Beschreibung
Built up around ten years ago from various Standard Nine parts, and other bits, as one does when building a special.
VSCC eligible, having been very successful in Autosolo & driving tests a few years ago.
Engine rebuilt about 4000 miles ago, with new aluminium con rods, made by Millington racing engines, crank ground & bearings re-metalled by JEL in York.
The block is from an early Big Nine (very similar to a Nine, but with a better cam profile and a bigger oil pump).
Due to shortening the radiator it had some overheating problems, so it now has 2 radiators, one between the front dumb-irons and one behind the original Standard surround, running a bronze bodied Jabsco water pump and runs much cooler.
Modern electronic charging circuit, of my own design, using the original 3 brush dynamo, LED lamps, which are brighter than that of my modern Volvo, without dazzling other road users. the headlamps are fitted to a Barker mechanical dipping beam, as used on Vintage Morris and Rolls Royce cars.
GPS speedometer, hidden in the original case, which eliminates the poorly designed speedo drive.
Bentley type Hartford friction dampers all round, the original saloon had no rear dampers, and very small ones on the front.
All the leaf springs have been overhauled, reset and have had replacement leaves inserted, where originals were broken. I used second hand leaves from a '60s Lancia, as the arc was the same, but they were stiffer, making it drive much better.
Brakes re-lined around 1500 miles ago, along with rebuilding the front hubs, with new kingpins and bushes.
In running order, complete with some spares, including another rear axle, some spare new con rods, steering column & box, prop shaft, crank shaft, 2 damaged gearboxes, which would make one good one, a set of artillery wheels & various other small parts.
There are not many, if any other Specials built from Vintage Standard Nine parts, so it stands out from the crowd wherever it goes.
It has provided me with many happy miles of motoring, and is now ready to do the same for a new owner. Found at a farm sale in the early '90s, its saloon body was beyond repair, it was turned into a rather ugly open car by a chap in London. A friend then purchased it and got as far as removing the home-made body, and sourcing a much nicer (and much lighter) one. The car came to me in a partially disassembled state, but running. I built it into a usable car, and since then have been developing and improving it for nearly a decade.
