old stagers at the factory

[firefox1712]

Some of you mentioned some old stagers at the factory on another older thread who might be able to help with the history of my car and also former personnel who you know the present location of.

I'm sure the old thread will now be difficult to find, so if you could remind me of those persons I could contact re my 1986 420 SEAC with different bodywork I would be most grateful.

cheers!
firefox

[2 sheds]

Don't remember the names of the guy's that i met on the factory floor, i originally spoke to the production manager Mike Penny, that was in 1996 and think he has retired, he introduced me to the very chaps who layed up the bodies on the SEACs, i'm sure some of them will still be there, i would just phone the factory and ask.
Tim

[Gaffer]

Mike Penny is still there as is my Dad, also contact Chris Schirles.

HTH

Claire

[streaky]

ff - if you want Chris Schirle's #, e-mail me. Also try "The Pole" (John Mleczek - # in Sprint) - Streaky

PS - Hi, Claire.

[wedg1e]

John Mleczek rang me years ago after a letter of mine appeared in Sprint - he was confirming that the car local to me with chassis #10 but a 'B' reg (1984) plate was in fact the original 1979 Tasmin demonstrator.
Apparently his speciality was Wedge bonnets - they had to frequently reshape them on the car by strapping blocks of wood in place and putting the car back in the oven to try to get the curvature and shutlines right...

There is also a mate of my father who works there still; I believe he was there in the late Wedge days but not sure how far back he goes. I have had quite a few 'factory tales' from him...

Ian

[pistolar]

how can your car be a SEAC ?

[firefox1712]

Pistolar -

Let's not start that one again! I agree it has a different body and perhaps one or two other differences.

The TVRCC has told me several times that the build sheet / notes taken from factory records say the car is a 420 SEAC - originally in metallic black and with a modified windscreen aperture whatever that may mean.

As stated it has a different body - why I do not know. I do know that this upsets some people. I don't mind that - some things you just have to live with. It may be the body was replaced after the original one was of poor quality and this was selected. Maybe it was ordered with this body at the express wish of the first owner. Perhaps it has been crashed and had the body replaced.

Or it just came out of the factory like this. It has been suggested that it was some form of factory development car. I have been told by a previous owner that the factory used it for a while and that it was specially modified at the factory - in what way I was not told and so do not know.

I am hoping that I will have some more time available soon so I can go back to researching it's past.

From the TVRCC information it is legally speaking a 420 SEAC. The rest I shall just have to look in to. Any clues or info most welcome.

cheers!
firefox

[streaky]

wedg1e said:

Apparently [John Mleczek's] speciality was Wedge bonnets - they had to frequently reshape them on the car by strapping blocks of wood in place and putting the car back in the oven to try to get the curvature and shutlines right ...

So, Gas Mark 5 rather than 4 needed . Modified old joke: "What are the two man-made structures you can see from the Space Shuttle? The Great Wall of China and the shut-lines on a Wedge!" (Actually, you can't see the GWoC from space.) - Streaky

[19560]

firefox1712 said:

I agree it has a different body and perhaps one or two other differences. As stated it has a different body. I don't mind that - some things you just have to live with. It may be the body was replaced after the original one was of poor quality and this was selected. Maybe it was ordered with this body at the express wish of the first owner. Perhaps it has been crashed and had the body replaced. Or it just came out of the factory like this. It has been suggested that it was some form of factory development car.

That's more or less all bases covered on the body. When you have the time a new thread on the details (wheels, suspension etc) of your unique car would be interesting. In the meantime if you do ring the factory please could you ask Chris Schirle about the underbody aluminium that Streaky has pointed out in the show me yours thread?

[streaky]

19560 said:

... In the meantime if you do ring the factory please could you ask Chris Schirle about the underbody aluminium that Streaky has pointed out in the show me yours thread?

Chris is no longer at the factory. I have a contact number, e-mail me through profile if needed - Streaky