help to identify car found

mitchdublin · #1 30th March 2015, 00:09

Hi, i came across a 7 replica a week ago, bought it and got it running.
Removed wings, nose etc to check out sticky calipers.
Front suspension seems like overload and looks heavy , prob escort.
After searching for a similiar set up, i couldnt find one. Most have adjustable tubular arms etc.
Has anyone seen this set up before?

Placed pic in my album, hoping this link works
Thanks

8 Valve Ed · #2 30th March 2015, 07:25

Hi Mitch, welcome to the forum.

I have taken the liberty of spinning the car upright, make it easier to view without getting a crick in my neck!

I can't identify the car but that front suspension looks very much like Ford Cortina Mk 3-4-5 also the rack. The tie rods are from the back and coilovers have been used but otherwise I am sure the top and bottom links are Cortina. Therefore the uprights and hubs will also be Cortina.

Is there a V5? If so what does that say?

The Cortina suspension was a very common fitment in that era.

mitchdublin · #3 30th March 2015, 11:17

mitchdublin · #4 30th March 2015, 11:18

Lucky@LeMans · #5 31st March 2015, 21:01

Looks like a Locust to me. Think it is known as a TJ or TG Locust.

Easy to tell as it has a ladder frame type chassis and plywood body tub with aluminium skin. Ford Cortina front suspension , Escort live axle I think and Ford XFlow normally fitted. What does the V5 say ??

vandriver · #6 23rd April 2015, 13:08

I tried using google image search by uploading the image (chrome)

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...BlKeWrE5-H4%3D

Must be Locust, but I might be wrong.

Dpaz · #7 29th April 2015, 19:30

No follow up? No V5? It does look like a locust, but on mine I couldn't get the radiator in there. The engine looks lower in the body .

rochdaleGT · #8 9th November 2016, 11:04

old thread but here my reply:

its definately a locUst.

ladder frame chassis with cortina-subframe welded or screwed in place, plywood body skinned with aluminium

not the best desgin, especially with this front suspension.
also not really valuable.

looks like a x/flow engine. watching closer i can see a single-barrel carburetor: indicates a very low pwered 1300cc or even "only" a 1100cc engine...both not worth more than 50 quid.

i would not invest any money in such a car....any scruffy mot-ed westfield, for 3k, is doing everything better...if you are lucky you will find an oldschool sylva striker (live-axle, x/flow powered) in very-nice condition already for 3.5k

Dpaz · #9 9th November 2016, 14:23

Rochdale GT. You miss the point, he has bought it. The front uses Cortina components . They are fastened to chassis fittings ,not to a Cortina sub frame. The engine may well be a 1300cc . I built a T&J Locust 20 years ago it is a fun car which will give many years pleasure . It is not nice to run down someone else's car especially from a position of ignorance. Adjustable wishbones are available and the steering rack is probably Mk1/2 Escort with spacers for the wider track. Mitch Dublin if you haven't yet done it look up the locust owners club. You have probably found how much fun you can have, pay no attention to jealous people. good luck. Dave
PS if you are putting a bigger engine in Penguin Speedshop may be interested in yours.

rochdaleGT · #10 11th November 2016, 23:02

hmmm....20years ago....times change, todays available range of kitcars and components is much bigger...and kits much easier to built

majority of kitcars have a more sophisticated design..means the kits are mostly well engineered, leaving it NOT to the builder in correcting severe constuction mistakes or suspension-layout errors which you often had been confronted with "older" kitcars.

consecutively several "older" kitcar designs have a very low value nowadays and you should think twice or 3-times if you really want to invest money in "something"...when a similar car ("something-else") does everthing better for the same money.

yes, you are right..its NOT a cortina subframe. a locust uses the cortina wishbones screwed to the chassis. even lots of people are talking about "normal wishbones are available", but why the majority of locust´s dont use them, even its clear that the cortina suspension parts do not work well on a lighter kitcar?

Dpaz · #11 13th November 2016, 15:09

Yes kit cars have improved in 20 years, But my Locust handles, stops and goes pretty well for its age. When I built it I was looking back to a time when we built cars ,not assembled a box of bits. Yes I know the Lotus7 came as a box of bits. You need to look at a persons reason for building a kit car, most likely it is for the satisfaction of creating something unique and often to do this on a limited budget. Not everyone has the finances to spend thousands on a car, ingenuity and imagination are vital. With the advent of IVA/SVA a good way is to buy a registered vehicle needing rebuilding and rebuild it. If you want to make a small fortune building kit cars ,start with a large one. A kit car is unlikely to be an investment unless you are at the top end. I am guessing that you have a Rochdale GT from the 60's of their time quite an advanced car but back then we were dropping plastic bodies onto Pop and Austin 7 chassis which often only had a top speed in the upper 60s. But they were an awful lot of fun and satisfaction, which is what counts.