UK Special Saloon + Modsports Historical Database

1964/65 Alternatitive rides

Beyond the hoards of Minis ,the influx of Lotus-Cortinas that arrived in 1964 ,Imps ,Anglias and A40s there were a few men who chose something different to go club racing in during 1964 and 65. Some were true club specials and others were FIA saloons from the European Touring cars getting extra track time . Here are the best of the alternative rides...

Driver : A.B. ( TONY ) STRACEY

Car : VOLVO 122s 'AMAZON'

Engine : B18 1778cc 4 cylinder OHV

Class : 1200cc+

Production : 1956-1970

Shared the same platform with the stylish P1800 coupe and the 122 versions also shared the coupe's engine which also appeared in the Marcos 1800.

115 BHP could be achieved with a twin carb set-up. Extremely reliable engines these cars were raced mostly in endurance events including the Daytona 24 hours ( 1967-70 ) and Stracey raced his version in the 1964 Nurburgring 6 hours ( DNF ) ,Brands 6-hours ( 2nd in class ) and 1 round of the British saloon car championship entered by the Sussex Racing Partnership. The 122 also featured strongly in Australian touring cars.

Driver : ANDREW MYLIUS

Car : SAAB 96 Sport

Engine : 841cc 2-stroke 3 cylinders

competition versions rated 95 bhp up from the standard 40-odd.

Class : 1000cc

Production :

The first of the 96s did particulary well in International rallies with Erik Carlsson. At only 850kgs the cars were nimble and tuned up with tripple down draught carbs. Mylius competed his in the European Touring Cars ( 850cc class ) including the Nurburgring 6 hours like Stracey .Back home despite giving away some cc's took on the hoards of Minis in a few club races in the 1000cc. Mylius went on to race Nathan GT ,Chevron B8 and Gropa sports cars.

Driver : P. GARRATT

Car : VAUXHALL VX4/90 'VICTOR'

Engine : 1548cc/1594cc 4 cylinders

( twin carb alloy-headed versions rated 72 bhp )

Class : 1200cc+

Production : 328,000 ( 1961-64 FB-series )

By 1964 the Vauxhall Victors had gone from the British Saloons in the face of the new Lotus-Cortinas in the 2-litre class. Bill Blydenstein and Chris Lawrence had enjoyed success in the Lawrencetune cars and Team Tourist Trophy ran one for Dizzy Addicott. Garratt campaigned one such into 1965 in club events.

Driver : P.S. BATTEN

Car : SUNBEAM RAPIER Series 3

Engine : ROOTES 1592cc

Class : 1200+

Production : ( Series 3 ) 27,054

( 1959-63 )

Andrew Mylius in his Saab at Zandvoort

SAAB 96

sport

VOLVO 122s

Vauxhall Victor VX4/90

Sunbeam Rapier

Driver : PETER WARDLE

Car : RENAULT 8

Engine : ( non-standard ) FORD-LOTUS twin-cam 1600cc

Class : 1200+

Production : 1962-73

Wardle seems to be the first man to put a bigger engine in a rear-engined saloon in UK club racing ,10 years before the Daf and Skodas appeared. He used a Ford 1600cc unit in the rear of his R8. First appearing in 1964 Wardle was a regular during 1965 particulary in the BARC Spring Grove Championship.

Wardle went on to be a prime mover in 1970s Formula Atlantic.

Driver : H.R.MOORE

Car : FORD ZEPHYR 6

Engine : FORD 2553cc

Class : 1200+

Production : 1962-66

The Zephyr ( and its luxury variant the Zodiac ) had been in saloon racing almost since its launch back in 1950 into the sharper-styled series 3 of 1962.

Ford ran a few Zodiacs in 1963 in Brit Saloons.

Moore raced his in a few BARC Handicap races at Goodwood in 1964-65 ,best finish found 11th.

The Rapiers were still competiting in Brit saloons in their last season of 1963 with 2 works cars and 2 Alan Fraser cars until the Rootes racing department turned to other projects. Suprisingly ive found only 1 entry in club racing ,P.Batten

( Keltic Racing ) at Mallory 1964 ( rolled ) given the high profile of these cars.

A Patrick Batten rallied a series 3 in Historics in 2005 ( same guy ? ).