Title: 170VR
Post by: admin on December 04, 2006, 04:01:12 AM
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Title: Erik's 170VR roadster
Post by: curator on November 29, 2006, 11:22:15 PM
Erik Thomas asked me to upload some images of his roadster. The following are his remarks as well:
After a long delay, I have a few digital images of my 170VR roadster, taken the day I got it running after a 3 year engine rebuild. This is the vintage racer with the OM 636 cylinder head and dual Solex carbs, Bosh magneto. I took me ages to make an adjstable camshaft, which can be adjusted in the car. It has lightweight chrome molly connecting rods, and custom forged Venolia pistons with 3 rings.. It also has a special large gear oil pump, and a windage tray in the oil sump. The car also has wire wheels, on special hubs, and the "knock off" caps are genuine pre-war. I use dunlop 5:50 -16 racing tires. The rear axle is standard, but has 4 shock absorbers and much lighter springs than usual. The center body tub was made by me, the other body parts are standard with some adaptations. The interior is standard, but the "combi" gauge has been exchanged for a special chrometric tachometer, driven off the generator. The car has a 6 gallon fuel tank behind the seats, and an electric fuel pump.
The next project is to make some special brakes for it, with alfin drums and perhaps dual leading shoes like a 220.
Title: Re: Erik's 170VR roadster
Post by: EThomas on December 04, 2006, 12:28:31 AM
Volker: The early 170 racers were based on standard roadsters, and my car resembles these. The 170 racers were not designed for sports car racing, rather, rallies over primative roads.
My car was developed for road racing, and hillclimbing on pavement. It is also used as a street car, so the road equipment and mudguards are needed. The wire wheels are lighter than the original wheels, and wider in section.
of 35mm size. They put out about the same power as a 170-S, which in a light car was a big improvement over the 38 HP of the 170-V.
My car and engine have to conform to the rules of vintage racing, which in my case limits me to the original displacement. Thus, the overhead valves of the 0M-636 were a logical way to increase compression and power. These sorts of modifications are typical of British cars of that period, and the rules were set out years ago with that in mind. My 170 takes advantage of these rules as best it can.
Title: Re: Erik's 170VR roadster
Post by: alsancle on November 30, 2006, 05:35:11 PM
Very Cool!
Title: Re: Erik's 170VR roadster
Post by: John Ellis on November 30, 2006, 11:09:09 PM
Great job Erik! A very unique car. After your description of the engine, would love to see a picture.
Title: Re: Erik's 170VR roadster
Post by: Johan on December 01, 2006, 06:33:48 AM
Impressing work! I agree, please post some engine pictures.
Title: Re: Erik's 170VR roadster
Post by: Volker on December 01, 2006, 08:27:03 AM
Dear Eric, I am glad to finally see your car after having talked about it for a while. Very nice work! Could you enlighten us on the origin of this body design? I have not seen any pictures of a racer with this type of body. Your looks more like a modified cab A than the racer (VS) pictures I know. They seem to have had more utilitarian fenders than yours. Do you have any period pictures of this style you could share? Is there a reason for using wire wheels rather than solid hubs for racing? Are you still working on the "Hotrod kit" for the 170S engine? I would love to get a few more HPs out of mine. Thanks Volker
