1960s Cox GTM resto project

[rich@minispares.com]

looking good!

[turbocox]

Well done Andy, keep pushing.

I've already got some 3m 9323 stashed in a little tub for you

[GTM71]

Good progress, I do wonder how many early (pre 72) GTM'S there are that are in a semi original state and Taxed and MOT'ED? The only one I have seen in the UK is Stuarts Cox, so it will be good to get another. My 71 Heerey is a way off that yet...

[turbocox]

Well my MOT runs out in two weeks, and it will not be put in for a new one as there's some work to be done, and won't be back on the road for a while.

How many left ......

Well I spoke to Roger Bywater, who is the guy who did all the drawings for the Heerey style chassis.
He was there at the time when Howard Heerey took over the project from Bernard Cox.
He was a friend of Howard's farther, and agreed to help out with the project to produce repeatable, quality chassis tubs as the early cars were Erm.... each a little different from the last shall we say.

Now some say... There was 50 to 55 early cars produced, when I spoke to Roger he told me "No way"... He said only 27 early cars Tops. I know of 4 cars that are no more and maybe 8 others in various states of running and disrepair, including mine.

On the road I've only once followed a Cox it was the CCC Cox of Derick / Nick Wilkins.

[GTM71]

There are a few early cars on the road in Europe as seen on Maximum Mini site and I am sure there are some in Japan as well. I think you would be struggling to get into double figures though! There seems to be a lot more Heerey cars than Cox. So are you starting your "back to original" project then Stuart? Good work, new tub will definitely make it easier!

[turbocox]

The numbers I gave above were including the ones in The Netherlands, france, Belgium and Japan that I know about.

But yes I agree, I'm sure some more must still be hiding.



Where it gets really confusing tho, is that when Heerey took over, the early style Cox tubs and the Heerey style tubs were sold side by side. Ive spoken to a few customers who purchased at the time about this but Richard Hudson Evans said he was told when he went to buy his, that "the early style was cheaper due to it being inferior as it wasn't as stiff", it was referred to as a road chassis by the salesman, and the later Herrey chassis was more for racing. Truth is, it's was more likely to be sales BS, and more to do with ease of manufacture.

The early chassis are quite a bit lighter so that's probably where the "Not as stiff" line came from.
As a side note on the old gtmdrivers forum a forum member did a CAD twist model of the later tub and it showed different.

Myself, I'm currently looking into a more period correct engine, but I first need to win the lottery
There is a chap who has commissioned a new tub, but that is a one off. I can repair what I have, as the car will have to come apart anyway.

I'm at the moment working on my late Gtm coupe, as I want to have something to play with while I decide what I'm doing with the Cox.

[GTM71]

The more period correct cars the better I think, not that many around. As with all kit cars a lot get butchered by amateurs and then left to rot.

[AndyB72]

The chassis number on mine is 130 but I would assume they started numbering them from 101 or something.
Bit more progress this week, the sills are full of dents and there are very few truly flat panels on the chassis, sanding sanding sanding...

[turbocox]

Good progress

I'm pretty sure yours is no.13.

Did I give you the original builders contact details

[AndyB72]

Ye you did, I spoke to him a year or two ago. Once the car is back on the road the plan is to pay him a visit and taking him for a spin, he still lives in Stockport.

[GTM71]

Looks good! One thing I would say is think about locating the rack on to the subframe like later cars, the body mounting is not located well and there is a lot of bump steer as a result.
Simon.

[AndyB72]

I'm using one of the steering rack fitting kits from Derek at Hambly Sports Cars. I've left the original mounting in place to keep some strength in the bulkhead but chopped/boxed-in about 20mm from the front to clear the new position of the steering rack.

[GTM71]

The alloy brackets? Yes I have them too, they are a good solution.

[AndyB72]

Yes the alloy brackets, I had to do quite a bit of fettling to get the steering rack to fit between the clamping area.

[AndyB72]

More progress this week, subframes are on wheels ready for the tub and we're spraying the underside of the tub tonight, should have the whole tub done by early September...

[mk1]

Great progress Andy!

[Pandora]

What a great photo. Jeroen's head just popped considering the possibilities to fill in the gap!



Al

[mk1]

Looks a bit short to me, possibly something like this.

[Pandora]

technically, it'd be like this



Al

[AndyB72]

HaHa, nuts, I've been busted, I'm building a plastic shorty.