Dave's Mystery Restoration?

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PETROLHEAD
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Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by PETROLHEAD »

Alfa Daves latest customer project is as follows,

any guess's what it is :?:
DSC_0049.JPG
SHREW

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Alfasud 1.7-16v, Charade Turbo SR, & The Dirty Diesels - GT Cloverleaf, 159 Ti Sportwagon, Saab 9-3 Sportwagon

alfadave
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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

Kegsti66
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by Kegsti66 »

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.

junior
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by junior »

Is it a Rochdale ?

alfadave
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

Yes......which one?

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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

It's a Rochdale Olympic
Alfasud Ti 1984
Alfa Spider 2.0 Ts 916
Alfa Spider 20v Turbo

alfadave
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

Which phase?

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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

I think it's a Phase 2 with the opening tailgate . Engine should be a 1500 ford pre crossflow if I remember rightly
Alfasud Ti 1984
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KevJTD
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by KevJTD »

another interesting one to follow, looking forward to seeing all the details 8-)
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I'm bad with people things
But I should have tried more

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PETROLHEAD
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by PETROLHEAD »

Phase 2, with opening rear hatch :?:
SHREW

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alfadave
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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

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Spacenut
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by Spacenut »

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

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by Veesix75 »

Here are Daves mystery pics .....
Attachments
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg

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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

That’s a Meadows Frisky. Do I win owt.
Alfasud Ti 1984
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

Which model of the Frisky?

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PETROLHEAD
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by PETROLHEAD »

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 :roll:

thanks Tim for stepping in :D
SHREW

I AM the Law!


Alfasud 1.7-16v, Charade Turbo SR, & The Dirty Diesels - GT Cloverleaf, 159 Ti Sportwagon, Saab 9-3 Sportwagon

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

Can’t see if it’s got 3 or 4 wheels . But looks like a coupe
Alfasud Ti 1984
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

Sorry...wrong

Have a look at Scholar Racings website for the correct answer

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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

Ohhh Soz Mon
Alfasud Ti 1984
Alfa Spider 2.0 Ts 916
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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

Posted on behalf of Dave

63A22863-0CF7-48E9-84EE-794C2D84A0A1.jpeg
49864E93-3219-412A-A28D-CAAE617C58CE.jpeg
487B9EC5-6CAB-4FAE-82AA-4E6A41E6FF03.jpeg
71021EFA-4F96-45EF-8B2C-E7467F2A5D12.jpeg
Alfasud Ti 1984
Alfa Spider 2.0 Ts 916
Alfa Spider 20v Turbo

alfadave
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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!

junior
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by junior »

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 ! :lol:

alfadave
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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?

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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 .

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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.

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by Spacenut »

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

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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by alfadave »

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!

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Spacenut
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by Spacenut »

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

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

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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: Dave's Mystery Restoration?

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

On behalf of Dave.
9066F8F4-9A4D-4374-A9C9-FC95742871AC.jpeg
8E6C15F5-EAED-4456-AB7D-B06221A645E9.jpeg
A2B7E112-B054-4B36-8AE6-A0A39F2867FC.jpeg
Alfasud Ti 1984
Alfa Spider 2.0 Ts 916
Alfa Spider 20v Turbo

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