Great British Cars often forgotten

[Andrew Gray]

Great British Cars often forgotten
The other weekend I had the pleasure of not only spending the weekend with Alex the Son and Custodian of many of the Jomars but also had the pleasure of a drive out in this little race car.
Often Forgotten in the TVR history story as the early cars made pre Grantura era next year it is 60 years since his Father first ordered and received the first Chassis which became the first Jomar great little car and for a car built in a shed nearly 60 years ago drives and handles rather nice a rather tight fit for my 6ft and 19stone frame but once in rather comfortable
This car is not the first Jomar however a great little car and still racing in the USA in historic racing events
http://www.jomar-cars.com/









Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Skyedriver said:

Pretty little car and despite having owned 3 Chimaera and a 350 Wedge, I'd never heard of them
You can see the Grantura in it

Hi Tony Glad you like it.
I does amaze me that the early history of TVR is not better known its an amazing history and story and well worth getting the great books that have been written on the Marque Peter Filbys Book the Early years is a fantastic read
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Keep it stiff said:

Great topic for a thread, any other suggestions?

Hi Mike
I really hope others see the potential of the topic I am sure there are many cars out there that there where very few made such as the Jomars that many of us have never heard of if others have pictures stories and Links to where you can find out more it has the potential to be a very interesting thread.
Come on guys help us learn of others
England was littered with little companies I believe making there own cars I could name a few but I know there where lots
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

TonyBrooks said:

I will put my Tornado Typhoon forward. Now sold abroad now but was an interesting exercise and featured a Ford Side valve engine which after lots of work produced 45 bhp! Ist Registered in 1960.

Wow a real looker with lots of curves never heard of them thanks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_Cars
Andrew

Edited by Andrew Gray on Friday 23 October 06:39

[Andrew Gray]

Electron said:

I'll go for the Jomars older cousin the Microplas Mistral - this is the Buckler version ..



The Jomar was made using two Microplas bonnets ...

Great one Chris
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplas
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Electron said:

I own a set of the moulds for it :-)

Next one ... Elva BMW

Another good one

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elva_(car_manufactur...

Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Roy C said:

How about the pre-war Squire? Built regardless of cost (which finished off the company), only 7 were made.
One of these cars has a particularly nice body by Corsica of London:

Edited by Roy C on Friday 23 October 08:13

Wow Stunning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squire_Car_Manufactu...
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Pete F said:

I'll offer up the Unipower GT, approximately 75 manufactured in London between '66 and '69. This one's mine...

Cool Car

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unipower

Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

mike9009 said:

Maybe not a great British car, but certainly a Great British car and almost definitely forgotten!

It is a Enfield Safari, based upon a Jeep chassis with a 4.2 straight six. The photo is on the Isle of Wight, where the car was designed and built (in Cowes). It was designed by John Ackroyd who was later famed with designing Thrust 1 and Thrust 2.

Enfield were a spin off from Royal Enfield, and were designing and building electric cars on the Isle of Wight. I think only about 100 vehicles were built. The company was owned by a Greek shipping owner and so also had some manufacturing on the Isle of Syros in Greece.

Now that is nearly forgotten cant even find a Wikipedia info on it maybe someone should write one
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Pete F said:

Andrew Gray said:

Now that is nearly forgotten

You say that like it's a bad thing, not a looker was it? :-0

No its not exactly a looker just nice to know about a car I had never heard of
A

[Andrew Gray]

Vanin said:

Sorry I do not know how to put the photo on here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_A40_Sports

Nice one

[Andrew Gray]

nicanary said:

I thought the thread was GREAT British cars. A Paramount and an A40 Sports?

I think its a matter of opinion we are still living in Great Britain and the Great there is a contentious subject but best saved for another thread
Andrew

Edited by Andrew Gray on Saturday 24th October 11:45

[Andrew Gray]

Astacus said:

Andrew, you'll should all about the designer of that car.......

One Trevor Fiore I think

Recognise the rear end?

Edited by Astacus on Saturday 24th October 15:07

Absolutely
A

[Andrew Gray]

GT6 Jonsey said:

Being a triumph TR man I have to chip in with this lot
Swallow doretti

Very Nice

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_Doretti

[Andrew Gray]

GT6 Jonsey said:

Peerless

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peerless_(UK_car)

[Andrew Gray]

mph said:

So are we looking for British cars that are underappreciated and have perhaps fallen off the radar ?

If so I suggest in alphabetical order from A to E :-

Allard
Armstrong Siddeley
Berkeley
Bond
Britannia
Costin
Dellow
Elva

Not all of them are great but they are British.

Well here is the Bond
Certainly an interesting concept not at the front of the Queue when looks where being given out but certainly sold so many loved them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_Minicar
http://www.bondownersclub.co.uk/

[Andrew Gray]

Allard

https://en.wikipedia.org/w

http://www.allardownersclub.org/wordpress/iki/Alla...

[Andrew Gray]

Sticks. said:

Berkley T60 from earlier this year.

Thanks Nick
One of my Favourites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Cars

And a very active owners club
http://www.berkeleycarclub.com/
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

Sticks. said:

Andrew Gray said:

Thanks Nick
One of my Favourites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Cars

And a very active owners club
http://www.berkeleycarclub.com/
Andrew

I have to admit I'd never seen one before. I see you're in Kent. It was at the Dering Arms, Pluckley. 2nd Sunday, @ 11.30/12, well worth a visit as on a nice day there'll probably be something unusual as well as the MGs etc. I think a French (iirc) fire engine was the oddest so far although an Amilcar and a Simplex come to mind.

Sounds good afraid out TVRCC meet is the 2nd Sunday as well over near Faversham
Andrew

[Andrew Gray]

The Surveyor said:

A couple more for the list

Something Welsh, the Gilbern, both in GT and Invader form, and

Piper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbern