AN INEXPENSIVE AMATEUR- BUILT SPECIAL
AN INEXPENSIVE AMATEURBUILT SPECIAL
By air mail from Ceylon comes news of a special car which will be of interest to impecunious amateurs who cannot afford to build to any particular performance values or to incorporate favoured components, but who delight in converting ordinary cars into something more sporting with whatever components come to hand, aided by personal ingenuity.
The car in question was built by B. Gordon Graham, late General Secretary of the Ceylon Motor Sports Club. A 1934 Ford Eight saloon forms the basis. The frame was underslung, lowering it two to three inches, and Hartford shock-absorbers were mounted diagonally, which, with corded and taped springs,
give excellent stability. A Ford Ten gearbox was fitted, with remote control, and wheels from the same source. The cylinder head had IN inch handground from it and was refitted with a Klingerit 1,000 H.C. gasket. Head and ports were hand-polished and extra strong Terry’s valve springs used. Champion R3 plugs, advanced ignition, oversize jet and a Riley oil-gauge completed the modifications. Much drilling took place, a radiator thermometer was added, and the handbrake moved outside, operating on the rear wheels only. An Austin Seven ball bearing fan assembly was used the screen is Morris Eight, radiator shell and bonnet Chevrolet, silencer M.G., headlamps Morris Major, front wings Jowett and rear wings Chrysler. The two-seater body was hand. constructed of 18 gauge sheet aluminium, cellulosed by the Ford Motor Co. in Colombo. The radiator badges are those of the Automobile Association of Ceylon, Ceylon Motor Sports Club, and M.G. C.C.
The car has been most successful in club hill-climbs, including winning the Ladies’ Cup twice, and the M.G. C.C. Cup. It does 40 m.p.h. in second and 70 in top gear, at $5 m.p.g. It cost about as much to build as importing a new Ford Ten tourer and weighs 101 cwt. complete. Its owner is coming to this country soon to take delivery of a Ford Ten and proposes to join the Ford Enthusiasts’ Club.