Fuel line cover - Race/Rally car?

[Flygirl]

Hello guys,

We have recently started work on our latest race car project. It has a few interesting features, one of which is a very tidy fuel line cover running the length of the interior of the car. Has anyone seen anything like this on competition cars over there? Supposedly this car was involved in rally/race events before coming to the US in 1966. But the covers may have been done by the first US owner as he had an extensive shop.

Here are a few pics:


Very nice fit around the roll cage, as the fuel line comes up through the seat pan and out again


Two sections removed for better perspective. All the covers were attached with rivets.




The section is cleanly spot welded and all the bends & cuts are very uniform

Appreciate any thoughts you may have.

[ivor badger]

As the car has a metal fuel line, it would not require fuel line covers under RAC rules. Personally, I would have spent the time mounting the cage properly to justify the weight of carrying it.

[mk1coopers]

I don't think this is a modification that was done by the OP recently, they are asking if we have seen similar over here, judging by their location the RAC rules wouldn't be applicable. It looks like someone put a lot of effort into the covers, the shell looks like an early one, lets see some more pictures

[Pete]

Yep looks like a lightweight shell Mark.

[Flygirl]

Thanks guys,

It is likely it was a US modification then. We had never seen anything like that so I thought I would get some opinions. The cage is really stout, and not up to modern standards thus has already been removed. I must buy a scale to get a weight on it, very heavy!

Here is a photo of it's early days in the US from one of the log books:


This thread probably belongs in the "projects" section, but here is a link to more pics and a bit more info on the car:
http://www.toyboxracing.com/1963_austin_cooper_s.html.

And, some You Tube vid of us taking the car apart (just for fun!):
http://youtu.be/wZ8ta-ddytE

It has been a race car it's entire life, so the shell is really minty with almost no rust at all. What a treat! We will have regular updates as things progress with the rebuild.

Cheers,
Rachel

[mk1coopers]

Interesting looking car, with as you say a few rally style touches

[ivor badger]

Yep looks like a lightweight shell Mark.

Not another lightweight shell. I was once shown a real light weight shell and had the full story explained to me. In the very early days of production, 1959, the started producing the first shells. The workforce then went on strike and during this the shell was changed. there was supposed to be only about 200 lightweight shells. The most noticable thing about a lightweight shell is that the B post seat belt mount is not built inside the shell. It is an external fitting with a round head visible from outside the car.

As for weight? I have been told a Mk3 with doors is lighter than a Mk1 without. The person who told me had simply gone to the breakers for a shell and lifted all available to pick the lightest and a Mk3 was the lightest.

The car would appear to be very early mk1 S, all the trim looks S. Don't rate the rigidity with the rear arches seperated from the sides and the inner arches supporting coil spring damper units. A good solid engineering job like the cage.