Tag Archives: IV

The Road Racer Dream – Chapman Mercury III

Sheffield auto electrician Phil Chapman dreamed of owning a car he could drive on the road and race at weekends. Short of the necessary brass to buy a vehicle to fit his needs, but blessed with the necessary curiosity, common sense and initiative, he taught himself how to build his first special based on a 1930’s Triumph chassis with Mercury V8 power in a corrugated iron shed in the late 1940’s.

Chapman Mercury III, Oliver Tomlin, Chateau Impney Hill Climb

In 1952 he put the engine into a space frame of his own design known as the Chapman Mercury II and four years later dismantled it to build a second space frame, drawn out in the time honoured way with chalk on his workshop floor, the Chapman Mercury III seen in these photographs.

Chapman Mercury III, Oliver Tomlin, Chateau Impney Hill Climb

After making the molds for the glass fibre body Phil campaigned the car successfully into the early 1960’s including at the original Chateau Impney Hill Climb where the car is seen here driven by Phil’s grand son Oliver Tomlin.

Chapman Mercury III, Oliver Tomlin, Chateau Impney Hill Climb

Phil sold CM III to make way for the Chapman Mercury IV which featured an all wheel drive system of his own devising, this car proved problematic but was sold on when Phil temporarily gave up motorsport in favour of gliding.

Chapman Mercury III, Oliver Tomlin, Chateau Impney Hill Climb

In the 1970’s Phil took the opportunity to buy the Chapman Mercury III back as a retirement project and after restoring the car he went on to compete in her again with his daughter Sandra, now Tomlin, who went on to claim the ladies records at Wiscombe Park, Gurston Down, Prescott, Shelsley Walsh, Loton Park and Harewood hill climbs in more powerful open wheel vehicles.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Road Racer Dream” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Cardinals Classic – Volkswagen Golf SE IV

The last of this months Sunday Volkswagen Golf posts is about a Golf IV.

Volkswagen Golf SE IV, Shepton Mallet,

Last year I took on a low mileage VW Golf SE Estate IV, that my folks bought new in 1999. Over the 10,000 miles I have driven it, apart from several light bulbs a set of new tyres and a service it has proved to be a pleasantly reliable mode of transport carrying up to 4 at up to 70 mph to numerous events in England and Wales. The most awkward work I have had to do on it was to replace the front headlight bulb that is tucked away in front of the passenger side mounted battery but thanks to to this linked video I got the job done in a supermarket car park with a minimum of fuss.

Volkswagen Golf SE IV, Dundry

Three days after I acquired the Golf I had a great time with it on a field in Dundry just South of Bristol trying, unsuccessfully, to defend my Cross Trohpy.

Volkswagen Golf SE IV,

A couple of weeks ago I was reminded that my car insurance was about to expire and after a little shopping around which included looking at the Aviva site I found I was able to halve my car insurance bill with my no claims bonus. With the Golf freshly serviced and insured I polished her up for wedding duties as the brides maids car for a friend who was getting married during a visit from Australia.

Volkswagen Golf SE IV, Shepton Mallet,

While I was looking up the approximate value of my car I was surprised to learn that the highest price ever paid for a second hand Golf IV was US $243,000 @ £160,000 in English. It turns out that the car was sold by its original owner prefect of the Catholic Church’s Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith under Pope John Paul II better known as Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger when he expected to retire to Germany after Pope John Paul II died in 2005.

Volkswagen Golf SE IV, Shepton Mallet,

After he had sold his Golf to his surprise Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI and the new owner of the Cardinals Golf put it up for auction on e-bay where it was purchased by a casino.

Volkswagen Golf SE IV, Dundry

A couple of weeks ago I made an attempt at reclaiming the Cross Trophy with fellow Bristol Pegasus Motor Club member Chris Clarke and came home a respectable third in class. A couple of days ago I was out again this time on a treasure hunt with GALPOT regular Tim Murray and again we came home a respectable third and won a box of Maltesers to share.

Touch wood the Golf will remain reliable and help me attend a few more meetings which I can report on here for your delectation.

Thanks for joining me on this “Cardinal Classic” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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