This is something of an index issue with both a subject index covering all previous issues of the magazine
(helps with Alarics BOGOF sale) and a list of all known Olympics with current or last known owners.
In the interests of our members I obtained an insurance quotation from Adrian Flux Insurance for my Olympic, feeling that I was paying more than average from Footman James (£122.25 for unlimited mileage etc etc and several drivers). I called their friendly and expert staff on their 0870 number. After 15 minutes of pre-recorded messages to keep me listening and a few brief interrogations interspersed with Motown B sides, I was quoted £120 for limited mileage and one driver. When I rang FJ to renew, the phone was answered immediately by a real person and the job was over within 3 minutes. Oh, and my call cost me nothing as they have a geographical (01) number (I'm with Toucan). The paperwork arrived the next morning. That's what I call a good service.
Another company with a good (excellent) service has come to my notice via Nigel Whittaker. This is b, Automotive Components Ltd, of Coventry, who manufacture steering columns, shafts, UJs etc for major companies but, rather surprisingly, are happy to supply a one-off at very moderate cost. Nigels purpose-made shaft with UJs cost £45 (inc carriage) and came within a month. They also do a steering lock especially for the kit car market. He rates them highly. Contact them on 02476 687714 or info@bsquaredautomotive.co.uk ; or visit www.bsquaredautomotive.co.uk.
Phase 2 Subframe
Several Olympic Phase 2 owners have recently reported a need for a new subframe. The committee recently discussed whether to take the lead in getting a batch made, but could not decide on the best course of action, feeling that members requirements were too varied for a single design to satisfy everyones needs. Various designs have been aired in the magazine which have attended to the perceived faults in the original design (castor too large and asymmetrical; anti-dive having undesirable side-effects; non-Standard Triumph bushes) and offer other features too. Will those members needing a new subframe please let us know your requirements. If there is sufficient unanimity one of these designs could perhaps be made a club standard part. (NB main features: castor angle, removal of anti-dive, use of Triumph uprights and bushes, bolt-in/laminate-in).
Dear Mr. Spendlove,
John Woollatt was a friend and colleague of mine in the 1950s and 60s when we both worked for the same engineering company and were members of the same dinghy sailing club. We lost touch in the mid 60s when he moved away from the Manchester area.
He was a very good mechanical engineer and amongst other things he built a Ford 10 Special from scratch. In the early 1960s he was involved in the development of the Phase 1 Rochdale Olympic and I distinctly recall the early production prototype (it had a curved windscreen) which Rochdale Motor Panels supplied for him to carry out development work. I rode in this car on several occasions. It was totally lacking in internal trim apart from the instrument panel. I recollect that the doors did not fit very well, requiring a sharp slam to get them to latch properly and that one of the mechanical weaknesses was the rear suspension attachment to the body shell.
The purpose of this message is to enquire whether any of your members know anything of John Woollatt or his whereabouts. Efforts by myself and others over the years have failed to turn up any information. What we do know is that in the late 60s he left corporate employment to go self employed as a consultant without, we believe, too much success and then possibly went to the North East as a technical college lecturer or similar. Maybe some of your longer standing members remember him and have some information. I realise that this is a very long shot, but any information which you might be able to unearth would be greatly appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
James Robinshaw.
(Replies to Alaric please)
I am interested in the Rochdale with no roof. My father Geoff Williams removed the roof some 20 years ago and as a young boy of 12 I travelled all over the country to shows with him in this car (come rain or shine). I have just stumbled across a picture of it on the Practical Classic web site and it has bought back some wonderful memories. There is no info on the site about the car so I was wondering if you know of the car and if it is still around, and maybe for sale.
If you have any info. or if you could pass my e-mail address to the owner it would be great. I have attached the picture of the car as I cannot remember the reg.
Many thanks
Carl Williams
(via the website)
(Replies to Alaric please)
WHAT DID YOU BUY THAT FOR?
Dear Alan
In 2002 I purchased a Rochdale GT first registered in 1961. When the car arrived at home the first thing my son said was, What did you buy that for? The car had a Rochdale chassis to which the body was bonded, a standard E93A Ford engine and was running but without an MOT.
After giving it the once over I replaced the steering column, king pins, wheel bearings, water pump, tyres, some wiring and trim etc. The red body was, and still is, in the well-used condition OK for the road but far from good. Early on I decided to make getting the car back on the road and enjoying some motoring a priority.
While carrying out the work I was lucky enough to come across a suitable Aquaplane head and manifolds. The inlet manifold was for twin Zenith Carbs which to be honest I was not able to set up to run satisfactorily but then I am not an expert. I eventually gave up the Zeniths and used a Single SU with a homemade manifold.
About three years later, time flies when you are enjoying yourself, and with a few adjustments here and there and getting the appropriate things to work, I got an MOT for the GT, but not before the examiner said, What did you buy that for? Since then I have been checking out the reliability and enjoying GT motoring, with the body still looking somewhat shabby. The first time I took the car out I had a conversation with someone who surprisingly recognized the Rochdale who started the conversation by saying, What did you buy that for?
Best Regards,
Roy Beasley
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
1 |
Fire precautions |
Keith Hamer |
|
'A' Series Conversion |
Ken Whitehead |
||
2 |
Radius rods - Phase I |
Roy Howells-Jones |
|
3 |
Engine coolant - 'Forlife' |
EBYM |
|
Master cylinder, brake or clutch, changing |
Keith Hamer |
||
Radius rod bushes |
Ken Whitehead |
||
GRP - glass reinforced plastic |
Miles Wilkins |
||
Windscreens, acrylic, crazing |
William Beesley |
||
4 |
GRP - repair & preparation for spraying GRP |
Miles Wilkins |
|
Radius rods - Phase I - comments on above |
Roy Yates |
||
5 |
Dampers, telescopic (1) |
Dan Monaghan |
|
GRP - paints & painting |
Miles Wilkins |
||
Radius rods - Phase I - comments on above |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
6 |
Subframe, front, Phase I |
Mike Bamber |
|
Ignition timing |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
Oil filter bowl seal |
Roy Yates |
||
7 |
Door hinges - re-hanging doors (1) |
Lloyd Hornchurch |
|
Door hinges - re-hanging doors (2) |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
Engines, alternative |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
Insurance |
Roy Yates |
||
8 |
Batteries - in cold weather |
EBYM |
|
One wife's view |
Janet Hamer |
||
Door hinges - re-hanging doors (3) |
Paul Haywood |
||
GRP - brush painting |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
9 |
Car theft devices |
Graham Bishop |
|
Engines, alternative (more on drag) |
Paul Haywood |
||
Windscreen, rear, popping out |
Roger Coupe |
||
10 |
Suspension, rear, Phase I - The Theory' |
Ken Helliwell |
|
Drag, Oh what a... |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
Suspension, front, fulcrum pin assembly |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
Riley-engined Rochdale Olympic - Road test, |
Sporting Motorist |
||
11 |
Rear axle ratios |
Roger Coupe |
|
13 |
Members Register, ROC 1983 |
||
14 |
Speedometer, electronic |
Dan Monaghan |
|
15 |
Love/hate relationship |
Carys Yates |
|
Suspension, front, Phil bush mod |
Keith Pratt |
||
Olympic strength calculations |
Richard Parker |
||
16 |
Rochdaling in Singapore |
Ad Lammers |
|
Rochdale Olympic - Road test, |
Motor Sport June 1961 |
||
17 |
Cooling -'Keeping it cool'(1) |
||
18 |
Spares - Ph I - part numbers |
||
Cooling (3) |
Keith Hamer |
||
Cooling (2) |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Cheshire Kit Car Rally 1984 |
Roy Yates |
||
18 |
Window frames, Olympic |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
19 |
Drag factors |
Roy Howells-Jones |
|
Bellevue Classic Car Show 1984 |
Veritas |
||
20 |
2 of a kind - John Anstice Brown article |
Motor. Jan 1965 |
|
Petrol cap, thiefproof |
|||
21 |
Rochdales - 'Our history' |
||
Rear wheel flares - Roger Coupe's |
Mike Bamber |
||
22 |
Disc brake conversion - Phase I (1) |
Carsmith |
|
Windscreen wipers, two speed (1) |
Nick Reynolds |
||
23 |
Electrical wiring - Phase II - circuit diagram |
||
Electrical circuit - explanation |
Dan Monaghan |
||
24 |
Spare part numbers - Riley 1.5, Wolseley 1500 & |
||
25 |
Rear wheel arches - Keith Hamer's |
Keith Hamer |
|
Electrical - Vitesse steering column switc |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Radio suppression |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Rear suspension, ideas on independence |
Nick Reynolds |
||
26 |
Petrol cap. Jaguar, installation |
Nick Reynolds |
|
How I came to get a Rochhdale |
Paul Narramore |
||
27 |
Sierra 5-speed gearbox to Ford crossflow |
John Beach |
|
Door handles & locks - Marina |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Schematic diagram of Olympic Phase II |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Ventilation, thru' flow |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Wheels, PCDs of various |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Toyota 5-speed gearbox to Ford pre-crossflow |
Rooster Racing |
||
28 |
Coil spring calculations (1) |
Dan Monaghan |
|
Dampers, telescopic (2) |
Dan Monaghan |
||
Bush, trailing arm Ph II. dimensions |
John Beach |
||
Book review - 'Specialist Sports Cars'(Filby) |
Paul Narramore |
||
Festival of Yesteryear. Brands Hatch |
Paul Narramore |
||
Engine, recon 'Silver Seal' |
Roy Howells-Jones |
||
Exhausts, stainless steel |
Spiralo |
||
29 |
Norwich Union RAC Classic Run 1986 |
Malcolm McKay |
|
Book Review 'TVR - Success against odds' (Filby) |
Paul Narramore |
||
Coil spring calculations (2) |
Paul Narramore |
||
Dampers, telescopic (3) |
Paul Narramore |
||
Gearbox mounting, Phase I & Us |
Paul Narramore |
||
30 |
Bellevue Classic Car Show 1986 |
Keith Hamer |
|
Midland Kit Car Show 1986 |
Keith Hamer |
||
Bodywork mods, ideas on 'Sans septum?' |
Paul Narramore |
||
Radius rods - modifications |
Veritas |
||
31 |
Front suspension, Ballamy, GT |
Malcolm McKay |
|
Dampers & Coil springs (4) |
Mike Bamber |
||
Dampers, teles, Woodnead Ph II units (5) |
Paul Narramore |
||
32 |
Dynamo to alternator conversion |
||
Vacuum gauge |
|||
33 |
� |
Rear hatch conversion - to a Ph I |
Mike Sullivan |
Rochdales in print - list of mag articles |
Paul Narramore |
||
33 |
Law - on seatbelts |
Paul Narramore |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
34 |
Windscreen wipers, two speed (2) |
Alaric Spendlove |
|
The road that died (reprint of Motor article) |
Motor |
||
35 |
Electrical wiring - cable size |
Brian Tomlinson |
|
GT - original specification |
Grenville Phillips |
||
Disc brake conversion - |
GT Imp. Rod & Custom Club |
||
Viva la Rochdale |
Keith Hamer |
||
Bonnet safety catch - Olympic |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Throttle assembly mod |
Nick Reynolds |
||
Rear wheel arches - John West's |
Paul Narramore |
||
Rochdale Olympic Ph III? - drawing of Richard Parker's latest project |
Paul Narramore |
||
36 |
Rochdale Olympic GT - Reprint |
Guide to Used Sports Cars |
|
25 Years of Rochdaling - Part I |
John West |
||
Disc brake conversion - Phase I (2) |
Stan Hanks |
||
37 |
Second Thoughts |
Derek Argyle |
|
25 Years of Rochdaling - Part 2 |
John West |
||
Bromley Pageant 1988 |
Paul Narramore |
||
In Conversation with Dick Cawthome & Derek Argyle |
Paul Narramore |
||
Arrivederci, Roma! |
Robin Read |
||
38 |
Norwich Union RAC Rally 1988 |
Malcolm McKay |
|
The First Rochdale? |
Paul Narramore |
||
The Jehu |
Paul Narramore |
||
The Olympic that flew! |
Paul Narramore |
||
39 |
More Rochdaling - Pt 1 |
John West |
|
Diary of a Rebuild - GT - Pt 1 |
Ted Heriot |
||
40 |
Lucas Girling Low cost Anti-lock Brake System |
||
Driving along in my automobile.... |
Dick Cawthome |
||
More Rochdaling - Pt 2 |
John West |
||
The AFN Stanley Cup |
Tim Boyce & Alan Hinckley |
||
Rochdale Reminiscences |
Stan Thorpe |
||
Diary of a Rebuild - GT - Pt 2 |
Ted Heriot |
||
41 |
Mk VI/Jowett Jupiter |
Malcolm McKay |
|
42 |
Norwich Union RAC Rally 1989 |
Malcolm McKay |
|
Norwich Union RAC Rally 1989 |
Malcolm McKay |
||
The last of the Olympics? |
Paul Narramore |
||
A Tale of a Riviera |
Peter Allebone |
||
Pirelli Marathon 1989 Pt 1 |
Wally Dale |
||
43 |
Schematic diagram of Olympic Phase II |
Nick Reynolds |
|
Pirelli Marathon 1989 Pt 2 |
Wally Dale |
||
44 |
Norwich Union RAC Rally 1990 |
Malcolm McKay |
|
45 |
Sticking clutches |
Stan Hanks |
|
The AFN Stanley Cup |
Tim Boyce & Alan Hinckley |
||
46 |
John Kearle's Progress |
John Kearle |
|
Richard's Renovation |
Richard Morris |
||
48 |
902 DUF - My Version |
Dave Welsh |
|
The History of Rochdale Motor Panels - Pt 1 |
Harry Smith |
||
Book Reviews - 'To draw a long line': 'How to restore Fibreglass Bodywork'; 'Automotive Glassfibre'; 'Lotus Elite'; 'Flying on Four Wheels' |
Paul Narramore |
||
Paddock Bend, Here I Come! |
Paul Narramore |
||
48 |
Put Quite Simply - They Did Not Deliver! |
Nick Reynolds |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
49 |
Put Quite Simply -I Like My Olympic! |
Dave Pratt |
|
The History of Rochdale Motor Panels - Pt 2 |
Harry Smith |
||
Front suspension - Ph II - can it be improved? |
Nick Reynolds & Keith Pratt |
||
Olympic Body Moulds |
Paul Narramore |
||
50 |
Building a Gran Turismo Special - Pt 1 |
Allan Staniforth |
|
A Canadian Olympic |
John Somerville |
||
Racing a Rochdale (Olympic) |
John W Anstice Brown |
||
The Story of an Olympic Ph I - WFV 812 |
Keith Hamer |
||
Derek Alderson's Racing Olympics |
Paul Narramore |
||
The Troublesome Olympic Left-Hooker |
Robin Rackham |
||
The 1992 Dundrod Classic - 21 April 1992 |
Wally Dale |
||
51 |
Membership List, ROC 1992 |
||
Building a Gran Turismo Special - Pt 2 |
Allan Staniforth |
||
Rear suspension, Ph I, rebush |
Paul Narramore |
||
The AKH Special |
Paul Narramore |
||
Gauges Fuel |
Richard Loewenstein |
||
GRP Hints |
Stef Jones & Mike Perkins |
||
Gauges, Electrical |
Stuart Parnell |
||
52 |
'Chassis' Number Plates |
Derek Bentley |
|
Suspension, rear. Ph II, mods |
John West |
||
The Great Hudson Street Fire - Reprint |
Rochdale Observer. 25.2.1961 |
||
53 |
In Conversation with - Dave Rees |
|
|
What Price Insurance |
I.Bain Clarkson Ltd Paul Narramore |
||
National Component Car Show, Sandown Park |
Dominic Ennis |
||
Keith Hamer's Austin Seven Special |
Keith Hamer |
||
The New MoT Test |
Paul Narramore |
||
Yet another Cooper-MG |
Paul Narramore |
||
Capesthome 1992 |
Roy Yates |
||
54 |
22 |
Index Of Articles (Issues 1-53 ) |
|
42 |
Lubricating Oils |
J. Cobb |
|
44 |
Olympic - Guide To Component Cars |
J- Haynes |
|
6 |
Springs & Dampers |
Paul Narramore |
|
12 |
Competition Olympics |
Paul Narramore |
|
26 |
John Blanckley In Conversation |
Paul Narramore |
|
54 |
Wiring Looms |
Paul Narramore |
|
55 |
42 |
GT & Riviera Parts |
Malcolm McKay |
36 |
Weight Ratios |
Alan Farrer |
|
32 |
Wiring Loom |
Brian Tomlinson |
|
28 |
Springs And Dampers |
Henry Powell-Sheddon |
|
12 |
Repainting |
John West |
|
38 |
Olympic On The Road |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
34 |
Jaguar Filler Caps |
Mick Cullen |
|
16 |
Conversation With Dunwell & Mackimm |
Paul Narramore |
|
56 |
8 |
Club Rules |
|
16 |
Door Hinge Cures |
||
28 |
Conversation With Dunwell & Mackimm - 1 |
Paul Narramore |
|
41 |
Rear Axle/Brake Spares |
||
56 |
42 |
List Of Members |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
57 |
26 |
Roof Lining Ph II |
John West |
34 |
Re-Paint/Body Restoration |
John West |
|
40 |
Conversation With Dunwell & Mackimm Pt 2 |
Paul Narramore |
|
58 |
6 |
GT Register |
Malcolm Mckay |
12 |
GT Restoration |
David Belwood |
|
30 |
Rebuilding Ph II Pt 1 |
Alan Farrer |
|
32 |
GT Restoration |
Roy Dawson |
|
40 |
Transformation To GT |
A. Taylor |
|
46 |
Two Interesting Rochdales |
Paul Lyon |
|
59 |
6 |
Modified Olympic Ph II |
Barney Concannon |
23 |
GT Restoration |
Roy Dawson |
|
28 |
Odds And Ends |
Paul Narramore |
|
30 |
Bromley Pageant |
Paul Narramore |
|
42 |
GT Register |
||
60 |
7 |
Olympic? I'd Like One But.... |
Conrad Cork |
12 |
Sierra 5-Speed G/Box To Kent Engine |
Mike Bamber |
|
18 |
Pinto Engined Olympic Ph II |
Mike Bamber |
|
20 |
Weatherproofing The Olympic |
Mike Bamber |
|
30 |
GT Register |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
34 |
Members List |
||
61 |
13 |
Rebuilding An Olympic Pt 3 |
Alan Farrer |
14 |
Suspension Arms Ph II |
Mike Bamber |
|
18 |
NEC Classic Show Birmingham |
Ron Scarfe |
|
21 |
GT Register |
||
62 |
7 |
Canadian Olympic |
John Somerville |
12 |
Shock Mods. Ph I |
Pete Lyall |
|
16 |
Fuel Tank for Ph II |
Alan Farrer |
|
19 |
Max. Speed - Theoretical |
Alan Farrer |
|
63 |
6 |
Chairmans Report |
Malcolm Mckay |
8 |
Capesthorne '95 |
Ron Scarfe |
|
10 |
Ph II Restoration |
Bill Kirkham |
|
13 |
Mods To Ph. 1 1/2 |
Keith Hamer |
|
20 |
Spare Wheel Housing Ph II |
Alan Fairer |
|
64 |
15 |
Shockers Ph II |
Mick Cullen |
25 |
Door Hinges Ph II |
Bill Kirkham |
|
28 |
Conversation With Ken Armistead |
Paul Narramore |
|
41 |
In Praise Of Olympics |
Mike Bamber |
|
44 |
Early Rochdale News |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
48 |
Membership List |
||
65 |
9 |
NEC Classic Show Birmingham |
Ron Scarfe |
10 |
Ph II Restoration |
Paul Lyon |
|
20 |
Ph II restoration |
Mick Cullen |
|
23 |
Canadian Olympic Ph I |
John Somerville |
|
24 |
Californian Olympic Ph I |
Paul Delderfield |
|
29 |
MGB Engine into Phase I |
Paul Lyon |
|
30 |
Propshaft Shortening |
Keith Hamer |
|
34 |
Unsprung Weights |
Alan Farrer |
|
35 |
Early Rochdales |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
65 |
29 |
MGB Engine Into Ph I |
Paul Lyon |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
66 |
17 |
Rochdale Mk.6 |
Roger Coupe |
22 |
Hinges GT |
Roy Dawson |
|
25 |
Classic Car Day Out |
Cecil Hampton |
|
26 |
Early Rochdale News |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
27 |
TVR v Olympic Ph II |
Small Car 1964 |
|
67 |
3 |
Capesthorne 1996 |
Ron Scarfe |
6 |
Ph II Restoration |
Neil Roshier |
|
7 |
Ph I Restoration |
Nigel Whittaker |
|
9 |
Canadian Ph I |
John Somerville |
|
12 |
Monte-Carlo Challenge |
Keith Clements |
|
18 |
Project Olympic |
Roger Coupe |
|
24 |
Olympic News |
Paul Narramore |
|
68 |
3 |
Restoration Ph II |
Brian Easton |
6 |
Canadian Ph I |
John Somerville |
|
8 |
Handbrake Cable Ph I |
Jack Thomas |
|
9 |
Australian Ph II |
Howard Fryer |
|
10 |
Ph II Restoration |
Paul Lyon |
|
12 |
Australian Ph II Rebuild |
Neil Roshier |
|
15 |
The Racing Banana |
Keith Hamer |
|
18 |
Front Suspension Ph II |
Keith Pralt |
|
20 |
Diary Of A Rebuild Phi-Pt.l |
Alan Farrer |
|
25 |
History Of The Su Carb. |
Burlen Fuel Services |
|
30 |
Lean Out-Su Carbs |
Alan Farrer |
|
69 |
4 |
NEC Classic Car Show-Birmingham |
Ron Scarfe |
7 |
Front/Rear Suspension Ph I |
Ron Scarfe |
|
8 |
Front Suspension Ph I |
Neil Roshier |
|
10 |
Ph II Restoration |
Mick Cullen |
|
12 |
Gillie Tyrer's Supermotor |
Paul Narramore |
|
16 |
Diary Of A Rebuild Ph I - Pt.2 |
Alan Farrer |
|
20 |
Book Review - "The Private Car" |
Paul Narramore |
|
23 |
Early Rochdale Register |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
70 |
3 |
Ken Armistead - Obituary |
Paul Narramore |
6 |
Irish Rochdales |
D. Welsh |
|
8 |
Lightweight Olympic Ph I |
Keith Hamer |
|
10 |
Rochdale Olympic (Ph III?) |
Paul Narramore |
|
12 |
Classic Winter Motoring - Scimitar |
Chris Johnson |
|
16 |
Diary Of A Rebuild Ph I - Pt.3 |
Alan Farrer |
|
19 |
AGM Minutes |
||
26 |
Olympic News |
Paul Narramore |
|
29 |
Rochdale Remininces |
Frank Butterworlh |
|
71 |
3 |
Capesthorne '97 |
Alan Farrer |
6 |
Fuel News And Update |
FBHVC |
|
8 |
Ph II Restoration |
Brian Easton |
|
9 |
Ph II Restoration |
Tony Avis |
|
11 |
Steering/Cooling Ph I |
Keith Hamer |
|
13 |
Australian Olympic Ph II |
Neil Roshier |
|
15 |
Diary Of A Rebuild Pt.4 |
Alan Farrer |
|
18 |
MGB Engine/Gearbox To Ph I |
Alan Farrer |
|
23 |
Remote Oil Filter To BMC 'B' |
Alan Farrer |
|
24 |
Autocross Olympics |
D. Bussey |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
72 |
6 |
GT Restoration |
Robert Chalk |
7 |
Racing Olympic Update |
Keith Hamer |
|
9 |
Ph II Restoration |
Mick Cullen |
|
10 |
Olympic Weights |
Alan Farrer |
|
11 |
Ph II Restoration |
Brian Easton |
|
13 |
GT Restoration |
Guy Stallard |
|
20 |
Classic Castrol Oils |
Castrol |
|
22 |
Ph I Rear Suspension Arms |
Alan Farrer |
|
27 |
Air Vents, Bushes, O/Drive, Cooling, Horse Power, |
Alan Farrer |
|
30 |
Memoirs Of A Rochdale Romeo |
Brian Easton |
|
32 |
ROC/RMP-A History |
||
34 |
Olympic News |
Paul Narramore |
|
73 |
4 |
Duncan Rabagliati Collection |
|
6 |
Rear Suspension Ph 1 |
Paul Narramore |
|
11 |
Thoughts On Olympics: Front Suspension Weights, Wide Tyres/Arches, Tele Dampers/Lever Arm, Susp Geometry/Roll Centres, Torsion Bars/Roll stiffness, Propshaft Balance, Car Weight & Stability |
Keith Hamer & Alan Farrer |
|
15 |
Racing Olympic |
J Jackson |
|
16 |
Phase 3 update (902 DUF) |
Alan Farrer |
|
18 |
Adjusting Lever Arm Dampers |
Alan Farrer |
|
21 |
AP Lockheed Remote Servos |
||
22 |
Classic Cars & Modern Fuels |
Shell UK |
|
24 |
Olympic News |
Paul Narramore |
|
25 |
An American Olympic |
Milt Forgatch |
|
30 |
Electronic Tachos Calcs. |
Alan Farrer |
|
74 |
3 |
Duncan Rabagliati Sale Results |
|
5 |
Fuel News & Update |
FBHVC |
|
8 |
GT Restoration |
Gordon Cowley |
|
12 |
More Thoughts On Olympics |
Keith Hamer |
|
15 |
Memoirs Of A Rochdale Romeo Pt.2 |
Brian Easton |
|
20 |
GT Restoration |
Guy Stallard |
|
23 |
AGM Minutes |
||
28 |
Spare News And Bush Details |
Les Elliott |
|
75 |
3 |
Capesthorne '98 Impressions |
Alan Farrer |
6 |
Olympic New Front Section |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
8 |
Glass Fibre Repairs |
Roy Dawson |
|
9 |
50 Years Of Rochdale |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
18 |
Glass Fibre Repairs |
Roy Dawson |
|
19 |
Tests For Aerodynamic Lift |
Richard Parker |
|
30 |
Spares News |
Les Elliott |
|
76 |
6 |
Ride Height & Olympic door hinge solution |
Ron Collins |
8 |
Ph II Restoration |
Mick Cullen |
|
14 |
Rare Rochdale In Cornwall |
Alaric Spendlove |
|
20 |
Memoirs Of A Rochdale Romeo Pt.3 |
Brian Easton |
|
22 |
Ramblings of an obsessed Olympic Owner |
Keith Hamer |
|
24 |
MGB engine power & torque printouts (Phase 1) |
Alan Farrer |
|
26 |
Glass Fibre Repairs |
Keith Hamer |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
77 |
5 |
NEC Classic Motor Show |
|
6 |
Ph II Restoration |
Mike Smith |
|
8 |
Dutch Ph I Returns To UK |
Grahame Brown |
|
13 |
Ph I Restoration |
Nigel Whittaker |
|
14 |
Canadian Ph I |
John Somerville |
|
16 |
Ph I 401 FUS Rescued |
Christine Kitchin |
|
19 |
GT Restoration |
Bill Oakes |
|
20 |
GT Restoration |
Guy Stallard |
|
22 |
Ph II Restoration |
Robert Harrison |
|
24 |
London-Cape Town Rally |
John Blanckley |
|
29 |
Tech Note-Bump Steer |
Alan Farrer |
|
78 |
3 |
AGM |
|
6 |
Club Rules |
||
8 |
Chuntering From The Chair |
Malcolm Mckay |
|
12 |
Australian Olympic |
Keith Nicholson |
|
18 |
Ph II Restoration |
Barry Higgins |
|
23 |
Tech Topics - Panhard Rods, Toe In/Out, Spring Rates |
Alan Farrer |
|
24 |
Lead Free Motoring |
||
79 |
2 |
Our New Olympic Registrar |
Derek Bentley |
3 |
Ph III Olympic ? |
Graham Lyall |
|
4 |
Ph HI Olympic ? |
Paul Narramore |
|
6 |
Ph I Restoration |
Robert Harrison |
|
8 |
Ph II Restoration |
Barry Higgins |
|
11 |
Ph I Lightweight Olympic |
Keith Hamer |
|
13 |
Ph III Olympic ? |
Brian Easton |
|
15 |
Olympic Variations |
Derek Bentley |
|
16 |
Memoirs Of A Rochdale Romeo Pt.4 |
Brian Easton |
|
18 |
Project Riviera |
Roger Coupe |
|
25 |
Ph I Fuel Tank Drg. 10 Galls. |
Les Elliott |
|
80 |
2 |
Capesthorne 98 - Japanese View |
Garo Aida |
5 |
Olympic Ph II aerodynamics, wheels/tyres |
Neil Roshier |
|
11 |
Olympic Ph II dismantling, various. |
Paul Narramore |
|
20 |
Rochdale GT rebuild |
Guy Stallard |
|
21 |
Olympic Ph I rebuild, steering |
Nigel Whittaker |
|
23 |
Olympic Ph I update, interior |
Ron Collins |
|
24 |
Autograph Hunting |
Paul Narramore |
|
28 |
Project Riviera - Pt 2 |
Roger Coupe |
|
36 |
Olympic News |
Derek Bentley |
|
37 |
List of all known Olympics |
Derek Bentley |
|
41 |
ROC Magazine Subject Index, Nos 1 - 80 |
||
81 |
6 |
Bump steer and Ackerman |
Paul Narramore |
7 |
Phase I restoration |
John Kearle |
|
10 |
Thoughts on "Phase 3" |
Keith Hamer |
|
12 |
Early History of the Olympic |
Derek Bentley |
|
16 |
Phase 2 rebuild Metro master cylinders. |
Alan Farrer |
|
18 |
Phase 1 window frame using MM items |
Derek Bentley |
|
21 |
Register of all known pre-Olympic models |
Malcolm McKay |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
TITLE / SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
82 |
4 |
Minutes of 19th AGM |
|
13 |
Details of a Mk VI in Cornwall |
Alaric Spendlove |
|
18 |
Phase 1 window frame using MM items |
Derek Bentley |
|
22 |
Last Olympic made (1975) PSJ 351 |
Barry Higgins |
|
83 |
2 |
Phase 1 heater/demister & painting |
Alan Farrer |
4 |
DeDion for Olympic |
Keith Hamer/Alan Farrer |
|
6 |
Basket case Phase 1 |
Ron Palgrave |
|
11 |
Phase 1 on road impressions |
Nigel Whittaker |
|
16 |
Phase 1 front wheel alignment data |
Ron Collins |
|
18 |
A-Series engine to Spitfire O/D Gearbox conversion. Drawings & photos |
Colin Breakspear |
|
26 |
Engine & gearbox weights |
Practical Motorist |
|
84 |
3 |
How I came to own a Rochdale (Phase 1) |
Chris Wymer (1977) |
4 |
More details of GT rebuild |
Guy Stallard |
|
7 |
Early photos of Olympics |
Conrad Cork |
|
10 |
DeDion (defence of & discussion) |
Brian Easton |
|
16 |
Track day at Goodwood |
Alan Farrer |
|
17 |
Phase 1 rear axle/suspension repairs |
Richard Disbrow |
|
18 |
More on Basket case Phase 1 |
Ron Palgrave |
|
22 |
History of Ron Palgrave's Phase 1 |
Derek Bentley |
|
23 |
How Many Olympics? |
Derek Bentley |
|
24 |
Lightweight Olympics |
Derek Bentley |
|
25 |
More on weight of Olympic |
Alan Farrer |
|
26 |
AVO dampers for Phase 2 a report |
Alan Farrer |
|
85 |
5 |
Richard Parker Obituary |
|
8 |
More on DeDion debate |
Brian Easton |
|
12 |
More on weight of Olympic |
Nigel Whittaker |
|
13 |
Phase 2 subframe woes |
Mick Cullen |
|
16 |
Olympic homologation a warning |
Jeff Ward |
|
18 |
Disc brake conversion for Phase 1 |
Ron Collins |
|
20 |
Rolling Olympic restoration |
Alaric Spendlove |
|
23 |
Build a Rochdale for £13.95 |
Les Brown |
|
26 |
Phase 1 subframe replacement |
Derek Bentley |
|
29 |
Re-skinng an Oympic door |
Neil Roshier |
|
30 |
Adding some wider hips to the Old Girl |
Neil Roshier |
|
32 |
Early Rochdales Registrar falls for a GT |
Malcolm McKay |
|
86 |
2 |
Brief reports on Capesthorne & AGM |
|
6 |
Research into F-Type Olympic 118 JAC |
Mick Cullen |
|
7 |
Rebuilt Phase 1 impressions |
Robert Harrison |
|
10 |
Electrical, wheel bearing & water problems |
Alaric Spendlove |
|
12 |
The Origins of the Rochdale Marque pt 1 |
Frank Butterworth |
|
15 |
Original engine options for Olympic |
Derek Bentley |
|
17 |
The Rochdale Riviera |
Derek Bentley |
|
18 |
Club Rules |
||
20 |
Minutes of 20th AGM |
||
24 |
Suspension bush data |
Spares Officer |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
TITLE / SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
87 |
3 |
Restoration of Phase 2 - initial stages |
Russ Collins |
6 |
Phase 2 window frames in s/s from MM |
Mick Cullen |
|
8 |
Where Have all the Olympics Gone? |
Derek Bentley |
|
9 |
Laminated windscreen manufacture |
Triplex Pilkington |
|
14 |
The Origins of the Rochdale Marque pt 2 |
Frank Butterworth |
|
19 |
Body Painting |
Alan Farrer |
|
88 |
1 |
NEC Show Report |
Alan Farrer |
2 |
Goodwood Track Day report |
Alan Farrer |
|
3 |
A Testimonial to Malcolm McKay |
Frank Butterworth |
|
4 |
The Rochdale Olympics Sculpture |
Adrian Moakes |
|
8 |
Phase 2 wiring |
Les Brown |
|
12 |
Phase 2 subframe mods |
Paul Narramore |
|
14 |
New brakes for Phase 1 |
Keith Hamer |
|
16 |
Subframes my method |
Keith Hamer |
|
17 |
Cooling The Olympic |
Letter from Richard Parker in The Motor 19 July 1961 |
|
20 |
Early days with 36 GOH |
Bill Coyne |
|
22 |
Latest ideas for Phase 2 rebuild |
Brian Easton |
|
24 |
GT restoration & driving impressions |
Guy Stallard |
|
26 |
The Origins of the Rochdale Marque pt 3 |
Frank Butterworth |
|
32 |
Olympic News |
Derek Bentley |
|
89 |
3 |
The Olympics Sculpture update |
Adrian Moakes |
5 |
Compulsory Insurance Regulations |
FBHVC |
|
6 |
Continental tour to Laon, France |
Derek Argyle |
|
7 |
The demise of Olympic FWO 764C photo |
||
10 |
Guinea Tip Dulux emulsion! |
Les Brown |
|
12 |
News of WAY 183J a chassied Phase 1 |
Keith Hamer |
|
13 |
Rebuilding Phase 2 rear suspension etc etc |
Alaric Spendlove |
|
16/17 |
Olympic Wiring Diagram |
Les Brown |
|
18 |
The Origins of the Rochdale Marque pt 4 |
Frank Butterworth |
|
23 |
Historic Mk VI resurfaces |
Malcolm McKay |
|
24 |
French GT with Riley 1.5 motor |
Malcolm McKay |
|
26 |
Pre-fire Olympics; WAY 183J; Convertible |
Derek Bentley |
|
90 |
4 |
Chairman's Chunterings his Super Two |
Malcolm McKay |
5 |
Electric window kit & rack attachment |
Keith Pratt |
|
6 |
Rebuild of Phase 2 9810 LG |
Barrie Jones |
|
8 |
Corsi The story of a Rochdale C-Type |
John Walkington |
|
11 |
Door hinge tip |
Richard Disbrow |
|
12 |
Phase 1 rear seat repair (easy way) |
Ron Collins |
|
14 |
Phase 2 Subframe - a Rethink |
Alan Farrer |
|
18 |
The Origins of the Rochdale Marque pt 5 |
Frank Butterworth |
|
22 |
Minutes of 21st AGM |
||
91 |
2, 11+ |
Reports on Sculpture in Rochdale |
|
4 |
Phase 2 rebuild suspension, aerodynamics |
Brian Easton |
|
8 |
Rebuild latest roll cage, grp techniques |
Neil Roshier |
|
22 |
A Grand Day Out Capesthorne 2002 |
Ratty |
|
23 |
Composite Subframe for Phase 2 |
Colin Breakspear |
|
24 |
Details of Olympic for sale on internet |
Derek Bentley |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
TITLE / SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
92 |
2 |
Joys of GT ownership |
Guy Stallard |
4 |
Cooling system problem and solution |
Mick Cullen |
|
6 |
Discussion on roll centres |
Robert Harrison / Alan Farrer |
|
9 |
Phase 2 front suspension bush ideas |
Keith Pratt |
|
10 |
Phase 2 trailing arm drawing |
Keith Pratt |
|
11 |
Compulsory Insurance & Valve Seat info. |
FBHVC |
|
12 |
ROC Magazine Subject Index Nos 81 -92 |
||
14 |
Competition Olympics |
Derek Bentley |
|
93 |
6 |
Frank Butterworth Remembered |
various |
14 |
In Conversation with Frank Butterworth |
Paul Narramore |
|
28 |
Adjustable Gas Springs (hatch stays) |
Les Brown |
|
94 |
6 |
Project Mk VI |
Roger Coupe |
9 |
MGB engine cutting out; Axle ratios; Suspension; Overheating |
Barry Higgins |
|
13 |
All a Load of Gas? (hatch stays) |
Ron Collins, Roger Coupe, Barry Higgins |
|
32 |
Olym Reg. 645 DXW, VWT 144F, Magaloysius |
Derek Bentley |
|
95 |
2 |
Exhibitor Support Pack |
Roger Coupe |
6 |
GT Restoration |
Gordon Cowley |
|
13 |
Building and Running a Rochdale Olympic |
Motor, Dick Cawthorne & Derek Argyle |
|
20 |
EU Legislation: Paint Directive; Number / Q Plates |
FBHVC |
|
96 |
7 |
Rochdaless Finest article on Rogers Riviera |
Sports Car Classics |
11 |
What are the Small Firms Doing? Rochdale |
Motor Sport June 1963 |
|
16 |
Phase 2 Door Catch |
Alan Farrer |
|
17 |
Olympic Hinge Cure (using rod ends) |
Alan Farrer |
|
20 |
Olympic Engine Variations |
Derek Bentley |
|
97 |
5 |
GT firing order & Lynx manifold |
Gordon Cowley |
13 |
Letter re Olympics & Wildcats |
Derek Argyle |
|
20 |
Trailers and SORN clarification |
FBHVC |
|
22 |
Early: GTs NAS 438, 2232 MK,MZ 536, 9559E |
Malcolm McKay |
|
26 |
Various lost Olympics |
Derek Bentley |
|
98 |
7 |
Olympic subframe design (Triumph turrets) |
Ron Collins |
10 |
Olympic Interior (luggage space design) |
Les Brown |
|
15 |
Early: Bert Tressel GT, Fran Honeywell GT |
Malcolm McKay |
|
99 |
4 |
New Olympic shell found in Darlington |
Les Brown |
8 |
Midas (Olympic descendant?) |
Michael Horsley |
|
9 |
Seat Belt Law |
FBHVC |
|
10 |
SORN explained |
FBHVC |
|
12 |
Planet Rochdale (Classic Le Mans) |
Jane Devons & Nigel Whittaker |
|
16 |
Olympic Seatbelts (on door pillars) |
Alan Farrer |
|
18 |
Dampers & Handling |
Car Convs for Pwr & Speed |
|
19 |
Brake bleeding (official methods) |
Girling & Lockheed info |
|
20 |
Grundling axle cure for Olympic |
Alan Farrer |
|
21 |
The Rochdale Olympic Success or Failure? |
Derek Bentley |
ISSUE |
PAGE |
TITLE / SUBJECT |
AUTHOR |
100 |
4 |
MGB engine stopping a cure?, GT cooling |
Barry Higgins |
6 |
Club Website |
Aubrey Richardson |
|
8 |
Work in progress |
Keith Hamer |
|
11 |
Southern Riviera (production details) |
Derek Bentley |
|
12 |
Triumph to Ford Hub Conversion (Phase 2) |
Alan Farrer |
|
16 |
GT MLF 838F |
William Culbert |
|
19 |
GTs: 57 OAF, ESH 200(GVS 313), YOD 740, RXO 366 |
Malcolm McKay |
|
21 |
Out in Front (book review re Leslie Ballamy) |
Malcolm McKay |
|
23 |
New Shell & CNK 210B, OBD 391D, LYG 741D OAE 775 (lhd), 8500 DT, 9735 NC (Climax engine) |
Derek Bentley |
|
101 |
2 |
Bristol Classic Car Show report |
Alan Farrer |
6 |
Issue of Originality |
Malcolm McKay |
|
9 |
Issue of Originality |
Ron Collins |
|
10 |
Prescott in Phase 1 779 CUG |
Tony Wright |
|
11 |
Humour |
FBHVC |
|
12 |
How I came to own a Rochdale |
Tim Cutts |
|
15 |
Olympic Reg: 829 JOP, 333 VLG, 112 XPG |
Derek Bentley |
|
16 |
Early Rochdales: GTs on ebay & elsewhere |
Malcolm McKay |
|
21 |
Hints on Fitting a GT Bodyshell |
RMP pamphlet |
|
102 |
3 |
Capesthorne 2005 Report |
Alaric Spendlove |
6 |
Rochdale GT |
Gordon Cowley |
|
7 |
Re modified Olympics |
Barry Higgins |
|
9 |
Phase 2 Rear Suspension (alignment of) |
Les Brown |
|
14 |
State of acquired Olympic |
Aubrey Richardson |
|
17 |
100E into Ford 10 Does Go |
Gordon Cowley |
|
24 |
AGM Minutes |
||
28 |
Club Rules |
||
30 |
Top Twenty Oil FAQs |
Morris Lubricants |
|
33 |
Pre-Olympics: GTs: Brewery; Overseas; USA; ebay |
Malcolm McKay |
|
40 |
Olympic Reg: BMC Suspension Parts |
Derek Bentley |
|
If you ever wondered what a Phase 1 Olympic mould looked like .
Roof and bolted flange
Pictures courtesy of Roger Drinkwater
Malcolm McKay
A visitor to the stand at Capesthorne this year was Jim Blackhurst of Shrewsbury. Back in 1957, Jim worked for Rolls-Royce and bought one of the first GT bodyshells, which was apparently assembled largely in Rolls-Royce workshops and using all Rolls-Royce quality nuts and bolts: it must have been one of the finest GTs built. Sadly Jim has no recollection of the number plate and a glance through the Register photo album didn't jog his memory but what he did recall of the car was interesting anyway.
In white, the GT body was fitted to a standard Ford chassis and retained the Fords original registration. Examples of the high standard to which it was built included rope crosses bonded to the inside of the door panels to strengthen them. The car boasted a mesh grille made from Rolls-Royce materials, an RR oil breather and a Ballamy-style independent front suspension made in Rolls-Royces workshops. The bonnet bulge had a small grille too at its front and aluminium quarter bumpers from a TVR Grantura were fitted.
Under the bonnet was an E93A engine with water pump, four-branch exhaust and single SU carburettor, topped by the Rochdale header tank.
Inside were two grey seats and grey carpet, a wooden dashboard, lots of chequerplate aluminium, a remote gearchange and a hand-made wood and aluminium steering wheel. What a fine car I hope one day we can identify and trace it.
Some (no, many) years ago I came across the following ad in Motor Sport (June 1959, p463) -
GRAN TOURISMO COOPER. Mark IV chassis. Ford 100E engine, supercharged; Italian red Rochdale
G.T. body; M.G. T.D. g/box; I.F.S., I.R.S. Full instruments, carpets, lights, 0-60m.p.h. 10 secs, 112
m.p.h. max, 30 m.p.g. Superb road holding, with brakes to match. Shod Dunlop R.5s. Professionally constructed Sept. 1958. Further details and full history available. Out-corners nearly anything.
Complete with twin-carb manifold, racing tyres, helmet (7) and spares. Bread and butter car in exchange. £650. Radforth, 100, Allerton Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool 18.
I always wondered what became of the car, but with no registration had little hope of tracing it. Then, recently, Ron Collins alerted me to a retired RAF Squadron Leader reminiscing about the Rochdale Cooper he owned in the early 1960s. Chris Golds' recollections make an amusing contrast to the ad above...:
Ref: Rochdale GT, reg. number 274 AKB. Colour: dark wine red. Bought from a butcher in Liverpool just after I returned from West Germany where I was a fighter pilot in the RAF driving a Porsche 356 Damen 1300cc.
I collected the Rochdale and drove it back to my new base - Leuchars in Fife on a Sunday - mistake! Just short of Hawick ((Hoike) the left drive shaft gave up and away went the left rear wheel rolling back downhill. It took 3 weeks for car to be delivered up to Leuchars and all repairs were done and paid for by the butcher!
Cost was (about) £600. - cannot remember. Ford 1172 with a Shorrocks blower fitted. Unbelievably noisy with power to terrify me on the road. Remember I was flying Hunters at the time capable of about 720 mph! Dunlop R5 tyres, could be spun in 2nd gear on tarmac. Very bare inside except for extra noise! Huge fun to drive. Terrified all my squadron pilot friends when I gave them lifts - usually to parties.
Max speed about 80 (gearbox ratios I suppose) but acceleration enormous. About 22 mpg. The Rochdale was sold (for £150) by a friend after I had left Leuchars for Cyprus.
The GT we'd all love to find seems to have disappeared without trace; when I notified the Cooper registrars about it, they were very excited but could find no clues to its whereabouts in their records. It must have been quite a machine
Supercharged Cooper-chassis Rochdale GT, where are you now?
Interest in early Rochdales continues unabated, despite none (to my knowledge) appearing on ebay in the last few months. I think the prize for most active owner this summer has to go to Dave Milner.
Dave Milner from Doncaster has bought the Rochdale-chassis GT we featured two issues ago from Jim in Belfast. Initially Dave had planned to finish his Olympic before starting on the GT, but was so excited when the GT arrived that he couldn't stop himself getting stuck in on preparing the bodyshell. He's particularly keen to hear from anyone with a GT bodyshell that has its original moulded dashboard and glove pockets these add a great deal of stiffness to the bodyshell but have been cut out on his car. If anyone can help, please contact me.
I was able to supply Dave with a series of photos of his actual car, photographed about 20 years ago, showing everything was present and correct then; also a pic of the most original-looking dashboard I've seen; this is on the £10,000 car now in Japan. The wood was added when it was rebuilt but is tastefully done as it could have been when new; the instruments are straight out of a 1940s Ford Prefect, I think.
Other known surviving Rochdale chassis GTs are:
436 RTB - Richard Crompton of Chorley, last heard of 2000, rebuild near complete
71 SPA - M Evans, Bristol, last heard from 1999, rebuild under way by Flexolite
480 UTC - Roy Beasley, Wolverhampton - this car was in show condition in the mid 1980s but subsequently got neglected - I believe it's pretty sound now.
Pictures, from top left:
The bodyshell of Dave Milner's newly acquired GT, pictured when it was still languishing in Northern Ireland
Rochdale chassis under a GT, showing the suspension, the complete moulded floorpan and how the chassis was bonded to the floor. It's actually one of the five square-tube chassis that they made.
A shot of the fine original dashboard of the GT now in Japan, showing the original glove boxes in place with the central dash panel as Frank, Harry and Richard designed it
A few days after delivery, Dave reported: Whilst stripping the turquoise paint today I decided to keep sidevalve power in the car. You convinced me it is a good option. I am convinced the suspension units came from a motorbike unless you know different, perhaps you will let me know. I will contact the guy in the Midlands and see if he will let me view his car. I'll let you know how I get on. A lot of work to do but no more than I had to do on my Olympic!
At this stage, I'm not sure about the suspension units and have asked Dave how they compare to Olympic rears. I've no idea if they're even similar, but I would not be surprised if Rochdale had economised by using the same...
A couple of days later, Dave responded: Been busy, most of the paint is stripped off, very little damage to shell. I have been in touch with Roy Beasley. He has just MoT'd his car and I am going to see him shortly to take some pictures. He told me his car has a Ballamy square tube chassis and front suspension so I will send you a picture or two when I have been to see him.
This news on Roy Beasley's car is intriguing, because it was already known to the club when I first joined in the 1980s and I was told by everyone it had a Rochdale chassis, so I assumed that must be true! I'll be very interested to see photos, because I'd be very surprised if it's a Ballamy chassis. It wasn't strictly square tube and very few were made, as Ballamy sold the design to Reliant for the Sabra and Sabre - it wouldn't have been easy to fit a GT on it. Apart from the five square tube Rochdale chassis made, square tube chassis were built by Bowden, Ashley, Bel-ford, CRS and EB; I have photos of them all and they are each quite different, so it should be easy to identify. The Rochdale one was an exact copy of their round tube chassis but must have necessitated a new floor mould....
Barely a week passed before Dave came up with some more news: I have managed to get all the front and rear lights, Minor stainless door window surrounds with glass and regulators, door locks and handles and door hinges. I am presently repairing gel cracks to the roof, back and front panels which were caused by tipping the car onto its roof at some time in the past.
I have managed to trace the cars history back to 1984/5 and think I may be able to go back further. I will of course keep you informed as things develop. The gearbox cover has been found and should be on its way from NI this weekend but I am still looking for a car with an original dash that I can take a quick mould from.
In answer to Daves questions, I was able to advise that hydraulic brakes are unnecessary in my experience: provided the mechanical brakes are set up properly and do not alter length as the suspension moves, they are very effective. 15in wheels can be created by welding
VW rims to cut-down Ford centres, provided you are or know a capable engineer who can jig-build them accurately and safely.
Mechanical parts - it would be well worth joining the Ford Sidevalve Owners Club as it has a great spares service and has had lots of bits put back into production, plus plenty of secondhand for sale in its classifieds. Also useful are Pop Parts Plus (www.poppartsplus.co.uk) and Small Ford Spares
(www.smallfordspares.co.uk). Ebay and the classifieds in Classic Car Weekly are also good sources for complete engine/gearbox.
Another week later, Dave reported: I met Jim today in Filey near Scarborough, he's on holiday with his family. He brought me the transmission cover from Mark Kennedy (owner of the car in the 1980s). Do you think there might be a need for duplicates of it to go with the doors and bonnet that the club supplies? It should complete the set of removable panels. I've just got to hang the doors and adjust gaps and I'm ready to start spray filler and primer.
Daves rapid progress is highly commendable and I hope someone can help on the dashboard front. I also think getting a mould made from the transmission cover is an excellent idea only the Rochdale-chassis cars had a glassfibre gearbox cover so we'll need to check whether it fits the Ford chassis too.
Three years ago I briefly owned TJY 744, a GT that had been owned since the 1980s and partly restored by Craig Turner in Leeds. I passed it on to Malcolm Burgess, who bravely stripped it down again and rebuilt the chassis, suspension and brakes. Now he's swapped it with brother-in-law Mike Hall for Mikes 1955 Standard Eight and Mike is looking forward to completing the engine build and sorting the bodywork.
From what I recall, the nose section is the only part of the body that is likely to prove challenging, as a previous owner had clearly stuck it back together after a bump and failed to get the shape quite right. Options, I guess, are to work with what's there or take a mould off another car with an undamaged front and then graft in a new section - I look forward to hearing how he gets on.
A few years ago, Chairman Roger sold a GT bodyshell to the proprietor of Robin Hood; when the company ownership changed hands recently, the GT was one of many sold off at a dispersal sale; thankfully it's found an enthusiastic new owner, Kenny, who plans to unite it with an ex-hillclimbing Spitfire chassis and running gear.
On hearing this I was able to advise that he will need to lengthen the Spitfire chassis (and propshaft) a bit to fit the Rochdale body - the body was designed for a 7ft 6in wheelbase, whereas the Spitfire is 6ft 11in.
The best way to locate the body to the chassis will probably be to weld on rear outriggers to the Spitfire chassis then weld on side rails (rather like the Herald set-up) to support the body just inside the sills. I don't think Kenny has a full floor in the bodyshell (the standard GT just had enough at each side to bolt onto the Ford Pop chassis rails) - I guess the really neat way to do it would be to buy a pair of Ford Pop chassis rails and cut and shut them to join the Spit chassis as the body will then bolt straight on. It's worth watching ebay - a few weeks back someone was trying to sell a Pop chassis that had been modified for something else and the top bid was 99p! Would've been ideal to cut up...
As well as the part-floor sections bolting onto the chassis, the body was bolted to the Pop chassis straight through the front and rear inner wheelarches. This was actually the strongest and most important mounting area - another argument for adapting Ford chassis rails or building some sort of outrigger system to reproduce it at these crucial points...
Once the body is solidly mounted to some form of welded-on outriggers, you can fill in the gaps however you like - sheet aluminium would probably be the lightest and simplest, because it's easy to make flat panels folded around the edges and is surprisingly stiff when folded (but don't try to make double curves with it unless you're a skilled panelbeater - in that case go for glassfibre!).
Kenny replied: I thought I'd have to go down the outrigger route and have a couple of ideas, first was to hack up the Spit floorpan to fit, but if I need to stretch the chassis that won't work, so plan B would be to have a subframe made up, my thought is that this would be one piece incorporating the drive tunnel, which would be placed over the stretched chassis rails and welded in place, making a nice and strong assembly, problem is where do you stop with that idea, should the subframe incorporate a roll cage too, maybe, just need to see what the budget stretches to!
How does all this cutting up and modifying the chassis affect things for the dreaded SVA? Am I right in saying that if I modify the chassis but use the rest of the running gear and suspension set up from the donor I should still be good for an age-related plate? My other thought was to change the back end for a De Dion set-up based on a Ford diff, shafts and brakes. This would keep the chassis strong as the only cutting and shutting would be done at the relatively unstressed back end, where it only needs a mount for the Panhard rod and the rear corners of the shell. Would make for great handling and easy upgrades like LSD and disc brakes! But how would that affect registering it?
The other question I have for you is a point William made; he mentioned that I might need flared arches. Flaring the arches could be a very good thing, as the centres could be changed slightly to make the shell fit the standard chassis, and save a bit of cash at the same time! I suppose some of the purists on the Owners club would want to shoot me for thinking these things, still what are kit cars about if not an expression of your individuality!
Kenny certainly has an ambitious project, but it sounds as if he's not afraid of a challenge so I wish him the best of luck! I don't think anyone in the club is going to object much when all he's bought is a bodyshell - it's not as if he's taking it off the original chassis and throwing that away!
On the subject of arch extensions, the problem is that the Spitfire track is wider than the original Ford so the wheels stick out a bit and most people put arch extensions on. It's possible to avoid this, though, by fitting wheels with more inset than standard - I've seen a car with these on and it looks fine, but I'm not sure what they're from - could be Marina... If you want to go the arch extension route, you can just slap on a pair of extensions and be done with it, but if you want the car to look really nice (especially at the back where extensions look naff in my opinion) the best answer is to split the tops of the wings, pull them out about an inch and glass in a strip of fibreglass, so that the wing keeps a smooth consistent shape but is wider than before. Sounds easy but I guess it's quite tricky unless you're a real fibreglass expert...
Possible disadvantages with the subframe idea are weight and height - for hillclimbing, you need to keep both as low as possible. However, there's a lot to be said for stiffening the chassis too and incorporating a roll cage in the plans for the chassis. If I was doing it, I'd cut the chassis in the middle, cut a seven inch section out of the middle of a scrap Spit or Herald chassis, then cut and fold a strip of 16 gauge steel to fit inside each chassis rail end, weld it in place, then slip the new section over it and weld it to the main chassis and the inserted strip - should be really strong. Then I'd get a pair of Herald rear outriggers and side rails and weld the rear outriggers in the correct position so the radius arm would bolt straight in - the good thing with using Herald outriggers is they're designed to fit securely around the chassis, easy to weld on top and bottom and have the mounting for the radius arm already built in - and they come off the chassis at the right angle. Link up the side rails between front and rear outriggers so they support the body and then make a floor with sheet ally but with a steel bar or two welded in to attach the seat rails - that way it should be possible to get the seats nice and low (headroom is a bit limited in the GT body!). It should also be possible to build in roll cage mountings at each corner where the outriggers/side rails join. I wouldn't bother with welding in a steel transmission tunnel, I'd make that out of ally too (using the Spit tunnel as a former) to keep the weight down. Oh, and I'd probably weld on a pair of Herald boot outriggers to support the back of the body and drop in a Herald Estate petrol tank. But that's just me Kennys probably got much better ideas! As for SVA, the simplest answer is to keep it registered as a Spitfire, that way you don't have to argue the case. If the car had been built in the 1960s on a Spitfire chassis, that is exactly what the original builder would have done many GTs are still registered as Fords so it should not be a problem.
Kenny replied: I was thinking of some old MK1 Escort rally style arches and graft them in, could look a bit
Cobra Le Mans! I'm no expert with fibreglass but I'm no stranger to the stuff either. We did waterskiing when I was younger and I did all the glass work on the boat, not boat building but modifying, I've also done some bodywork for my old motorbike. The thought of effectively shortening the shell appeals as this does away with the SVA completely and allows me to register it as a Spitfire.
I should have the shell here next week, so can get to work on designing a subframe set up, probably come up with a couple of designs and get fabrication costs (I don't trust my welding enough, besides my girls Dad has a welding supplies company so he should be able to help me on that). I'll have a look at arches too and see if they can be done, a friend of mine is into his MK1 Escorts so he should be good to source the arches.
I must admit though, if I'm going to do that much work to design a subframe/cage assembly I'd be as well with a purpose-built chassis. As you can guess this is a lon-term project, in fact I'm going to have to ban myself from it for a month or so to get some investments sorted out, I need to keep the money coming in to pay for the toys after all.
The club forum is already proving its worth, turning up 202 HTF, a car owned for many years by Mike Pritchard of Luton but never, to my knowledge, receiving any attention during his ownership.
New owner Mat Nowell asked what bonnet hinges were originally fitted and whether the chassis needs to be boxed in the original had been boxed with very thin steel that had rotted out.
The original bonnet hinges were very similar to Triumph Herald etc boot hinges, which are still readily available new or secondhand. In fact the same hinges were originally used for the doors, though they're a bit weak for that purpose. The actual hinges used were slightly simpler than the Herald ones - I've seen exactly the same on Reliant Regal 21E bonnets, but they're getting rare in scrapyards now! The bonnet was hinged at the back with a budget lock at the front; it's important to make sure that your budget lock slots well under the bodywork in front of the bonnet as air pressure at speed can pull the panels away from each other slightly and it was not unusual when the cars were new for the bonnet to fly up at speed and break the windscreen...
As to the chassis, to box it properly you need to take the body off. Rochdale did recommend that the chassis was boxed, otherwise it can be a bit flexible and stress the body if used much on rough roads. That said, it was the way the GT body stiffened a Pop chassis that inspired them to build the glassfibre monocoque Olympic so, provided the body and the main chassis legs are strong, there's not much to worry about. The GT I used to run in the 1980s had been boxed with glassfibre, which was as good as useless, yet it always felt taut and handled well with its Ballamy suspension and 15in wheels.
202 HTF was registered as a new car, in March 1959 in Lancashire, which would normally mean that it had a new chassis, but Mat reports it in fact is a very early chassis. I'm looking forward to seeing the car at Specials Day.
Mat Nowell's GT undergoing rapid restoration work to get it back on the road, pictured from his bedroom window!
Ian Guild, a long-term ROC member now living in the Netherlands, mentioned on the forum that he owned a GT in the late 1960s: It was a horrible thing - reversed VW rims on the back and 12" rims welded onto the Ford front hubs, nevertheless it got me from Luton to Heathrow every working day for nearly a year then I sold it for what I paid for it.
I couldn't resist asking Ian for any anecdotes about why he felt it was so nasty! Reversed VW rims was a pretty standard trick in the 50s and not too silly on the rear (those who put them on the front - and many did - found they had a pretty weird effect on the steering!) while the 12in rims welded on the front were probably professionally made by West London Wheels, who supplied wheels with Ford centres and 12in, 13in or 15in rims welded on - it was done with a jig and their wheels were widely used for racing on Lotus Sixes and the like (many with far more power than an 1172 sidevalve) and I've not heard of any breakages...
Ian responded: Looking back almost 40 years, the front rims looked "cool", I never had any problems with balancing so I guess they were done quite professionally.
The reasons it was "nasty"? All were probably fixable with a bit more knowledge and experience, however.
Lack of oil pressure; I could dial my own in on the gauge; on the original motor it never seemed to get over 7psi. I eventually changed the engine (the old one went in the bin - I learned a few new words when the binman tried to pick it up).
Doors kept closed by a bungee cord stretched between them. A beautiful relationship was ended when a BEA hostess, in full uniform, going on duty, was dumped out on the roundabout at Heathrow.
The bonnet, probably the most aerodynamic part of the car, flying off on the M1. It was later repaired, for some reason using the Daily Mirror as filler.
Sorry, I can't recall the registration or any details, beyond the fact that it was green with red wheels. A mate of mine, Mick Hadland, now living in Leigh, had another. It was in much better condition. It was painted metallic grey - on reflection it looked like primer - one of the most memorable features was that the floor had cut-outs to lower the seats as Mick is over 6 feet tall.
I owned mine for about a year, however it was eventually replaced by a Hillman Imp - bought for 75 quid, an ex-factory development car, very much non-standard, with a one-litre engine and a Jack Knight straight -cut gearbox, but at least it had a heater, which kept the girl friend happy!
As Ian says, all the problems were fixable - 7psi is a sure sign of a worn-out sidevalve, the bonnet flying up is a common GT fault, it's vital to keep the budget lock adjusted so it fully engages and can't shake undone, while the doors is an unusual one - the original MG T-series type door catches never let me down on my GT despite spirited cornering...
Chair Chat
Well by now I had hoped that we would have had something to report about contacts with our new president, the Mayor of Rochdale, but despite a number of attempts by our sec. and myself we have drawn a blank. We will however keep you informed.
On the home front I am ashamed to say that sailing has taken precedence over car restoration, but things will change as the days shorten.
One thing of interest that did happened to me since my last chat was when I got a phone call from local Isle of Man TT winner Stuart Graham. He rode for Honda and Suzuki. Later he drove GT cars for Ford, twice winning the RAC Tourist Trophy. He got my number from an old club magazine. He had to clear out his brother in laws garage due to his ill health and asked if I could find a good home for an Olympic bodyshell. I duly collected the shell and established with Stuart that a donation to The British Diabetic Association would be appropriate. I am pleased to report that club member Dave Thomlinson has jumped at the opportunity to take on the project. It will be interesting to watch its progress.
The highlight for me during August was the Historic Specials Day at Burford. The turnout of cars was as wide ranging and interesting as ever. It was also great to see such a big turnout of Rochdales.
Roger
Something to do in the long winter evenings for Dave Thomlinson photo: Roger Coupe
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