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All opinions expressed here are those of the author and not those of madabout-kitcars.com
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| Dutton - Dutton Phaeton |
Feedback details from
3 entries (avg 
max  min  ) |
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3 years, 6 months
7 years, 1 months
0 years, 4 months |
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£2583
£3000
£1750 |
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475 hours
1000 hours
125 hours |
| Name |
Cost £'s |
Years |
Months |
Hours |
Opinion |
| rob grundy |
3000 |
7 |
1 |
1000 |
I bought a Phaeton S1 as a rolling wreck for £600. Took it apart and started again. Rebored the ford xflow to 1700cc, reground the crank, had a mexico head ported and fitted that. Piper 285 cam, lightened flywheel, new clutch. 4 branch manifold from cortina II 1600E, gearbox too. 3.54:1 diff from escort rs2000. re-spray, rewire, re-upholster. Finished car fits me, I'm 6'2'. Series 1 is the car to find as it has a 5 link rear axle rather than cart springs. Very quick off the line, no axle tramp. Great fun. Be advised though, it isn't a 'kit' it is a body and chassis. How you make it into a car is up to you! Mine had parts from Triumph Herald, Mini, Land Rover, Hillman Imp, at least 5 ford models, Bedford Van, Nissan Bluebird, Leyland Bus,and more. Fun to do though. |
| Alan Westwood |
1750 |
3 |
3 |
300 |
Cheap kit, and very good value, especially if you happened to own a scrap Escort or Capri. Build instructions came on a single sheet of A4 paper. Very much was left to the initiative of the builder.
Having ordered my kit configured for a V6 Essex, I noted in the small print of the instructions - Depending on engine choice, the bodywork may have to be adjusted. That took 6 months of my build time, as I had to remove and reposition the front half of the transmission tunnel to accomodate the bell housing and gearchange mechanism.
Mechanically, it was an easy build. Mine was rolling in less than two days, with the engine installed over the next weekend. Most time consuming for me was the wiring, and installation of all of the ancillaries. As I used a Capri for the mechanicals, I had to mate the engine bay harness and Capri instruments to the Escort steering column and switches. I also installed a heater from an Escort, which turned out to be a time-consuming optional extra.
The finished car was dangerous to drive in anything but a straight line, being totally overpowered for the weight, which was all at the front of the car. Having said that, it was a major pose vehicle.
Thanks must go the RAF, who supplied the aircraft standard nuts and bolts, and other consumables, and a fine piece of mahogany-faced ply for the dash.
As testament to the kit and the build, my car, which was registered in 1988, was last taxed in 2009, and is still out there. Last seen in SE England. If anybody knows the whereabouts of Q703 LEG, which was red but is now blue, I'd love to buy it back. |
| mark young |
3000 |
0 |
4 |
125 |
A quick build this one but only finished to a basic standard. still a car is never finished...
A wicked little car for summer fun i use mine all year but you need to be hardy for this. Weather gear is basic but good at keeping you dry. The Dutton owners club has lots of information for owners. |
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