Discussion
Not owned one, but looked at them.
They are nice enough little cars, but really a specialist Trials car rather than a general-purpose sports car.
They aren't very quick, obviously, with only an 850cc Reliant engine, and the grip and handling on tarmac is unexceptional (compared to 'Seven' types) due to the high ground clearance and skinny tyres. They are also quite expensive for something so simple.
Think of them as a modern alternative for a trials-modified Austin 7, for people who don't want to spend their weekends rebuilding engines and greasing king-pins.
Last I heard, the supercharger conversion was proving problematical because boost fell off rapidly as charge temperature increased, due to lack of an intercooler, but that was a few years ago, so the problem may have been solved by now.
The guy who builds them, Peter Davis, is a nice chap, though, and he knows his stuff. For the purpose for which they were built - trials and long distance endurance events - they are excellent.
They are nice enough little cars, but really a specialist Trials car rather than a general-purpose sports car.
They aren't very quick, obviously, with only an 850cc Reliant engine, and the grip and handling on tarmac is unexceptional (compared to 'Seven' types) due to the high ground clearance and skinny tyres. They are also quite expensive for something so simple.
Think of them as a modern alternative for a trials-modified Austin 7, for people who don't want to spend their weekends rebuilding engines and greasing king-pins.
Last I heard, the supercharger conversion was proving problematical because boost fell off rapidly as charge temperature increased, due to lack of an intercooler, but that was a few years ago, so the problem may have been solved by now.
The guy who builds them, Peter Davis, is a nice chap, though, and he knows his stuff. For the purpose for which they were built - trials and long distance endurance events - they are excellent.
Yep - I think I bumped into Peter at the Exeter show this year, seems like a nice bloke.
They do seem to command a very good resale value, so they've obviously found a suitable niche.
This was prompted by Fifth Gear doing the Exeter trial a few weeks back. Used to go down and watch that with my dad as a kid and quite fancied having a go. The idea occured that if you had a car that was versatile enough to do not only trials, but also the occasional 'gymkanhas', autotests and so on that would be quite fun. Wouldn't have to be especially competitive, but just enough to have a go at club level - so with a few mods it could do everything from (speed) hillclimbing to trials. I guess just about anything could attempt it, but it wouldn't feel right trying to drive a Westfield up a trials hill!
They do seem to command a very good resale value, so they've obviously found a suitable niche.
This was prompted by Fifth Gear doing the Exeter trial a few weeks back. Used to go down and watch that with my dad as a kid and quite fancied having a go. The idea occured that if you had a car that was versatile enough to do not only trials, but also the occasional 'gymkanhas', autotests and so on that would be quite fun. Wouldn't have to be especially competitive, but just enough to have a go at club level - so with a few mods it could do everything from (speed) hillclimbing to trials. I guess just about anything could attempt it, but it wouldn't feel right trying to drive a Westfield up a trials hill!
Well, they're certainly the dog's wotsits for trials driving, if you want something that's suitable for general purpose road use as well.
The other kit car that does very well on trials is the Marlin/YKC Roadster. It's better than the Liege as a general purpose sports car, too, and is much more readily/cheaply available.
Trikings do rather well, too, but rarely come up for sale and are pricey when they do.
There was a Crossflow engined car called the Troll a few years back which would have suited - it looked like an early, alloy bodied Lotus Seven with increased ground clearance and skinnier tyres - but I can't remember the last time I saw one for sale because they tend to be like Trikings; so well-loved that their owners never part with them!
edited to add quick, Googled link to Troll
The other kit car that does very well on trials is the Marlin/YKC Roadster. It's better than the Liege as a general purpose sports car, too, and is much more readily/cheaply available.
Trikings do rather well, too, but rarely come up for sale and are pricey when they do.
There was a Crossflow engined car called the Troll a few years back which would have suited - it looked like an early, alloy bodied Lotus Seven with increased ground clearance and skinnier tyres - but I can't remember the last time I saw one for sale because they tend to be like Trikings; so well-loved that their owners never part with them!
edited to add quick, Googled link to Troll
Edited by Sam_68 on Wednesday 20th February 13:33
Actually, come to think of it, I think I vaguely know a bloke who trials a Marlin and I believe quite a few people do. I guess that would be the answer!
Just bought myself a new toy so no scope for any more purchases for a while (...I wish I had a fortune and a barn to stick everything in!), but sounds like that would be a good candidate if I did. I do quite like the idea of a fun car that could be used for anything - you might never win without a specialist car, but in theory there would be an event to have a go at every weekend and all at very affordable 'grass roots' level.
Just bought myself a new toy so no scope for any more purchases for a while (...I wish I had a fortune and a barn to stick everything in!), but sounds like that would be a good candidate if I did. I do quite like the idea of a fun car that could be used for anything - you might never win without a specialist car, but in theory there would be an event to have a go at every weekend and all at very affordable 'grass roots' level.
Have you thought about the Tempest ?
http://www.tempestcars.com/default.htm
It does look similar in concept and you should be able to use it for trials and road use.
Italo
http://www.tempestcars.com/default.htm
It does look similar in concept and you should be able to use it for trials and road use.
Italo
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