EJB 55 C

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Unread postby davidscothorn » 17 Apr 2017, 20:40

June 1965 10-6-65 Geneva Rally R Aaltonen/ Ambrose 64 1st o/a, 1st in class . See later post below
July 1965 1-07-65 Czech Rally R. Aaltonen / A. Ambrose 102 1st overall, 1st in class
Nov 1965 1-11-65 RAC Rally H. Kallstrom / N. Bjork 37 Retired- Exhaust (Price)

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Unread postby worksminis » 29 Aug 2018, 22:00

Thank you for that.
It would confirm my suspicion that EJB55C (or the car carrying that number...) was Fall's recce car, not Hopkirk's.
Unfortunately Mike Wood did not respond to an Email a while ago on another matter. I worry he may be ill. He is a vital remaining link in a number of other investigations.
Have you any idea where you saw the photo?

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by ADO50 » 29 Aug 2018, 21:38

There is a colour picture of a recce damaged EJB 55C down a bank but on its wheels - maybe from Mike Wood?

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by worksminis » 28 Aug 2018, 22:32

Dei Fiori 66.jpg

Described in its Italian source as Hopkirk's "mulleto" for Rallye Dei Fiori 1966 (recce car).
UK magazine sources tell us Fall stuffed his recce car but no record of Hopkirk doing same. May be Fall's recce car.

Either way it explains its next appearance after the 65 RAC...or does it?......unless the no plate was borrowed for another car.
This seems to be 65 spec Gp2 car and EJB55C on the 65 RAC was supposed to be a Gp3 car.... Or is this one of the 66 Monte Gp1 cars with the bonnet/boot/tax disc of the 65 RAC EJB55C with the remains of its 65 spec bonnet mounted lights....

(looks like 3.5 in rims but they would probably have been on those for Dei Fiori regardless of car's origin, as they were used on both the actual rally cars on that event) (works type recliner passenger seat appears to be fitted, but that also could have been fitted for Dei Fiori - although it would already have been in the EJB55C used on the 65 RAC).

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Unread postby spoon.450 » 22 Jul 2017, 17:30

While scanning through the second edition Peter Browning book I discovered a bit more info about EJB 55C. It states that Tex Robertson bought the original rolling shell / EJB 55C (less engine) and sprayed it blue and white and rallied it as a 998, then was sold to Edward Richards and when he died his estate was going to throw it away. It was rescued by Geoff Myers and in a roundabout way ended up with Chris Spennewyn.
This info is taken from the very interesting chapter which was added to the second edition Browning book ( 1996 ), entitled " where are they now ".
I recommend that anyone with an interest in the history of ex Works minis should read this chapter. The book also has some fantastic photos.

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Unread postby ADO50 » 24 Jun 2017, 10:24

65 Castrol Donau crew was Poltinger/Schwingenschloel (Austrian) (various spellings seen - if anyone can confirm correct spelling please do so).
Walter Pöltinger and Kurt Schwingenschloel was/were the crew.

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by worksminis » 22 Jun 2017, 23:11

65 Castrol Donau crew was Poltinger/Schwingenschloel (Austrian) (various spellings seen - if anyone can confirm correct spelling please do so). If anyone has the full story of this loan, please tell us.

Confirmed (from entry list) that EJB55C was entered in Group3 on the 65 RAC. The statement that Aaltonen in DJB93B was the only Group 2 car of the 4 works Cooper S entries is correct. The fifth car (a Group 2 car) was loaned to Fall (CRX89B).

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Unread postby spoon.450 » 22 Jun 2017, 22:45

A few more pics from the ...90's ??

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by ADO50 » 22 Jun 2017, 12:01

worksminis wrote:
Possible recce use between July Vltava and November RAC?

It may not be in the usual books but EJB 55C was competing on the International Castrol Donau Rallye in September. It retired with gearbox/engine troubles.

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Unread postby davidscothorn » 22 Jun 2017, 08:31

. However, Bill Price's reason for 65 RAC retirement as "exhaust" sounds too strange. Time to seek out a few more period rally reports...[/quote]

Does he mean ''Exhausted''?

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by davidscothorn » 22 Jun 2017, 08:22

... or it may have been an ID swap...

Would this explain why Browning,1st Edition, lists EBL 55C and Price (later) EJB 55C? That Aaltonen won both events does not help with the i/d
Does Browning correct this in a later edition?

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Images

[LMM76C]

Ambrose autobio has stated Aaltonen 65 Vltava (Czec Rally) winner (EJB55C) was hydrolastic but Makinen's AJB66B was dry.

Also says that Vltava winning car was used as recce car for Polish. On Polish itself (in CRX89B) Aaltonen badly scalded his right arm by removing the radiator cap too quickly to check the water. He didn't learn from it. On the 68 or 69 RAC he stopped next to our service point before the first Kielder stage, opened the bonnet of his Fulvia and removed the rad cap causing a massive geyser of water to erupt. I'd realised in time what he was doing and stepped back. He re-fitted the cap, looked across the bonnet at me and said "We have some water!".

[spoon.450]

The restored ( by Chris Spennywen ) car was on show at this years MCR Beulieu event. Info from current Cooperworld.

[Pete]

Is that the blue one that rocked up on a trailer at Stanford Hall in the 90s?

[spoon.450]

That’s the one Pete. Some pics on previous page.

[66Traveller]

Unread postby davidscothorn » 22 Jun 2017, 08:31

. However, Bill Price's reason for 65 RAC retirement as "exhaust" sounds too strange. Time to seek out a few more period rally reports...

Does he mean ''Exhausted''?
[/quote]

Transmission failure according to contemporary reports.

[surfblue63]

1965 Geneva

Picture moved to correct thread.

[Smithmaps]

Last picture 1965 Geneva Rally, is EBL55C, not EJB 55C

[surfblue63]

Funny how your eyes trick you when you only spot half th ereg no. when scanning for the correct thread.

Moved to the right one.

Thanks