Tandem two seater?

[whitechimp500]

Was discussing with a friend , yesterday, a kit car that we used to see driving round near home.
Can any one tell us what it may have been ?
It had two seats-tandem style- one behind the other.
The body shape was in the same vein as a 50s/60s Formula one but with cycle wings.
The wheels were definately Renault-alloys from a 70,s R5 Gordini (three spoke-three stud).
Im pretty sure the (rear mounted) engine was as 4 cyl Renault unit and was mounted in-line.
Must have been pretty light and seemed to go well.

Any one know what it could have been ?
Thanks.
Darren.

[HiRich]

That's a Rocket. It's not a kit car.

- Designed by Gordon Murray (of Brabham & McLaren fame), partly as a warm-up for starting the McLaren F1 project
- AFAIK the first superbike engined car.
- Weighs 360kg. 60 in 4.4secs, 100 in under 7 (as measured by Autocar)
- Very rare, just 38 produced. Only 14 are running in the UK.
- Check out www.racecar.co.uk/rocket for more information
- Oh, and I've got chassis R032, and it's absolutely stunning to drive!

[HiRich]

The wheels were definately Renault-alloys from a 70,s R5 Gordini (three spoke-three stud).
Im pretty sure the (rear mounted) engine was as 4 cyl Renault unit and was mounted in-line.

Just read this bit. The Rocket used the Yamaha FZR1000 Exup motor, used as a fully stressed member. The wheels are 5-spoke OZ alloys (aftermarket for Golfs), so is this the car you were thinking of? I don't know of any other tandem car (other than the Heinkel bubble car).

[whitechimp500]

Definatly not bike engined-last saw it about 5 years ago-so wahtever it was its probably about 7-10 years old by now.
Were there any kits using R5 Mechaicals ?
Also could have been a complete one-off.
Thinking back-was very similar to Atom shape.

[HiRich]

Could be a Brooke, then:
www.brookecars.co.uk

[Graham.J]

One of these:




That'll be the rocket that took part in the Gumball.

>> Edited by Graham.J on Saturday 18th January 13:45

[grahambell]

As HiRich says, it was probably a Brooke - but not their current car. About 10 years back they did make a model with tandem seating that was based on Renault 5 parts and called the Brooke 245.

Right Ted, where's the anorack smiley? No? Oh well, guess this will have to do.

Looks uncannily like me too...

[whitechimp500]

Thank you grahambell,was starting to think i'd imagined it.
This was most likely a Brooke 245.
Now im getting interested.
Anyone know how many were built?
Ever seen one for sale or owned one?
Were they any good on track?

[grahambell]

Brooke might be able to tell you how many were made, but I doubt it was many and there doesn't seem to be an owners club you can contact for more info either.

If you're interested in buying one your best bet is probably to keep an eye on the classifieds in the kit car mags and visit the 'for sale' stands at the major shows this year. You might get lucky.

[MrGreen158]

[Happy Jim]

MrGreen158 said:

21 years…….best necro post ever!

[dhutch]

It's a bit left field, but an interesting photo none the less.

Also posted here, only two posts the user has made.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[MrGreen158]

dhutch said:

It's a bit left field, but an interesting photo none the less.

Also posted here, only two posts the user has made.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I own the blue one. i was doing some research into the history of the car and came across
this thread. the picture is from a copy of kitcars magazine from 1993 which i found on ebay.

[dhutch]

Oh nice. Very interesting cars.

Have you owned it long?

[MrGreen158]

My Dad bought it in the mid to late eighties i think

I remember sitting behind him as a child and going way
for the day to classic car shows etc
he was the second registered owner i believe after the chap
who built them