Update on which 7?
Discussion
Ok, my search for another 7 has been quite productive lately and I have definitely narrowed it down to 2 particular cars. There really isn't much around at the moment though, is there?
First up is a Freestyle Duratec, 260bhp Minister 2.3, slightly scruffy, looks like it was left wet for a while as chassis isn't immaculate, and some castings in the engine bay are a bid corroded. Nothing other than cosmetic stuff but I hate seeing bolts with rusty surfaces. Anyway, awesome car, looks fab on its extra wide track and is quite unique. Roller barel throttle bodies induced lots of low speed jerking but I've heard that can be corrected. This car would be great for touring and track days alike and would be very useable. No carbon, just grip wings and nose.
Next up is a completely different car, a genuine HPC with Swindon 218 engine on 48 Webers. It's old school but has immense charm and still pretty quick. It had a fouled plug on the test drive, which caused hesitation and was running very rich. The chassis is very clean and it's on the later style with central handbrake. It has roll cage, straight cut Quaiffe box and tillets and was well set up as I don't remember my old HPC's riding as well as this did. This car would be great for a Sunday blat but my concern is that it won't get on any UK track days due to noise. It didn't seem overly noisy but I think it would still struggle.
Bell housing had tiny crack but hopefully this can be welded and somehow didn't seem to be in a stressed area. At nearly half the price of the Freestyle car, it seemed good value and I reckon HPCs are a good investment. I'm guessing very thirsty though.
So ther we are, a real dilemma, I really am split between the two. If I could be sure of getting the HPC on a Brands track day a couple of times a year, I'd have it but if not, the lure of an efficient modern Duratec with all the fancy bits is quite strong.
First up is a Freestyle Duratec, 260bhp Minister 2.3, slightly scruffy, looks like it was left wet for a while as chassis isn't immaculate, and some castings in the engine bay are a bid corroded. Nothing other than cosmetic stuff but I hate seeing bolts with rusty surfaces. Anyway, awesome car, looks fab on its extra wide track and is quite unique. Roller barel throttle bodies induced lots of low speed jerking but I've heard that can be corrected. This car would be great for touring and track days alike and would be very useable. No carbon, just grip wings and nose.
Next up is a completely different car, a genuine HPC with Swindon 218 engine on 48 Webers. It's old school but has immense charm and still pretty quick. It had a fouled plug on the test drive, which caused hesitation and was running very rich. The chassis is very clean and it's on the later style with central handbrake. It has roll cage, straight cut Quaiffe box and tillets and was well set up as I don't remember my old HPC's riding as well as this did. This car would be great for a Sunday blat but my concern is that it won't get on any UK track days due to noise. It didn't seem overly noisy but I think it would still struggle.
Bell housing had tiny crack but hopefully this can be welded and somehow didn't seem to be in a stressed area. At nearly half the price of the Freestyle car, it seemed good value and I reckon HPCs are a good investment. I'm guessing very thirsty though.
So ther we are, a real dilemma, I really am split between the two. If I could be sure of getting the HPC on a Brands track day a couple of times a year, I'd have it but if not, the lure of an efficient modern Duratec with all the fancy bits is quite strong.
What other bits does the HPC have on it. Is it wide track? Re. the crack in the bellhousing, is it a normal housing or dry sump tank.
I bought a 218 a few years back and really enjoyed renewing it to showroom condition, especially it's engine bay. It was already wide tracked and I put it on a diet..........junking the heater and other heavy none needed bits. Put lighter wheels on it, carbon seats and wings and had the inlet matched and smoothed and machined, that was a super mod.
I was running one of Racecos big boxes on it and exhaust was amazingly quiet. However the Swindon cams do assist in the thing making a racket as soon as 3,500 is hit, mine too had the Quaiffe S/C box.
In all, just as quick as my previous R400 K but to me a far better soundrack with the S/C BOX and very mechanical, overlapping induction noise.
I never used this particular car on track, but sold it to a guy on BC who campaigns it regularly. No probs at Oulton and he reckoned it quieter than his previous 1800 x/flow screamer.
I bought a 218 a few years back and really enjoyed renewing it to showroom condition, especially it's engine bay. It was already wide tracked and I put it on a diet..........junking the heater and other heavy none needed bits. Put lighter wheels on it, carbon seats and wings and had the inlet matched and smoothed and machined, that was a super mod.
I was running one of Racecos big boxes on it and exhaust was amazingly quiet. However the Swindon cams do assist in the thing making a racket as soon as 3,500 is hit, mine too had the Quaiffe S/C box.
In all, just as quick as my previous R400 K but to me a far better soundrack with the S/C BOX and very mechanical, overlapping induction noise.
I never used this particular car on track, but sold it to a guy on BC who campaigns it regularly. No probs at Oulton and he reckoned it quieter than his previous 1800 x/flow screamer.
Yes, if the basics are there then it's well worth spending a bit of time and a few bob getting it back into shape. Like you I've had a fair amount of 7's now, and the old 218 was probably the best all rounder I've owned, and one of the cheapest.
As you say, it coupled old school with bomb proof reliability and a turn of pace to go with it. And yes I do regret selling now, simply a car you could jump in at any time and use without worry......ie not a fortune tied up in it but a gem none the less.
My only worry with it was its hydraulic clutch that the dry sump system dictated it have. If I'd have kept it I'd have gone cable, which I assume your possible purchase is.
Here's mine the week I put it up for sale.
As you say, it coupled old school with bomb proof reliability and a turn of pace to go with it. And yes I do regret selling now, simply a car you could jump in at any time and use without worry......ie not a fortune tied up in it but a gem none the less.
My only worry with it was its hydraulic clutch that the dry sump system dictated it have. If I'd have kept it I'd have gone cable, which I assume your possible purchase is.
Here's mine the week I put it up for sale.
Nice looking HPC! Is that an air box fitted and if so, did it work in terms of reducing noise?
Yeah, missed that. It is indeed up for sale on car and classic and he is asking £590,000 for it! Lol even with the extra 0 taken out, that's huge money? It's in South of France and even still has my old plate, K9 JPE on it.
Yeah, missed that. It is indeed up for sale on car and classic and he is asking £590,000 for it! Lol even with the extra 0 taken out, that's huge money? It's in South of France and even still has my old plate, K9 JPE on it.
Mike, there was no air box on it, just the normal K&Ns, an airbox coupled with the Raceco I think it would have been no nosier than the R400.
Never saw that newer ad. in Car and classic
.......an unfortunate typo!!!
You'd wonder why he's not corrected it, he's not exactly going to be inundated with offers as it is.
Still a very nice looking car though, it looks like its not done much in the new owners hands.
Never saw that newer ad. in Car and classic
.......an unfortunate typo!!!You'd wonder why he's not corrected it, he's not exactly going to be inundated with offers as it is.
Still a very nice looking car though, it looks like its not done much in the new owners hands.
culminator,
As you already know, I have a Freestyle w/2.3 Duratec, and will be the first to tell you it is a great car. BUT, at around half the price, for a real HPC, I would see that as the way forward*.
As you already know, I have a Freestyle w/2.3 Duratec, and will be the first to tell you it is a great car. BUT, at around half the price, for a real HPC, I would see that as the way forward*.
- Just my opinion. For reference, this works out to just a bit less than 0.0000000014% of world opinion.
Yep that's me
I think I will rejoin the club, even if it's just to post on Blatchat!
As Kenny says Rubystone, my old car is in France and up for sale at ahem, a whopping £590,000! I think that May have one too many 0's in it but that still makes it huge money. Still has my old reg on it too! K9 JPE
I think I will rejoin the club, even if it's just to post on Blatchat!
As Kenny says Rubystone, my old car is in France and up for sale at ahem, a whopping £590,000! I think that May have one too many 0's in it but that still makes it huge money. Still has my old reg on it too! K9 JPE
culminator said:
Yep that's me
I think I will rejoin the club, even if it's just to post on Blatchat!
As Kenny says Rubystone, my old car is in France and up for sale at ahem, a whopping £590,000! I think that May have one too many 0's in it but that still makes it huge money. Still has my old reg on it too! K9 JPE
We've discussed the fact in the past that you only just beat me to that car. I tried to buy it for over a year...mind you, your restoration of it was an epic tale - Peter Jackson could've made 6 movies out of that story!!!I think I will rejoin the club, even if it's just to post on Blatchat!
As Kenny says Rubystone, my old car is in France and up for sale at ahem, a whopping £590,000! I think that May have one too many 0's in it but that still makes it huge money. Still has my old reg on it too! K9 JPE
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