What's a Cologne Capri?

[Graham]

Have vans ever been raced (apart from the Supervan, and that hasn't raced I don't think)??

[KC]

I just saw a TVR Tasmin 280i convertible at Hallet Motor Racing circuit near Tulsa last week. It was parked at the Eurointernational US F3 team pits area. Very rare to see a TVR stateside, much less around Oklahoma.

[Graham]

Hmmmm... the TVR scene in America is actually quite healthy. I would think there are approximately 3-400 cars over there from Granturas to some of the newer models, with an increasing(ly) enthusiastic base.
I guess with such a large country, the cars are very thinly spread. There's a large meeting called "Out of the Woodwork" but I can't quite remember where it's held. I can find out.

Anyway, I think America's regulations on noise and emissions mean that it can be hard to get a TVR into the country. I've heard that there is some form of 'showcar' license or something, that allows you to bypass the regs but limits your mileage. Maybe you know more?

This is the TVR Car Club North America's website :

http://www.voicenet.com/~crc6/

although I'm probably not allowed to post that there, so just edit it out if I'm not.


Cheers.

[SNH]

Vans - There was a Morris Traveller in the CSCC Pre-57s a few years ago

[Slowcoach]

Back in the late 70's I went to a few AMOC racedays at Brands Hatch where I saw a car racing known as the 'Ferrari Breadvan' - tricky to be exactly sure of the model but from memory it was a bit 250GTOish from the front with an extended cabin and upright backdoor , half glass .Surely the ultimate delivery van ? Lovely. Anyone else seen it ? or know anything about it subsequently ?

[TimD]

Ah, good call Slowcoach. Happy days indeed when the "Breadvan" used to take part in historic racing.

You were close when you said it was a bit GTO'ish. It's actually a 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB, which started life with the standard SWB Berlinetta bodywork. In 1962, however, the body was removed and placed on another Ferrari chassis, and chassis #2819GT was clothed in the "Breadvan" bodywork as an exercise in aerodynamics. If I remember rightly, the theory being tested was that a large flat plane of roof, as in an estate car or panel van, was somehow good for cleaner airflow and less drag.

In "Breadvan" form, the car took part in the 1962 Le Mans, but failed to finish. It was seen racing in British "clubbies" until the early eighties.

Since 1991, it has, I believe, been in residence in New Orleans. Its last visit to these shores was for the 1997 Goodwood festival of speed.

One of my favourite cars for sure. I have a 1/43 model of it lurking in my "for construction" box, and it may just come out soon, if I can finally get the aerofoil section right on the Jody Scheckter Wolf that's been hassling me for the last week...

[Peter Mallett]

I've seen it race on many occaissions. It was actually built for (or maybe bought by?) an arab prince (I think). Don't recall it being a development car though.

[Slowcoach]

Excellent TimD , you are motor racings equivalent of football's John Motson ! Good to know it's still in one piece , shame it's not racing , perhaps Nick Mason might one day buy it. When I used to watch it race it was normally beaten by the later more powerful cars - but it made a fantastic noise and always seemed to finish in the top 4 or 5 .

[Peter Mallett]

Hmmm.

Seems like my website host is taking advantage of my postings. Never mind Mallett RACING.co.uk coming to an ISP near you soon.

[SNH]

Pete
what?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by SNH
Pete
what?

All the pics I've posted have changed to an advertisement.

[SNH]

do you want me to add a link into http://www.thegrid.co.uk to your site, (reciprocal of course)?

[Graham]

BTW : coming back to the original topic, there was a Cologne Capri at Combe and I took some piccies. Is there any way to tell an original from a replica?

Come to think of it, how do you tell a GT40 from a GTD40?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by Graham


Come to think of it, how do you tell a GT40 from a GTD40?

Dunno

[Michael M]

Peter, which place in Holland?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by Michael M
Peter, which place in Holland?

Working in Zoetermeer. Living in Voorburg.

On Topic. The Cologne Capri seen at Combe was probably the Vince Woodman car. I think its owned by Tom Walkinshaw now but not sure. As I understand it there are only three or four left. .

[Michael M]

Peter, sorry, that's too far away.

[Graham]

The Capri is the same one that is in Autosport this week.

[Tina-Lou Ashcro]

Hi my name is Tina Ashcroft and Peter Ashcroft is my father. It's strange to see all the interest in the old Ford Motorsport/Boreham. My father and mother live in South Carolina now, he retired years ago. I remember all of the names from the RAC rallys and other drivers. I remember I had an awful crush on Jochen Mass??? Not sure how it is spelt, I was 12 at the time, too funny. We lived in Koln, Cologne for about 8 months back then , I seem to remeber my father muttering about head gaskets a lot.

[phoenix]

This maybe mis-information from an aged and cloudy memory, so I appologise beforehand, but wasn't the name a reference to the base engine used?

The earlier Capris had the 3 litre 'Essex' V6 - built at Dagenham. The later Capris had the lighter 2.8 litre 'Cologne' V6.

[pugracer2]

Just realised this thread was from the year 2000. What a coincidence that Vince Woodman was entered at Combe 2 weeks ago in the very same cologne capri. I don't think he made it, but i may be wrong and perhaps i just missed him as i was preparing to race?

[Notso Swift]

It may be old but it was a good read, especially the question what would one be worth 30,000GBP? er, no, maybe just a little bit more.

[Peter Mallett]

Hmm,

I wonder if this thread wouldn't go well in Historics? About time we tried to trace the cars.

And welcome Tina. Get your father to help us out here.

For the record I know that Vince's car has recently been restored by Weslake Engineering and indeed they are now offering replacement parts. I think you can actually build an entire car again providing you can find a suitable shell.

[Notso Swift]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think you can actually build an entire car again providing you can find a suitable shell.

: lol

[weslake]

Hello.
Have just come accross your forum and can advise that at Weslake we are now making the original V6 Capri works car engine parts again.. We hope over the coming months to reintroduce many of the old Weslake racing products.
We are pleased to help owners and builders with tec info where we can. Please feel free to contact us.