Help me identify a free car!
Discussion
I've put this in GG to get exposure, as im not sure how active the the Kit forums are...
Anyway, in our quest for a gearbox for my mate, we've been half offered an unbuilt kit car...
Thing is, we don't know what it is. Mates seen it, I havent yet... heres what we know
- very roughly 1940's, certainly old
- possibly based/a redesign of some kind of F1/race car
- completely unbuilt, as new ( well, condsidering its age
- 'cigar with wheels poking out' type shape
- Triumph parts?
- maybe sounds a bit like russenberg, rossberg, or something.
- pretty long?
I have not a clue where to start. Its been in a guys garage from new, unbuilt, and he wants rid. Apparently its all there, welded up chassis and all the bits to make it go, never been built up...
Anyone? this could either be a fantastic opportunity to begin my sportscar life, or a fantastic opportunity to end up with a garage full of junk!
Anyway, in our quest for a gearbox for my mate, we've been half offered an unbuilt kit car...
Thing is, we don't know what it is. Mates seen it, I havent yet... heres what we know
- very roughly 1940's, certainly old
- possibly based/a redesign of some kind of F1/race car
- completely unbuilt, as new ( well, condsidering its age
- 'cigar with wheels poking out' type shape
- Triumph parts?
- maybe sounds a bit like russenberg, rossberg, or something.
- pretty long?
I have not a clue where to start. Its been in a guys garage from new, unbuilt, and he wants rid. Apparently its all there, welded up chassis and all the bits to make it go, never been built up...
Anyone? this could either be a fantastic opportunity to begin my sportscar life, or a fantastic opportunity to end up with a garage full of junk!
Probably would've got a better response on the kit car section - however, I frequent both 
I think it's probably going to fill your garage up with junk, I'm afraid - especially as it's free.
By all means have a look at it, but you'll have to get it through SVA - which the design may not have been catered for if the guy's had it for a long time.
I think it's probably going to fill your garage up with junk, I'm afraid - especially as it's free.
By all means have a look at it, but you'll have to get it through SVA - which the design may not have been catered for if the guy's had it for a long time.
Yeah I know its a bit of a stab in the dark... But I wondered if it might have been anything anyone would recognise, or perhaps there might be some bits I could sell on if it was a popular model.
It sounds interesting at the very least, would like to know at least what it is.
( I did have a secret hope someone was going to pipe up with "I'll be round tomorrow with a trailer mate, its nothing special, not at all, no way is it worth thousands of pounds, theres looooads of em about. I'll take it off your hands, dont worry.
)
It sounds interesting at the very least, would like to know at least what it is.
( I did have a secret hope someone was going to pipe up with "I'll be round tomorrow with a trailer mate, its nothing special, not at all, no way is it worth thousands of pounds, theres looooads of em about. I'll take it off your hands, dont worry.
)I used to be like that - almost bought a Siva Edwardian a few years back because it looked interesting (well, unusual).
However, common sense prevailed, and I didn't buy it.
www.tribbeck.com/cars/siva/
Although this wouldn't have required an SVA because it uses a VW Beetle chassis.
However, common sense prevailed, and I didn't buy it.
www.tribbeck.com/cars/siva/
Although this wouldn't have required an SVA because it uses a VW Beetle chassis.
might be hard to actually pin it down, there were lots of specials in the 40's/50's based on austin 7's and triumph running gear. often they were a gorgeous fibreglass body on a standard chassis.
this site lists quite a few specials, see if there's anything there you recognise.
www.1950sspecials.com/home.htm
this site lists quite a few specials, see if there's anything there you recognise.
www.1950sspecials.com/home.htm
Edited by eccles on Tuesday 6th February 23:19
You may well be right there...! All the info I can find ties in... I am interested now, as they were introduced in 1986 apparently.
I wonder how much the rules regarding kits have changed since 86, whether this would be legal as a new build nowadays.
Cheers, I'm gonna look into it...
Whatever you do, don't walk away from it. Whether you take it off his hands, build it, sell it, or even offer to sell it for him on commission, it will be interesting to research what it is (and knowing will add to the value).
I know of several 500cc Formula III cars of the fifties being converted to road use. Also, Cooper produced several road cars in the early days (Cooper-Triumph, Cooper-MG, Cooper-Vauxhall). I'm not saying it's one of them, but any of these would be worth five figures. Even lesser models have followings, and there's always someone out there interested.
First step would be detail. Some photo's of the body and frame. Any markings? Any paperwork? Any clues, like suspension arrangement, specific parts from known donor cars?
If we can't help you here, we might be able to direct you to people who will know. After that, you could write to Classic & Sportscar's "Lost & Found" section - a good photo and email addy may elicit a response. Worst case, consider offering it for auction through an expert (e.g. Bonhams), who will try to identfy it for you.
I know of several 500cc Formula III cars of the fifties being converted to road use. Also, Cooper produced several road cars in the early days (Cooper-Triumph, Cooper-MG, Cooper-Vauxhall). I'm not saying it's one of them, but any of these would be worth five figures. Even lesser models have followings, and there's always someone out there interested.
First step would be detail. Some photo's of the body and frame. Any markings? Any paperwork? Any clues, like suspension arrangement, specific parts from known donor cars?
If we can't help you here, we might be able to direct you to people who will know. After that, you could write to Classic & Sportscar's "Lost & Found" section - a good photo and email addy may elicit a response. Worst case, consider offering it for auction through an expert (e.g. Bonhams), who will try to identfy it for you.
At first we brushed it off as someone trying to clear the junk out of their garage, of course this could still be exactly what is (I'm 21 so he may be playing the naive card).
My mate only got a short look at a heap of bits in a filled garage, and I've not yet seen it. The chap apparently acquired it as a new, un built kit off his mate who was getting divorced. 20 off years later, its still there, un built.
The chap who has it now presumably knows his car stuff, ( we were getting a gearbox and an engine hoist off him ) so it would surprise me a little if it had any significant value and he didnt know, although stranger things have happened.
(Edit to say, I've asked the mods if they can move this to the kit car forum...)
I think we will try and get a proper look at it, if it was buildable, we probably would build it - I have the desire to build a kit, just not the money, this could give us a very good headstart.... Like you say, interesting at the very least...
My mate only got a short look at a heap of bits in a filled garage, and I've not yet seen it. The chap apparently acquired it as a new, un built kit off his mate who was getting divorced. 20 off years later, its still there, un built.
The chap who has it now presumably knows his car stuff, ( we were getting a gearbox and an engine hoist off him ) so it would surprise me a little if it had any significant value and he didnt know, although stranger things have happened.
(Edit to say, I've asked the mods if they can move this to the kit car forum...)
I think we will try and get a proper look at it, if it was buildable, we probably would build it - I have the desire to build a kit, just not the money, this could give us a very good headstart.... Like you say, interesting at the very least...
Edited by snotrag on Wednesday 7th February 13:56 (Edit to say, I've asked the mods if they can move this to the kit car forum...)
Edited by snotrag on Wednesday 7th February 13:57
snotrag said:
I wonder how much the rules regarding kits have changed since 86
A lot, both from the registration and construction point of view. Kit cars now have to be registered as what they now are rather than retaining the donor name, and they must pass the SVA test, which old kit cars were never designed to do.
However, there is a sort of 'loophole' relating to cars that retain the donor's chassis rather than using a new bespoke one which says they don't have to pass SVA. If it is a Moss Monaco, which used a trimmed down Triumph Herald/Vitesse/Spitfire chassis then you might be OK.
Best check exactly what it is and then have a word with your nearest VOSA SVA centre to get their view - although they're not always right
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