SOLVED: Djetset #126 - Coldwell GT

Djetset · April 30, 2009, 05:28:48 PM

An easy one for a quick Rookie point.

Paul Jaray · April 30, 2009, 05:50:36 PM

Finally a decent picture of this car! Thank you!

Djetset · May 18, 2009, 04:08:20 PM

Despite the great picture, the Rookies were stumped. If the Experts don't solved this one in minutes, I will eat my hat (especially as I don't find hats very tasty!).

porridgehead · May 18, 2009, 10:58:38 PM

Great picture of a Coldwell GT.

Djetset · May 19, 2009, 02:45:50 AM

Well done Porridgehead, you've got it. Now, where it I put my hat....?!

greentyke · July 22, 2010, 11:03:49 AM

Thought you might like some more pics of the Coldwell, this is me going up the hill at Harewood in 1972. Note the long hair and the beer belly,have some more pics of the prototype with bill needham at Silverstone in 1969 if people are interested.
regards
greentyke

Paul Jaray · July 22, 2010, 03:47:38 PM

Wow!
Thank you for the pics...I was sure it was white!
I'd like to see the other pics and to know more about these cars.

Paul Jaray · August 03, 2010, 04:58:42 AM

I'm in contact with one of the lucky owner of one of the only 4 Coldwell built.

All the following pictures and info are courtesy of Don Turner.

The puzzle's car was built by him from parts supplied by Bill Needham and campaigned it it the 1972 BARC hillclimb championship.
His car is featured in Booij's book "Maximum Mini" . He swapped it for an Alfa 1300 junior but the previous owner used it for auto crossing!

One of the 4 cars was found in Sheffield a few years ago. Another one is in America, and belongs to a chap in Yarm in Northumberland and Bill's prototype went to Singapore where it was crashed.
The engine of the car featured here was one of Bill's. It was a 1071 Cooper S bored to 1120 and fitted with a BMC super sprint cam and 45 Weber, the suspension was based on the Brabham BT21 single seat racer,as John Buxton's BT21 was in the garage at the time.
Bill Needham also had dealings with the Biota. John Houghton had some cars built by Bill and then John went on his own.

Pic#1,2 and 3 ( car #166) show Bill Needham and the prototype. Don took these pics at Silverstone in 1969. He was having a look at it prior to purchasing one. The engine in this was the 1120cc one that He subsequently purchased off Bill and put in his.

Pic#4 and 5 (car #106) show the GT at Silverstone and are older pics with the Mk1 front, from Bill Needham collection. The engine is again the 1120cc engine that went into Don's car.

Pic#6, 7 and 8 show Don's car under construction. The front brakes are drums as it was first set up with minifins and mini wheels from mamba that came from Bills prototype. It only was used a couple of times like this before it was changed to Triumph Herald uprights and disc brakes with 7.5" front and 10" rear Minilights as seen in all the other photos (including the pics in Maximum Mini)

Pic#9 and 10 show Don's car racing.

Djetset · August 03, 2010, 09:07:49 AM

Fantastic pictures and additional information. Thanks.

If your contact's Coldwell is complete and he would like him and the car to be invited to the Goodwood Festival of Speed at any time, please tell him to let me know as it would be great to see a Coldwell out in public again. Thank you.

greentyke · August 03, 2010, 09:44:30 AM

Hi everyone,
glad you liked the pics,I only wish I still had the car,

I believe Bill bought the car off the person who I had exchanged the GT for the Alfa, who subsequently used it for autocrossing and was in a poor state of repair. It was rebuilt and I know it went through Spadge Hopkins hands before it ended up in a collection in Japan (See "Maximum Mini" book. )The second production car I believe ended up in a collection in America. (See enclosed Pic.) The third car was a chassis only and was located a few years back, location now unknown.
That's all Folks
Don

greentyke · August 03, 2010, 09:47:46 AM

Photo did not get attached so here it is.
Don

faksta · August 11, 2010, 10:12:25 AM

Oh, Don and PJ, thatk you both for adding more great racing machinery here!

Otto Puzzell · August 15, 2010, 06:37:20 AM

Front Page Featured!

http://www.autopuzzles.com

Oswald · August 15, 2010, 07:41:44 AM

Wonderful pictures!
The last of the four cars (the chassis only that Greentyke mentions) was found by Needham himself and he has it now.
He is a lovely man, very much understated.
I wonder if anyone knows where the American car exactly went to?

socram · April 07, 2012, 08:57:59 PM

Taken in the Mallory Park paddock, July 26th 1970 I believe.

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SOLVED: Djetset #126 - Coldwell GT