Spartan Kit Car

[V Mad]

I must be mad. I just bought another project! I think I am having a late (very late) mid-life crisis.

This is another unfinished car, this time a Ford Spartan. Based on Cortina Mk2/3/4 running gear, the body is Spartan; a mixture of steel monocoque, alloy doors, bonnet, and grp wings. It basically all there, just needs finishing. The engine even runs ok! Looks good but the cossie wheels will have to go!
white spartan.jpg

I am going to use this off road for the Brooklands Museum car rides, but may eventually get it registered for road use. I suppose I should join the Spartan club and get some advice (like, for example you shouldna bought that one mate!!).

Wish me luck.

[Stagdad]

luck.Didn't you just say to me last week how parking space was an issue Chris


Cheers Steve

[V Mad]

luck.Didn't you just say to me last week how parking space was an issue Chris


Cheers Steve

No way I can keep this at home Steve, its going to live at Brooklands.

[Guest]

The question Chris is....did you give more than £100 for it?

[KOY 23]

The question Chris is....did you give more than £100 for it?

Worth that with a full tank

[keeny]

have you driven it and whats it like it reminds me of something from wacky racershave fun with it

keeny

[Firept]

Chris.
Built one of the Spartan 2+2 in 1980. based on the Herald with modified engine, I can remember using the rover P6 gear change linkage (cos I liked it!!).
Painted in Rover Scarab blue and white even had a bobble hat to match, GHO 202W.
I think it took me about 3 months to build from scratch but then again I was still single in those days. The handling was really good, I can remember taking a PC college from work down the A4 and power sliding it all the way round the Pangbourne roundabout his face was a picture!

best of luck with it.

Paul.

[V Mad]

The question Chris is....did you give more than £100 for it?

Oh come on, its worth more than that!! I didnt even haggle for it, as I felt sorry for the owner (going soft in my old age!).

It is not really driveable yet but surely will be after a couple of days work. We already have a Triumph Herald based Spartan running at Brooklands museum, which I have driven, and it is the most popular car rides car (except for visiting supercars). But mine is a Ford Spartan which should handle well, and will not have the Herald tuck-in at the rear wheel. I cant wait to drive it up Test Hill and the up the Members Banking (steepest part of the circuit)!

Next car rides is in the school summer holidays. Two weeks of fun.

[Westfaling]

Chris
Does it look better from other angles?
Nick

[V Mad]

Chris
Does it look better from other angles?
Nick

Like many similar kit cars the styling leaves something to be desired; but for car rides use it has just the right ingredients. People like the 50s sports car look and most will not know that this is a modern copy. Obviously this is supposed to look a bit like the MGTF of the 1950s, but I think the radiator grille is too upright and needs to lean back a bit; I might try to change this later. Its good to have something I can hack about without feeling guilty. And also do some design; I will be looking for some old 50s Smiths or Jaeger gauges, plus speedometer and rev counter to make a nice dashboard. Nothing too expensive though.

[KOY 23]

Chris
Does it look better from other angles?
Nick

Nick.

So nicely put

John

[Greenstag]

The Spartan is one of the kits I considered making in the 80s. In the end I opted for the Pilgrim Bulldog which I thought had softer lines.

[Guest]

I will be looking for some old 50s Smiths or Jaeger gauges, plus speedometer and rev counter to make a nice dashboard. Nothing too expensive though.

Well that's one way to double its value

[Colonel Mustard]

You've brought back memories now. Back in 1984 I helped build one of these in a garage I used to work at. The idea was that during quiet times we'd all use some of our otherwise wasted time to build this car. The donor was a Mk3 Cortina 2000GXL (Which ironically are worth quite a bit these days). I seem to remember the chassis was like a pylon on its side and the car was quite heavy as a result. Our car was painted 'Mars' red and had fake spoked wheels.

It would actually have been quite a good car...but unfortunately all the parts that were taken off the Cortina were just bolted strait onto the Spartan chassis...no cleaning and painting and refurbushing...as a result it was a bit naff.

The garage sold the car in about 1986 I think...the new owner had it for a few months...hated it...and it somehow got stolen and never seen again...


...oh happy days

Chris

[V Mad]

Well, yesterday a very kind Brooklands colleague drove me down to Hayling Island to pick up my car. When we arrived back it was well received by the team, they even left their lunch to have quick look, and said yes that will do the job nicely.

I had three boxes of parts, plus other large items such as rollover bar, two sets of bumpers, some panels, and various wheels etc etc.

Today I loaded up my estate car with tools and parts and spent the day working on the car. I didnt expect to get much done, but I located and fitted the brake servo/master cylinder, gear lever, handbrake, repositioned the steering column, fixed the bonnet, and made a plywood dash in period style. The fact that the correct parts were there is a credit to the PO who obviously took car to make sure the parts were safely stored, recovered and passed on to me.

Next job is to refurb the brake m/cyl, connect up and tes brakes, fit a battery then wire up the ignition circuit.

The suspension looks odd as the front sits much too high. I think the Spartan body is much lighter than the Cortina. I dont think it will be difficult to shorten the springs, and hope that they will not be too stiff. A road test will son identify any problems.