Ehrlich

[jamesl]

From a previous RT1 thread there is discussion about Ehrlich's. I've got one, and would love to hear as much information about them as possible. In particular history of the RP4 / RP5. Images attached.

[chunder]

Are these cars made by Joe Ehrlich teh bike guy? Was based in Home Counties somewhere?

[jamesl]

Yes - Joesph Ehrlich of EMC fame. A period image attached.
I think my car is the Flux car because of the roll hoop shape, Thatcher's had an extension put on his. Also when I got the car it still had the forward facing roll bar pads, which I have taken off and run on my FF2000 to stop me from smashing my crash helmet on the forward facing bars.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Above: Keith Richards hillclimbing his RP5 at Werrington in 2007.

[jamesl]

Thanks Steve. I didnt know there was another Ehrlich RP5 still being used. Do you know what year it was built? Or what engine is in it?
Attached are images of my car coming up a hill, with a 2000cc FVC and FG400 from the late 1990's.

From what little I have discovered, I think Thatcher's car was written off at Brands Hatch, but I could be wrong on this.

I also notice the different types of noses. I think RP5 had the March 792 nose, and the RP4 had a nose similar to the blue Ehrlich - more of a snow plough.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by jamesl

Thanks Steve. I didnt know there was another Ehrlich RP5 still being used. Do you know what year it was built? Or what engine is in it?
Attached are images of my car coming up a hill, with a 2000cc FVC and FG400 from the late 1990's.

From what little I have discovered, I think Thatcher's car was written off at Brands Hatch, but I could be wrong on this.

I also notice the different types of noses. I think RP5 had the March 792 nose, and the RP4 had a nose similar to the blue Ehrlich - more of a snow plough.

The Richards Ehrlich RP5 had a 'March 792 style' nose when I first saw it in 2002. I have a photo somewhere but it is a 35mm negative and will have to be scanned. The RP5 is 1600cc which I suspect is a FSVee engine.

[Simon Hadfield]

Designed? and built by Paul Crosby (I think) at Sabre Automotive at Bicester He was building the car that Fluxie later drove when I was there building Jeremy Rossiter's FF2000 Reynard.

[ROGER JORDAN]

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

The Richards Ehrlich RP5 had a 'March 792 style' nose when I first saw it in 2002. I have a photo somewhere but it is a 35mm negative and will have to be scanned. The RP5 is 1600cc which I suspect is a FSVee engine.

I`ve known Keith and his Ehrlich for many years, it certainly always had a March 792 style nose this photo is the first time I`ve seen it with a wide nose, excellent photo by the way Steve, the engine was a Ford BDA possibly BDG best regards Roger

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by ROGER JORDAN

I`ve known Keith and his Ehrlich for many years, it certainly always had a March 792 style nose this photo is the first time I`ve seen it with a wide nose, excellent photo by the way Steve, the engine was a Ford BDA possibly BDG best regards Roger

Thanks Roger; I have seen this car on a few occasions, now I have checked back, and as you say it was always running the 792-style nose as in James' photo.

[jamesl]

Thanks everybody, this is all very useful information. From memory Simon, do you remember what year it was when you saw the Ehrlich's being built at Sabre? And is Keith Richards still about?

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by jamesl

And is Keith Richards still about?

The photo I posted is from 2007; hopefully he still is "still about" but Roger Jordan may be able to help there. He was a member of the Torbay Motor Club and was listed as from Falmouth?

[Steve Wilkinson]

Shows how the memory plays tricks! This is Keith Richards in the Ehrlich RP5 back in 2002:



Again taken at Werrington Park.

I just found a copy of the print so have done a quick scan.

[jamesl]

Thanks Steve - another good picture. The Ehrlich certainly looks a very purposeful car with its chisel nose in this image. I have read in the "A-Z of Formula cars" that the RP4 was used as the donor car for the RP5. I have attached a picture of the cars front suspension.

[ROGER JORDAN]

Originally Posted by jamesl

Thanks everybody, this is all very useful information. From memory Simon, do you remember what year it was when you saw the Ehrlich's being built at Sabre? And is Keith Richards still about?

Hi James Yes Keith is still lurking in deepest Cornwall, check out commitee list on Newquay Auto Club website, he will be there.
Best regards Roger

[Dan Rear]

There were 2 'RP5s' used in FAt here from 1980-82. Fluxie raced one thru' all 3 years, Mark Thatcher and others had occasional drives in the 2nd car. One was based on the RP4 I think, the other may have been built as a 'new' RP5.

Though haven't we surmised before that Dr E may have used some bits from the ex-Robarts March 762 he had in 78 for Brett Riley, in building them?? They both looked v similar, and at that time used 792-type noses. Fluxie got it/them going very well, and though not quite as quick as the Leslie then Mallock RT4s in 1980-81, he was usually as fast as anything else in FAt over that period.

[jamesl]

Was the RP4 nose (a la March 792) the same nose as used on the RP5?
Keith's yellow chisel nose is March / Reynard SF84 esque - but is it a genuine Ehrlich nose or another nose from a different car made to fit?

I have scanned some images from the A-Z Formula book showing the RP3 snow plough nose, an RP4 nose (a la 792) but I'm unsure what a RP5 nose should look like. Can anyone help?

[Steve Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by jamesl

Was the RP4 nose (a la March 792) the same nose as used on the RP5?
Keith's yellow chisel nose is March / Reynard SF84 esque - but is it a genuine Ehrlich nose or another nose from a different car made to fit?

I have scanned some images from the A-Z Formula book showing the RP3 snow plough nose, an RP4 nose (a la 792) but I'm unsure what a RP5 nose should look like. Can anyone help?

RP4 also used the semi-snowplough nose. I'll post a photo shortly.

[ROGER JORDAN]

Originally Posted by jamesl

Was the RP4 nose (a la March 792) the same nose as used on the RP5?
Keith's yellow chisel nose is March / Reynard SF84 esque - but is it a genuine Ehrlich nose or another nose from a different car made to fit?

I have scanned some images from the A-Z Formula book showing the RP3 snow plough nose, an RP4 nose (a la 792) but I'm unsure what a RP5 nose should look like. Can anyone help?

Could Keith`s Ehrlich chisel nose have been an early Pilbeam one, just a thought.