Delta's Twentea-Twentea Break

[Gerard C]

In the van market I guess the Bedford presented the worse load/volume capacity of its category. Thats for Ford fans. But, take this 2.3 engine with a proper head and good carbs and throw it in a Magnum and you'll promptly turn any Grp1 Escort into a stupid machine. Thats for GM fans. Droop snoot anyone?

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

Ha ha! See my comment #121 re Bedford CF's

Actually John, I seem to remember a story that as well as the CF van Lotus also used a Viva GT road car to test the 907 engine in too, do you know about that?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Actually John, I seem to remember a story that as well as the CF van Lotus also used a Viva GT road car to test the 907 engine in too, do you know about that?

RAH 713F

Story here: http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EHis...velopment.html

Edit... more detailed story here makes ref to above owner. Also mentions the CF van: https://www.annteak.com/lotus-viva-gt-history/

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

Ha ha! See my comment #121 re Bedford CF's

Quite, John! At a time when most petrol transits had the nasty 1.7 litre V4, with no torque and no ability to rev, the 2.3 sohc CF was a rocket ship in comparison! A relatively easy job to put the Lotus engine in, I guess.

Thanks for the Viva GT info, everyone. Pool car! Must have been fun working for Lotus in those days....

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by E.B

RAH 713F

Story here: http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EHis...velopment.html

Edit... more detailed story here makes ref to above owner. Also mentions the CF van: https://www.annteak.com/lotus-viva-gt-history/

Thanks for the links E.B. I first learned about the Viva years ago when I stumbled across the annteak website.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Quite, John! At a time when most petrol transits had the nasty 1.7 litre V4, with no torque and no ability to rev, the 2.3 sohc CF was a rocket ship in comparison! A relatively easy job to put the Lotus engine in, I guess.

Thanks for the Viva GT info, everyone. Pool car! Must have been fun working for Lotus in those days....

To continue the Bedford CF theme, I think some of the tow trucks that Bill Blydenstein Racing used also had his 2.6 litre stroker engines fitted and possibly with 16v heads too, I bet they were quick!

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Actually John, I seem to remember a story that as well as the CF van Lotus also used a Viva GT road car to test the 907 engine in too, do you know about that?

I don't remember a GT, but we had two HC Viva's fitted with 907 engines. They were pounded round & round the Hethel track by contract drivers in order to knock-up the requisite mileage for Federal certification.

When the job was completed, the blue car had it's original engine fitted & was sold, whilst the rather attractive metallic green one was destined to become Chapman's personal car. However he took one look at the salmon-coloured interior & said "No thanks". As a result, that too had the engine swapped back to the original & it became a pool car. It was much preferred to the alternative Mk 3 Cortina's. I did many miles in it collecting up parts for the build of the first production Elite's. For a week or two I probably spent more time in that car than at my desk!

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by E.B

RAH 713F

Story here: http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EHis...velopment.html

Edit... more detailed story here makes ref to above owner. Also mentions the CF van: https://www.annteak.com/lotus-viva-gt-history/

Ah yes, I remember that one now - it used to lurk at the back of the engineering shop & I seem to remember it was a drab green in those days.

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Quite, John! At a time when most petrol transits had the nasty 1.7 litre V4, with no torque and no ability to rev, the 2.3 sohc CF was a rocket ship in comparison! A relatively easy job to put the Lotus engine in, I guess.

Thanks for the Viva GT info, everyone. Pool car! Must have been fun working for Lotus in those days....

Yes, it was fun, with some great people, many of whom I am still in touch with.

The Viva GT wasn't really a pool car though, more a development hack. For pool cars we mostly made do with rather mundane Mk3 Cortina 1.6L's, later replaced by Mk2 Escort's. There were also a few Renault 5's which we took in exchange for a new Elite.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

Yes, it was fun, with some great people, many of whom I am still in touch with.

The Viva GT wasn't really a pool car though, more a development hack. For pool cars we mostly made do with rather mundane Mk3 Cortina 1.6L's, later replaced by Mk2 Escort's. There were also a few Renault 5's which we took in exchange for a new Elite.

It must have been interesting times John, and far more fun than working for a living!

[bauble]

I remember my first Trabant it was a 1932 Model Sickle 55, the one with the 8.4 litre V9 engine. It was good for at least 47mph and easily out accelerated the Jaguars of the day. As I'm sure you will all recall it won the Tibet 24 Hour race three years in succession taking the Llama Cup in perpetuity. Major problem was obtaining a supply of Ox ding to fuel the thing, and the exhaust fumes were quite disgusting, so much so that the local council issued a restraint of use order on it.
I swapped it for an ex-postmans bicycle which proved faster.

As Delia says; Happy days …………. where's me pills ….?

[delta]

This is just for our Bob. Delta first race car truck. Mini Artic with transit tractor unit. V4 single carb. Yes it was very slow but we had a lot of fun back in those days. We would get to the track unload then I could pile everyone into the crew cab and shoot of down the pub. happy days.Actually "very happy days"
Can someone spin picture round. Thanks.

[Mike Bell]

[bauble]

Originally Posted by delta

This is just for our Bob. Delta first race car truck. Mini Artic with transit tractor unit. V4 single carb. Yes it was very slow but we had a lot of fun back in those days. We would get to the track unload then I could pile everyone into the crew cab and shoot of down the pub. happy days.Actually "very happy days"
Can someone spin picture round. Thanks.

Thanks Iain, that has REALLY cheered me up!

[delta]

Originally Posted by bauble

Thanks Iain, that has REALLY cheered me up!

That's good then. I will tell you later about an eventful journey home from Castle Combe. That will cheer you up even more.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

This is just for our Bob. Delta first race car truck. Mini Artic with transit tractor unit. V4 single carb. Yes it was very slow but we had a lot of fun back in those days. We would get to the track unload then I could pile everyone into the crew cab and shoot of down the pub. happy days.Actually "very happy days"
Can someone spin picture round. Thanks.

Just realised our F1 Champ has stolen your race number! (#44)

[Mike Bell]

Talking of F1, I found this pic on this month’s calendar amazing. It’s the Honda F1 preparing their car at the Italian GP in 1965. Times certainly change!

[Cliff Ryan]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Just realised our F1 Champ has stolen your race number! (#44)

And mine!

Great photo Iain.

All this talk of Transits reminds me of a night at a pub in Harrow the night before the England Scotland game a long time ago when my friend and I got into his V4 Transit at the end of the night, only to find the back full of Scottish football fans that had each paid some enterprising sole who was stood by the unlocked back doors for a ride to the ground at Wembley after closing, so we had to make a detour on the way home!

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Talking of F1, I found this pic on this month’s calendar amazing. It’s the Honda F1 preparing their car at the Italian GP in 1965. Times certainly change!

I found the charts on the wall very interesting, full of useful information.

[bauble]

Those Honda Mechanics did not know how lucky they were.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by bauble

Those Honda Mechanics did not know how lucky they were.

Yep, I’ll give you that!

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Just realised our F1 Champ has stolen your race number! (#44)

Shhh - you'll upset Bob again.

[delta]

I've got a few minuets before we head of to Bicester to test a car.
We had a nice day at Castle Combe way back in 1991.Loaded up and three of us in cab in the truck headed home. We just through Reading with around 10 miles to go back to workshop. Fuel pump packed up.
Hmmm, what to do. fear not.We rigged up a gallon can of petrol and my Brother in Law held the can resting on the window with a gravity feed to the carburetor.Took about an hour but we got back to work and as i recall still had time to get to the pub.
There you go Bob. headline news.

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Talking of F1, I found this pic on this month’s calendar amazing. It’s the Honda F1 preparing their car at the Italian GP in 1965. Times certainly change!

Wow . . . that's more like one of us at Spa in recent years.

[delta]

Yes I raced no 44 all through the 80's and 90's but not to bothered what number I run these days.