By: Charlielima5
- 21st October 2004 at 23:27Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for all these replies folks - especially the pics. Still hoping to see a photo of the car I saw at Brooklands in the 1990s though - and hope it might still be around (its not the one that was at Chailey this year).
Does anyone know more about the late Paul Jameson and his father (who designed/built a flat-four Jameson engine flown briefly in the Miles M.18 in WW2 and later in the prototype Saro Skeeter on its first flight). He clearly was a Merlin engineering specialist, lived near Dorking and is rumoured to have been involved with Merlins required for the BoB film.....or am I misinformed?
By: Septic
- 21st October 2004 at 23:47Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Does anyone know more about the late Paul Jameson and his father (who designed/built a flat-four Jameson engine flown briefly in the Miles M.18 in WW2 and later in the prototype Saro Skeeter on its first flight). He clearly was a Merlin engineering specialist, lived near Dorking and is rumoured to have been involved with Merlins required for the BoB film.....or am I misinformed?
Paul Jameson also briefly owned an ex Battle of Britain film Buchon G-AWHG that was damaged during the delivery flight to Spain for the film Patton. From what I have found on the web Jameson died tragically in the early '90s whilst part way through a third merlin engined car.
By: Moggy C
- 21st October 2004 at 23:56Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Does anyone know more about the late Paul Jameson and his father (who designed/built a flat-four Jameson engine flown briefly in the Miles M.18 in WW2 and later in the prototype Saro Skeeter on its first flight). He clearly was a Merlin engineering specialist, lived near Dorking and is rumoured to have been involved with Merlins required for the BoB film.....or am I misinformed?
It was he who rumoured it ;)
Moggy
New
Posts: 11
By: Vigilante
- 22nd October 2004 at 00:00Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
By: Last Lightning
- 22nd October 2004 at 00:56Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for all these replies folks - especially the pics. Still hoping to see a photo of the car I saw at Brooklands in the 1990s though - and hope it might still be around (its not the one that was at Chailey this year).
Could this have been the long silver thing at the Beaulie Motor Museum if so its a variation of the Napier Sabre not a Merlin
When I saw it it was in it's first incarnation, painted maroon with, I think, a black vinyl roof.
A bloke I used to know, Jim Tiller, has been going to Brighton Street Trials since Methuselah was a lad. He has an Allard J2 in which he installs increasingly ferocious American V8s.
By: Last Lightning
- 22nd October 2004 at 14:19Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
"if so its a variation of the Napier Sabre "
Last Lightning
A variation of the Napier Sabre ????
Please tell me/us more
it was on discovery channel about a week ago Chris Barries big engines program, a car that was built just after the war for a go at the land speed record powerd by a napier sabre. Apparently it holds the recorg for doing the fastest lap round Brooklands which still stands.
According to the programme their is only two people in the world who can be insured to drive it. It has two seats, very long and silver hence my thinking that it could have been the one seen at Brooklands.
By: Jimw
- 22nd October 2004 at 16:40Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is not just merlins that are put in cars. I have attached two photos taken from this years Shelsley Walsh hill climb, the first is the Napier bentley - 24 litres of Napier lion ( well to be precise, it has a Sea Lion crankcase), and the Hispano-Delage which has a 27 litre Hispano 12Y. I can highly recommend visiting one of the many VSCC meetings where the aero-engined specials are racing - some of the Edwardian cars with Curtis OX-5 V8's have to be seen to be believed, such as the third picture taken in 2002.
Of course there is also the DH Riley with a Gypsy major I believe - all of the above bar the Hispano have been driven on the public road I believe
By: mmitch
- 22nd October 2004 at 18:00Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
it was on discovery channel about a week ago Chris Barries big engines program, a car that was built just after the war for a go at the land speed record powerd by a napier sabre. Apparently it holds the recorg for doing the fastest lap round Brooklands which still stands.
According to the programme their is only two people in the world who can be insured to drive it. It has two seats, very long and silver hence my thinking that it could have been the one seen at Brooklands.
This car is the Napier Railton. normally on display in the club house at Brooklands Museum. It holds the outer circuit record (for ever now)
It was built there by Reid Railton and uses a Napier Lion engine. It did a run down Farnborough's runway at this years show as part of the Motor Sport display.
mmitch.
By: Mark12
- 22nd October 2004 at 22:33Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the info Mark 12, do you know what happened to the Swandean Spitfire Special.
Septic.
Septic,
I don't know but I would be looking to a private museum in Jersey.
A Google search did not reveal anything on the 'Special' but it did trawl up the Jersey Court Judgement on the Charles Church Spitfire crash and the crankshaft grinding by Aviation Jersey Ltd.
and click on v12 racecar/hot rod. Don´t miss the engine start up video!!
I remember a Merlin powered Rolls at Goodwood festival of speed a while ago. Very nicely done - and wearing the grille and mascot, due to being based on a Ghost chassis.
I have seen the 'Beast' a couple of times in the late `90s. Sounded rather noisy, but the current owner (Paul, John Dodds son) said it was all the accessory drives. Still a mad looking car!
Posts: 16,832
By: Moggy C - 21st October 2004 at 13:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I went to see the Jameson car back in the mid 1970s with a view to arranging some sponsorship from my (then) client Burmah.
It came to naught in the end, though I enjoyed seeing the beast. This was also my one and only meeting with Doug Arnold.
Moggy
Posts: 222
By: Charlielima5 - 21st October 2004 at 23:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for all these replies folks - especially the pics. Still hoping to see a photo of the car I saw at Brooklands in the 1990s though - and hope it might still be around (its not the one that was at Chailey this year).
Does anyone know more about the late Paul Jameson and his father (who designed/built a flat-four Jameson engine flown briefly in the Miles M.18 in WW2 and later in the prototype Saro Skeeter on its first flight). He clearly was a Merlin engineering specialist, lived near Dorking and is rumoured to have been involved with Merlins required for the BoB film.....or am I misinformed?
Posts: 1,475
By: Septic - 21st October 2004 at 23:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Paul Jameson also briefly owned an ex Battle of Britain film Buchon G-AWHG that was damaged during the delivery flight to Spain for the film Patton. From what I have found on the web Jameson died tragically in the early '90s whilst part way through a third merlin engined car.
Septic
Posts: 16,832
By: Moggy C - 21st October 2004 at 23:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It was he who rumoured it ;)
Moggy
Posts: 11
By: Vigilante - 22nd October 2004 at 00:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
You mean this one
[HTML]http://www.theminifarm.com/john_dodd.htm[/HTML]
Posts: 1,475
By: Septic - 22nd October 2004 at 00:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There was also a Merlin engined car entered for the Brighton Speed trials in the 1950's, sadly I can't remember its name or what became of it.
Septic
Posts: 802
By: Last Lightning - 22nd October 2004 at 00:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Could this have been the long silver thing at the Beaulie Motor Museum if so its a variation of the Napier Sabre not a Merlin
Posts: 10,029
By: Mark12 - 22nd October 2004 at 09:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Could this be the 'Swandean Special' from the Swandean Garage near Worthing, Sussex?
Spitfire SL721 was located and ground run here by the proprietor in the 1950's.
Mark
Posts: 1,746
By: mmitch - 22nd October 2004 at 10:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I'm pretty sure this is the one I saw at the Brighton Speed Trials, it would have been in the mid 1970s
mmitch.
Posts: 504
By: Flat 12x2 - 22nd October 2004 at 10:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
"if so its a variation of the Napier Sabre "
Last Lightning
A variation of the Napier Sabre ????
Please tell me/us more
Posts: 10,029
By: Mark12 - 22nd October 2004 at 11:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Swandean Spitfire Special
http://www.findon.force9.co.uk/0761_the_swandean_spitfire.htm
..and a shot from this site with thanks.
Mark
Posts: 2,915
By: dhfan - 22nd October 2004 at 12:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
When I saw it it was in it's first incarnation, painted maroon with, I think, a black vinyl roof.
A bloke I used to know, Jim Tiller, has been going to Brighton Street Trials since Methuselah was a lad. He has an Allard J2 in which he installs increasingly ferocious American V8s.
Posts: 10,029
By: Mark12 - 22nd October 2004 at 12:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Swandean Spitfire Special
That looks like a Spitfire top fuel tank behind the driver on the image above.
Mark
Posts: 802
By: Last Lightning - 22nd October 2004 at 14:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
it was on discovery channel about a week ago Chris Barries big engines program, a car that was built just after the war for a go at the land speed record powerd by a napier sabre. Apparently it holds the recorg for doing the fastest lap round Brooklands which still stands.
According to the programme their is only two people in the world who can be insured to drive it. It has two seats, very long and silver hence my thinking that it could have been the one seen at Brooklands.
Ok must be having a major brain problem
http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/motoring_exhibits.cfm then click on NAPIER COMPETITION CAR
Posts: 98
By: Jimw - 22nd October 2004 at 16:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is not just merlins that are put in cars. I have attached two photos taken from this years Shelsley Walsh hill climb, the first is the Napier bentley - 24 litres of Napier lion ( well to be precise, it has a Sea Lion crankcase), and the Hispano-Delage which has a 27 litre Hispano 12Y. I can highly recommend visiting one of the many VSCC meetings where the aero-engined specials are racing - some of the Edwardian cars with Curtis OX-5 V8's have to be seen to be believed, such as the third picture taken in 2002.
Of course there is also the DH Riley with a Gypsy major I believe - all of the above bar the Hispano have been driven on the public road I believe
Posts: 1,746
By: mmitch - 22nd October 2004 at 18:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
This car is the Napier Railton. normally on display in the club house at Brooklands Museum. It holds the outer circuit record (for ever now)
It was built there by Reid Railton and uses a Napier Lion engine. It did a run down Farnborough's runway at this years show as part of the Motor Sport display.
mmitch.
Posts: 1,475
By: Septic - 22nd October 2004 at 22:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Thanks for the info Mark 12, do you know what happened to the Swandean Spitfire Special.
Septic.
Posts: 10,029
By: Mark12 - 22nd October 2004 at 22:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Septic,
I don't know but I would be looking to a private museum in Jersey.
A Google search did not reveal anything on the 'Special' but it did trawl up the Jersey Court Judgement on the Charles Church Spitfire crash and the crankshaft grinding by Aviation Jersey Ltd.
Mark
Posts: 490
By: James D - 23rd October 2004 at 16:02 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Swedish Meteor powered project...
http://w1.132.telia.com/~u13203490/PICTLIB/Webmaster/webmaster.htm
and click on v12 racecar/hot rod. Don´t miss the engine start up video!!
I remember a Merlin powered Rolls at Goodwood festival of speed a while ago. Very nicely done - and wearing the grille and mascot, due to being based on a Ghost chassis.
I have seen the 'Beast' a couple of times in the late `90s. Sounded rather noisy, but the current owner (Paul, John Dodds son) said it was all the accessory drives. Still a mad looking car!
Posts: 251
By: eddywinch82 - 16th November 2004 at 11:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Are there any Rolls-Royce Griffon powered vehicles around anywhere ???