1966 Janspeed Unipower GT

[Pandora]

oh, that sounds interesting. Take your wallet!

Al

[1071kev]

Al. I'm some way down the queue to purchase this one.

[Austin Costin]

That is the dogs bollocks

[Pete]

Another little piece of the history jigsaw fell into place today as I found a programme for the car's first race at Combe on June 24th 1967.





Race report published in Motoring News:



This wasn't the car's first visit to the circuit though as it was pictured in colour with Jan and Geoff during a test (pictured earlier in the thread) with no comp numbers. I don't yet have a photo from this race. It's listed as a Uni-Power in red and funnily enough the next programme I have is for the next weekend on July 2nd at Brands where it's also listed as red despite still being white. I suspect Jan intended to repaint it red from the get-go but the ongoing body modification (the arches were already cut by Brands) stopped this happening until well after it'd come back from the Spanish GP (July 9th) where it was still white but now with body extensions.

That Brands photo (2nd race)



How that 1967 BRSCC Combe colour footage (on Youtube) fits in with these races I still haven't fathomed, it's quite fuzzy and evidently the car was out racing most weekends so it's likely I've missed one somewhere.

Talking of race programmes, I'm now looking for Spa 6Hr progs from '88 to the mid 90's if anyone knows of any.

[Pete]

Whilst I was at PAD's gaff just before Blyton I trial fitted the 7" JAPs for the rear..





I've got some 6" for the front but they're 4 1/2" PCD and will need modding to suit in order to fit (not impossible to do), rather find the right ones though!

[Miniholic]

Nice bit of period bling there Pete.

What's the offset like?

[mk1]

You really are piecing the whole story together Pete.

A brilliant jigsaw indeed!

M

[66Traveller]

Those wheels will look fantastic!

[Pete]

I've collected a few James, got six spares for sale if anyone wants some !

Ian the offset's perfecto ( 3 3/4")!


Nearly bought another Unipower project the other day...



Forgot to bid...again!!

[rpb203]

Pete,
That model looks interesting, where does that come from?
Pearce wheels look pretty good on the car.

[Pete]

Gary I think they were made in very limited quantities for the Japanese market and that one appeared on Ebay a month or two ago. First time I'd seen any model of a Unipower GT!

[surfblue63]

TW Collection kits were made by a chap called Trevor Wright in the 1980s. He produced many rarely modelled cars, trucks and motorcycles. The kits were made in limited numbers and occasionally turn up in auctions, either still as kits or built up. I have a TW Broadspeed GT in my collection somewhere. The Unipower is a new one on me, so if another one comes up Pete, expect some strong bidding!!

[Pete]

Bugger! It was probably a bargain at about £30 then !

[surfblue63]

I would have paid that for it if I had seen it.

[rpb203]

I think that I would have to agree, the quality doesn't look to be the greatest from the picture, but not aware of many, (any), Unipower models about, so probably worth a punt at £30 or a bit more.
I think I remember seeing there was a model maker who made a 'one off' in Japan in the late 80's other than that not aware of any others.

[Pete]

Just thought I'd do a little round up of the year, after the Autosport Show in January celebrating Cars and Car Conversions, then Blyton in May, I managed to get the car to Shelsley for their Classic Nostalgia meeting in July along with Paul's Ogle (now sadly destroyed ), and Goff's Jem...




Then took it to the Manchester Classic show which was OK for the short time I was there...




Finally me and Gary met up at Castle Combe in October at the superb Autumn Classic race meeting for a whizz around the track, first time it had been back on this particular bit of Wiltshire tarmac since 1967...





Finally I've reluctantly caved in to Facebook. As it's imminently 50 years of Unipower GT I've started a page dedicated to the cars (wish I'd started a group now, bit of a balls up but will try and change it...) which can be found here :

https://www.facebook.com/Unipower-GT-92 ... 7/?fref=ts

Have a great 2016 and see you at Blyton!

[rich@minispares.com]

found this on pistonheads - peter sellers taking a picture of a unipower

[Pete]

I think he bought that car Rich, he was writing a piece on it for The Telegraph I think? A lso think it's still around, it's a '66 model.

[minimans]

I tried looking at the Unipower but my eyes kept straying to the Continental in front...............I wonder if that was his?

[Pete]

Not done a catch up on here for ages so here's a quick recap on 2016 so far!

First event was Blyton back in April, here's Jeff Ruggles going for a spin, it was running like a bag of shit in this pic with old fuel in it. Went much better with a fresh top up albeit with those bloody ancient tyres still on it! .



Courtesy of snapper Tim Harber :



Next was an entry at Chumly in June, managed to get Revolution to make me a new set of wheels by this point, put some new CR65s on them, got all the rosejoints replaced and had the suspension set up properly and what a difference!









Car went great once me and Mark cleaned a tank full of a petrol/diesel mix out of it due to some silly c*nt topping it up with the wrong fuel, flatenning the battery to pump it out, not turning it off in the queue for the start line cos of the flat battery and then blowing most of the water out of it cos it got too hot in the fekin queue! . Great weekend otherwise!