THE HISTORY OF FLEUR DE LYS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING
Jun 23rd
FLEUR de LYS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING
The Fleur de Lys range of period vans was one of several around in the eighties– most being offered in kit form. Several of them frankly weren’t very good but the Newark company’s offerings thanks largely to the input of sixties motorsport designer-great LEN TERRY, were first class. They were available as turnkeys or as kit packages.
Fleur de Lys means ‘flower of the lily’ and has been widely used in heraldry through the ages and the company behind the vans and period vehicles had a very interesting story.
It’s often been said that when Newark patisserie owner, Dionysios More >
KOUGAR CARS BOOK
Jun 16th
A lovely new book on the Kougar Sports Cars marque has just been published.
It tells the story of Rick Stevens’ Sports and Monza models. It costs £40 and you can get a copy from: https://www.kougarownersclub.com/book or by emailing Amy.Robbs@yahoo.co.uk.
STEEL WHEELS
Jun 16th
Picking the right wheels for your air-cooled VW project can be a tricky task, especially if you stick with standard suspension and a sensible-sized tyre.
Bridging the style gap between stock and custom is the classic ‘4 lug’ Sprintstar, which looks right at home on both slammed and stock height ’67 onwards Beetles, Type3s and Karmann Ghia.
Originally manufactured in steel by Lemmerz they have been reproduced by SSP using a more modern cast alloy. Drilled to 4/130 PCD they measure 5×15” with an offset of ET25 and come finished in gloss black with polished details.
To get a set under your arches More >
‘FUNNEL’ VISION
Jun 16th
New from Laser Tools, this rectangular oil funnel kit (part number 8028) features a screw-on spout for snug fitting as well as a tube adaptor for filling straight into the dipstick tube or hard-to-reach areas.
Sized to take standard one-litre oil bottles, this compact funnel has dimensions of 142mm x 70mm and 78mm deep. The side handle makes it easy to hold the funnel steady as the oil is poured.
Suitable for a wide variety of applications on cars, light commercial vehicles, motorcycles, etc. The tube adaptor is particularly useful for gearbox oil or automatic transmission fluid top-ups on older vehicles.
Available now More >
CAP SLEEVES?
Jun 16th
In response to requests from customers, DEI’s popular Titanium Knitted Sleeves are now available in a smaller size to fit 3in to 3½in OD exhaust and turbo pipes, up to 36in length.
The new size supplements the existing 12in and 24in lengths to fit 4in to 5in pipes.
The sleeves have a max temperature rating of 1800°F (982°C) and a continuous rating of 1382°F (750°C).
They can be cut to fit any application and are also available in special-order custom lengths.
The sleeves are designed to protect vulnerable components and prevent heat from transferring into the vehicle’s interior.
They are made from a thick basalt More >
PRESSING MATTERS
Jun 16th
Machine Mart’s range of Clarke Hydraulic Presses are ideal for garage and engineering workshops and can be used for a variety of tasks including replacing/removing bearings, pressing ball joints, pulleys, pins, plates or straightening metal work. There are eight different models available, with pressing capacity ranging from just four tonnes up to an impressive 50 tonnes!
The best-selling Clarke CSA10BB 10 Tonne Hydraulic Bench Press is perfect for when you just need to tackle smaller pressing jobs such as repairing small motors or removing and installing gears or bearings.
The press is simple to use and very effective, requiring minimum effort from More >
KEEPING TIME
Jun 16th
Mini Spares now has stocks of original magnolia face analogue clocks as fitted by Rover to Minis with wooden or metal dashes from 1990-1999.
These early clocks were manufactured by Caerbont until 1999 (when the clock manufacturer was switched to VDO, who produced a different full numerical figured clockface).
Order Magnolia Face Analogue Clock with fittings as part number YFB100370 at £107.75 inc VAT.
For more details contact Mini Spares on 01707 607 700 or visit www.minispares.com ENDS.
GAUGE REACTION
Jun 16th
Here’s one primarily for our North American readers.
Your engine’s air/fuel ratio is critical to improved performance, especially if it’s a turbo or supercharged engine. The best way to keep an eye on your air/fuel ratio is by measuring oxygen levels in your exhaust system with an Innovate Motorsports Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge.
The gauges feature DirectDigital™ signal processing and Advanced Sensor Control that samples oxygen sensor data faster and more frequently so you get a real-time picture of the air/fuel ratio at any point in the engine’s powerband.
They also have a serial in/out for use with Innovate’s Modular Tuning System (MTS)-enabled devices More >
NICE FLARES
Jun 16th
In the event of an accident, being seen on a busy road is of paramount importance, and therefore lighting specialist OSRAM has launched the OSRAM LEDguardian®TRUCK FLARE Signal.
The LED warning light is visible from a great distance and can warn drivers about a dangerous situation on the road by actively flashing, compared to the simple reflection such as that of a warning triangle.
The TRUCK FLARE can be used as a warning light, as it has an amber flashing light function and an uninterrupted operating time of at least fifteen hours. It also has a bright white torch light function, allowing More >
THE SERAPH AND BONITO STORY
Jun 16th
FIBERFAB AVENGER II SPAWNED THE BONITO AND THE SERAPH
If you want your new car to ‘fly out the door’ in big numbers by all means build it in a Lancaster Bomber factory – but using the help of a six-winged angel seems a step too far.
Dutch registered Bonito
Fiberfab of California was once arguably the biggest kitcar company in the world, alongside fellow American operation Classic Motor Carriages – the two would later join forces, but that’s another story – and had a convoluted not to mention dramatic history, since being founded in 1964 by Warren Harding, ‘Bud’ Goodwin and John More >
