Lancia Motor Club

Spotted by John Millham at Snetterton this weekend and noted on the "Aprilia race preperation" thread:

http://www.lancia.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8285.15

His two photos attached.  His comments were:

How about this one? A rather tall looking single seater, it was in the paddock at the VSCC race meeting at Snetterton yesterday and it's for sale! The owner thinks it was made from a 1938 Aprilia - with some MG connections, but I think it's a bit later than that and based on a second series car. I have no idea what the MG connection is. It has a Shorrocks supercharger mounted in front of the engine, but of the type which doesn't get VSCC approval, as its inlet and outlets are side by side, instead of being at 180 degrees. It needs a bit of finishing and has rather nasty plastic pipes for the front suspension oilers, but they could easily be replaced - or just removed. The seat has some aircraft related history, but I forget what! Anyone interested should contact Stephen Cato or Duncan Sutton at www.historicsportscarcollection.com
Regards, John

Frank Tierney added:

Here is a write up from another site with much more detail.

http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=61952

For sale by auction on Saturday 30 November 2013 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Lancia/MG is an example of a 'new' vintage special. having
been built by Richard Thompson in the early 1980's from the
mechanical parts of a Lancia Aprilia. These have then been
assembled onto a 1934 MG PA boxed chassis. Needless to say. the
chassis had to undergo some surgery to allow the transplant to
work. It has been cut. inverted. reversed and plated to produce a
very un-Abingdon-like structure that matches up with the Lancia
independent suspension systems as well as giving it a wheelbase of
seven foot. six inches long.

The overhead camshaft (1352cc) Lancia engine has been totally
rebuilt. tuned and now sports a Shorrocks supercharger fed by a two
inch S. U. downdraught carburettor. With a modest six psi boost. br/>about 70bhp is produced. The drive train. all Lancia. incorporates
the original four speed gearbox and the MG cart springs have been
replaced by Lancia independent suspension at all four corners. At
the front end. this is by the well known coil springs and dampers. br/>whilst at the rear. a transverse semi-epileptic spring is coupled
to torsion bars with short trailing arms.

The brakes are hydraulically actuated with servo assistance from
a Lancia Flavia unit. Disc wheels use 165x400 tyres at the front
with 19x400 at the rear. As well as having a blower. the engine
also incorporates a couple more ingenious items; as it runs without
a cooling fan. or dynamo for that matter. a bigger radiator from an
Austin 12/4 has been bought in together with a larger pre-war Fiat
water pump. The plate-type oil cleaner has also been replaced by a
full-flow air-cooled unit.

The original body made of fabric-covered marine plywood with a
louvered bonnet has been superseded by a bespoke aluminium unit. br/>beautifully crafted to fit and taking its styling cues from such
icons as the Maserati 6C and 250F.

Originally completed in 1985. the Lancia/MG was entered in a
number of vintage events including Wiscombe. Shelsley Walsh and
Prescott; however. difficulties with the car's ageing driver
prevented it actually taking part. Stewardship was then passed to
Nick Savage for further works before selling to Trevor Pask in
1998.

This is a tribute to a pre-war design initiated by famous racing
driver. Reg Parnell when he rebuilt his car using the front axle
from a Lancia Augusta mated to his MG K3. The cockpit
includes a selection of modern Smiths instruments such as oil
pressure. oil temperature. water temperature and a period military
aviation boost gauge. There are also two AC period instruments. br/>Speedometer and rev. counter. A side exit exhaust. with no baffle. br/>leaves the engine further indicating its competition
credentials.

As the work on this exciting project is largely complete. there
appears to be relatively little to do. Included with the car are a
number of spares including templates. panels. rear axle and
differential unit. radiator as well as a number of other
items. It has been accepted to compete by the VSCC with the
accompanying letter in the history file as well as the buff
application booklet. It is also mentioned at length in John
Batemans book. 'The Enthusiasts Guide to Vintage Specials'. and
should prove a rewarding drive for future national and
international vintage racing.

I first saw the car when Nick Savage had given up on it.  I'm sure I've got photos somewhere, real chemical photos printed on paper it was that long ago.

The water pump looks like an aluminum "aquaplane" as fitted to sidevalve Ford specials.  I bought one myself for a project. The supercharger runs backwards - it faces the engine with v-belt drive.

More photos from the weekend:

The story with the seat is that it was in the first Comet jet to fly the Atlantic.

Tyres are 5.50 x 16 Dunlop racing, the same size as on the front of the red Maserati 6CM at the same meeting.

Not sure I'd be happy with amounting of lightening of the wheels, can't remember seeing wheels with that many holes in them ???

Brian
8227 8)

I've no idea how it handles, but aesthetically it would look so much better if the wheelbase was a foot longer, and perhaps 3-6" lower; as it is, it looks like one of those plastic toys I got in Shredded Wheat back in the '50s  ::)

I expect it could "easily" go a little lower.  I'm no Aprilia expert but from the angle of the drive shafts and looking at the front hubs I'd guess that its still on its original springs and sitting high.

Could the front axle be moved forwards?  A "cut and shut" to the chassis and a "little" modification to the front bodywork?

To me its a shame they didn't get the cockpit floor and the seat a bit lower.

Thinking about a "cut and shut" one of the mods the current custodian made is a telescopic steering column for safety.

David