Chevron B42

[marchchevron]

Hi allen,
the history i have managed to sourse is, i have spoken to brian robinson who purchased the b42 from john david briggs along with another b42 and three spare hart 420 motors tony dean bought the other briggs car.
It was converted later on in 1985 to the grange by robin smith of simpson engineering and to a thundersports car driven by brian robinson and geoff wilson then a chap called Jim Mc gaughay supplied a bmw m12/7 for it and he and wilson drove it very competitively in the Donnington GT championship the wilson sold the car to a car dealer Bob nelson who had it converted by a company in york called cooks it was the very little used, at that time it was looked afterfor bob nelson by paul and eric rhodes, paul raced in libre with allan mc nish's f3000 ralt,paul's dad bought the car from bob nelson and it remained stored ever since untill i bought it in january 2012 and i am restoring it back to the briggs f2 oh and a small mistake in my last post its a 42/78/05.

[RICHARD.T]

Allen
Marchchevron is selling the Skoda body that was on the B42 on racecarsdirect with his name and contact details etc. if you are interested.

[allenbrown]

Between them, Dean and Robinson bought 17, 19 and 5 but it's proved difficult to work out where all three went. Robinson appears to have sold off one of the B42s to Howlings, bought a B48, converted the B48 into a Lotus Esprit and later sold it, and finally converted the remaining B42 into the Grange.

When you call it 42/78/05, what are you quoting from? The plate on the dash, the stamping at the rear of the tub or from paperwork?

[allenbrown]

Thanks Richard

I've just noticed Bob Nelson's name in Chris's history of the Grange. Nelson bought Robinson's Esprit. I'm wondering if something has got mixed up here.

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Thanks Richard

I've just noticed Bob Nelson's name in Chris's history of the Grange. Nelson bought Robinson's Esprit. I'm wondering if something has got mixed up here.

hi allen i have spoken to paul rhodes he definately looked after the skoda b42 for bob nelson,i will find out from brian robinson but i think bob nelson only rented the b48 esprit.
also according to chevron who were at my workshop last week seldom did any tubs get stamped at rear of tub,just plates were fitted

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by marchchevron

hi allen i have spoken to paul rhodes he definately looked after the skoda b42 for bob nelson,i will find out from brian robinson but i think bob nelson only rented the b48 esprit

i have spoken to chevron also and even down to the guy who made them he was in my workshop last week,apparently hardly any were stamped at the rear of the tub,plates only were fitted

[allenbrown]

Originally Posted by marchchevron

also according to chevron who were at my workshop last week seldom did any tubs get stamped at rear of tub,just plates were fitted

So does your car have a chassis plate on it? I'm still unclear how you know it is B42-78-05.

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

So does your car have a chassis plate on it? I'm still unclear how you know it is B42-78-05.

Hi allen yes my b42 has the plate still on it it clearly says b42-78-05 . I also am having coffee with bob nelson on friday we spoke on the phone on monday that should be an interesting chat

[Damon Milnes]

Originally Posted by marchchevron

Hi allen yes my b42 has the plate still on it it clearly says b42-78-05 . I also am having coffee with bob nelson on friday we spoke on the phone on monday that should be an interesting chat

Hi marchchevron

My customer's B42 has been accepted and authenticated as chassis number 5. However as Allen points out there will always be confusion and uncertainty surrounding the Briggs cars.

[allenbrown]

Damon, I would like to get to the bottom of this. Since you and I last discussed this, we have gained access to material that allows us to reassess the whole issue of the Briggs/Briedenbach cars and the Dean/Robinson cars. That is showing us that Dean's car, for example, may not have been ex-Briggs at all but may have come from a different source.

While we dig away at the events of 1978-1983, I would urge both of you try to establish the provenance of your cars back to the early 1980s.

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Damon, I would like to get to the bottom of this. Since you and I last discussed this, we have gained access to material that allows us to reassess the whole issue of the Briggs/Briedenbach cars and the Dean/Robinson cars. That is showing us that Dean's car, for example, may not have been ex-Briggs at all but may have come from a different source.

While we dig away at the events of 1978-1983, I would urge both of you try to establish the provenance of your cars back to the early 1980s.

Hi allen, going on all the info i have gathered to date and having even spoken to
Most of the owners of my car since briggs owned it and i have actually met up with brian robinson, geoff wilson/brian robinson duo who are both good friends of robinson, bob nelson is due to come and see me soon, and paul and his late dad eric are personal friends of mine and my fathers i have known them for thirty five years , im very sure i have the cosha chassis -05 of john briggs . Sorry if this upsets the apple cart but you cant beet knowing the trail from the very owners. Sorry Damon

[allenbrown]

So what have you discovered? Is this the car that stayed with Robinson after he sold his other B42? Did he buy it from Briggs? How many cars did he and Dean buy from Briggs? Is this the car that was converted into the Grange in 1985? And what then happened to the Grange after 1987?

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

So what have you discovered? Is this the car that stayed with Robinson after he sold his other B42? Did he buy it from Briggs? How many cars did he and Dean buy from Briggs? Is this the car that was converted into the Grange in 1985? And what then happened to the Grange after 1987?

Hi allen,
Yes it is the car robinson bought from briggs he had two b42's from briggs dean had the other this was convered to the grange then it was changed to the skoda
When bob nelson bought the car from wilson/holiday and i even just a few weeks ago got back all the original b42 parts that were removed when the grange was
Made i got these parts back off wilson/holiday, have filled me in with all the history from briggs. Wilson,holiday, robinson,mcgaughay,paul rhodes and bob nelson all know each other and i have spoken to them all so there is no mistake
Here, the grange was chassis 05 and i have the parts removed to make it and the owners catagoric history of the car from briggs to the present day . What else can i say really , damons customers car cannot be chassis 05 .

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

So what have you discovered? Is this the car that stayed with Robinson after he sold his other B42? Did he buy it from Briggs? How many cars did he and Dean buy from Briggs? Is this the car that was converted into the Grange in 1985? And what then happened to the Grange after 1987?

Hi Allen,
Yes this is the car that robinson bought from briggs he bought two b42's off briggs and dean had the other, this car i have was converted to the grange, the grange was chassis 05 as i have confirmed with wilson and robinson , the grange was then bought by bob nelson who had it changed to the skoda shiloette and thats the body i have just removed , there is no doubt the car i have is the original chassis 05 briggs car the former grange also , what else can i say damons customer who ever he is doesnt gave the correct chassis plate on his car

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by marchchevron

Hi Allen,
Yes this is the car that robinson bought from briggs he bought two b42's off briggs and dean had the other, this car i have was converted to the grange, the grange was chassis 05 as i have confirmed with wilson and robinson , the grange was then bought by bob nelson who had it changed to the skoda shiloette and thats the body i have just removed , there is no doubt the car i have is the original chassis 05 briggs car the former grange also , what else can i say damons customer who ever he is doesnt gave the correct chassis plate on his car

Hello Allen,
Its feb 2nd and ive just been speaking to brian robinson again, he bought two cars off briggs one he traded with bob howlings for a b48 which was made to an esprit GT car the b42 was changed to the grange and subsequently the skoda which is what i own, i have also just taken out the fuel cells which were made by marston who went out of business in i think 1978 or1979 and suprise suprise they clearly have john briggs name written on both tanks , i recon that about says it all really .

[marchchevron]

Originally Posted by marchchevron

Hi Allen,
Yes this is the car that robinson bought from briggs he bought two b42's off briggs and dean had the other, this car i have was converted to the grange, the grange was chassis 05 as i have confirmed with wilson and robinson , the grange was then bought by bob nelson who had it changed to the skoda shiloette and thats the body i have just removed , there is no doubt the car i have is the original chassis 05 briggs car the former grange also , what else can i say damons customer who ever he is doesnt gave the correct chassis plate on his car

Hello Allen.
Today i have taken the fuel cells out of my car chassis 05 the tanks were original made by marstons who seized trading i think 1978/1979 onthe tanks were dates etc and suprize suprize written on both tanks was john david briggs name , this confirms my data on this car.

[allenbrown]

I don't doubt that your car is ex-Briggs, ex-Robinson and ex-the Grange; I'm just keen to explore which B42 you have.

The reason for my caution on this is that we have several contemporary observations of the chassis plate B42-78-05 on the car that Robinson sold to Howlings in 1979 and then went on to McPherson for several years. Either that plate was wrong or your plate is wrong - they can't both be correct.

[davyboy]

With Ferrari Dino power, this has got to be one of the sexiest B42's in existence, but at EUR155K, one of the most expensive I've seen.

[ROGER JORDAN]

I see "the first B42 to be built" is for sale down under on the well known race car sales site and I`m pleased to say that B42 78 06 is almost ready to see daylight after nearly 20 years!

[mikegtr]

I'm trying to update my records on the B42 Chassis, can any forum members fill in any of the gaps for the following information:-

42-78-03 - 1978 (Trivellato (Gabbiani)) then no record until offer for sale in 2012 (Seller not known) sold with Ferrari Dino engine fitted and Blue Benning Livery.

42-78-07 - 1978 (Scuderia Everest) then Bill Lord till 1983 - Now with Greg Galdi (USA) Seen in 2013 with 1978 Livery.

42-78-12 - 1978 (Opert - Elgh) - 2013 - 2016 (Simon Gardiner (Opert / Newsweek/ Rosberg Livery) Current in Australia.

42-78-15 - 1978 (Opert - Rosberg) - 1986 (Antonia Loyson), 1990 (Terry Murphy, GB) then 2005 - 2015 (Joe Hish, USA)

Many Thanks, Mike

[ROGER JORDAN]

Hoping that someone might still be keeping an eye on this forum.
Just going through some Autosports from 70s and 80s before disposing of them, still trying to fill in the history of B42-78-06 between 79 and 86 and I find an advert for B42 BDG and FT200 £10,500 with a phone number for Redditch 45143 August 30 1979 also Fred Opert is advertising two B42`s (Ex Rosberg and Elgh) November 78 and Phil Bennett advertising an ex Opert B42 in March 79, my car definitely spent time in Ireland and there is mention of a Bennett / Candy connection in an earlier thread, possibly this is 06 who knows?

[ROGER JORDAN]

Chevron B42-78-06 in Ireland, jog any memories?

[ROGER JORDAN]

Chevron B42-78-06 by HILLCLIMBER2013, on Flickr


This is the photo of B42-78-06 mentioned above

[ROGER JORDAN]

Chevron B42-78-06 in a tangle. by HILLCLIMBER2013, on Flickr

And the final one, ring any bells with anyone, it`s a very long time ago I know.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by ROGER JORDAN

Chevron B42-78-06 in Ireland, jog any memories?

From the photos it might be Dan Daly at the wheel who is still to be found in the Mondello paddock on occasion although no longer driving.