In honour of St David

[DarrenW]

Seeing as it's St Davids day today (the patron Saint of Wales for our overseas posters ;D ), I thought I'd post some pics of Gilberns... Am I right in thinking they were the only Welsh car manufacturer?







I really, really like Invaders:


More stylish and interesting than a Scimitar I think!

[richy]

well...... Kieft racing cars were made in Swansea in the '50s, and there's a supercar under development in South Wales at the moment.

[HoTWire]

My Dad said another that was built in Wales for a while,.. Darian possibly,.. or was it Davrian?

[DarrenW]

richy said:

well...... Kieft racing cars were made in Swansea in the '50s, and there's a supercar under development in South Wales at the moment.

Ah, forgot about Kieft!

[HoTWire]

I'd also LOVE an Invader,.. they are the business!

[DarrenW]

HoTWire said:

My Dad said another that was built in Wales for a while,.. Darian possibly,.. or was it Davrian?

Davrian, which became Darrian later.

www.team.net/www/ktud/davrian.html

Moved from London to Lampeter...

[HoTWire]

My geeky car knowledge is unstoppable!

[HoTWire]

Also the people that make the Stylus kit car are based in Wales

[DarrenW]

OK OK STOP MAKING ME LOOK STUPID ;D ;D ;D ;D

Anyway. As this is a Welsh thread, here's a Leek:



ah hah hah hah hah ;D

[penski]

How about the Xylon?

It was entirely made of plywood panels and spruce longerons, glued together to give an amazingly light and rigid unit; even the seats formed a stressed member.

6 of the Xylon (or Zylon) Frank Costin designed cars were built between 1959 and 1961. Costin was perhaps better known for designing the Vanwalls and numerous Lotus sports racing cars.

His wonderful wooden projectile was originally known as the Xylon (Greek for wood); not pretty, but extremely effective around circuits. The Xylon was built purely as a racing car to compete in 750 Motor Club events and in the hands of Jackie Stewart, Jem Marsh and many others, it achieved outstanding success. Marsh still races the ex-Stewart car today in FIA and HSCC races and is always a contender for, at least, class victories.

The car was powered by a Ford 105E engine and it's high roof was dictated by Jem Marsh's considerable height (something which makes all Marcos cars a good choice for taller drivers, to this day). The original car was built in Dolgellau, Wales, by Frank Costin and Dennis and Peter Adams, but it was later built in a small production run in Luton.






*n

PS: 'ey, guys...long time

[DarrenW]

Cool!

And this was built in Rhyl:









and is in the motor museum in Llangollen, which is highly recommended if you're out that way. A good way to spend a couple of hours

[HoTWire]

penski said:

PS: 'ey, guys...long time

Hey! ,.. good to know your still alive

[penski]

Long story....lots of things been happening in the last couple of months - not least, working far too much...

*n

[Higgim]

DarrenW said:

Cool!

And this was built in Rhyl:




and is in the motor museum in Llangollen, which is highly recommended if you're out that way. A good way to spend a couple of hours

Fantastic!

"What you got in the shed back there Doug?"

"Oh just a little project I've been workin' on."

Surely the product of the blighted British benefits system. Too much spare time, too much spare cash!

However, the Welsh should be set free again, on the promise that they bring the Gilbern Invader back into production. Its a great looking car, Was it styled by an Italian? Or somebody from Aberaeron?

PS - I went to uni in Lampeter and saw lots of Darians in local events. They are great cars. Especially with a Nissan Touring car engine in the rear.