Mystery Chassis ?

[pantah]

I think many of us will have seen this image of a 'mystery' chassis on a well-known Race-car sales website.

Has anyone any idea what it might be?
What we do know, is:-

Tubular space-frame - apparently no form of aluminium 'tub'.
'U' shape roll hoop al-la 1960's style - probably rules out it being an F100 car.
Most early 70's sports racers seemed to have a full-width 'goalpost' roll hoop.
Formula ford 'type' uprights.
See the support brackets at the back end of the chassis - unusual?
Bodywork looks more late 60's than the squarer early 70's ?

I asked for more photos, but none have been forthcoming. I do know that the vendor purchased it from the UK about 6 years ago.

Bright ideas anyone?

Thanks

[John Turner]

Probably better in the Motorsport History Forum, so I've moved it there/here!

[pantah]

More photos.

(more to follow)

[pantah]

Yet - more - and more to follow!

[driftwood]

I would not rule out F100 car as roll hoop was not full width rule till 73

[pantah]

That means it hasn't raced as an F100 post '73 then!

I am struggling for mor information (as are several people) on F100, particularly period photos. Do you have any further information?

Thank you.

A.

[driftwood]

dont know much about F100 other than it was 1-2 year race period for the cars then they where sold to club racers updated to bigger motor etc

the roll hoop change was certainly for international racing i dont know what teh club ruling was for 73 onwards
suggest you acquire 1970 71 72 73 autopsorts and read them for race result info

have you bought the car of the german?

[pantah]

Yes, I have done. He can't remember who he bought it off in the UK 6 years ago though!

Someone must recognise it with that bodywork. I've got a certain well known 'Ferret' on the case!

A.

[driftwood]

how can someone not recall who or where they got a car from?
does KH-L recall what town?

also suggest you make list of all F100 cars that raced in 70 71 events see what odd ball 1/ offs where around then
what casting nos are on uprights
the nose looks B8 chevron ish

[pantah]

Unfortunately, he's no longer answering my emails with requests for such information.

The bodywork (except the rear panel which has been changed in shape and severely butchered) actually bears the most resemblence to A Crossle 9s - right down to the two air-duct holes, and the angle of the back-rake.

The rear uprights are (badly) fabricated - not cast, and I suspect not original.

Perhaps this is the missing 'Arkwright Blenkinsop' garden-shed special after all !

A.

[driftwood]

fabricated uprights unlikley back in 1970 or a 1 of suspect a modern addition in passage of time
have you phoned the german up and harrased him over town location
i know he is an english speaker
im selling stuff to a german lad now ( good english speaker) so if u want him harrased send me the tel no and i can ask for some harrassmant for data

why do you punish your self in buying odd ball cars have you not got a telly?

[Kale]

Hello

I was the last german owner of the Mystery Chassis !
I have bought the project ca. 6 years ago over the internet from
Guy from United Kingdom.
The Guy transport the parts to a town near Feiburg with a Truck, who sales
parts to a german factory.
I never spoke with the English Owner - only contact via Mail !
I look a few Jears to find the History of the Chassis via Ten Tenths and other
Forums - but no succestfull !
Now i sale the Chassis to made place ffor new project !
Sorry - That´s all i can help !

best regards Kale

[driftwood]

karl do you have email data on the guy maybe town he came from or his name what type of business was he in??

[pantah]

Originally Posted by driftwood

fabricated uprights unlikley back in 1970 or a 1 of suspect a modern addition in passage of time
have you phoned the german up and harrased him over town location
i know he is an english speaker
im selling stuff to a german lad now ( good english speaker) so if u want him harrased send me the tel no and i can ask for some harrassmant for data

why do you punish your self in buying odd ball cars have you not got a telly?

I appreciate your assistance Driftwood ... and thank you as well Karl for your input.

I do have a telly.... but there is only reality shows and football on, so I prefer to tackle something like this.... it'll look good next to the Brabham and the March - one day !

[driftwood]

ive seen the brab what march u got?

[pantah]

Originally Posted by driftwood

ive seen the brab what march u got?

The Ex- Tony Keele 703 Screamer. Came 3rd in class in 2009 - my first season circuit racing.

[driftwood]

Just been reading a website look here there is a pishabolity car is USA C or D sports racer look at roll hoop shape ( maybe red herring?) however beggars cannot be choosers
http://www.currypotproductions.com/CSR-history.htm

[pantah]

Originally Posted by driftwood

Just been reading a website look here there is a pishabolity car is USA C or D sports racer look at roll hoop shape ( maybe red herring?) however beggars cannot be choosers
http://www.currypotproductions.com/CSR-history.htm

I had actually seen that website. The body shape is VERY close - bu that car is an early monocoque - not a rag-bag assortment of tubing like mine!

[driftwood]

the D C sports racers where mostly tube cars pre 72 then Lola T290 type monocoque cars came into B sports 2 litre

[pantah]

I have been informed that there is a very strong possibility that the chassis is a one-off built by 'Mercury' in the mid 1960's. 'Mercury was the brand name for a company called D&A Shells (London) who among other things made closed GT bodies for the Lotus 23, as well as making several 'one-off' sports racers both in round and square-tube. Their own chassis were based on both Lotus and Chevron types of that period.

Any other information on Mercury cars would be apprceated - or D&A shells.

[driftwood]

D & A shells often had cars to sell in the 70`s ( read 76 77 era autopsorts you will see their adverts
i think they where also scrapyard people and racing cars etc was the bi of fun sid eof their life wheeling n dealing
i will call a man i know who has spoken of them as he was race mechanic in that era

[eamonn ledwidge]

If it is a Mercury, there was a thread enquiring about this marque on here a few months ago - a couple of pics were posted.

As Driftwood correctly states, D & A Shells were the movers behind this. I seem to recall their sign over a small garage/breakers yard business in Stratford E London in the late 1970s. Passed it a few times when driving up to town.

I have a book with photo of a Mercury Ford driven by Gordon Drew at Dunboyne in the 1964 Holmpatrick Trophy race. He would have been part of the great UK touring party which visited Ireland annually in those heady days of the 1960s for two consecutive weekends of racing on closed public roads at Dunboyne and Phoenix Park.

Will ask the publisher of the Dunboyne 1958/1967 history for permission to reproduce.

[pantah]

From what I am, being told, no two of their cars were exactly the same. The bodywork is very close to a Crossle 9S - but not exact. perhaps of another example of D&A 'copying' exisitng designs.

For the record - if this is starting to jog any memories - the bottom coat of paint is bright yellowish orange. Judging by the state of the bodywork - it is probably 1960's original. Since then, the car appears to have been yellow, then red with a central thick white stripe.

[eamonn ledwidge]

I have a Crossle 9S - there are certain similarities, but thats all -forward edge is wrong, as is the tail treatment. My understanding was that the Mercury was largely modelled on the Lotus 23 and that they offered a GT version, ie a kit of panels to convert/upgrade a 23. All the sportsracers of that period had certain similar characteristics. The pic I have of from Dunboyne (1964) is almost head on, front section similar to 9S and Brabham BT8, rear similar to Lotus 23.

As you say, there was a lot of copying of other designs at the time.

Originally Posted by pantah

From what I am, being told, no two of their cars were exactly the same. The bodywork is very close to a Crossle 9S - but not exact. perhaps of another example of D&A 'copying' exisitng designs.

For the record - if this is starting to jog any memories - the bottom coat of paint is bright yellowish orange. Judging by the state of the bodywork - it is probably 1960's original. Since then, the car appears to have been yellow, then red with a central thick white stripe.

[pantah]

The tail end has been modified in later years by that well known surgical process known as 'armco barrier' followed by a dose of hacksaw and fibreglass. there is a substantial bit missin - hence that raked rear end. This is evidenced by the apalling bodge-up when you look underneath the tail end!

That said - the top-profile of the rear cover is virtually Lotus 23.

All supports for the side sponsons have been removed. we wondered if someone had intended turning it into a grass-track type of vehicle at some time - a common occurence when these things became uncompetitive on the track.

Front uprights are Triumph items same as FFord, and the rears are fabricated items, and probably not original.

Come-on.... someone knows what this car is - surely?

I am going to stick it in the back of our truck and take it to each HSCC meeting, put a notice on it and offer a reward to anyone who can provide positive proof of its identity.