1950's Special - Microplas Mistral
 

Throwing this tread out for some feedback and opinions from anyone with an interest in this sort of car/bodyshell.

This is a Microplas Mistral which was a GRP "special" body produced from 1955 until the mid 60's and originally designed to fit on the Ford 8/10 (Popular) chassis and running gear.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...lMk1sketch.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/.../mistral_7.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...stralMk2BW.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...alsideview.jpg

The shell was also adapted and used with other chassis/running gear setups by various other manufacturers such as TVR and in the hands of racers ended up as cars such as this V8 equipped beauty....

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...GTDchassis.jpg

More photo's at: http://melton.ca/Scott/photos/imagesMistral/index.htm

...and this one off with Coventry Climax power

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...aneMistral.jpg


So, after that very brief history, the reason for the request for feedback, I have just purchased this and will be picking it up on Saturday:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ralonebay2.jpg
http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ralonebay1.jpg

It will need a little work to get it back into shape, but having done that who knows what's next? Produce a cheap and cheerful shell that allows the buyer to choose the base car? Hang it on a Lotus 7 type chassis? MX5 body conversion?

Your opinions and ideas please.

I'm loving the cream with red stripe car

More pictures at:

http://www.classicandperformancecar....x_special.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pontfire/6159141377/

Well its cool, classy and really retro, with real history.
If I did one it would have to be with period running gear, ie Ford Popular.
With a bit more info it, like track width and possible wheel base options it would be great Classic Re-body for the less attractive kit cars of the eighties, or for some of the not-another-lotus-7 lookalikes.....great modern running gear needing a classic makeover!

Of course a roof will always add appeal!

What a great buy, I had seen this for sale. Have a look on Forgotten Fibreglass forum for lots of classics like this.

Like the lower ride, especially at the rear. n ot sure about the lack of headlights though...

would it fit over a Z3/Z4?

http://www.classicandperformancecar...._386203_25.jpg

Is the driver wearing Virtual reality Goggles or insisting on anonymity :biggrin:

Most of the locost 7 derivative chassis could be made to fit but outriggers will be required to support the wider body. A much better chassis would be the Autotune Gemini chassis which is just as cheap as the locost designs but has the necessary width and support for the body. The Gemini body has been derived from a Falcon mk 2 competition shell. The Falcon, like the Mistral started its life as a body kit for a Ford 10 thus the wheelbase is the usual 90in. The Gemini has been updated to include Ford escort mk1 or 2 parts which might mean a slight change to the wheel arches is required but perhaps a different donor with a narrower live axle could be used. Another reason to do this is the rapidly rising cost of Escort parts due to the fact that many are being restored. A MG Midget or MGB might be a better donor if cost is an issue. It should be possible to fit the four trailing link and Panard rod arrangement to the Midget or the MGB rear axle casing.

It does sit well doesn't it :icon_razz:

Nick, I have a complete Ford Pop chassis and running gear to set the body up on. I will be selling it once the body is moulded, I will post some pictures for you to get infatuated about :icon_twisted:

Wheelbase is 90" and I will check the track/width once the shell is home.

Here's a cheap car to re-body:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUTTON-MEL...item43b770a857

A roof? Right, let me open photoshop....:smash:

I am a frequent visitor to the Forgotten Fibreglass website:

http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/?page_id=245

Some great cars, some not so great!

Must have a daylight MOT.

I will have to check the measurements, but I'm sure we can make it fit the Z3/4

Adding a universal internal frame and outriggers to the body would open up a massive choice of base cars, everyone has their own favorite.

MGB Roadster's have a 91" wheelbase and a removable windscreen frame...

It is intesting and not unpleasant but i think I prefer your d type.

I agree, but it is actually a real piece of history, as opposed to other 50's inspired options that are just recreations. Anything will be worth more if it has real provenance. One of these on a period chassis must be worth far more completed than a Sammio, G46, or even a A352. Seeing as it takes quite a lot of time and effort to put one together, maybe a meter use of time? It may even be eligible for classic racing of some sort.

Money does not interest me...

;-)

Agree about the provenance thing for production cars but given it was only ever a kit I doubt it will be as affected. Happy to be proved wrong though

Interesting thread and project. Once upon a time I'd have probably have bought a bodyshell from you. As it is, that car was one of the inspirations for my Autotune Gemini project:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ONnsHLnGOp...0/DraftSml.JPG
I'm new here by the way - all the details of my build can be found on www.farcester.com

Found this link on TimC s site

http://www.fantasyjunction.com/cars/...0by%20jennings
60k IDS.

Hello TimC:welcome:

Thats a fascinating project you are doing. :first: I have nit gone back to the beginning, but when did you begin?
Congratulations on getting married too!!

I made the trip up to Bracknell on Saturday to pick up the Mistral shell. Mark, who I bought it from, has several other "Special" cars and shells, including this Mk1 Mistral that had been narrowed at some point in it's life.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2082.jpg

Once back home I roughly mocked up the various sections of the shell to see how complete it was. Not too bad, only the front lower corners of both wheel arches/valance and one lower wheel arch section in front a rear wheel are missing. These sections can be easily duplicated/replaced and repairs done before the new moulds are taken.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2100.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2099.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2102.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2089.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2108.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2097.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2092.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2091.jpg

I know that some "kit cars" have a reputation for taking a long time to build or never getting finished, but I find the fact that this shell has not even been trimmed to shape after 50+ years quite incredible!

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2110.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2109.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2103.jpg

Ou do love the 'seriously slammed' look don't you ;-)

:pound: Sorry about the "Bling" rims, they are left over from my B*ntl*y replica and were the only wheels I had at home to mock up with. The Ford Pop chassis will be here later this week so I can do a more "period" mock up.

Dimensions for the shell, as is, are 59" wide at wheel arches (both ends), 12' 4" long, and about 24" high at the ride height shown!

Having now had time to study the lines of the shell I am thinking that, with some clever mould making, it will be possible to offer the shell in various length/wheelbase options, from 83-84" up to 99-100". This will allow fitment to multiple base cars without the need for modifications after the shell comes out of the mould.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps072beab6.jpg

Thanks Nick. Oh and thanks again regarding matrimony. I had to look back myself to remind me when I started - October 2010 apparently. That is essentially why the website exists - to remind myself.

Funnily enough, I read every page on your build thread last night and reached the same conclusion - fascinating. :first:

Hi Tim

Great Blog, you must be almost ready for some Spring driving.

Quite a delicate shape. The cockpit is quite, er compact!

Thanks - plan is to make an appearance at Stoneleigh and then a first race at Snetterton later in May.

The cockpit is untrimmed on my shell, so yes it looks a little "compact".

You can see on this body how it has been trimmed and a return added to the edge.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2082.jpg

There seems to be enough room for "The King" in these pictures :usa:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...visinwater.jpg

Pop chassis being delivered tomorrow Nick, complete with original plywood floor panels, lovely old seats, and 1 and a 1/4" copper exhaust pipe (I kid you not!) :dizzy:

Are yu doing a copy of the above? Is it in one of his films? Must be some more footage.

Elvis / "Pop" Chassis! <snigger>

A bit more info ...an American was researching the history of the Cobra that Presley drove in the film 'Speedway' from which this still was taken. The Mistral stood in for this shot:

'The body design, penned by Bill Ashton, started out as a product of Microplas, a company formed to build fiberglass bodies for Austin Sevens in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The Mistral was Microplas’s second body design, released in 1955 and intended for the Ford Ten. At various points in time, Buckler, Fairthorpe and TVR all used the Mistral body on their chassis, as did Bob Blackburn down in Christchurch, New Zealand, who intended to go into full production with a Graeme Dennison-designed chassis, but couldn’t source enough Ford Prefect parts and so sold the body and chassis as a kit.

In 1956, Californian Bud Goodwin licensed the body from Microplas and sold it in the United States through his company Sports Car Engineering. (Geoff believes there may have been an East Coast company that licensed the body design as well.) Goodwin, who later went on to start Fiberfab, only sold the Mistral for a couple of years before selling Sports Car Engineering to a company called Du Crest Fiberglass.

Who mounted a Mistral body to an Austin-Healey chassis and raced it in the early 1960's so far remains a mystery.

The stunt double car – not the hero car – is on display at the Hollywood Casino in Tunica, Mississippi'

The above info from 'Hemmings Daily' blog.

(Beginning to appreciate that the Watford/Rickmansworth/Chalfont area was something of a mecca for fibre glass cars builders in the 50's and 60's..)

Thank you for that potted history Nike.

Pop chassis was delivered today, so we chucked the Mistral body on to check width, not one of our best car builds!

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2125.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2124.jpg

Feel the power!!! :laugh:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2127.jpg

The plan is to mould the shell and offer it a as a "budget" body with flip front that the builder can bond to the chassis of their choice.

I would build the one in the film, i like the skinny wheels... do you use them?
Excellent work Trib, on all your projects.

Bugger me i saw this on ebay and thought to myself "that'd be great on a modern shell if it wasnt so rare"

Im so glad its you thats bought it, i'd bloody love one of those.

I sound like a record on repeat but if you could hard top one of those somewhere down the line i'd mortgage my soul to buy one.

You never fail to amaze!

Try as I might, I can't identify the chassis in the background.....:smow:

Hardly surprising really, it's 1953 Chevy pick up chassis with 1999 Jag XJR axles and E Type wheels!! :usa2:

Did you spot that the Pop chassis has cable brakes! :icon_eek:

I stand in your shadow!:pout:

Brakes! Suppose they will be easy to bleed!
I suppose you have it finished by now...does it run? (Does it turn over?)

I like it, if it would fit a cut down MX5 it would be ideal, close to my dream car

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20...oney/BODRC.jpg