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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2013 => Topic started by: woodinsight on October 24, 2012, 03:40:55 AM

Title: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: woodinsight on October 24, 2012, 03:40:55 AM
Make, model, year and what make of engine was fitted to this small sports racer are required.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on October 30, 2012, 04:55:18 PM
Experts turn now
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: dzima1985 on October 31, 2012, 02:25:49 AM
Attila Mk3 1964?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on October 31, 2012, 09:24:52 AM
Attila Mk3 1964?
Not that - smaller car than an Attila
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: richard cuyler on November 03, 2012, 11:17:16 AM
Very low profile at the rear, so perhaps it has a boxer-type engine, but I have no idea about it at all, except that the shot looks to have been taken in the USA.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on November 03, 2012, 12:39:43 PM
Very low profile at the rear, so perhaps it has a boxer-type engine, but I have no idea about it at all, except that the shot looks to have been taken in the USA.
I don't know but the engine make did construct some boxer engines.
The photo was not taken in the USA.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: D-type on November 11, 2012, 06:00:47 PM
Fiat engine?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on November 12, 2012, 03:09:36 AM
Fiat engine?
Not Fiat but it is an Italian engine.....
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on November 12, 2012, 10:38:33 AM
Pros?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: Allan L on November 12, 2012, 12:37:57 PM
Let's assume it has an Alfa Romeo engine.
There have been various Lotus 23 style kit cars and perhaps this is one of the Lee Noble Ultima jobs which could have had an Alfa engine and which became the Auriga. Is that anything like right?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on November 12, 2012, 01:31:33 PM
Let's assume it has an Alfa Romeo engine.
There have been various Lotus 23 style kit cars and perhaps this is one of the Lee Noble Ultima jobs which could have had an Alfa engine and which became the Auriga. Is that anything like right?
That's a positive step ahead Allan, The engine is an Alfa Romeo.
However it has nothing to do with Lee Noble or Auriga.
The name of this car is a misspelt Scottish term even though the car was built in Suffolk.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: Djetset on November 13, 2012, 04:05:17 AM
Is it a Summerfield Solar, an Alfa-based British kit car?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on November 13, 2012, 05:57:29 AM
Is it a Summerfield Solar, an Alfa-based British kit car?
Not that one.....
I believe this was a one-off that took eight years! to put together.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: Djetset on November 13, 2012, 06:57:16 AM
If it's a one-off it won't be an Alfa-engined Mamba C23 either then I guess?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on November 13, 2012, 07:29:32 AM
If it's a one-off it won't be an Alfa-engined Mamba C23 either then I guess?
Neither one that I'm afraid......
The name is 8 letters long.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on February 21, 2013, 12:47:43 PM
Another one needing rescuing from the BH.....

It's already been established that this one is fitted with an Alfa Romeo engine.

Clue time - this one shares its name with a slightly misspelt name of a well-known film set in Scotland.
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 21, 2013, 04:03:21 PM
Highlader?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on February 21, 2013, 04:13:46 PM
Highlader?
Almost!
H-lander.......
LOCKED for you for one more try
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 21, 2013, 06:03:34 PM
Hilander?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on February 22, 2013, 02:00:22 AM
Hilander?
Not that.....
......still H?LANDER
Open again
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: Wendax on February 22, 2013, 02:20:43 AM
Hylander?
Title: Re: MJW #1008
Post by: woodinsight on February 22, 2013, 03:20:47 AM
Hylander?
Yes - correct!
It's the Hylander Alfa Mk VI of 1973 built by Richard Hopgood of Suffolk.
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: Lastwing on December 12, 2016, 02:32:16 AM
Hi all
First post.
I tripped over this thread, but couldn't see the photo as I was not registered.

The Hylander was named after Richard's then parents house, Hylands and did not take eight years to build, more like a bit over two. Original engine was a Hartwell 998 Imp with around 105 hp. That dropped a valve and we added 4" to the chassis for the Alfa 1750.
I helped with the build, doing the chassis and suspension, my welding skills being a bit better back then than his.
Originally it was to have a steel tub, but that was far too heavy, so I suggested the space frame which we then built. The body was more angular to start with and the lights popped up from behind the wheels as too low in front for the road regs.
Gear box was a VW, now Hewland. Weight was around 500kg and was huge fun to drive on the road.
Cheers, interesting forum.
LW

Might have a couple of shots from back then if I dig.
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: Carnut on December 12, 2016, 04:04:38 AM
Many thanks for the info Lastwing.  We like accuracy here!
Hope you'll stick around..
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: Allan L on December 12, 2016, 04:28:27 AM
So we were wrong to reason that the combination of its shape with an engine from Alfa Romeo implied a boxer engine, i.e. AlfaSud.
Just goes to show we should have paid more attention to the date of construction as we didn't scrap AlfaSuds until a couple of years later.
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: Lastwing on December 12, 2016, 01:57:17 PM
A bit more: Originally the Imp engine was under the rear deck and it was flat with a lip (à la Kamm) When we fitted the Alfa, we just cut a hole in the deck for the cam covers to poke through.
Before we finished the car for registering, we trailed it to the airfield where I worked for a few test runs. We often had teams testing cars and bikes round the runways and perimeter tracks, partly because a few of the directors were racing drivers (our chairman used to leave his 250 GTO in the hanger occasionally.....)
Any way, after a few runs, some of the helpers were given a go. One was a biker and could drive a car, but was too young to have a licence. Off he set and I heard him going up through the gears thinking, nice for a tyro, but shouldn't he be backing off for the turn at the end of the runway? Difference of sight height of a bike down to a very low car, he left it too late for the turn and slid off through a post and barbed wire fence. We legged it over and since Richard had a plate in his ankle, I was far ahead, but, since there was no windscreen, I was really worried what I was going to find. Blood all over the place and I lifted his helmet thinking he had been garroted by the wire. He groaned and muttered something. Seems the wire had been cut by the rear view mirror pylon and one end had flicked through the side of his mouth by an inch, hence the blood. The wire had ripped the top of the steering wheel and peeled the back off his gloves, without touching skin..  Off to the local vet for a stitch up and returned him to his home, where his father, the local vicar... was not very amused!
After it was regged, Richard was on the back road to Norwich and thought he had been going some. But, since we had fitted a Fiat 500 speedo to satisfy the road regs (we are talking the old 500 here) we had to do a calibration test off the revcounter. Seems he was doing 140 with a bit still to come, like a 1000 revs. Like I said, lotta fun to drive.

LW
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: richard cuyler on December 15, 2016, 07:38:28 AM
If you owned an Alfasud and lived next to the sea, 18 months was about the right time to scrap it. After this time, you wouldn't be able to access the boot as the hinges would have rusted solid and the doors would be sagging! Mind you, if you waited another month or so, you would be able to get into the boot. The lid would come away in your hand.... ;D ;D
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1008 - Hylander Alfa Mk VI 1973
Post by: Carnut on December 15, 2016, 08:20:06 AM
If you owned an Alfasud and lived next to the sea, 18 months was about the right time to scrap it. After this time, you wouldn't be able to access the boot as the hinges would have rusted solid and the doors would be sagging! Mind you, if you waited another month or so, you would be able to get into the boot. The lid would come away in your hand.... ;D ;D

You didn't even need to live near the sea..
Although I live in the suburbs of Hull it's 25 miles to the coast so there's no salty sea air, but that didn't stop my Alfasud Sprint Veloce rusting very badly within 6 months of getting it..
Fabulous car to drive but I couldn't live with Alfas again after that and swapped it for a VW Scirocco GTI after only a couple of years; I did revert to Alfas again 12 or 13 years later, by which time they had solved the bodywork problems, but the motor trade hadn't changed their views yet so they were still worthless as soon as you drove out of the dealership..  I had 3 more Alfas then switched to a VW again in 2006 and have had nothing but VWs and Audis ever since.