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When this was launched in 1984 I was just starting building my first kit, a Dutton Phaeton II, bought new for £752. The Monaco, at £499 immediately appealed to me with its Triumph underpinnings so I sent off for the brochure and had a quiet daydream.
33 years and 15 or so kit cars came and went.
I'm on the Moss page on Facebook and on Boxing morning a post and picture appeared which I 'liked' and commented on to the effect that it was my dream car. A private message appeared on FB a few days later asking if I was interested in an abandoned project. It turned out that the owner didn't think he'd ever be able to finish it, and, as it had been given to him in similar circumstances, I could have it FOC on the condition that I completed it!
I went and had a look yesterday, it's eminently do-able and I'm collecting it on Monday on a low loader. As soon as my Tribute A352 passes its second MOT (imminent) I'll set to.
Bit of a non-sequitur, but yesterday, whilst searching though my mountain of kit car photo's for Monaco ones, I found this.
I'd not long finished the blue Phaeton II, 1300 Triumph powered, when the grey one came to my notice. I paid £350. It was Ford 1700 V4 powered. This engine earned a few bob at the scrap merchants, all it was good for, to be replaced by a 1300 X-Flow and passed on to a club member. He completed it, had it sprayed, and promptly wrote it off.
My friend's red Phaeton started life in black with 1300 Triumph power, in the incarnation pictured it had a 1500 Triumph. He then painted in in Marlboro Mclaren dayglo and white and installed a 2500 Ford V6. We went to Le Mans in it in '91, blowing a half shaft on the way back. Its fourth and final incarnation was in BRG with a yellow centre stripe and a 3500 Rover V8. I took it round Castle Combe and can confirm it was a rocket. I'll post more pictures if I find any.
Collected the new project yesterday with a thoroughly professional and competitive local one-man-band. Less than three hours for a 100 mile round trip!
I removed the body to reveal the Spitfire underpinnings. The existing chassis frame has been modified in an unacceptable fashion so I'm now in the market for a tax-exempt Spitfire, hopefully with sound underpinnings but rubbish bodywork.
The wings, their stays, the air scoop, the gearbox/transmission covers, the headlamp pods (which I'm advised are fashioned from 'unobtanium'), the prop-shaft, steering column/wheel and a spare gearbox I've stashed in my shed. I'll spread them on the lawn for a picture when the weather permits.
The engine turns freely. I'll Redex the bores, spin it without plugs until I get oil pressure, then run it for assessment, again when weather permits as the A352 is in my man cave awaiting the delivery of MOT related purchases.
Holy cr*p, those rear suspension fixings look terrifying.
Looking forward to seeing this come together - the Monaco and Mamba were my "dream" cars when I was a lad. Of course there is no link that the first books I took out from West Norwood library were Herald and Spitfire Haynes manuals.
Only if I want the completed car to need an IVA. I think the likelihood of its passing one would be remote. Those modifications are certainly without the DVLA's parameters for a simple re-body.
Only if I want the completed car to need an IVA. I think the likelihood of its passing one would be remote. Those modifications are certainly without the DVLA's parameters for a simple re-body.
I've been tracking Spitfires on Ebay thinking that I'd be spending a small fortune buying a complete car, then having all the time and trouble of breaking it and selling the unwanted bits.
This morning I thought I'd have a look in the 'Small Chassis Triumphs' FB group (without much hope) just in case there was one advertised. What popped up was a comprehensively refurbished chassis with a V5 but minus wheels and engine that the owner had decided to break as he hadn't been able to sell as a unit.
A contact message from me elicited a prompt 'phone reply and after verifying exactly what was for sale we agreed £700 including delivery tomorrow!
