Mystery Car - not a Z?

[Mr.F]

A little fun test for you car spotters out there:



Q1. Name that car - manufacturer and model.
Q2. Obviously inspired by (and indeed part moulded from) the Z32. But what is the owner / manufacturer's other claim to Z fame? (Hint - get out your old Z Club mags...)

[SeanDezart]

I'd have almost said it was some Holden model.

[Mr.F]

UK conceived and manufactured - and in Essex!

[zman240uk]

Looking at the wheels and the rear quarter, I would guess its a Celica...

[Mr.F]

This is not a "based on" body kit - chassis and body are bespoke manufacture with donor mechanicals - available as a complete package or as a "build it yourself" kit car.

[zedhead260]

Originally Posted by Mr.F

Q2. Obviously inspired by (and indeed part moulded from) the Z32. But what is the owner / manufacturer's other claim to Z fame?

He sold a 260Z based GTO replica for £25k

[Mr.F]

Spot on for Q2 Rob. I assume you know the answer to Q1 but are leaving it open for the rest to puzzle over...?

[zedhead260]

Originally Posted by Mr.F

I assume you know the answer to Q1 but are leaving it open for the rest to puzzle over...?

No, but I recall the conversation.

Haven't rummaged through the old mags yet.

[SeanDezart]

Oh.....p*nis - now I'll have to rummage quicker than that bling-o 260Z !

[rhanagar]

Dammit ... you even changed the name of the photo to "mysterycar"

[Mr.F]

Do we give up yet??

[SeanDezart]

I found the mag with the "He sold a 260Z based GTO replica for £25k" but still none the wiser..............a clue ?

[Mr.F]

I can't remember if the mag named the names...? If it did, you have half the manufacturer name, the other half being the partner who was based in Bristol and shares his surname with a prominent (and current) F1 driver.
Only the model to get then...

[SeanDezart]

tony claydon Nissan Z32 300ZX kit car - Google Search

Best I can come up with !

A kit car based upon a Z32 shell but using his own chassis for Rover V8 or Cosworth power.

Seems a bit like using a Ferrari body then fitting an Allegro engine............... did he sell many ?

[Mr.F]

Not well documented on the web, the car was a Claydon-Hamilton Super Sport Four (or SS4).
Tony Claydon and partner Hamilton have since parted company, but Tony continues to design - here is another example of his work on the Fiero based Finale (this one built by Candy Apple in the USA using a Claydon body design:



A brief note from a rare mention elsewhere on the web:

Claydon Hamilton Automotive Design, Maldon, Essex / C.H. Automotive, Bristol, Avon
The 1996 Supersport 4 was predominantly the work of Tony Claydon, an ex-racing driver and designer of the Tara 2 prototype that almost went into production as an Aston Martin. This was a four-seater coupe vaguely reminiscent of a Nissan 300ZX, using a steel chassis and glassfibre body, and sold mostly in kit form. The major components derived from the Ford Sierra (a 4x4 Cosworth option was even available) and Ford four-cylinder or various V8 engines could be installed. A split between the founders of the company led to a redesigned version called the SS4, later known as the Cerity R.

Numbers sold unknown - I've only ever seen the silver car originally pictured and used as the brochure model.