Chassis 148 in my garage

[biggles]

I've put my money where my big mouth is and bought chassis 148 which came up on the WSCC for sale section the other day.

It's road registered but according to the previous owner is full race spec - 'all steel' (don't know what that means) 1300 x flow on twin 45 dellortos, dry sump. TranX CR straight cut 4 speed box and narrowed escort rear axle with Quaife LSD. it's not midget based so the front suspension is very similar to the 'pre-lit' seven, and uses a narrowed spitfire rack and spitfire uprights. Front and rear fully rose jointed.

Bodywork (no hump, full width roll bar) is OK but has paint blisters filled with resiney smelling fluid, so some work needed there and of course it needs serious recommissioning having spent 20 years sitting! Aluminium doors and got some body spares too.

Not sure how Bob's 6'6'' son gets in to his as I can't get in at the moment (I'm 6'1 1/2'') so the seats will come out and I might have to move the (balance bar) pedals forward.

Pics in a few days!

Yours excitedly
Biggles

[jonclancy]

Well done that man!!!

As it's an ex-Chris Smith vehicle, maybe he could shed some light on the spec.

If you pull your finger out, we can [rag it] conduct a test drive and post purchase shakedown at the Hullavington trackday on the 19th.

Sounds like the ideal track weapon for the Speed Series or that other race seriecs mentioned here recently.

Photos on Photobucket (and plenty of them) please...


PS Can we turn on BBCode, please?

[biggles]

Don't get your hopes up for Hullavington, I've got a TVR to sell first, and when I say it's in my garage, I actually mean in my Dad's garage along with a couple of my other cars 50 miles away! I'll move the tivver along soonest, then I can get it in to my garage at my house and start titivating it!

Also, turns out it isn't a Chris Smith car but the one raced by a chap called Chris Elford or Alford. I'm hoping Chris Smith is still about on here and can shed a bit of light on its history..... Are you out there Chris???

Hopefully I'll be getting some pics through of its early 90's rebuild and I'll post some after I get down to see it next.

Cheers
Biggles

[Splat]

Sounds like a quick spec! IIRC didn't the originals use Herald uprights at the front? If so, then Spitfire items must be close? And you won't have the lousy front bearing/ king-pin issues of the rest of us. Either way, it's due a visit to the Hants/Wilts borders..........

[LA 11 builder]

Here is a link to Sussex Sportscars where Chris Alford is employed. http://www.sussexsportscars.co.uk/class ... t_is_back/

His bio says he started racing in 1965......

[biggles]

Hi again guys!

Splat - yeah not totally sure on the sorce of the uprights but I have a Burlington that uses spit uprights so will see if they are the same. ISTR herald and spit ones are the same, vitesse ones were the different ones but could well be wrong. Thanks for the kind offer to visit, will hopefully manage it a bit later in the year!

LA11 - thanks for the tip off, I will drop him an email and see if it was his car.....

Regards all

Biggles

[jonclancy]

Might be worth asking Chris if he will do an hour or two consultation to review the car and to identify works required. If it was his racer, he would have known it inside out.

[biggles]

edited as I've linked to my photoalbum, see next post.

[biggles]

right, after timing out several times I'm going to try this link to the whole album in slideshow format

http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/Timswesty/slideshow/

[jonclancy]

Nice one, Tim!!

Now, when do we get to come over and test Vmax? Seriously, that's a nice project you have there. Expect to see you on the road this Summer.

Brake seals, new fluids, and some Contralube for the electrics and you'll be sorted. Tyres will probably be off, but that'll just add to the mayhem!