new project, rickman space ranger

[dawsondj01]

hi all, ive got a couple of cars but they don't really fit into the retro term. so thought this one might be of some interest to you. i don't know anything about these things so if anyone has any info it will be greatly appreciated.
it was built in 1989 from rickman cars, as a kit car it came as a rolling car with no running gear and back in 89 it cost £4650. ive got the original sale reciept, along with masses of reciepts.
it then got fitted with a 2.0ltr pinto from a mk2 escort. now on paperwork it has down that the mk2 was a mexico? not sure how true this is so I'm going to look into the engine number.
the body is completly fibreglass so no rust issues. and the chassis is galvanised. so again no rust. it has been stood on a blokes drive since 1994 when he stopped using it, when i turned up to look at it the terms were that the car was free as long as i could move it within a week, so i turned up next day, freed the brakes off and towed it away.
please leave comments,
before i started to clean it up.

after

engine

[bortaf]

Good looking motor and pretty rare keep us supplyed with pics please

[gasretro]

That thing tidied, decked with a limited slip would be some fun bus, cant wait to see this progress

[DWDarkWheels]

I saw a Space Ranger on the road last weekend, for the first time in Yeeears.

I have mates who had the ordinary Rangers, so know them fairly well. They were the best sorted kitcar in the '80s. So they aren't particularly cool, but what a super, under-rated old bus. Galvanised chassis and GRP bodywork : what's to go wrong!

And for free! WIN!

That cleaned up well.
What are the plans? There's a very useable vehicle hiding in there, with a lot of scope for updating.

Some encouragement (well, someone else's idea of an update):

[DWDarkWheels]

..and as you asked for information,

these are pretty simple cars. The kit from Rickman was comprehensive : just add Mk1/2 Escort.
So all the suspension,brakes, steering, engine/gearbox, wiring loom, gauges, column and stalks, other bits and bobs came off the Escort. I'll hazard a guess the prop-shaft is a lengthened Escort item.

Wipers are British Leyland motor/rack/wiper boxes as were most kitcars at that time.
Glass is all flat, supplied by Rickman, but easily made a glass supplier if you give 'em a template.

(And I see it has an aftermarket electronic ignition system)

There really is very little to catch you out with the Rickmans.

They really were engineered to be simple and effective, benefiting from the experience Don and Derek Rickman (2 perfect gentlemen) had in engineering some clever racing motorcycles.

[Anglia68]

Nice Space Ranger.
I can't really add anything that hasn't been said before.
They are basically rwd Escorts cunningly disguised as un-cool plastic Jeeps.

This is my fun sized Ranger.

[Granadaman72]

Excellent stuff, what a save and for zilcho too

[dawsondj01]

cheers guys, havnt been on here much recently. plan is to get her running seeing as she hasnt started in 17years, getting it looking super clean, and hopefully drop it on its , I'm thinking so sideways action in this thing would be rather funny.

[qwerty]

I like the sound of your plans a lot!!

[rickyr]

Looking forward to seeing your project updates

[dawsondj01]

had a complete change of plan with this thing. need the space on the drive so I'm going to have to sell this thing. open to offers. i know i got it for free but ive spent time cleaning and had to get it to mine. cheers guys.

[Kieran]

Love these!

Very keen and PM sent!

[usedabused]

Needs body dropping !!
i110.photobucket.com/albums/n101/jcfreeman0/DSC_0392.jpg [/img];D ;D
Sweet .


Go on somebody shop it I dare ya??

[h100ad]

Ahhhhh thats better.

[hamps]

Are they based on an SJ for looks?

Nice thing though and for free double win

[usedabused]

May 21, 2012 22:20:59 GMT h100ad said:

Ahhhhh thats better.

Mmmmm tasty!!

[dawsondj01]

Had a change of plan big time now. As the clutch has just gone in my golf tonight so need the rickman gone so I've got space to break my golf for parts. Open to offers. Ideally if it can go this weekend.

[dubmonkey]

All those replies and no one has used the Buzz Lightyear reference??

[dawsondj01]

my exact feeling's lol, does look like the pizza truck in toy story.

[rod]

Dragging this thread up!....Whatever did happen to this? (cos Ive just bought one!)