1990 Dutton Legerra ZS

[Rebuilda]

I'm new here so I'll do my best to keep it short.

Yes it's a Dutton. One of my small collection (4) which I'm sure will surface here over the next few months as I get around to it.
Had this in one form or another since 2000, currently my daily ride and as with all Dutton's a 'work in progress'


2037cc pinto, type 9 5 speed, english axle with a 3.89 diff, overheating is a constant worry and I have shares in a rocker gasket firm due to the amount of time I spend adjusting the rockers...
I put this back on the road 1st sept 2007 after a long layup and it's been my daily pretty much since then. 43000 miles and counting.


IMAG0309 by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr






IMAG0305 by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr

[DWDarkWheels]

Daily'ing an old kitcar?? You have my respect

[Anglia68]

Welcome to the site.
I always thought the Legarra was an interesting shape and could make a really nice everyday sports car.

[luckygti]

Aug 13, 2013 18:57:04 GMT Anglia68 said:

Welcome to the site.
I always thought the Legarra was an interesting shape and could make a really nice everyday sports car.

Agreed love old kit cars and always thought these had a lot of potential (though they do look a lot better without the roof I always think of the AC 3000 when I look at them.



No idea why

[hairnet]

not seen that before only thought they did only massively fugly ones

thats not bad

[Rebuilda]

Even my first car was retro.
1979

My First Car by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr

Over the years I've had a few, just wish I'd been able to keep them.
1983 - mines the one on the trailer.

ef03 by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr

1987 - 1990

cortina2 by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr

1992 - 2003

MVC-002L by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr
Never did top coat the old girl.

2000 - the old white body shell.

dutton_front by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr

and
2007 - the new green one, the day it passed its 1st MOT in 6 years after a major fire (uninsured)

IMG_2032[BW} by Adrian Southgate, on Flickr

I think they look better without the door windows too.

July was a win. took the roof and windows off on the 4th and just left em off until the 20th, 16 days of mental bad hair and flying fag ash...

Thanks for the positive comments guys. Since 1979 all my daily rides have been retro, kit or just plain odd.

1996 Transit Ambulance was awesome in traffic on the M61, knife butter nuff said.


Truth be told I can't afford even a cheap tin top due to the stupid insurance premiums and curse word wages so it's had to be classic or plastic.

[Rebuilda]

Aug 13, 2013 20:10:20 GMT hairnet said:

not seen that before only thought they did only massively fugly ones

thats not bad

Thanks Hairnet.
They only made about 180 of these in total. I can account for three and we know of 66 left in total globally. (1 in australia)

[Rebuilda]

For the first time the legerra is being 'rested' over winter this year, time for some long overdue tlc and a good look underneath to see what the last 7 years have done to the old girl. I've had some issues with a 'squeak' which sound horribly like metal on metal but couldn't see anything so time to drop a few bits off and see where the problem lies.
Cue Dutton number 2 to fill the breach of daily driver for the winter.

[BenzBoy]

Never seen one of these before! Great that you've been using it as a daily driver. Looks like a fun little sports car!

[brawr]

Got some echos of Ford RS200 in there, I really like it! Bookmarked.

[Rebuilda]

It's not as nippy as a seven, the body is so much heavier but it does drive like a sports car, gives you a seriously silly grin.

[timmy201]

I'm guessing you spent some time in Australia? Holden FC? Being towed by an HR? panel van

[pauluspaolo]

Just about the only nice Dutton in my opinion NTDWM but there's a blue one of these for sale near Selby. I've passed it a couple of times & it looks pretty tidy - it's on Gumtree in case anyone's interested?

Much respect for using one all year round - I used to use my Midas bronze (mini based kit car) all year round! Don't suppose it was any worse than a standard Mini in that the heater was naff & there was b*gg*r all demisting. I dressed warmly, drove everywhere with the window open & kept a handy cloth close at hand!

[Rebuilda]

Sept 24, 2013 21:22:37 GMT timmy201 said:

I'm guessing you spent some time in Australia? Holden FC? Being towed by an HR? panel van

Jan 83 - Jul 83, had a whale of a time and then got booted out for visa issues...   
The FC got repaired after a fashion, The local dump in Port Lincoln, SA, being huge and full of scrap cars back then
The HR belonged to my mate Felix, he had an FD as well. I did a mural on the bonnet which of course was quite cool back in 83 

[Rebuilda]

Sept 25, 2013 13:51:14 GMT pauluspaolo said:

Just about the only nice Dutton in my opinion NTDWM but there's a blue one of these for sale near Selby. I've passed it a couple of times & it looks pretty tidy - it's on Gumtree in case anyone's interested?

Much respect for using one all year round - I used to use my Midas bronze (mini based kit car) all year round! Don't suppose it was any worse than a standard Mini in that the heater was naff & there was b*gg*r all demisting. I dressed warmly, drove everywhere with the window open & kept a handy cloth close at hand!

My Dutton Sierra might be an ugly curse word but the capri heater is toasty, has proper demister vents and everything, I did build it as a winter car. When I finish plugging the holes in the floor/bulkhead, get the insulation finished and maybe some carpet it might actually be quite comfortable. 

The blue Legerra in selby is well known in the dutton owners club, its a nice example.

[barryj75]

that's one good looking car, it looks like the love child of a rs 200 and frog eyed sprite

[Rebuilda]

Sept 25, 2013 18:47:34 GMT barryj75 said:

that's one good looking car, it looks like the love child of a rs 200 and frog eyed sprite

Thanks.
I'd like to believe RS200 but in reality probably frogeye.

I think if he had continued with the car designs then the legerra would have evolved into quite a kit. Wrong time, wrong place I guess.

[pauluspaolo]

I'd forgotten when I posted the above but an old college friend used to own a Dutton Sierra & it wasn't a bad car at all really. It could seat 4 in relative comfort & took us, plus camping gear, to many a kit car show without any problems bar one minor breakdown on the way back from Stoneleigh one time. I've since lost track of him & have no idea whether it's still in existance or not - I doubt very much if he still has it & I can't remember the reg unfortunately - I'm pretty sure it was blue over silver (or silver over blue) & I don't think it was on a Q plate.

Kit cars obviously ran in his family & his dad had an immaculate, & beautifully built, Marlin Roadster - my friend also had one of these (rather less immaculate) into which he fitted a Fiat twin cam after which it went like stink

Sorry I'll stop waffling now

[macca]

I grew up in Worthing in the 80's and saw loads of Dutton cars floating about. Tim had a flamboyant villa/mansion on Goring seafront and I think I remember seeing a white Countach there. There were rumours of wild parties etc. I also remember that he had a red Porsche 928 with the number plate TOO 510W which I thought was awesome! I still see him about but he drives an E39 BMW 5 series if he is not in one of those Mariners.