scooby a run for its money.

They are a cracking car , quite surreal in many ways with the compliant suspension settings (a no low profile tyres) its like a miniature GT car so much torque and a flat torque curve any gear will do. And unlike any Alfa Romeo the glass fibre monocoque won't be eaten away.


If anyone has any more questions or is interested in getting there hands on one get in touch

[CorseChris]

I recall a local garage I used to frequent on my days off bought a job-lot of these, probably when Clan went bust?? I helped them sort out a problem with the headlamp lift motors that seemed to plague them all. Don't know what happened to them after they went through the process of being sorted/tidied/MOTed.

[ClanClover12]

Where was that Chris?

Over in N Ireland, where they were originally made.

I'm interested as a few Clovers did end up with Q plates

[CorseChris]

ClanClover12 said:

Where was that Chris?

Over in N Ireland, where they were originally made.

I'm interested as a few Clovers did end up with Q plates

Darkest Worcestershire. Sadly, it was a long time back, and I can't recall if they had even been registered or not.

[ChrisJ.]

CorseChris said:

Darkest Worcestershire. Sadly, it was a long time back, and I can't recall if they had even been registered or not.

Hi Chris,

How's things?

Did Stephen Struthers have one of these?
Or am I getting mixed up?!

[ClanClover12]

There were a few around the Worcestershire Warwickshire area few years back
One was mine a light silver one but I'm east midlands now
The guy running the voodoo did babble at racing one
A red one in Solihull another knocking around in Evesham
I heard tale of one in Droitwitch but never saw it .... though more likely to hear it
not the worlds longest exhaust system ...