1st TVR open sports car?

[LLantrisant]

now i know where sammio / ribble have taken the ideas for designing their re-bodies on triumph chassis.

[Tonymg]

Know Sold Lets hope its back on the Track soon.

[Tonymg]

wonder how many owners its had ?

shame I did not have the funds that reminds me must sell my Tuscans
and get a Grantura Mk1 to rebuild and take to the Salt flats for a Speed Run

[Jomar 7FS101]

The compelling items on this car are: It is the only fiberglass body where the rear section does not have a cut out for the boot. In the Autosport article July 19, 1957 it is clear that the mold for the rear section does contain the opening for access into the rear boot, meaning this rear seaction has to predate that phote and those notchbacks being built. The firewall height is also 3" shorter than any other Jomar or early TVR I have ever seen. Again this would mean a completely different mold. This car and the Open Sports pictured in the Filby book and later driven by Oliver Hart also had the external door hinges. This car has shorter doors as opposed to every other car ever pictured which utilized full size doors. This car also has a recess in the rocker panel for the exhaust. TVR had no money, and certainly not enough to create extra molds. This car was most certainly a very early design in which I am guessing TVR did not like the look of the bonnet rake. By raising the firewall, they changed the look (rake) and created a more streamline body line from front to rear. This was incorporated in 7/C/105 (roadster that came to my father in the USA) which also incorporated inboard door hinges, inboard bonnet latches, rear boot access panel, and generally a much cleaner look.

[Jomar 7FS101]

Andrew Houston (previous owner) had told me that this car was abandoned by the side of the road (early to mid 1970s) that he use to drive by for years. It was in front of a farm and one day he stopped and asked the farmer if the car was for sale. The farmer said that and Scottsman who raced motorbikes was on holiday had trouble with the car and asked if he could leave it with him and return to get it later. The farmer agreed and even though years went by the farmer refused to sell Andrew the car. At some point the car disappeared and Andrew inquired about the car. The farmer had died and the wife (or family) had the car brought to the salvage yard. Andrew went to the salvage yard and bought the car. Thank god! He restored the car and raced it 85, 86, 87. I heard about it in 1996 and Andrew sent pictures of the car before the restoration. He never proported the car to be anything except I told him it was one of the earliest 7 chassis fiberglass cars I'd ever known about. Several people went to look at it because he was trying to sell it and they thought he had cobbled up the car. They were wrong. A long time friend Ian Rainford (long time owner of Jomar 7/C/107, my dad team coupe) went to look at the car and was unsure. He wrote to Trevor and asked about the car and Trevor did not remember it. Not unusual as my father had a great memory and could not recall each Jomar that was made in complete detail. Dad built 23 Jomars, Trevor built many more and lets face it 50 years is tough to remember everything.

[plovett2]

I have recently acquired 223 EMA.
The car will be sympathetically rebuilt and will be seen both on the road and track in the UK.
It would be great to hear from anyone who has information on the car.

I would be particularly grateful if anyone knows how I might get in contact with Andrew Houston a previous long term owner of the car.
In the history file are many if not all of the photographs that appear on various forums and also a fascinating handwritten letter from Alex Saidel dated 1996 that clarifies and confirms that this is the "prototype open roadster" I know Alex and a few other knowledgeable enthusiasts have contributed to this thread and any help/advice you wish to offer will be received with thanks.

This is not going to be a "quick fix" project and the balance between doing the job right and preserving an important piece of TVR history will at times be challenging !!

[Tonymg]

Well Done Plovett2

if you don't mined me asking who will be rebuilding the Coventry Climax Engine and the Gearbox? all so how will you do the Windscreen?

I think the TVR Mag will be well interested in your new project


Tony

Edited by Tonymg on Friday 8th February 19:06

Edited by Tonymg on Friday 8th February 19:07

[RobMk2a]

Hi,

I have been researching TVR racing - I have quite a bit of history on this car and supplied the photos to Kevin Kivlochan. I also spoke to Andrew Houston to let him know the history. Whilst Alex thinks it could be very early It is not Trevor's prototype open sports which is a different car register 17 FTD. 17 FTD was raced by Oliver Hart. EMA was built by John Kennerley who was working at TVR in 1958. I have a few race entries and will send you a message.

Regards

Rob Pennington

Ps you don't seem to accept emails. My email address is changed so I won't receive one if you reply by a message from pistonheads. Reply to this and hopefully we can make contact.

Edited by RobMk2a on Friday 8th February 21:20

[Tonymg]

Rob is John still around? if this EMA is not a True Prototype ?

I wonder were is it? but looking at the Back Drums ? are in bound? and the doors are small

I could not come and look at this car because I was working 7 days a week and long hrs up until Christmass

it toke me 3 /4 days to recover lol

its my age and my money was in 3 cars witch im hoping to sell this year and I may get a old Grantura 59 and turn into a open top

that's why im trying to fine the best people to rebuild a Coventry Climax Engine and see who could do the windscreen ?

[Tonymg]

Look small door and no drums at the back? just like the black and white photo?

but how many was made this way the chap from the USA said 3 was made?
I do beleave this was made at tvrs place of work and not in a chaps shed or home?
it would not bother me what man made it so long as it was built at the tvrs place of work
if it was not built by Trevers hands that dos not mean its not a TVR

but in my mined I do think this is a True 1950s TVR

im not having a Dig any any one Rob im glad people have info on all sorts of things just my thoughts that's all
its so good you can put light on this...

hope to meet up with you and have a chat...


Tony

[RobMk2a]

Tony,

Whilst I can see you are enthusiastic - I hope you don't destroy a genuine Mk1 to make a special. There are very few cars left.

If you want to make a replica new Mk1 bodies and chassis are available. Climax engines are also easily sourced.


Regards


Rob

[Tonymg]

God NO NO

I would never do that my Friend i may get a Genuine Mk1 car that needs total rebuild from the ground up keep the Body
and store it away to one side.

and just build or copy of a open top by CAD and make it
some people may call it a copy or a replica open top

but im not bothered about that and just tell the insurance people its modified Mk1 Grantura witch will be True
remember Car S.O.S
they did a MGA they did not change the Original Engine and Chassis but the Body was totally changed for a new one

and the DVLA let them keep the same Reg for the car
it just had a new Body so my one will be basicly the same as the Car S.O.S MGA...

I just plonk it on top....

and if I sell it in years to come who ever has it they have the Genuine Body as well.
but it be nice to meet up with you one day and just get some info off you I will be posting photos and how it gos on here

P.S Plovett2 I do hope you will be posting pics and info on this chat room I need all and any help I can...as time gos on

Tony

[Tonymg]

RobMk2a

if you don't mined can you email me in your owne time were you would get a Climax engine that's rebuilt and a Chassis and body?

I have been looking but can not fined one? or any parts may be im looking in the Wrong place?

[RobMk2a]

www.climax-engines.co.uk/

Glyn Peacock will sell you a Climax engine.

However, I will say now that I don't approve of removing a body from a 60 year old Mk1 to make a special. Many vintage Bentley, Riley, Alvis etc have been destroyed to make faux racing cars.

Why don't you just restore a Mk1, you never know you could be invited to events such as Goodwood.


Rob