It was a 103E sit up and beg. Cost a fiver but needed a new back axle. I towed one back from a scrapyard behind a bicycle, with some bald tyres on, but never checked when I switched the originals back on.
Nice - I've noticed your avatar, but is it still the original running gear etc? I owned several of these in the 1970's when they were very plentiful and cheap and rather regret selling the last one in 2003.
It's got a 2ltr zetec engine 5spd sierra gearbox and many other bit scavenged from the local breakers . I had a fordson van with a 5.6lt amc engine in . This was the more sensible option .
I love these posts.....There was a loud banging and shaking at the back of the van.........but I just carried on driving......Here's an idea, Stop, and find out what it is!! I've had a wheel come loose on me before and it's not a subtle knock....it's a great clanking bang with matching shaking! Rant over...
Very tasty. This is what I wanted to build, had I ever got the time and money together. I settled for contemporary Aquaplane tuning gear, which upped the power of a stock 1172 cc sidevalve to maybe 35 hp.
Yea, ok, a bit optimistic that. The stock motor was about 25 hp, but with Aquaplane head, twin SU’s, branched manifold, I could kid myself it was really flying. I even drove it down a drag strip which me and some mates set up in Northumberland.
I think the side valve out of mine was 8hp ! I was told last week by an old guy that I'd "ruined a good car "
There were two versions; the earlier models had an 8 hp, later 10 hp, but that was the nominal figure for taxation purposes. In reality it was 25 hp, but the taxation formula encouraged engines with narrow bores and long strokes and engine design was much hampered. In various states of tune it would go up to around 45 hp. Wow! I don’t think you’ve ruined it, though there’s a place for really good examples being kept original. By the 1980’s an awful lot were rusted beyond any hope of originality in UK anyway.
