Friday 11 December 2015

1959 Fairthorpe Electron Minor Mk1 For Sale, MOT`d and ready to go (NOW SOLD)



Made in 1959 at the Factory in Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire, built and first registered in 1960. It is still on the original registration plates.

This car has many original parts, including the bodywork and chassis, most of the drive line (engine, gearbox, axle etc), suspension, windscreen and chassis. It is thought to be one of only a few left that has not been resprayed, so is of historical value (however it would probably benefit from one to look truly fantastic).

It mostly uses Triumph Herald/Standard 10 components that are still available from a number of specialist classic car parts suppliers and the owners club has many other parts available. According to the speedo it has covered 68000 miles. It is Pale Blue. The engine is 948cc, with twin 1 1/8” SU carburettors.



The car was dismantled and dry stored for many years (possibly since 1971 as this was the tax disc on the windscreen) until it was purchased and rebuilt by me. I acquired the vehicle in 2012 from an owners club member and have spent the last three years rebuilding and enjoying driving it. The rebuild has used as many original parts as possible, but some parts had to be replaced rather than refurbished. It has new floors, many new suspension and brake parts, replacement bucket seats and a replacement smaller steering wheel.


Items added/upgraded include indicators, new coil over adjustable shock absorbers all round, 12v negative earth power outlet (for SatNav and phone charging etc), electronic ignition, lower ratio (higher speed) differential from early Triumph Herald (the original differential is also included). The front has been made into flip front to ease 
servicing etc. (with the restraints concealed inside the existing bonnet flap). Interior panels have been re-trimmed. It also has the original side screens, hood and frame which is rare, they are in good usable condition.



 

The Fairthorpe benefits from free road tax, the MOT is to April 2016. This is a very rare, original car, it is practical, reliable and has low running costs/maintainable, in short a great little British classic convertible for £6500 ono.

Contact Alan Cooper at:-   alan23@talktalk.net


Wednesday 7 October 2015

New Fairthorpe videos..........


Fairthorpe owner Anthony Padgett has made more of his excellent videos featuring his car, you can watch the movies by clicking the links
The first is a short drive in the country:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY72cEAGQiU

Also a short movie comparing his Fairthorpe to a Frogeye Sprite:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoBIDwaiTxc

Nice one Anthony, keep em coming!

Thursday 1 October 2015

The many coats of a Fairthorpe EM.



This post is about a Fairthorpe that crossed my path 25 years ago when my father Frank and I bought and restored it, it is a Mk 2 EM and it was registered 955 RKX, we sold it to the boyfriend of AVM Bennetts granddaughter, he asked for it to be finished in British Racing Green.



The car has been through a number of owners since that time and has had several different coats of paint and even a registration  change due to someone transferring the original number off the car. I lost track of this EM when the number was changed but it popped up again when  a new club member put the chassis number on his application form, this showed the cars previous identity, it was hand painted in white by now.


We are now two further owners on and the current owner is Maurice Jennings, himself no stranger to Fairthorpes having owned a couple previously, Maurice has spent some time and money on the car and has it looking really nice, it is back in Green but now sporting an Red stripe. It is pleasing to see that this old friend is being so well looked after.


 
 

Sunday 5 July 2015

Fairthorpe Gathering 2015 ........one week away!

                                             Fairthorpe Gathering 2014 at RAF Wyton.

This years Fairthorpe Gathering is now only one week away and all Fairthorpe owners and enthusiasts are welcolme on the 12th July at the Motor Heritage Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire, the post code is CV35 0BJ, entry to the Gathering will as usual be free. A number of Fairthorpes are expected at the event and several will be taking part in an AutoSolo being run by the Morgan Sports Car Club during the day so come and cheer us on! We will be on site from 9.30 am and there will be an award for the Best Fairthorpe voted for by those present at the Gathering and furthest travelled Fairthorpe to the event. There will also be an award for the winner of the Fairthorpe class in the AutoSolo. For those who have not been before the museum is well worth a visit with the worlds largest collection of British cars in one place with over 300 on site, the museum website can be found here :-  http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/
There is an entry fee payable for access to the museum but they have a very good restaurant which is available to all those at the venue with out having to pay for entry for the museum. We can be found by the large AutoSolo area which will be covered with a number of road cones on the right hand side of the car park area, hope to see you there.................

Thursday 2 July 2015

Low mileage Fairthorpe surfaces in Scotland.


Paul Martin has been in contact to say that he has just acquired an EM that has only 2009 confirmed miles on it from new, the reg number is XGB 618 and this car was unknown to the club before now. The car as you would imagine is very original and solid having been dry stored in a garage having done very little mileage before being laid up, it has the early curved top doors and the short bonnet with the curved `mouth`. Paul is going to re commission the car, obviously brakes and shock absorbers etc will need replacing but it is an exciting project which I will follow with interest.








Friday 19 June 2015

SOLD Historic Race Fairthorpe For Sale SOLD


Clive Randall is reluctantly parting with his race prepared Fairthorpe EM and it is up for bidding on Ebay
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FAIRTHORPE-Electron-Minor-historic-race-car-/261934123196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cfc7d88bc

This car has a continuous competition history thru out it`s life and has had a lot of money spent in the last three years to make it as good as you can get mechanically. This car would be an ideal starter HSCC Road sports championship race car and is eligible for several other Historic / Classic racing series


Clive can be contacted directly on 01569 740411 or at clivewrandall@hotmail.com

Sunday 7 June 2015

Mark Kemp, long time Fairthorpe competitor, has passed away.


Sadly long time Fairthorpe owner and F.S.C.C club member Mark Kemp has passed away following a long illness. Mark first Joined the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club in 1976 and used a succession of Fairthorpes in Auto tests, Production Car trials and Autocross events with many class wins and a number of FTD`s (Fastest time of the day) to his credit. His first Fairthorpe became know as Noddy after someone said it looked like a Noddy car, this was followed by Mr Plod (spot the theme here) and finally during that period Super Nod which sported a tuned 1600 Ford engine. During a conversation with him last year he talked fondly about a number of the events he had done in the cars, he even rolled Super Nod into a ditch during one Autocross event but went out on his next run and set FTD with the battered Fairthorpe! Following a house move the Fairthorpes were gradually sold off in the 80`s but these cars get under your skin and Mark was not yet finished with Fairthorpes, in 2010 he bought another EM, SOO 121 from long term owner Tom Fraser. This was re fettled, re sprayed and modified to compete in a few Production car Trials with his long time friend Club Chairman Derek Bentley, the result being a class win despite Mark`s failing health. Those who knew him will remember his infectious sense of humour and he will be sadly missed.
Marks funeral will take place at the Surrey & Sussex Crematorium, Crawley at 1.00 pm on Thursday 11th June. Any Club members who want to attend would be more than welcome.



 
 
 
 
Derek Bentley (driving) and Mark leaving the 2010 Fairthorpe Gathering in SOO 121

Thursday 4 June 2015

Sliding sidescreens for your Fairthorpe? Here is Anthony`s answer.


Anthony Padgett has modified a pair of Frogeye Sprite side screens which he purchased for £70 off Ebay and has got them to be a useable fit to his EM, these side screens have sliding windows in them. He has made an adapter from wood and covered it in black vinyl, the adapters bolt on using the original Fairthorpe mounting points on the outside of the door and there is also a bracket hanging down on the inside of the door. The side screens slide onto two large screws fixed into the adapters and the screens then fit on the inside of the hood. Anthony says `The flap on the hood at the back of the side screens can be fixed to the screens with a large bulldog clip to prevent flapping` although he admitted this was a `bit Heath Robinson` also the `ensemble is untested and designed for use only when wet and for security in parking the car outside when away`.
The screens are slightly too short in length so some more thought may be needed to make them a water tight fit but they keep the worst of the weather out.
Well done to Anthony for making use and modifying in true Fairthorpe owner tradition.


                                                inside of screen and support underside     


                                                           support bolted onto door



                                                        screen slid onto support bolts



                                                          
                                        Fairthorpe with Frogeye Screens fitted




Friday 29 May 2015

American Fairthorpe, has it survived?




 Will Hoehndorf had been in contact from America regarding a 1959 EM he owned many years ago, this month I received a couple of pictures from him of the car, he would love to know if it survives but as yet he cannot remember the registration number.  Maybe the car will be recognised by someone reading this in the States. If any one does remember it please contact me and I will pass any information on to him.

Friday 15 May 2015

Fairthorpe EM racer For Sale


Patrice Wattine is selling one of his Fairthorpes, this car was rebuilt from the ground up by him and has been raced in several events including a round of the HSCC Road Sports Championship. The car is in France and the advert for it can be found here:-
http://voiturederallye-avendre.com/listing/fairthorpe-em-1/#prettyPhoto

Friday 20 March 2015

Fairthorpes............lets have a look at the interior.

Steve Colling`s EM 2, note the extra pedal assembly on the passenger side
(dual control conversion Steve?)
 
Richard Holden`s EM 1
 
I get lots of people asking about the interior of the cars when they are undertaking a restoration so I thought I would post some pictures to inspire those of you that are in rebuild mode! Back in the 70`s when most Fairthorpes were clinging to existence and held together with tape and woodscrews the interiors usually consisted of a worn out pair of used seats from something else, no door panels (the original compressed card ones having got wet and rotted away) and usually no carpet, if there was some left it was usually rotten and smelly!  There were one or two exceptions, but nowadays nothing could be further from the truth, many owners are taking a lot of pride in their Fairthorpes and some have really pushed the boat out in the effort to make their cars more liveable.

Martin Green`s EM 1

Hopefully you will enjoy these few, if you have a nice picture of the interior of your Fairthorpe email me a picture and I will post it up.

                                                                 Alberto Sassi`s EM 1

                                                                   Chris Goss`s EM 1

                                                                       Bob Balding`s EM 1

                                                                           My EM 1

                                                                  Barry Stock`s EM 5