scmick
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,507
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Got to love a club showing the range of their cars  |
| |
|
|
scmick
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,507
|
|
|
|
|
The silver grey car is my brother Kev's. It is believed to be the latest model Bagheera in the UK before it was replaced by the Murena. The rolling shell is a very early Bagheera from '74 and is due to receive the panels and mechanicals from a rough similar car. Brian's drag racer is yet to be used in anger but he's talking about joining our SIMCA-MATRA-Talbot effort at the Santa Pod Retro Show in July,
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Always thought the Baghera was a smart looking car. I am correct in thinking they were mid-engined, using an engine from an Alpine aren't I?
|
| |
|
|
scmick
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,507
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, they are mid engine using the Alpine 1294 or 1442 engines with the 4 speed box. Most Bagheeras had twin Weber DCNF carbs. They also have torsion bar suspension all round, the front chassis legs and the whole lot being lifted straight from the SIMCA 1100 (which was carried over to the Alpines & Horizons). They do have a problem though.... The steel structure that the fibreglass panels are bonded & riveted to is the usual thin French sheet steel and wasn't really painted with anything so RUSTS...!!! Hence some spectacular looking Bagheeras come up really cheap on ebay etc. The windscreen was an early effort at bonding in and the surround and bulkhead can rust uncontrollably.
They do go and handle well though and the SIMCA/Talbot parts used means maintenance (other than engine access) is relatively easy. The rust is repairable but they tend to go everywhere.... There's also loads of fibreglass panels around from Bagheeras that have 'died' from rust.
The three seats abreast are a novel feature but the driver has to be on pretty good terms with the middle passenger.
Mick
|
| |
|
|
