A rather odd DB7 (help wanted)
Discussion
I have a Lea Francis DB7 which I hope you guys might be able to shine some light on I posted a thread in General Gassing as it’s not strictly AM and had little response. There is also a thread running on the AMOC site, which hasn’t got far either.
Story is She has been sitting under a tarp in an industrial estate for about 5 years. She looks like a plain old ordinary DB7 Drophead, until you open the bonnet and see a V12 Jag engine sitting there. The other give away is a Lea Francis Badge and an other which reads 2001/V12.
I know Lea Francis used to make pushbikes and car quite a few years ago and do have an owners club. I have been in touch with the guy who owns Lea Francis, a nice old boy. Unfortunately his memory isn’t the best, however he did tell me the following…………..
Chassis Number 5510
In reply to your recent e mail. The facts concerning the build of this car according to my memory that the DB7 Type body and chassis was an experimental unit which was never built up by Aston Marton, but came into the possession of QCR Motors who were sub contractors to Jaguar in addition to ourselves when we were experimenting with a new sports car of our own some ten years ago. The engine, I believe, was also an experimental jaguar unit. We do know that the DB7 was designed to take the V12 engine but this project never proceeded for this one car which QCR built up. For your information the engine type is XJR.XXO.6.7litre. The engine number is 8S.646025B. We recall that it was highly tuned by specialist TWR. It was last seen in our works in approximately six years ago for minor adjustments.
I’ve also been in touch with QCR, but he didn’t have fond memories of the car ‘cause he got stitched up when he sold it. So other than telling me about a ‘robbing bunch of b
ds’ wasn’t much help.
It’s help, but not who, where, when & why I was hoping for. Do you guys know anymore about it?
Story is She has been sitting under a tarp in an industrial estate for about 5 years. She looks like a plain old ordinary DB7 Drophead, until you open the bonnet and see a V12 Jag engine sitting there. The other give away is a Lea Francis Badge and an other which reads 2001/V12.
I know Lea Francis used to make pushbikes and car quite a few years ago and do have an owners club. I have been in touch with the guy who owns Lea Francis, a nice old boy. Unfortunately his memory isn’t the best, however he did tell me the following…………..
Chassis Number 5510
In reply to your recent e mail. The facts concerning the build of this car according to my memory that the DB7 Type body and chassis was an experimental unit which was never built up by Aston Marton, but came into the possession of QCR Motors who were sub contractors to Jaguar in addition to ourselves when we were experimenting with a new sports car of our own some ten years ago. The engine, I believe, was also an experimental jaguar unit. We do know that the DB7 was designed to take the V12 engine but this project never proceeded for this one car which QCR built up. For your information the engine type is XJR.XXO.6.7litre. The engine number is 8S.646025B. We recall that it was highly tuned by specialist TWR. It was last seen in our works in approximately six years ago for minor adjustments.
I’ve also been in touch with QCR, but he didn’t have fond memories of the car ‘cause he got stitched up when he sold it. So other than telling me about a ‘robbing bunch of b
ds’ wasn’t much help.It’s help, but not who, where, when & why I was hoping for. Do you guys know anymore about it?
In case there is anyone following this thread Tom mailed me this..............
Having asked several knowledgeable members of the factory the general consensus is that it is a prototype version of the V12 Vantage Volante. The dates would also fit as the V12 did not arrive on production until after the vehicle in question. The jag engine would have been to test the abilities of the DB7 bodyshell with the additional power as well as refining the interior componants (heating, cooling etc). It is certainly a standard DB7 body (V12 Vantage had additional cooling vents in the bonnet) though and is probably not safe to drive as most prototypes were later scrapped.
I hope this helps, even if only a little bit.
Having asked several knowledgeable members of the factory the general consensus is that it is a prototype version of the V12 Vantage Volante. The dates would also fit as the V12 did not arrive on production until after the vehicle in question. The jag engine would have been to test the abilities of the DB7 bodyshell with the additional power as well as refining the interior componants (heating, cooling etc). It is certainly a standard DB7 body (V12 Vantage had additional cooling vents in the bonnet) though and is probably not safe to drive as most prototypes were later scrapped.
I hope this helps, even if only a little bit.
And the reply was.............................
thanks for the theory, there are quite a few bouncing around. I initially though the same as you it being a prototype for the Vantage, but she was built in August 2000 and registered June 2001 well after the Vantage was released.
The guy from QCR? who built it up used her as a daily driver for over a year and she has had a SVA by Lea Francis, so I don't have any issues with safety.
What I have found out was that Tom Walkinshaw built a coupe for himself in 1998 with one of his touring car Jag V12's in. I'm not sure if this is a link but she does have a Tom Walkinshaw engine.
Thanks for your time.
So really none the wiser.
thanks for the theory, there are quite a few bouncing around. I initially though the same as you it being a prototype for the Vantage, but she was built in August 2000 and registered June 2001 well after the Vantage was released.
The guy from QCR? who built it up used her as a daily driver for over a year and she has had a SVA by Lea Francis, so I don't have any issues with safety.
What I have found out was that Tom Walkinshaw built a coupe for himself in 1998 with one of his touring car Jag V12's in. I'm not sure if this is a link but she does have a Tom Walkinshaw engine.
Thanks for your time.
So really none the wiser.
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