A new project?
Discussion
I've finally decided that with anno domini catching up with me, and the the house in the UK being sold, is it time for the last hurrah and go for one final project. The car I have in mind would be an Austin Healey Fright. What thinkest thou, dear brethren? To be, or not to be? I lend you my ears.
But that was someone else's idea, and they have done it (albeit, it was many years ago).
Why don't you come up with an interesting idea of your own?
Something like a Jensen 541 fitted with a V8 and styled like an AC Cobra? You don't have to screw your eyes up very much to see the similarity to the front of a 541 and the front of an AC Cobra.
Why don't you come up with an interesting idea of your own?
Something like a Jensen 541 fitted with a V8 and styled like an AC Cobra? You don't have to screw your eyes up very much to see the similarity to the front of a 541 and the front of an AC Cobra.
I got very close to building a big healey with with a TVR Speed 6 engine. I found a Healey (100) for sale with no engine, contacted TVR engineering who were happy to lend be a Speed 6 block to try in the Healey engine bay, I was all set to carry out the test when the car was sold to some one else. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise, but it would be a great project. A TVR Engineering Speed 6 is reliable and produces over 300 bhp, couple it to a T5 gearbox with the whole car weighing about 1 tonne what more could you want, go for it Lowdrag.
I assume you mean an AH Sprite with a Jag engine ?
Should be very exciting but would you get much use out of it ?
I used to have a Bentley Mk6 Special some years ago and another one would appeal. They're very nice to drive and you can have some fun designing the body.
It's all down to what you want to use the car for when it's finished I suppose.
Should be very exciting but would you get much use out of it ?
I used to have a Bentley Mk6 Special some years ago and another one would appeal. They're very nice to drive and you can have some fun designing the body.
It's all down to what you want to use the car for when it's finished I suppose.
Will I or won't I, that is the question. I don't really know, but it must have a Jaguar engine, and having watched the video of the A-H Fright in action it interested me. Would I use it a lot? Probably not, but then the XKSS hasn't moved since October and the E-type rarely. I get more fun these days out of a project than the owning, really. Better to journey than to arrive, as they say. I'll ponder on, and don't mention E1A since it is already off the starting blocks, though I can't say where and who, but I did look at and touch the original parts from Stickley's scrapyard, including the complete rear bulkhead. These will be incorporated in the project.
I was going to suggest turning the Mk V on eBay into a hot rod but but after searching for inspiration a bit longer I've come across this idea - it looks lovely and can even have Jaguar power - which is a much better way of spending money to create Art.
http://www.automotto.com/entry/bo-zolland-designs-...
http://www.viztech.se/
eBay for the MkV (in Fr.) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-Mk-5-Mark-V-3-5-1...
http://www.automotto.com/entry/bo-zolland-designs-...
http://www.viztech.se/
eBay for the MkV (in Fr.) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-Mk-5-Mark-V-3-5-1...
If you want to stick a Jaguar '6' where a small engine should go you could buy my early Clubmans project and insert Coventry's finest into it and create something with an even scarier power to weight ratio!
then I could buy that Gilbern GT project that has caught my eye......
As for the 'Fright' - what a car! does it still exist?
then I could buy that Gilbern GT project that has caught my eye......
As for the 'Fright' - what a car! does it still exist?
Have you considered something along the lines of the Tornado Talisman V8? This was a one off built by Talisman cars using the engine and chassis from a Daimler SP250 with a Talisman body mounted on it. Built on the instructiuons of the then owner of Tornado Cars (John Bekaert) with the hope that Daimler / Jaguar would take it on. Bekaert had strong links with Jaguar and showed the car to Lofty England but nothing came of it. The car still exists and has some competition history - its performance is said to rival the E Type with its 200 bhp/ton ratio. Whether a Jaguar engine would fit of course is something beyond my knowledge but there is at least one Talisman body available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYdJ-G3Blp8
I can see the appeal but as others have already said its probably only any good as a drag racer. create an original and let others copy
I can see the appeal but as others have already said its probably only any good as a drag racer. create an original and let others copy
lowdrag said:
There are several Fright's in existance, and the video on Youtube I can't find for some reason. Looking at it being driven, I have serious doubts about the balance and handling of the car, but the power/weight ratio is fun!
Over in the MG (I think the thread is 'heavily modded midget') there is a Rover V8 Frogeye & that has 50/50 weight distribution near enough. I can't see a heavy Jag lump being anything except front end heavy & rather understeery. Until you put your foot down of course 
A friend of mine had a Spridget with the Rover K-series lump in it. Made by some bloke in Bath or Bristol who was intending to make a business out of it. It was quick, but otherwise a complete nighmare. I remember a few of us taking our then-current cars to Wales for a weekend of B road fun. I was following him across some Welsh B roads (in a 1973 911) and it bounced along like a Space Hopper. Something snapped on the back end and that was the end of his weekend - he gingerly drove it back across the Severn Bridge and dropped it back with its maker whilst the rest of us made the most of the rest of the weekend. Looking back, that makes us sound like a bunch of Clarkson/Hammond wastrels.. We are not normally that awful.
Anyway, if a Fright has taken your fancy, you should do it. Always better to go with what attracts you than what the rest of us might do. Presumably, your project will be better resolved than the awful Spridget, too!
Anyway, if a Fright has taken your fancy, you should do it. Always better to go with what attracts you than what the rest of us might do. Presumably, your project will be better resolved than the awful Spridget, too!
V10Mike said:
Having seen that pic, DO IT! it looks wonderful with a properly sized engine in there.I've tried to contact Aaron Couper several times but he has never replied unfortunately. There is a thread if you search showing the build of the car:-
http://www.britishv8.org/other/aaroncouper.htm
I searched it out some years back when I first knew about the car. The original project dates back about 40 years IIRC.
ETA: sorry V10mike; you'd already posted the link. Didn't mean to steal your thunder.
http://www.britishv8.org/other/aaroncouper.htm
I searched it out some years back when I first knew about the car. The original project dates back about 40 years IIRC.
ETA: sorry V10mike; you'd already posted the link. Didn't mean to steal your thunder.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 7th February 14:22
Beautiful job, but the interior pic suggests the transmission tunnel intrudes almost to the steering column. Ok for a right leg amputee but I can't see it being easy to drive, the standard footwell is hardly commodious and this looks totally unusable.
Love the adapted E-type bonnet though!
Love the adapted E-type bonnet though!
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff