Hilarious road test from 1965
Discussion
There are so many gems in this article and a reminder of a time when speed wasn't demonised. Start from the motorway heading some way down.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
Edited by Jonny TVR on Monday 8th April 23:41
Enjoyed reading that......how times have changed 
As for the Elan, well, it was on trade plates and on the M1, so not too far from Cheshunt, so could well have been one of the 'specials' being given a test by a Lotus driver.....?
I believe there were a couple of company Elans running around at that time with various specs of BRM tuned Twin Cams that were being used in the Team-Lotus Cortina race cars.
As for the Elan, well, it was on trade plates and on the M1, so not too far from Cheshunt, so could well have been one of the 'specials' being given a test by a Lotus driver.....?
I believe there were a couple of company Elans running around at that time with various specs of BRM tuned Twin Cams that were being used in the Team-Lotus Cortina race cars.
"6 pints of oil in 1300 miles"...…...no way.
Speed limit was upped to 70 several months later
https://www.historyhit.com/1965-introduction-of-70...
Speed limit was upped to 70 several months later
https://www.historyhit.com/1965-introduction-of-70...
Fascinating in so many ways, not just the way they covered the ground at a rate so far beyond anything attainable today.
I'd be interested to see what their averages were over Ryenose and Hardknott then later over Tan Hill used then and even still occasionally today as Rally Selectives and not changed much.
The focus of the test on the mechanical and engineering aspects are in stark contrast to modern road tests which seem more interested in the position of the cup holders.
Mention of Sir Henry Segrave at Windermere, but not Donald Cambell at Coniston dates it, but only just his crash was about 18 months in the future.
I'd be interested to see what their averages were over Ryenose and Hardknott then later over Tan Hill used then and even still occasionally today as Rally Selectives and not changed much.
The focus of the test on the mechanical and engineering aspects are in stark contrast to modern road tests which seem more interested in the position of the cup holders.
Mention of Sir Henry Segrave at Windermere, but not Donald Cambell at Coniston dates it, but only just his crash was about 18 months in the future.
Motor Sport always had a laid-back attitude towards what was permissible when testing a car, even before a blanket speed limit. They once famously road-tested a Lotus 12 single-seater on Boxing Day one year. Some people think it's a myth, but there's a photo in the magazine, long before photo-shopping.
velocemitch said:
Fascinating in so many ways, not just the way they covered the ground at a rate so far beyond anything attainable today.
I'd be interested to see what their averages were over Ryenose and Hardknott then later over Tan Hill used then and even still occasionally today as Rally Selectives and not changed much.
The focus of the test on the mechanical and engineering aspects are in stark contrast to modern road tests which seem more interested in the position of the cup holders.
Mention of Sir Henry Segrave at Windermere, but not Donald Cambell at Coniston dates it, but only just his crash was about 18 months in the future.
With John Cobb also killed, the world water speed record was definitely only for the brave.I'd be interested to see what their averages were over Ryenose and Hardknott then later over Tan Hill used then and even still occasionally today as Rally Selectives and not changed much.
The focus of the test on the mechanical and engineering aspects are in stark contrast to modern road tests which seem more interested in the position of the cup holders.
Mention of Sir Henry Segrave at Windermere, but not Donald Cambell at Coniston dates it, but only just his crash was about 18 months in the future.
Jonny TVR said:
There are so many gems in this article and a reminder of a time when speed wasn't demonised. Start from the motorway heading some way down.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
Bill Boddy @ his finest, Love it !!https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
Edited by Jonny TVR on Monday 8th April 23:41
I am guessing that “ Jenks” DSJ - Dennis Jenkinson accompanied WB, as Jenks was running an early Porsche 356 at that time, before taking delivery of his brand new C registered carmen red, E-Type Coupe in late 65, by which time he was Motor Sports roving European Corespondent.
Jenks stated that “ I chose red, for my new E Type Jaguar, as it stood out against Any background, vital for the high speeds that i would be covering”. ( His usual cruising speed was 115mph . Writing in the late 70s, he stated that
“Nowadays though, high speed motoring has to be totally invisible”
Jenks prefered his early 356 to a 3.8 E - Type, because of the 3.8s appaling gear box, seats and lights, but a late night tear up with what turned out to be a new 4.2 E Type, changed his mind.
I grew up reading Motor Sport and the writings of these two motoring greats and sadly, their like will never be seen again.
Just wished i could have met them both.
RichB said:
neutral 3 said:
Possibly, yet the E-Type is, in my opinion, the better looking car. (Crap brakes too, IIRC, not that they're ever likely to trouble me personally
)Wacky Racer said:
Speed limit was upped to 70 several months later
https://www.historyhit.com/1965-introduction-of-70...
No, as the piece you linked correctly states, the speed limit was imposed, not "upped" as there was no universal speed limit in force. https://www.historyhit.com/1965-introduction-of-70...
When the M1 opened, the Midland Red bus company was able to specify a single-decker motorway bus that could cruise at 95 m.p.h. or so and as they were pretty brick-like in shape they dragged a lot of air with them - which we who followed could take advantage of! Back on topic, Autosport had one as the subject of a Christmas Road Test.
Not long after that, Standerwick introduced the double-decker Leyland Atlantean - just as fast and a lot more wake for us to ride!
Allan L said:
No, as the piece you linked correctly states, the speed limit was imposed, not "upped" as there was no universal speed limit in force.
When the M1 opened, the Midland Red bus company was able to specify a single-decker motorway bus that could cruise at 95 m.p.h. or so and as they were pretty brick-like in shape they dragged a lot of air with them - which we who followed could take advantage of! Back on topic, Autosport had one as the subject of a Christmas Road Test.
Not long after that, Standerwick introduced the double-decker Leyland Atlantean - just as fast and a lot more wake for us to ride!
Yes, sorry, I meant reduced. Back then a typical family car would struggle to reach 85mph, that's why the "E" type was such a sensation when it was unveiled in 1961. When the M1 opened, the Midland Red bus company was able to specify a single-decker motorway bus that could cruise at 95 m.p.h. or so and as they were pretty brick-like in shape they dragged a lot of air with them - which we who followed could take advantage of! Back on topic, Autosport had one as the subject of a Christmas Road Test.
Not long after that, Standerwick introduced the double-decker Leyland Atlantean - just as fast and a lot more wake for us to ride!
I’ve got all those Motor Sport articles as originals - searched through my Dads old magazines to find them when I got my ‘64 4.2 Coupe project. Interesting that E-Type brakes are often called inadequate these days, but if the systems aren’t worn out, even the early ones are pretty good, and most contemporary road tests praise them.
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