Benn Faulkner's
Grantura - 7B213
Last
updated - 23-11-2009
Year
built: 1960. Chassis No. 7-B-213. Other info: Originally installed with 1588 B
series engine/gearbox and white in colour. Also front disc brakes and fixed
windows (like MKIIA), I believe these were optional extras in 1960, standard in
1961 (MK IIA). Now: Fitted with 1622 B-series (plan to fit early overdrive
g/box to it at some point). Custom built exhaust to my design.Still undergoing
slow restoration. Will be on the road within the next couple of years (I hope!)
Story:
The car was purchaced just under twenty years ago by my father from a friend of
his who owned a garage (repairing and selling cars). The friend bought it
because he wanted to build a kit car, but then required the space in his garage
and so decided to sell it.The car sat in various garages for many years, moving
house with us from Staffordshire, West Midlands to the Isle of Wight, where we
also moved about a couple of times and finally ended up on a farm in the rural
area of Ningwood.
I had wanted to restore the
car for a few years, but because of the lack of workshop space the Grantura
remained in the garage where it was stored (the photographs show that there was
no room in there to resore the car. One friday evening, end of June 2000, I
decided that I was going to start the restoration, but first I needed a
workshop. Fortunately the old milking parlour had been used as a tool store and
sort of workshop, but there was no access way large enough for a car. I proposed
to my father that during the course of the weekend we knock a hole in one of
the walls (a wall with a large broken window in it) and use an old up-and-over
garage door we had lying around to fill the hole. The building was constructed
of old (but very strong) concrete blocks layed flat so that the wall thickness
was 9". After spending some time (one and a half days) with a large angle
grinder, a steel wedge and a sledge hammer the hole was created. Acroprops were
used to support the top of the hole while the old concrete lintle was removed
and an I-section girder inserted. The props were removed and the up-and-over
door offered up. Once the edges of the hole were cleaned up the door was
installed and a weekends work was completed.
I spent the next week clearing
the milking parlour, creating enough order and space to accomodate the Grantura
and allow me to undertake work on her. The following weekend she was moved into
her new home; a trolley jack under the rear to support her and a tractor
pulling (also at the rear) until the manual operation of easing her into the
milking parlour. Axle stands were placed under the rear axle, chocks under the
front wheels, ready for the restoration to comence.
Current Owner:
Benn Faulkner (England)
Homepage: www.tvrgrantura.co.uk
To
contact the owner, please route inquiries through the registar.
Registar:
serel@zeelandnet.nl