1967 Unipower GT

scholar96 · 11 Jan 2009, 15:17 (Ref:2369413)

Recent interest in and talk about Rochdale Olympics racing has prompted me to start this new tread, I have both a Rochdale Olympic lightweight and a Unipower GT both of which we have been trying to work on for several years now, I have ben very interested in the detailed problems accociated with fitting roll protection in the Rochdale, I can see similar problems being accociated with the Unipower.

I have had to effectively build a new chassis for my Unipower, using information from several sources including Earnest Unger, and a very helpfull chap from the USA, finaly the arceology of the several buckets of rust removed from my car which was the remains of the cars chassis. I have reproduced drawings and the space frame using new tubes and as much as possible from the original car. This realisticaly being only the dashboard top tube and part of the rear engine framework.

My car has no signs of any roll over protection, my question is did the works cars have roll bars etc, if not do any of the ones racing today have them, and finaly (although I have ideas of how to fit roll over protection) any advice from RAC / FIA scrutineers / championship co ordinators etc would be most welcome.

Matthew Sturmer · 11 Jan 2009, 16:40 (Ref:2369441)

There was a guy who used to live round the corner from me in Horsham, Sussex during the 80's called Gerry Hulford or something very similar who was into Unipowers. He had the ex Le Mans car and I last saw him and the car at the 2006 Classic Le Mans. It was there as a static display. I'm sure he would be able to point you in the right direction regards mounting roll bars etc. and all other info. Unfortunately I don't have any contact info. but either other posters may, or if his name comes up on any Unipower related searches, try that route.

Matthew

photohsr · 12 Jan 2009, 15:03 (Ref:2369968)

Claude Houle, from Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Canada and Jeff Lumbard from Lakeville Minnesota both race Unipowers, they may be able to help
Bob H.

scholar96 · 14 Jan 2009, 09:25 (Ref:2371201)

Many thanks guys, we have done some extensive research on these cars, as a result I have chassis details which we used to re-manufacture my chassis, some invaluble pictures of an original chassis from all angles, which were taken just prior to the chassis being sent off for powder coating. Unfortunately apart from a small picture taken through the rear window I have no detail of roll protection.

I am about to go for a big push on the car with the intention of having a rolling chassis by the summer, followed shortly by bodywork.

Engine and gearbox spec is not yet decided and will depend on the class we race the car in, no point getting ahead of ourselves. One thing we think has been decided is to use the original size wheels and tyres, I.E. 10".

GORDON STREETER · 14 Jan 2009, 21:19 (Ref:2371618)

: The original blurb said that it had "built in roll over protection"

:

scholar96 · 16 Jan 2009, 08:52 (Ref:2372527)

??? Gordon, do you meen the original blurb from Unipower??

GORDON STREETER · 16 Jan 2009, 13:13 (Ref:2372674)

Double post

GORDON STREETER · 16 Jan 2009, 13:14 (Ref:2372677)

I remember the original blurb from Unipower in the "motoring mags" at the time did mention it, but I don't think it appeared in any of the handbooks/paperwork from Unipower themselves.
However I have just seen that Wikipedia mention it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unipower

scholar96 · 27 Feb 2009, 10:04 (Ref:2405255)

Work on the chassis is progressing at a pace now, one of the questions that has come up recently is regarding the rear gearbox mounting on this car. It looks like a top damper body mounting but we don't know from what car it was originaly sourced.

I have spoken to the designer Ernie Unger but as he rightly said it was all a long time ago and he cant remember that kind of detail. We can substitute a suitable item without much trouble but the pedantist in me feels that the right thing should be used.

I know its a big ask but has anyone out there any idea of where this part could be from?

terence · 27 Feb 2009, 15:00 (Ref:2405457)

A photo might help.

scholar96 · 5 Apr 2009, 11:42 (Ref:2434020)

The picture below is the car as we bought it, unfortunately when we removed it from the trailer it fell into 3 pieces which is why we have had to re-manufacture the chassis, and why we have very little detail regarding parts.

GORDON STREETER · 5 Apr 2009, 12:07 (Ref:2434066)

I like your workshop scholar !

**John Turner** · 6 Apr 2009, 08:25 (Ref:2434851)

Gordon, a very polite response. You could have milked it for all its worth!

**John Turner** · 6 Apr 2009, 08:27 (Ref:2434852)

On a more serious note, that's a hell of a project but they were super little cars. I seem to remember one (in yellow?) being pedalled pretty rapidly at Silverstone, years ago.

zefarelly · 6 Apr 2009, 08:42 (Ref:2434860)

Gordons just jealous of the flooring

terence · 6 Apr 2009, 09:18 (Ref:2434896)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I like your workshop scholar !

Quite nice to see a race-prep shop without the bull!

275 GTB-4 · 6 Apr 2009, 10:24 (Ref:2434953)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zefarelly

Gordons just jealous of the flooring

I just know there are Lipizzaner Stallions hiding around the corner

scholar96 · 6 Apr 2009, 17:48 (Ref:2435357)

You think that's bad, you want to see the kitchen!

Surf 1275 · 28 Jan 2014, 22:03 (Ref:3361293)

Having just purchased the ex Janspeed / Geoff Mabbs Unipower GT that Brian Harvey of C&CC also ran in 1968 I'd be grateful for any information about the car or images associated with it. Especially anyone connected with Universal Power Drives, Arch Motors, Janspeed or Graham Goodman who ran it in 1969. The car also went through Paul Weldon and Chris Alford from what I understand in the 70's.

Any help gratefully recieved.

Many thanks

Pete

Surf 1275 · 21 Dec 2015, 03:34 (Ref:3599063)

For those interested in these cars there's a new Facebook page dedicated to them here:

https://www.facebook.com/Unipower-GT-926096130743357/

Anyone with any recollections of the cars or the factory at Perivale in the 60s please feel free to contribute!

Alan Morgan · 26 Dec 2015, 16:21 (Ref:3600280)

Some great period film of Ernie Unger showing a "potential customer" around a Unipower in this footage...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUlIHywkJKI

(Together with a bit of a political message)

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