Coldwell C14 & C14B

Someone I know has acquired some remains (mainly bodywork) of a car which seems to have been raced in the European Sportscar Championship when it ran to the 2l Gp.6 format, as well as later in the Supersport series. The car in question is a Coldwell C14. We would now like to know more about this car: who built it, who raced it, tech. data, etc.

Any info would be appreciated. :beer:

Someone I know has acquired some remains (mainly bodywork) of a car which seems to have been raced in the European Sportscar Championship when it ran to the 2l Gp.6 format, as well as later in the Supersport series. The car in question is a Coldwell C14. We would now like to know more about this car: who built it, who raced it, tech. data, etc.

Any info would be appreciated. :beer:

It would have been built by Bill Needham, who still races his Cooper 500 and restores historic race cars from the depths of Yorkshire.

Bill Needham raced the car in C14 form in 1971, and upgraded in C14B form in 1972 - At least in the Martini Trophy (although it DNS there) and Wunsdorf races that year. Also practiced in the 1973 Nürburgring 500kms in 1973, but I don't know what it's fate was in the race.

Jim Gathercole raced it in HSCC sports/GT events in the late 80s early 1990s.
If you want any photos of it in Gathercole's hands let me know (None from the 70s, sorry!)

Thank you, I'll pass it on to the owner.

http://www.arcor.de/palb/alben/28/670528/400_3662383565343737.jpg

Jim Gathercole still has his car so this one certainly is not the same. David gathercole also has one.

Interesting - how many were built?

Cybers, ref your bodywork photo, David ran the Coldwell as no. 23 in the 2004 Supersports series. That bodywork matches the colour of the photos you requested of the car in David's hands some years ago.

David's car is currently being re-built in his workshop after a shunt last year, he has all the body moulds etc to rebuild to original, as far as i am aware there were only 3 original chassis but will find out more for you if you are interested.

... if you are interested.
Definitely. Thanks.

There were 3 cars built, two are owned by the Gathercole's and the third car was written off, the bodywork you have is from Lorraine Gathercoles accident. It was left behid as not worth saving

Mike,

Any idea of the respective histories of these chassis?

I saw what was referred to as the C14B at the Martini Silverstone meeting in 1972 - I think opinions / reports at the time differed on whether this was a new or updated chassis

This is my car. I was racing it at the Nurburgring (Orwell Supersports Cup) when a drive shaft failed causing extensive damage, we chose not to bring the bodywork home to the UK. It is currently being restored by my husband, David Gathercole, who also raced it in the Supersports Cup.
This car was the first C14 built, the latter 2 were C14B's. Ours was built in 1970 for the '70 season. The difference between the C14 and the C14B is that the latter ones were shallower. My husbands uncle (Jim Gathercole) has a C14B which we believe was the last one built. We believe the remaining chassis is still in existence but we have not been able to trace it as yet (we know it was damaged in the 70's).

Lorraine, Thanks very much for the summary

Many thanks.

so in short it seems that your mate I am afraid has a momento of someone elses car - I hope he didnt pay too much for it as there isnt anything he can do with it

Didn't Brian Robinson use one for a few Northern Libre races in about 1977-78 ?

Didn't Brian Robinson use one for a few Northern Libre races in about 1977-78 ?

He did,a C14B, he only had it for a short while but certainly raced it at Croft in October 1977. The car had an FVA engine at the time. See the picture at:

www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk