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I'm looking for some Jensen CV8 headlamps currently, or Renault R8 if I'm correct about that plus the correct rims.

I can tell you where to get the correct Headlight units. However I think you are looking for the headlight Bowls as well as the headlight Rims. The headlights are also Renault R4 but you need the convex ones that Renault no longer supply as they only have concave. Problem is the convex ones do not have the E mark on them so might be an MOT issue. The only source I know of in France do not have any Rims in stock and no idea when, and the correct Bowls have not been available for many years. The Renault R4 Bowls might work, but I've not tried them as I've not managed to source these either. Not tried very hard however as not sure they would work. You are correct that the Jensen lights might work as they sourced the Renault parts for the old CV8. I've not gone down that route either, so good luck and let me know if you manage to source any. The main reason your car does not have any bowls on it when I saw it in Brussels I suspect.
Regards,
Gerry

You are of course correct Gerry, I need bowls aswell. Anyone got a scrap Unipower GT they want to break ?

For those interested, I've posted a new topic (ex-Works Unipower GT Refresh) with pictures of the finished winter refresh of my Unipower GT after 38 years of ownership. About time you might say !.

Hope you like it as much as I do !.

Gerry

Done very little on this recently though bodywork jobs continue, 1275 S short motor is done (and probably surplus to requirements) and the 1071 engine build is ongoing. 163 head is now ported and ready.
I've got a feeling that the car was manufactured originally with single piece Perspex windows as other early cars were, can't see sliders on either of these shots...





By June '67 the sliders had been seemingly retro fitted, as other early cars had been...



Also noticeable in the above shot of Mabbs at Brands is the evident damage/modification to the front arch due to body roll, leading to the later (only weeks later) body mods it still has. Talking of body mods, we found a certain amount of filler on the rear end, possibly due to a previous nudge..original Viva HA rear light being offered up :




This was the modded rear end when I bought it....


..and now being put back the way it should be , the previously glassed over rear light apertures and rear grille opening reinstated...

I've been looking for a photo of my car at the first Spanish (F2) Grand Prix at Jarama in July 1967.It was still white at the time and still 1275cc. I did find this shot of the race my car took part in on a Spanish forum and wonder if my car is the white tail just sticking out behind car number 31 (Porsche?)



Mabbs did finish just in front of a Sunbeam Tiger which could be the green car behind ?

Partial list of finishers here, Mabbs finished 6th.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/J ... -6153.html

If you look at the mesh on the rear 'grille' of this demonstator it's a black painted honeycombe stylee..




..same as the front on mine...



Anyone got any ideas where I could source something like that ?

Pete, it might be worth contacting these people with a picture, they may be able to help?

http://www.meshuk.co.uk/online-shop?p=catalog&parent=41

Thats just off the shelf perforated steel sheet,

http://www.novametals.co.uk/products/pe ... ound-hole/

http://www.steelexpress.co.uk/perforated-sheet/

Someone who sells steel sheet has to have that in stock. the only thing to determine is the holesize and distance between as there are various!

I've got to admit that was a very lazy question. The perforations are honeycomb (hexagonal) though so it's not as readily available as it first appears but yes safe to say Google brings up suppliers. Ta chaps.

It's looking unlikely I'll be able to bring the car to Blyton unfortunately, just poor timing really. The lads are on with the front air dam and it just so happens it's at a critical stage and they don't want the car moved.

Hi Pete,
The perforated sheet you refer to indeed on many of the cars was hexagonal as you describe. However some cars also had square perforated sheet. I suppose it was all down to issues with supply at the time.

Anyway the dimension of the front grill is as follows in case you needed confirmation.

29-3/4" Long (75.5 cm)
6-3/16" Wide/High (15.5 cm)
3/8" (1 cm) Folded return top and bottom towards front of car
1/4" square perforations in straight lines and not offset as mentioned above.

The grill was then cut midway long its length through the folded return to allow a slight bend to take the shape of the nose of the car. Two Phillips dome headed set screws with nuts were then used to secure each end to holes in the fiberglass return either side of the front indicators. Old fashioned Number plate plastic numbers/letters were then affixed through the holes with internal star washers used to secure the plastic pins on the back of the letters/numbers.

Hope this helps.

Gerry

It certainly does, thanks Gerry.

Project update : Went to see the car after the Blyton day and very impressed with the way the front air dam is looking and the air intakes. rear end (which wasn't quite right in my previous pic) has been corrected, bonnet fastener will be returned to it's rightful place soon to replace the dreadful R clip fastners, I've changed tack on the engine and am fitting the 1275 'S' unit (already rebuilt) seeing as the car raced with that unit for the first half dozen races (including Jarama Grand prix) . After my chat with Barry Hawkins on Sunday he confirmed that Downton did indeed supply the 1275 engine for the car as displayed at the '67 Racing Car Show, head is done, box is ready to go virtually and diff sorted. Loaned an original front lamp from Gary (cheers mate) to make sure I source the correct lamps and bowls. Suspension to sort and fit of rear clam then it's into paint, very much looking forward to see this car back in Tartan Red. Pics to follow.

Pete,
Sounds like things are coming on well.

Ref the Downton engine in the car at the '67 Show, the car was, according to the factory records sold without engine and wheels (Knock-on Minilites). Presumably Janspeed thought at the time that they would do their own thing on both power plant and wheels.

I think I already mentioned that you can get the 'head' lamps from www.franzose.de . The bowls and rims are another story !.

Gerry

Thanks Gerry, yes that's how I understand it anyway that the car was sold ex stock, sans engine. The relationship betwixt Downton and Janspeed was frosty to say the least at this time (Jan Odor was referred to as Bad Odor at Downton) and so I would have thought he'd want his own power plant in it from scratch either way. Looking to try and get up and running for the Shelsley Nostalgia meeting in July. I've also asked for a separate Mini class at this meeting so could be another excuse for a forum get together folks ?

When will you know if you can have a mini only class and who will be invited?

All the best David

Just got the reply David, no Mini class as such but the seeing as we/they're affiliated with the MSA the MCR will be invited as a club and be allowed to run together as a group on Sunday July 20th. I've entered in the Unipower.

Quick update :

How the block came back from dipping, machining and liners going in :





Managed to glean some original parts (thanks to Gary)

Steel swirl pot for the cooling system :


Original front badge


Cibie 154 lamps



Grille


Rear end done :



Front end done with air dam back in place, mirrors binned and bonnet R clip fasteners gone :



Engine's built now, 163's looking lovely, went for old school spec 649, forged rockers etc, should be running by end of the week, suspension will be done this week, then it's paint!

A couple of clippings of Triple C's Brian Harvey competing in the car , firstly at Brands 'New Year Sprint' in January 1968 :



A trip to Santa Pod in June :



More soon....

Looking Good Peter!

Hi Pete
The report of the Santa Pod sprint brings back very many happy memories for me as does the name Ron Davis. Ron was a key figure in the BARC North Thames region and I think I was competing at the event as I was a member and I think Social Secretary of the region at the time. Most of my weekends were influenced by Motorsport and Santa Pod was the location of my first sprint.
If your car was a regular competitor in BARC sprints it is possible that there will be mentions of it in BARC members publications of the era.
I hope to be a Shelsey on the Saturday but not Sunday as I will be taking part in a car club run in the North Cotswolds & Warwickshire.
The car looks very good by the way.
Hope to catch up at Bulee if you have renewed you passport.
Cliff

Another car I'm really looking forward to seeing once it's done