Wheels Day Week: The History Of The Scamp

Say hello to one of the UK kit car scenes most enduring dynasties; the Scamp.
Designed and built as an all-purpose vehicle, combining many commercial and leisure roles, the Scamp has been developed over the years to become one a versatile vehicle, as both a useful everyday car as well as a capable off-roading steed.
When BMC decided to axe the Mini Moke, Robert Mandry took advantage and designed the angular Mini-powered Scamp kit car that was launched in 1970.

The original sloping front Mk1 cost £175, which bought you a robust tubular ERW (Electric Resistance Welded) steel chassis, clothed in aluminium sheet. Rear suspension was taken care of by the donor Mini's trailing arms while up front the famliar Mini power pack nestled safely in it’s original subframe. The finished car was of course is very much up to the owner, giving a diverse range of looks. If you felt more adventurous you could order your Scamp with van, pick up or estate bodies and there was even a version with six wheels,touted as a vehicle that could be used as passenger transport in holiday camps and large factories.
The Mk1 Scamps were popular Autotest machines; but while their robust tubular chassis resisted even the toughest corrosion, the downside was that it made the car too heavy to be really competitive against the best cut down Mini specials.

The revised MK2 Scamp was launched in 1978 and continued in production until 1990. The new boxy front wasn't like by all, but was necessary to bring the lights up to UK regulation height. Many MK1s (like the yellow car pictured) had the main beams mounted higher up in pods, beach buggy style, because of poor lighting aim with the original low mounting.

The Scamp manufacturing rights were taken over in 1987 by long-time Scamp owner Andrew Maclean, who while still producing the Mark 2, broadened the range to include the current Mark 3, available since 1989. He introduced a second model to expand the range in 1996; the MK4x4 versions is based on either the Suzuki SJ410/413 or Daihatsu Fourtrak chassis and brings true off-road ability to a design that always deserved it.
The Scamp has been so successful that some 3000 examples have been produced and apparently a big percentage are still in use worldwide.

With options of soft and hard tops, a cab kit with doors, wheel arch extensions, tailgates, rear suspension radius arm extensions for larger wheels, choices of bumpers, bull bars, spare wheel carriers, and of course with a huge choice of different A-Series units and the myriad tuning items that legendary engine has, its doubtful that no two Scamps are the same.

- Mr Fabulous 

The MK4x4

Wheels Day Week: BMW-Powered 105E - The Misfit

Word & pics: Amazosan

'Misfit, misfit, freak that's on the street' went the chorus of a certain song in the 1980's. Its also a fitting line for this car, as it sure ain't no beauty queen. But boy, does it get your attention.
What is it exactly? Well it is wearing a Ford Anglia 105E body; chopped channeled and sporting some trick mods to the rear, but there ain't no mistaking that reverse rake rear window. The '59 Caddy rear lights and oh-so-cool centre brake light are the finishing touches to the body mods.
I'm guessing that theres a scratch-built chassis supporting it too judging by the front rails, or maybe a modified Pop chassis. This car possibly has a world first to its name; I can't honestly think of another car with a Pop front axle (or grill for that matter) with transverse front leaf spring and a BMW M42 engine; 140bhp must be a right hoot in a car that looks like it's a lightweight.
For all of its eyeball-grabbing exterior the, interior steals the show for me. A 105E dashboard rubs shoulders with a scratch-built flat floor and prop tunnel, while the ally work is sublime; the door panels, bomber seats, foot rest, gear stick and handbrake are all things of beauty. And I'm guessing that the steering column and wheel were pilfered from the Pop too; all in all an odd, inspired combination of parts with some imagination and a lot of craft mixed in for good measure. The more I look at it, the more I love it.

- Amazosan

Wheels Day 2015, (1/2)

Words & pictures: Amazosan

Rushmoor Arena, Rushmoor rd, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 1PZ.

Now back at its spiritual home after the events of last year's show at Dunsfold Aerodrome, the show was now the victim of its old nemesis, the weather. Despite that and a half-empty field, it was still a great show for the spectator.

Part 2 of the show pictures later in the week.

- Amazosan

1955 Buick Century:

AMC Hornet Sportabout:

We've posted pics of these Opus (Opi?) before, but its well worth another look:

You probably noticed the cool fire extinguisher expansion tank on this Rover V8-powered Minor, but did you clock the extended wheelbase? behind the front wheels?

Some Unimog love:

Carmichael Commando Range Rover 6x4 Rapid Intervention Appliance, to give this Strange Rover its full title:

This custom Dodge van looks like it just rolled off the pages of Truckin' magazine, circa 1975:

Lovely Model A runs a period flathead four:

1940 Ford pick up with unknown grill, looks neat:

1946 Plymouth coupé:

Hammered '52 Chevy coupé:

1939 Pontiac DeLuxe four door touring sedan:

1945-1947 Ford pick up:

Gorgeous '29 Model A, Veda Spec knock-off style hubcaps:

Home grown Pro Streeters; Cortina and Super Snipe:

Hemi-powered '34 Coupé:

Not one, but two 1958 Ford Custom 300s:

Blower and flames:

Bird bird bird, bird is the word:

Tough as nails 1950 Nash Statesman:

Finally, a Suzuki Vitara we like!

Rare Karmann T25 Gypsy camper:

Couldn't stop looking at this 1959 Cadillac Series 61 sedan:

Stickerbombing - You're doing it right:

Volkswagen type 181; the type 182 (the RHD version) was known as the Trekker in the UK:

Bike engine in a MKII; different:

1967 Ford Ranchero:

Type II, times two; just how rare are those VW-PCD turbo Vecs? Oh and for the record, we like it:

'So wheres the engine, mate?'

'Its alright, I've found it!'

Speaking or rare wheels, original Appliance wire mags rare enough for ya?

Chevy CST/10:

Aussie Ford Falcon XP had a couple of surprises under (and over) the bonnet...

...two socking great Holset turbos.

 I didn't get closer to take the third pic, the turbos were sucking me in:

1936 Chevrolet sedan:

1983 Zimmer Golden Spirit; based on the Ford Mustang platform!

1967 Chrysler Newport:

And another Chrysler (sorta): the Simca 1204 named after the 1204cc engine. Oriiginal thinking on the name, chaps:

Part 2 on Sunday.