RE: Unique Brooke Double R 400 for sale

RE: Unique Brooke Double R 400 for sale

Author
Discussion

CousinDupree

779 posts

68 months

Saturday 29th July 2023
quotequote all
Still waiting for a Rocket kit clone with a central driving position. Single seat would be fine.

This is/was very close.

Pflanzgarten

4,033 posts

26 months

Saturday 29th July 2023
quotequote all
CousinDupree said:
Still waiting for a Rocket kit clone with a central driving position. Single seat would be fine.

This is/was very close.
BAC Mono.

jmcc500

645 posts

219 months

Saturday 29th July 2023
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Test drove the ME190 demonstrator back in the late ‘90s. Even with only a 190bhp red top it went like lightning, massively fun and very cool.

kars

175 posts

170 months

Saturday 29th July 2023
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Too many seats, I agree..

pw_ninja

38 posts

60 months

Saturday 29th July 2023
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Nomme de Plum said:
rossub said:
That poorly aligned exhaust exit would drive me mad.
Looks like a fairly straightforward fix though.
I noticed it too and whilst it would be easy to fix, it would also be a worry... What else isn't screwed on properly as I reverse through a hedge at mach 1?

redroadster

1,767 posts

233 months

Saturday 29th July 2023
quotequote all
Liking old styling ,these are 5th cars not enough use would irrate myself ,a 2 car garage is all I need ,a bmw 4 series x drive daily and a boxstwr planty of weekend luggage space and roof down thrills .all for 20 k I'm a real world person enjoying his cars without getting into debt .

James Rose

12 posts

220 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
Hi everyone
I designed , developed and build all the Double R cars.
Nice to see Pistonheads running an article on the car , I appreciate how difficult it can be to research these articles with limited information out there but wanted to correct a few things.
The original Brooke ME190 was designed by a chap called Toby Sutton who build or supplied kit versions, this was before it became Brooke Kensington. The ME190 was not the first car he designed , He also built the 245 before the ME190 , maybe others , i will have to check..
I cant speak for Toby but I would question the 'influenced by the Rocket' recurring theme. The 245 he designed pre-dates the Rocket by years and even features a tandem seating position... Kits were commercially available and build in the 80's.
The 2.3 Cosworth Engine in the Double R was identical to the Caterham supplied engine, all were supplied with Dry sump lubrication. Only the first prototype Brooke had a wet sump but this was quickly updated .
12 Brookes were made , not 15.
We completely redeveloped the ME190 into the Double R , there is not one single interchangeable part.
Nice to see they are still all out there , there is a facebook page for them if anyone is interested .
Regards
James

James Rose

12 posts

220 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
Oh , and that Exhaust outlet is adjustable , just give me a 13mm spanner ...

Pflanzgarten

4,033 posts

26 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
Great update! I was seriously tempted when one came up on collecting cars some time ago, one of these or an early BAC Mono when you could pick them up for £49-60k was seriously tempting.

Jon_S_Rally

3,437 posts

89 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
Had no idea these existed!

Not for me, but an interesting curio for sure. Can see why it would appeal to someone.

Arsecati

2,331 posts

118 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
James Rose said:
Hi everyone
I designed , developed and build all the Double R cars.
Nice to see Pistonheads running an article on the car , I appreciate how difficult it can be to research these articles with limited information out there but wanted to correct a few things.
The original Brooke ME190 was designed by a chap called Toby Sutton who build or supplied kit versions, this was before it became Brooke Kensington. The ME190 was not the first car he designed , He also built the 245 before the ME190 , maybe others , i will have to check..
I cant speak for Toby but I would question the 'influenced by the Rocket' recurring theme. The 245 he designed pre-dates the Rocket by years and even features a tandem seating position... Kits were commercially available and build in the 80's.
The 2.3 Cosworth Engine in the Double R was identical to the Caterham supplied engine, all were supplied with Dry sump lubrication. Only the first prototype Brooke had a wet sump but this was quickly updated .
12 Brookes were made , not 15.
We completely redeveloped the ME190 into the Double R , there is not one single interchangeable part.
Nice to see they are still all out there , there is a facebook page for them if anyone is interested .
Regards
James
Fantastic to see posts like this, brought a smile to my face to read it. Amazing work sir, incredible piece of engineering: I sincerely hope your clear talents, skill and ability has served you well since then! Cheers!

Pflanzgarten

4,033 posts

26 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2009-brooke-co...

Sold for £49k on CC in ‘21.

This was the one I was watching in ‘20 that sold for £16k

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1994-brooke-19...

GT3hopeful

248 posts

118 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
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Pedals look like they’ve covered more than 1700 miles?

BigBen

11,663 posts

231 months

Sunday 30th July 2023
quotequote all
I always liked the Brooke. Only saw one and that was when I was driving my Ariel Atom, wish I had chased the owner down for a chat and a proper look round.

Richmbutler

17 posts

53 months

Monday 31st July 2023
quotequote all
Afternoon all.

Thanks for the info James, it is good to get a definitive answer to how many were built. Mine is the prototype with the wet sump, chassis No.1. Chassis No.2 is in Japan and just about to go to its new owner. Chassis No.3 was sold at a real bargain price due to the auction website not accepting bids during the final throws and the 400RR that is for sale is perfect, except for the exhaust terminal and pedal grips, but you could do that couldn't you? There is a Brooke ME190 about to go on the market too. Honda engine and very very well maintained. Check the Facebook group for details.

You need two seats though, side by side so the passenger can get the same experience. Don't take a hefty friend or you will double the kerb weight.

As to headlights.....it looks much better with them stowed.

The 245 tandem version does look a little awkward from some angles, sadly copyrighted so unable to post them. That is what Google is for though.

This is the prototype, chassis No.1.

Edited by Richmbutler on Monday 31st July 18:01


Edited by Richmbutler on Monday 31st July 18:03

Krikkit

26,592 posts

182 months

Monday 31st July 2023
quotequote all
Looks great with the gold/red, bravo!

Richmbutler

17 posts

53 months

Monday 31st July 2023
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Looks great with the gold/red, bravo!
Thank you.

sjc

14,033 posts

271 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
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Come very close to buying one of these two or three times over the years,from the early Gordini powered tandem seat version,right up to the Supercharged Duratec...just love their uniqueness.
If Carspath still frequents these forums he'd be a good source of info as well... very nearly pressed the button his car a few years back.Think a F1 engineer bought it

Richmbutler

17 posts

53 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
sjc said:
Come very close to buying one of these two or three times over the years,from the early Gordini powered tandem seat version,right up to the Supercharged Duratec...just love their uniqueness.
If Carspath still frequents these forums he'd be a good source of info as well... very nearly pressed the button his car a few years back.Think a F1 engineer bought it
Hi Andy.
No Carspath's car is my one. The blue one was a Mclaren Directors which was then painted green and now belongs to Geoff.

sjc

14,033 posts

271 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
Memory going,it’s an age thing Rich.
I’ve found one of his original threads from 2011 when I nearly bought one.Some really good anecdotes on there.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...