Marlan Carlson's
Grantura - 7C226
Last
updated 08/04/2008
This is what Marshall Moore said about this car in a
letter, dated September 5, 2003, to me.
The car is serial number 7/C/226, and it was produced
by TVR Engineering LTD. of Blackpool, England in 1960, the exact production
date not listed in their factory production records. The records indicate
the car was originally built in right hand drive configuration, painted light
blue, and fitted with a Coventry Climax 1261 cc 4-cylinder engine, engine
number FEW 400-31-9243. According to the factor records, 7/C/226 was the 25th
Grantura Mk. II to be built and it was first registered in England on April 2,
1961. Records from the TVR Car Club of England further indicate the car
has a lightweight bodyshell, reportedly built by one Richard Goodwin for
"B.B.", thought to be a previous owner of the car. The car was
raced competitively in its early life, probably for about a year, during which
time the original Coventry Climax engine blew up and was replaced by an MGB
engine by "B.B.". The car then reportedly sat idle for about 15
years. The next owner of record was Mr. Lee Barton Kimball of Los Gatos,
California who registered the car on August 18, 1978. The next owner of
record was Daniel H. Wing of Millbrae, California who registered the car on
July 29, 1986.
At some point the car was fitted with an OSCA
4-cylinder engine, the steering was changed to left hand drive, and it it
was painted red, which is its current state. (from Marlan Carlson, not
Marshall Moore)
While the car was built by TVR Engineering Ltd as a
1960 model, it has been titled for some years as a 1961, probably because that
was the year in which it was first registered by the DVLA in England. Marlan
Carlson acquired the car September 2, 2003
A few notes on the OSCA engine from "Classic
Motorsports."
In 1958, Fiat retained the OSCA company, owned by the
Maserati brothers, to design a high-performance engine for the
Pininfarina-designed Spider. Contrary to popular opinion, the engine was
built by Fiat, as a hand-fitted, bench-made engine for its sports
car, the Fiat 1500 from 1962 to 1964. To distinguish it from the
later Fiat-engined 1500 introduced in 1964, enthusiasts refer to this car
as the Fiat 1500 OSCA. This is a very rare car, and it is
not possible to determine how many were built. Estimates run from 80 to
500, though in order to meet homologation requirements, Fiat would have had to
produce 500 engines. The engine itself is fitted with an alloy
twin-cam head with chain-driven cams and a mechanical tensioner. A Weber
carburetor, of a larger size than the one used on the 1200 engine, was
installed, and the exhaust manifold was replaced with a tubular header.
This engine produced 90 horsepower at 5800 rpm and a top speed of 105
mph.
This particular car has front disc brakes.
Current Owner:
Marlan Carlson (USA)
To
contact the owner, please route inquiries through the registar.
Registar:
serel@zeelandnet.nl