Barrett's #94 - Solved - Gatsonides Ford Mercury V8 Kwik Special

[barrett]

What is this car, for a point

[barrett]

Experts?

[woodinsight]

Gatso Mercury 1938?

[barrett]

The early bird catches the worms!

You're quite right, it is a Ford-Mercury V8 special built by Maurice Gatsonides and campaigned on the Liege-Rome-Liege, although I'm not sure which year

[Oswald]

It has a name too: Kwik (as in 'Quick' but also Dutch for Mercury)

[Otto Puzzell]

Forerunner of the postwar Gatford and Gatso sportscar. Two-seater, with luxurious red Connolly leather interior. Detachable fabric top. Bodywork custom-built to Maurice Gatsonides' requirements by Schutter & Van Bakel, Amsterdam.

Built on the first Ford Mercury chassis imported into Holland, and therefore featured the enlarged, 3.9 litre 95 b.h.p. V8 engine fitted with high-compression aluminium cylinderheads and two double barrel carburettors.  

The engine was exclusive to the Mercury line, rather than the regular 3.6 litre 85 b.h.p. Ford V8.  
With only the "Kwik" (the Dutch word for "mercury") legend on the body being visible here it is the typical Ford-pattern road wheels which give a clue to the car's mechanical specification

Making its debut in the Prize of Zandvoort 1939 with number 38, a cylinderhead-gasket problem and engine damage from the resultant overheating caused Gatsonides to pull out of the race before the end.

Contested the Liège-Rome- Liège Rally in 1939 with number 28. Team : Maurice Gatsonides - Lex Beels. Finished in 14th place.
Early 1940 Kwik collided with a truck and a streetcar (tram) in the Dutch village of Lisse. Repaired, it was sold soon afterwards, and has subsequently disappeared......

At the end of 2003 Tom Gatsonides, the son of Maurice, became the new proud owner of "Kwik". The car was a present from the staff of Gatsometer BV the company Maurice started in the late 50's. Contested the Winter Trial in februari 2005 with number 10. Team : Tom Gatsonides - Rosalie Gatsonides

[barrett]

wow, thank's so much for the extra info and photos