Classic Alfa Forums

Alfa Daves latest customer project is as follows,

any guess's what it is

The Owners Club had a stand at The footman James Classic car Show in Gunchester Sept 16/17.
The gallery shows a front view of one "FWR" reg.

Dave

No idea as to what it is ,but it looks cute.
Glass fibre body and a touch of classic E type styling.
I look forward to reading more about it.

Is it a Rochdale ?

Yes......which one?

It's a Rochdale Olympic

Which phase?

I think it's a Phase 2 with the opening tailgate . Engine should be a 1500 ford pre crossflow if I remember rightly

another interesting one to follow, looking forward to seeing all the details

Phase 2, with opening rear hatch

Phase 2 of course.....I'm pointing towards the rear hatch which they added in 1964 if you remember.
No prizes for guessing where it was built.....not Athens!
Originally had a pre Xflow engine which blew up.....and the owner scrapped.
So, now has a 2 litre Pinto SOHC, and the original 4 speed box which he had rebuilt

Its a fibreglass monocoque......the only other car I know like this is the Elite.
There is actually a small tubular sub frame at the front to support the steering/suspension, but the rear end bolts direct to the thickened up fibreglass.

It only weighs about 5p, so hopefully should run pretty well.Current carb is a weber twin choke....but may be upgraded.

The designers father had a 356, so he stole the front end design off that....and the rear end off an E Type.
A bit slab sided, but very aerodynamic.

They had twin tanks formed in the fibreglass in the rear lower corners.....not very safe !

Keith at Scholar Racing who has restored a few of these, told me to fit an MGB tank under the rear floor where the spare was.
Its there in the box on the floor, but the owner is still thinking of using the original set up.

So far, I've got the engine/gear box and trans fitted.
Front suspension (Spitfire) and rear (Riley 1.5) in.
Recon rack, all new brakes done.
Just need the fuel system sorting to fire up.
Exhaust will be a purpose made job in Macclesfield.

Then the challenge of the wiring.....someone else will have to sort that!

Dave

The Rochdale Olympic is definitely one of the standout cars from the 1950's specials era.

I didn't realise the front end styling was pinched off a Porsche, but looking at it now, the connection is obvious! I always wondered why the Olympic was known as the poor man's 356, but quite a lot of that sort of thing went on in those days. A friend of mine has a 1963 Gilbern GT and the rear quarter panels were formed around an Austin A40 and it uses the same rear lights too...

Early fibreglass monocoque was very advanced for its day, only the Lotus Elite and the little Berkley were as confident at using the new plastic medium.

Looking forward to seeing progress on this project!

Lauren

Called at Scholar Racing to pick up a pair of stainless tanks......must have been at least 5 Olympics there!

Also, an unusual little red car in the foreground.....any guesses?

Hopefully Shrew will post the photos for me soon.

Dave

Here are Daves mystery pics .....

That’s a Meadows Frisky. Do I win owt.

Which model of the Frisky?

alfadave wrote:
Hopefully Shrew will post the photos for me soon.

Dave

I do apologise Dave, i think your email completely slipped by me until i was doing some housekeeping earlier

thanks Tim for stepping in

Can’t see if it’s got 3 or 4 wheels . But looks like a coupe

Sorry...wrong

Have a look at Scholar Racings website for the correct answer

Ohhh Soz Mon

Posted on behalf of Dave

Pics show a pair of stainless fuel tanks, loose fitted in the 2 rear corners of the Rochdale Olympic, where the original tanks were formed in fibreglass.
The new tanks are pretty much the same size......the original 2 corners are different, and the filler holes are in different positions!

We've formed new filler apertures in the fibreglass to suit the pair of XJS type filler caps the owner wants.
Will then need some careful stainless welding to fit a spigot on each tank, to connect to the filler.

Its likely that JP Exhausts in Macclesfield will do that welding, as the car will be going there soon for a custom exhaust fitting.
I've never used them before, but looking on their website, they do a lot of stainless work.

I did try to talk the owner into fitting an MGB tank underslung, and more forward, where the spare tyre frame was originally.
But he wanted to support the Rochdale Owners Club by buying the twin tanks off them.
He did actually buy an MGB tank, so looks like it will be up for sale soon.

Makes me a bit nervous, having tanks on the rear corners in the event of a shunt!

I did try to talk the owner into fitting an MGB tank underslung, and more forward, where the spare tyre frame was originally.
But he wanted to support the Rochdale Owners Club by buying the twin tanks off them.
He did actually buy an MGB tank, so looks like it will be up for sale soon.

Makes me a bit nervous, having tanks on the rear corners in the event of a shunt![/quote]

Yes can understand that. Is two tanks twice the risk ?

I always just think how much safer it is than a motorbike !

Told him....2 tanks 2 extinguishers!

Also suggested that once the tanks are finally positioned, they are surrounded in fireproof foam.
But ,I wondered if the racing fraternity had any better ideas?

If anyone fancies a Rochdale , have a look on the Rochdale Owners Club Forum/Cars for Sale.

A guy called John Plant, who is a long term member I understand, is selling 3 cars .

Having worked on my mates Rochdale Olympic for a period of 6 yrs.....Gulp!

The bug has worn off.....on to me!

Just taken delivery of one today.

Pics to follow.

I reckon an Alfa twin-cam would go very nicely in an Olympic

It came with a fully rebuilt 1800 MGB short motor.

Head needs sorting/unleaded seats.

Its a heavy lump.....did my back in lifting it!

All the more reason to swap it for an Alfa twin cam!

I'm only joking. MGB engines are all right...

On behalf of Dave.