| Author | Message | ||
     John Dare Unregistered guest Posted From: 144.138.194.149 |
March 04 edition of "Classic & Sports Car" at page 11, "Rare classics are destroyed" in which assorted "classic" bangers (one a S/Shadow!) entered a demolition derby at Hednesford Hills Raceway in the U.K. I quote, in part - "the "REAL STEEL" Rolls-Royce survived one heat, but was later involved in a big smash; after bouncing off the barriers, it came to a rest shortly before an airborne Rover P5 coupe landed on its roof";unquote. The words REAL STEEL featured in huge letters on both doors each side. Dont laugh this episode off, as this kind of lunacy could eventually occur here to some unfortunate old S/Shadow which happened to have a non rebuildable engine and/or was so depleted (overall) that not even a GMC conversion could save it from such an ignominious fate. See previous posts re "GM" conversions which addressed the issue of PRACTICAL preservation of our revered marques. Preservation must surely prevail over WRECKING i.e parting out, or worse, wanton DESTRUCTION?. | ||
| Jon Unregistered guest Posted From: 202.72.131.230 |
Actually this "lunacy" is closer to happening here than you might think. I'm in the process of restoring my Shadow 1, all the mechanicals are good and I have a complete interior and wood ready to fit. The body however is very rusty and has had several repaints plus multiple accident repairs. I'm going to be replacing the body in the next couple of years and this will leave me with a bare shell which is too far gone even to cut up for repair sections. Rather than dumping the body down the scrap metal yard I'm looking at making it a demo derby car by fabricating the missing panels and a fake RR grill, and fitting the shell with the complete running gear from an older Ford. That's apparently often what they do in England, but I've got to check the rules here to see if it is possible. Hopefully I'll get some sponsorship and we'll make a bit of money for charity. To me thats a much better use for the old body than sending it to the crusher. | ||
| john Dare Unregistered guest Posted From: 144.138.194.198 |
No problem here, Jon and at least you will not dignify the "event" by installing the original grille,but rather,by substituting a "fake" replacement in lieu of. What I did not mention about the U.K "derby" was that up until a week prior, the car was being used in the wedding hire business, was taxed and with MOT etc. And yes, they even left the original grille on the poor car although the photo suggested the wheel covers may have been removed. Then again, they may have fallen off in shock when the airborne Rover P5 landed on its roof! | ||
| Jon Unregistered guest Posted From: 202.72.131.230 |
I'd like to have a close look at the photos, they would show if the car was running Rolls Royce axles or Ford Granada. Do you have a link to the website? | ||
| John Dare Unregistered guest Posted From: 144.138.194.198 |
No Jon, no e-mail link shown, only the article as featured in the mag, details as posted above. As stated, author affirmed that car was operational immeadiately prior to the event. | ||
| Jon Unregistered guest Posted From: 202.72.131.230 |
Here are a couple of links to the demo derby Rolls Royces and some other classics. If you have a close look at the Rolls Royce cars you can see that some are using Ford Granada running gear, some however are not.... Have a look at some of the other classics, it really is enough to make you cry! But thats what you get in a cold wet country that puts salt on the roads in winter! http://members.tripod.com/rollingstart/rollers.htm http://www.edwardlloyd.de/banger_racing.htm Jon | ||
| John Dare Unregistered guest Posted From: 144.138.194.93 |
"Ford" Grenada running gear eh?. And to think that some hypersensitive souls got their shorts in a monumental twist because someone dared to install a GMC built engine into a S/Shadow, notwithstanding that it was quite "at home" with all of the OTHER (O.E.M) "GM" componentry!. At least some of us were taught to keep it in the family. Up to a point of course! |
