Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) New toy

Is that a mud plugger?

Brian,

It's the brainchild of the chap that runs Heritage Motorsport outside Bicester. Lee is ex-Blue diamond and a vintage car specialist / fabricator by trade, and I bumped into him last year when he gave my old MG TA a look over. Turns out he's the new chairman of the MCC Ltd, the long distance trials folk. I used to trial many years ago, so we had a good deal in common from the get go. He's a really good sort, too.

Back when I was trialling in the late 80's, there was a car just put on the market called a Troll. This has been very successful as a tough little car, but as time rolls forward the all Ford running gear is either expensive or rare, so Lee had an idea...

Aided and abetted by my excitement, he's making a limited run of 21 of the new breed cars that he's named Kraken. Not after any liquid beverage or a sea monster, but from a chance chat with a spectator in Devon who told him "He's a crackin' car, mate"..

I've now got a part time job doing something that is so exciting it's like having Kevfitz as a neighbour..

Based on easily obtainable donors and part supplies, the aim is for the cars to be made IVA ready with the option of a trials kit should anyone wish to dabble. One is earmarked for sprinting so far.

Mine will have a slightly longer cockpit for my long legs, but is a 1600cc MazdaMX-5 Mk1 based version. Time moves quickly though, and there has been a huge upsurge in Mk1 interest so the new donors will be early Mk2's probably. I specifically hunted a 1990 donor as I want to run simple carbs, and the emissions regs start post this date.

This is Kraken K1 playing in the mud :

Go with the electronic sparks.. Use the Webbers

I have other cars - so the Tesla is just a daily barouche.

Covid has driven acceptance of contactless payments - previously there used to be a prevalence of 'minimum £5 spend' signs. These have now gone and pretty much everyone prefers not to handle cash. I live in a hamlet of 6 houses in the middle of nowhere - nearest village is a few miles away, but the shops accept contactless.

I didn't think I'd buy an EV either as I'm a committed petrol head - but it made sense, very tax efficient and costs next to nothing to run. Obviously it won't suit luddites who think electric seats are the devil's work and designed for morons.

Really couldn't have one here as no connection to the mains and to use solar to recharge a modern car for a decent mileage would require a system beyond what would be practical .... I've always used contactless ... my only comment is you being brave relying exclusively on your phone for everything .... I always like to have a small amount of cash handy .... not like no-one has ever dropped their phone or had it die out of the blue. I've been glad of it on more than one occasion.

Not sure my concern about the complexity of modern cars stems from any luddite tendencies ... more that, for me at least, lugging round the weight and complexity of a modern electrically adjusting, vibrating and heated armchair every mile your car ever does doesn't seem worth it considering what a trivial thing it is to adjust a light and simple manual seat .... doesn't mean I want them banned or look down on those who enjoy having them in their cars. Each to their own.

K

Found this pic .... this isn't even a really complicated one ..... and I've had fully functioning motorcycles with less moving parts!!

Thanks Steve , that looks a huge amount of fun, and the job sounds just about ideal.

I had an urge for a Liege at one time.

Neil I have found the answer for those missing WMD hooligan moments.

You can even make it sound like a Ferrari for Howard, mind you attached to the Kia it might not have quite the same effect. I would love to see it on a Twizzy.

I bought my son a thing that plugged into the cig lighter socket and made a brilliant v8 noise through his radio.
He'd just sold a TVR which made a wonderful noise and we plugged this into his fiat panda 4*4 thing he uses on the fields down there taking straw etc. to their horses, and it was a complete hoot. Revved matching the engine revs somehow though only plugged into socket, no other connection.
It really was smile making although he threw it away after a week or two.
Another £30 down the drain....
Nick

Yes I put this one up a few years ago as a suggested Christmas present.... heaps of fun.. I bought one for a friend who had to sell his V8 Jag for a Korean heffalump

My thoughts also. If you loose the phone or its stolen you are stuffed. I dont want a keyless entry & start car either by fob or phone, makes the car easier to steal by "relay" thieves. I had the keyless entry function turned off on my car. Its easier to just get key & press open rather than getting key out & fishing it out of a Faraday pouch.
Used to have a Jag S Type, the leccy seats had a 2 position memory switch on the door. I cannot remember if it adjusted the steering wheel position.