The Morrari recreation

[Roger Dowding]

Other Z car (Datsun) for rear diff? I thought the car was on wires when it ran early on?

Yes Rhys it was Borrani's, have seen a few photos on them when first built ..

[robmahoney]

Hi Rob,
Your post brings back memories of the stories I heard from Dad from the times he would go to various motor racing events with Mike - much history there.
I will pass your message on to Dad.
Thanks,
Greg

Thanks for that, Greg, if only we had had access to HD cameras back then!

[BMCBOY]

I was reading a 1993 magazine the other day which had an article about English car restorer Tony Merrick and I noticed this photo that applies to this thread. The caption read..... " major restoration project was the 555 Supersqualo which was once fitted with a V8 Chevrolet and clothed in a Morris Minor body"

The original chassis frame was probably similar to this drawing that also turned up on the net.

[ERC]

Tony Merrick also (re)created the only 'missing' ERA, now known as AJM1. Some very clever people around.

[Ross]

[Kwaussie]

Ferrari typo 553 were tough old cars. This photo from 1954 is after a practice crash at Bern in 1954, chassis could be #2 or #3.
Rebuilt as 555's and shipped to Melbourne for the 1956 Australian Grand Prix then on to New Zealand for the 1957 series.
The guy on the right is exclaiming "jes in ten years time this chassis may have a even older morris body mounted to replace this one!"

[Greg Stokes]

I was reading a 1993 magazine the other day which had an article about English car restorer Tony Merrick and I noticed this photo that applies to this thread. The caption read..... " major restoration project was the 555 Supersqualo which was once fitted with a V8 Chevrolet and clothed in a Morris Minor body"

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The original chassis frame was probably similar to this drawing that also turned up on the net.

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Excellent pictures. We are still looking for detail pit side shots of the interior to this car etc. The big news however is that we are finally starting construction very soon

[Allan]

Do you think he would be willing to part with it for the recreation?

[45DCOE]

Found this on Old NZ Motor Racing. Looks like the shot was taken later in the season when the exhausts were pointed through the bonnet

[Greg Stokes]

Do you think he would be willing to part with it for the recreation?

I’m not sure what you mean?

[Greg Stokes]

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Found this on Old NZ Motor Racing. Looks like the shot was taken later in the season when the exhausts were pointed through the bonnet

That’s an excellent and useful photo many thanks!

[Roger Dowding]

Greg, have put this on Facebook - better here though, and think I have an action shot.
second photo is from Robin Tanner I think the reverse direction meeting in April 1966
and the third is the "action " shot ".
It is not useful as a reference shot but a bit of history - again at Pukekohe in 1966.

[Paul B]

Was that Robins coupe in the second photo Roger

[Milan Fistonic]

Was that Robins coupe in the second photo Roger

Number 56 was John Riley.

[Allan]

I’m not sure what you mean?

Tongue in cheek comment referring to the possible use of the restored 555 to recreate the Morrari.

[Greg Stokes]

Greg, have put this on Facebook - better here though, and think I have an action shot.
second photo is from Robin Tanner I think the reverse direction meeting in April 1966
and the third is the "action " shot ".
It is not useful as a reference shot but a bit of history - again at Pukekohe in 1966.

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Excellent photos many thanks!

[Greg Stokes]

Tongue in cheek comment referring to the possible use of the restored 555 to recreate the Morrari.

Ah I see - yes a lazy few million would get us the Ferrari donor car to do this all again haha!!!

Plan is to recreate the Ferrari style chassis as close as we can using similar era components etc

[Kwaussie]

They were great looking cars in their day!

[Bruce302]

Was that Robins coupe in the second photo Roger

Yes, that is Robin's "Edelbrock Special" coupe. The number 161 is a reference to the motorcycle club he was in.

Not sure why he wasn't in the program.

B.

[Milan Fistonic]

Yes, that is Robin's "Edelbrock Special" coupe. The number 161 is a reference to the motorcycle club he was in.

Not sure why he wasn't in the program.

B.

My confusion about which photo was being asked about.

The entry list I posted above was from the May 14, 1966 meeting and refers to the first photo.

This entry list is from the April 23, 1966 meeting, which was the one run in the reverse direction, and refers to the second photo.