NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14561 Posted February 5, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) Not a kids car - though it is quite low! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 5, 2021 Posted February 5, 2021 Hi NigelG, Take a look here Name this car..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14562 Posted February 5, 2021 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=4133862'>More sharing options...
John Z. Goriup Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14563 Posted February 5, 2021 Kellison ? JZG 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14564 Posted February 5, 2021 5 minutes ago, John Z. Goriup said: Kellison ? JZG No but I can see exactly why that came up...very similar from this particular angle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14565 Posted February 5, 2021 To be clear - this is not a series-produced car but it’s a very interesting one with an intriguing backstory. I will post a few more views as we go and then the full info. As a bit of technical detail it has a Coventry Climax 1220cc engine and a Lotus X1 differential. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14566 Posted February 5, 2021 7 hours ago, John Z. Goriup said: Kellison ? Well, not only have I've not seen the 'question' car I'd never even heard of the Kellison marque previously so thank-you, John, for having mentioned their name! I've just had a short but very enjoyable look through some images of these cars. Fascinating stuff! As to the car in question; is it simply(!) a rebodied Lotus of some type hence the 'series' clues? A Series XI as mentioned by Nigel just above? I'm very much looking forward to seeing a few more 'teaser' photographs; it seem like it will be a very shapely thing! Philip. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14567 Posted February 5, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) WB Special designed in 1956, licensed in ´63 after 7 years of build. Designers are Bob White and John Best. Tubular steel space-frame with alloy body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14568 Posted February 5, 2021 Nigel will tell the interesting background story of the WB 120 (mph) Special 😉 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14569 Posted February 5, 2021 Rona!d gets the gold star! I will post the pictures and details in a short while 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14570 Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Well - I was quite sure no-one would guess this very interesting "special" so hat's off to Rona!d. The car is called the WB120 Special from 1963. It was designed and built by Dr John Best and Bob White who had become friends after working on the team from EMI creating the worlds first high-definition TV transmission system for the BBC at Alexandra Palace. Dr Best was a mathematician (upper atmosphere physics) and Mr White was an engineer and No.1 Cameraman and they subsequently worked on wartime radar development. They were both car enthusiasts and built a Lotus X1 kit in 1956 and Dr Best then designed this car (using EMI's valve computers for calculations). Mr White then built the car over 6 years in his single garage - apparently learning panel-beating etc himself! It has a tubular steel space frame and alloy body. Edited February 5, 2021 by NigelG 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Well - I was quite sure no-one would guess this very interesting "special" so hat's off to Rona!d. The car is called the WB120 Special from 1963. It was designed and built by Dr John Best and Bob White who had become friends after working on the team from EMI creating the worlds first high-definition TV transmission system for the BBC at Alexandra Palace. Dr Best was a mathematician (upper atmosphere physics) and Mr White was an engineer and No.1 Cameraman and they subsequently worked on wartime radar development. They were both car enthusiasts and built a Lotus X1 kit in 1956 and Dr Best then designed this car (using EMI's valve computers for calculations). Mr White then built the car over 6 years in his single garage - apparently learning panel-beating etc himself! It has a tubular steel space frame and alloy body. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=4134301'>More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14571 Posted February 5, 2021 Further details quoted from the owner's info: Narrower front track - induces mild understeer and promotes airflow under the car Inboard discs all round - low unsprung weight Engine located well back - equal corner weights Running Gear - FWE 1220cc Coventry Climax engine, F1 Girling disc brakes, Lotus X1 differential, BMC A-series gearbox, everything else custom-made 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14572 Posted February 5, 2021 Thanks Nigel. After I have found the car, I stumbled on a Farcebook story to be additionally told (not my preferred source, never used, no member, but worth to mention I think). Quote "Classic and Recreation Sportscars" on Facebook: == Dr John Best in the mid 1950’s purchased a Lotus Eleven and Elite and was rather critical of their handling and contacted Colin Chapman with his ideas to make improvements in aerodynamics. This was not received too favourably by Chapman and so Best and his engineer friend Bob White, set about to prove otherwise with their own design. In 1957, Best came up with detailed plans and White started construction of the wooden buck around which the aluminium skin would be formed and Best turned his attention to the design of the WB 120’s rigid tubular chassis and suspension layout. All of the work was carried out in a small basic workshop with all parts produced from Bests drawings. The results were quite stunning and unique with the only Elite-related components featured on the car were the Coventry Climax FWE SOHC 1216cc (105hp) engine and Ford type 9 manual transmission. The car was completed in 1963 and road tested on the newly opened M1 motorway and records good aerodynamic performance and stability at 120+mph. The car would pass through the hands of various owners during the course of the following years, with parts scavenged and engine swaps undertaken for Ford or Fiat twin cam and MG Midget. Current owner Roy Campbell purchased the car and during a long period of work (12years) in 2016 completed restoration and re-installed an original Climax FWE engine. In 2017 to prove Bests theories on aerodynamics, arranged for wind-tunnel test at MIRA, which proved that the WB 120 had a lower CdA than the Elite. == 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14573 Posted February 5, 2021 The car’s owner is the brother of fellow Bristol-er Peter Campbell who I know as a stalwart of the Owners Club and the car was displayed adjacent to our Bristols at an event. It is a very interesting and striking piece of work and far beyond the usual rather home-grown variety of “specials”, more akin to a coachbuilt racer. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14574 Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, NigelG said: ...I was quite sure no-one would guess this very interesting "special" so hat's off to Rona!d.... Do you mean to imply that my "is it simply...a rebodied Lotus of some type"...wasn't quite as close nor quite as specific as Rona!d's fairly vague; "WB Special designed in 1956, licensed in ´63 after 7 years of build. Designers are Bob White and John Best. Tubular steel space-frame with alloy body."...... Yep. OK. Fair point. VERY striking car, Nigel! I honestly think it to be truly beautiful but not in a 'pretty face' sort of way if you know what I mean? Thanks very much for posting it here. I'm not sure whether the owner has only a few select events at which he chooses to show the car but I'd really love to see it in the flesh somewhere one day. Thanks again! Philip. Edited February 5, 2021 by pippy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelG Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14575 Posted February 5, 2021 It's actually one of those cars that looks better "in the metal" as it can look a little ungainly from some angles - perhaps akin to a Piper P2 in that respect? Unfortunately I don't tend to take "straight" car shots (usually focussing on details or the curves) to show it more in the round but the overall effect is quite special. Re your answer I thought it would have been a bit of an injustice to the designer/builders to accept it as a "rebodied Lotus" since the entire chassis etc (as well as the bodywork) was custom designed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14576 Posted February 5, 2021 This is not just a rebodied Lotus. It´s unique. The only Elite-related components were the CC FWE SOHC 1216 cc engine and the Ford type 9 manual transmission according to the sources I found about the car. I saw it shot from some typical sportscar angles and indeed it looks a bit "strange" but somehow very interesting, like a hungry lynx ready for a "meal hunt". I would love to have it for some hours of car photography which I had to stop since kids came and now Covid makes travelling to nice spots nearly impossible. I would take this car to Scotland, maybe to some scenic Outer Hebride roads I used to shoot my modern BMW roadster back in the early 2000s. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14577 Posted February 5, 2021 vor einer Stunde schrieb pippy: Do you mean to imply that my "is it simply...a rebodied Lotus of some type"...wasn't quite as close nor quite as specific as Rona!d's fairly vague; "WB Special designed in 1956, licensed in ´63 after 7 years of build. Designers are Bob White and John Best. Tubular steel space-frame with alloy body."...... Philip, by comparing our postings, I must admit we were both equally vague about this car, so if you post the next riddle car before I can tomorrow, it´s your turn! postscriptum: Calling this piece of engineering art a rebodied Lotus is blatant blasphemy and technically wrong 😉 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14578 Posted February 5, 2021 23 minutes ago, Rona!d said: Philip, by comparing our postings, I must admit we were both equally vague about this car, so if you post the next riddle car before I can tomorrow, it´s your turn! postscriptum: Calling this piece of engineering art a rebodied Lotus is blatant blasphemy and technically wrong 😉 Please, Chaps! I hope my comments were taken as being the tongue-in-cheek sillyness as originally intended? In the remarks above re: my own laughable 'guess' I was (hopefully) highlighting my own stab-in-the-dark absolute and utter cluelessness as opposed to Rona!d's perfect understanding of the car in question! It is, truly, a uniquely beautiful (in my eyes) vehicle and I'm very pleased to have been made aware of its existence. There is absolutely no doubt that the car is not just a 'rebodied Lotus' nor that Rona!d knew the answer and I most certainly didn't! Apologies if any of my comments have caused even the slightest offence; such was not - nor ever will be - my intention here. Philip. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted February 5, 2021 Share #14579 Posted February 5, 2021 Philip, no apologizes necessary! I got your comments right. If you have a car, please proceed. I‘d need tomorrow to plug in an older harddrive with car snaps. @ Nigel: Thanks for this really interesting car, send greetings and congratulations to the owner! If the car would be closer to me I‘d try to arrange a shooting and find perfect shooting angles. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 6, 2021 Share #14580 Posted February 6, 2021 21 hours ago, Rona!d said: Philip, no apologizes necessary! I got your comments right. If you have a car, please proceed. I‘d need tomorrow to plug in an older harddrive with car snaps... OK, well until such time as we can all get a few more nice snaps here is the start of a few pretty-poor ones! Not sure about the level of difficulty here but Let Slip the Dogs of War as it were... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Philip. 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Philip. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=4135211'>More sharing options...
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