Anybody got a Piper GTT or P2?

[Huntsman]

I've always been fascinated by these.

Any Ph'er got one?

[Shoegrip]

They appeal to me more now than in the 70s but still wouldn't want to own one.

[jamesatcandsc]

Used to have a P2. Ran it for a couple of years, but it's long gone now.
Very slippery and a very quick car for a Kent-engined model. I was clocked at 117mph and there was loads left in it then, and that was on only a single Weber.
Showed up a load of Porsches at the Cornbury Sprint as well, and because I am (sadly) a terrifically mediocre competition driver, that could only be down to the car. Or a timing error.
The biggest problems were having to take a seat out to get anything meaningful in the boot and permanently having to be focused on not running over idiots jumping into the middle of the road to take pictures of it. Seriously, in London that happened every couple of hundred yards.

[Huntsman]

jamesatcandsc said:

Used to have a P2. Ran it for a couple of years, but it's long gone now.
Very slippery and a very quick car for a Kent-engined model. I was clocked at 117mph and there was loads left in it then, and that was on only a single Weber.
Showed up a load of Porsches at the Cornbury Sprint as well, and because I am (sadly) a terrifically mediocre competition driver, that could only be down to the car. Or a timing error.
The biggest problems were having to take a seat out to get anything meaningful in the boot and permanently having to be focused on not running over idiots jumping into the middle of the road to take pictures of it. Seriously, in London that happened every couple of hundred yards.

I think I recall that magazine column, possibly how I came to know of them.

I saw one at Goodwood at a breakfast club a couple of years back.

Its all part of my hankering for ridiculous off the beaten track cars, I sold the Keeble, just too valuable, a Scimitar SE4 appeals at the moment.

[V8 FOU]

Huntsman said:

I sold the Keeble, just too valuable

The boat should soak up some of that dosh......

[Huntsman]

V8 FOU said:

The boat should soak up some of that dosh......

Not so, the Huntsman stands me less than the Keeble did.

[oliverb205]

Just a good excuse to post up these, when did you last see 3 in a row, and probably the one the OP saw at Goodwood Breakfast Club.

Oliver.

[tog]

Huntsman said:

Its all part of my hankering for ridiculous off the beaten track cars.

Find a Bitter.

[jamesatcandsc]

oliverb205][url said:

Note that the one one on the left (XMR 3K) has been converted into a hatchback.
It is the only one and some club people deeply disapproved, apparently, but I was all for it – very well done and transformed the practicality of the car.
I think it was done/owned by a bloke who worked for Piper cams. Wish mine had been like that.

[Huntsman]

tog said:

Find a Bitter.

There used to be one knocking around Southampton. My step-grandfather worked at a Vaux/Opel garage in the 70's and 80's, I have an idea he sold at least one Bitter, the only interesting thing he left behind was a brochure, I posted it to a PHer that had a Bitter.

[tog]

Huntsman said:

tog said:

Find a Bitter.

There used to be one knocking around Southampton. My step-grandfather worked at a Vaux/Opel garage in the 70's and 80's, I have an idea he sold at least one Bitter, the only interesting thing he left behind was a brochure, I posted it to a PHer that had a Bitter.

That was me I think! Thank you again!

[Skyedriver]

Always wonder what happened to the one I went to look at back in the 1970's (think it was).
Killingworth, north of Newcastle, square headlights had been replaced by 7" rounds which stood above the body line and there was a solid sun roof that didn't fit the aperture...
Think it was orange but maybe not.
Didn't buy it, maybe I should have.

[Huntsman]

One here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIPER-GTT-kitcar-race-ca...

[TR4man]

I know this sounds really trivial, but what a peashooter of an exhaust on such a great looking car.

[Shoegrip]

TR4man said:

I know this sounds really trivial, but what a peashooter of an exhaust on such a great looking car.

The exhaust is probably engineered around flow requirements to suit the engine.

I'm no structural engineer but the chassis doesn't look like it would offer much torsional rigidity.

[hal 1]

I remember seeing one locked in a barn (seriously) in the wilds of Lancashire back in the mid eighties, I didn't know what it was until I asked, there were a few other rare cars there also, I remember seeing a ginetta g15 and a few other collectable cars.

Knowing the chap who owned them they're probably still there.
Hal

[battered]

Small world. I never knew they had made them in South Willingham. I know that factory, or know of it at least, in its fibreglass bath making days in the 80s. I was friends with the son of Tony Waller, one of the directors of the bath factory. He actually made me one of the fibreglass model boats that are mentioned in that article. I never finished it but had lots of fun with the radio control and engine parts.

It's highly possible the place still has the moulds, though I imagine that TW will have retired by now.

[uk66fastback]

There used to be one by the cemetary in Spring Road, Abingdon late 70s, early 80s. On the junction of the road where you went down to the MG factory offices. About 100 yards from the house with the two Porsche 912s. Funny how you remember stuff.

Bright, greeny yellow, it was.

[jamesatcandsc]

A friend posted this on FB. Check out the car in the background to the right of Alan Whicker's hip. Sadly, I can't quite make out the numberplate; maybe one of you can.

[Huntsman]

jamesatcandsc said:

A Piper and a Chinese Eye Cloud, two very different and equally cool cars in one shot.