Tag Archives: Hunter

’64 TdF Class Winner – Triumph Spitfire

To keep development costs down the Triumph Spitfire was based on the Triumph Herald chassis and running gear and like the Herald the bodywork was designed by Giovanni Michelotti.

Despite the unrivaled demand for British Sports cars it was a sign of the times that Triumph had to wait until it merged with Leyland before the Triumph Spitfire 4, later known as the Spitfire Mk1 could go into production in 1962.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

For the 1964 season Triumph built four Spitfires in pale blue for the works and one in pale green for Stirling Moss to take part in tarmac based rallies alongside the four green Spitfires built for endurance racing at Le Mans.

Stirling Moss entered his light green Spitfire for his secretary Valerie Pirie in five events of which she only recorded a finish on the 1965 Tulip Rally.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

Of the rally cars today’s featured car ADU 7B was the most successful having taken part in 5 events from ’64 to ’65.

Rob Slotemaker and Terry Hunter won their class driving ADU 7B on the 1964 Tour de France and Terry Hunter drove with P Lier in the co drivers seat of ADU 7B to finish second overall and first in class on the 1964 Geneva Rally.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

In 1965 an additional left hand drive Spitfire was built for Finish works driver Simo Lampinen.

It is believed ADU 7B is the only survivor of the series of Spitfires built for rallying.

Triumph Spitfire, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,

Mark Field of Jigsaw who was responsible for the recreation of the ADU 1B Le Mans racer found ADU 7B and restored it to it’s current condition which included returning the steering wheel to right where it had been when used by the Triumph works.

Thanks for joining me on this ” ’64 TdF Class Winner” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Powered By Holbay – Ginetta G21S

When it was launched the Ginetta G21 was well received in the British press albeit as the ‘poor mans Porsche’, while one esteemed journalist described it as the best car at the 1970 British Motor Show.

Ginetta 21S, Silverstone Classic

Refined and practical the well finished fibre glass body sits on a steel back bone chassis as pioneered by the Renault Alpine and Lotus Elan models of the early 1960’s.

Ginetta 21S, Silverstone Classic

The double wishbone and coil front suspension is based on items from the Triumph parts bin while the rear suspension is a five link Ginetta design that locates a Hillman Hunter rear axle.

Ginetta 21S, Silverstone Classic

The handling has been compared to the Lotus Elan although the sturdiness and build quality of the Ginetta is said to be far superior. Regular readers might recognise the increasingly famous vertically hinged door handles as coming from the Morris Marina parts bin.

Ginetta 21S, Silverstone Classic

Three engine options were available for the G21 the Ford Kent 1600 cc / 97 cui 4 cylinder, Ford Essex 3 litre / 183 cui V6 and the G21S, as seen here with the Ginetta Owners Club at Silverstone Classic, came with a Hillman based 1750 cc / 106 cui 4 cylinder with Holbay modified alloy cylinder head, Holbay camshaft, twin Weber carburetors lightened and balanced fly wheel to produce 120 hp good enough to go from rest to 60 mph in under 8 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph.

Ginetta 21S, Silverstone Classic

Just short of 70 G21s were produced at in Witham Essex though at least as many again appear to have been produced by later incarnations of the Ginetta marque.

Thanks for joining me on this “Powered By Holbay” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an Allard. Don’t forget to come back now !

Racin’ & Rockin’ – #46 Hunter Brothers Chevrolet Impala

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For those needing a NASCAR fix while the series is taking a break today’s car is the #46 Hunter Brothers Chevrolet Impala, seen here at Palo Alto earlier this year, that operated out of Hendersonville NC in 1965.

This car was driven by US Airforce Sergeant Roy Mayne, from Sumter SC who was given permission to race while on active duty. His best finish was in 1965 when he drove this car to a 4th place finish behind Ned Jarret, Buck Baker and Darel Dieringer in the September 6th Southern 500 at Darlington.

From 1963 to 1974 Roy drove in 139 Grand National and Winston Cup events scoring 22 top ten finishes. He never compete in a whole season his best end of season standing was 25th in 1966. Roy was one of the stunt drivers in the 1968 Elvis Presley movie ‘Speedway‘.

The new for ’65 fourth generation Chevrolet Impala set the all time industry annual sales record of more than one million units sold. Chevrolet finished 3rd in the final standings of the 1965 Grand National season behind Ford and Dodge.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sending me the photos.

Wishing all my fellow NASCAR fans a relaxing day off, see you all at Rowdy Chat for the Brickyard 400 next Sunday.

Thanks for joining me on this ’65 Impala edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !