Race Car Transporters of the Past

[Terry S]

For some strange reason I have always been fascinated by race car transporters.

One of my early recollections is of Bob Jane's F100 mini semi with the Jaguars E type and MK11 on the back.
One race morning (probably 1963) for some reason it was parked outside Brian Foley's premises in Caringbah (southern Sydney). We naturally had to stop and check it out. It looked so professional and big time.

Steve suggested in a post yesterday that a thread on this topic would be good, so I thought would start it with a site I acccidently came across recently which has the most awesome incredible series of photos.

try http://www.hardtuned.com/feature/htshorts/img/ractrans.html

If this doesn't work the long way is:
hardtuned.com
go down to hardtuned features
click on "hardtuned photo series and commentary"
click on "archive of the Race Transporter of the day"

There are I think four Australian photos:
- Frank Matich's team, I think may be at top of Mt Panorama
- Anlgia and Mustang on back of semi. I think this is Tasmanian Don Elliot's team. Don't know location
- John Rhodins Sprite and Super 7 I think in the park opposite his premises on Parramatta Rd
- The BRM team leaving WArwick Farm

Amongst my favorites are:
- "Austin 750 race trailer"
- "Pete LOvely's Lotus 49"
- "Rapid transport in 1928"
- Citroen haulers near the end

Also note the Maserati car Carrier circa 1963.
Compare this with Scarab transporter and recently auctioned ex Cobra transporter which were supposed to be ex Maserati. You will see that in the later two the cars are not over the drivers cabin.

As I said earlier some absolutely fascinating examples of the past.

[Ellis]

As mentioned by Terry

Don Elliots from Tas...Don Elliot Transport...
The Mustang and Truck have been restored by current owner and trailer being replicated
Its at Symmons Plains in Tas







The Anglia and a later Cortina have been replicated

[Steve Holmes]

Awesome thread Terry. This is going to be great! And its not just transporters that are cool to see, any tow wagon from the period, be it a car or truck etc of interest. Great thing about old race car haulers was that the race car was almost always on display, unlike todays modern transporters.

Here is a more basic tow rig, HR Holden wagon hauling Rod Coppins' '67 Camaro, as part of Team Cambridge. Photo is by Terry Marshal..

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[Steve Holmes]

From the Peter Mellor Collection, here is Norm Beechey's transporter at Lakeside in 1965, with Norm's Mustang, Jim McKweon's Lotus Cortina, and Peter Manton's Cooper S all on board.

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[Steve Holmes]

As mentioned by Terry

Don Elliots from Tas...Don Elliot Transport...
The Mustang and Truck have been restored by current owner and trailer being replicated
Its at Symmons Plains in Tas





The Anglia and a later Cortina have been replicated

I love that truck!

[Matty Dog]

Stuart Lewis-Evans and Tony Harris lowering their Cooper 500 Formula 3 racing car from the roof of a Land Rover at the Crystal Palace race circuit in September 1953.
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[Terry S]

For some strange reason I have always been fascinated by race car transporters.

One of my early recollections is of Bob Jane's F100 mini semi with the Jaguars E type and MK11 on the back.
One race morning (probably 1963) for some reason it was parked outside Brian Foley's premises in Caringbah (southern Sydney). We naturally had to stop and check it out. It looked so professional and big time.

Steve suggested in a post yesterday that a thread on this topic would be good, so I thought would start it with a site I acccidently came across recently which has the most awesome incredible series of photos.

try http://www.hardtuned.com/feature/htshorts/img/ractrans.html

If this doesn't work the long way is:
hardtuned.com
go down to hardtuned features
click on "hardtuned photo series and commentary"
click on "archive of the Race Transporter of the day"

There are I think four Australian photos:
- Frank Matich's team, I think may be at top of Mt Panorama
- Anlgia and Mustang on back of semi. I think this is Tasmanian Don Elliot's team. Don't know location
- John Rhodins Sprite and Super 7 I think in the park opposite his premises on Parramatta Rd
- The BRM team leaving WArwick Farm

Amongst my favorites are:
- "Austin 750 race trailer"
- "Pete LOvely's Lotus 49"
- "Rapid transport in 1928"
- Citroen haulers near the end

Also note the Maserati car Carrier circa 1963.
Compare this with Scarab transporter and recently auctioned ex Cobra transporter which were supposed to be ex Maserati. You will see that in the later two the cars are not over the drivers cabin.

As I said earlier some absolutely fascinating examples of the past.

I have now corrected the other site address above so that it will open correctly

[Oldfart]

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This one? One of the early rated "One Ton Utes"
And yes the registered payload (if you are old enough for school stuff) was 2440 lbs, with a vehicle weight 2440 lbs, total 4880 on my reg papers! (1618cc)

[paul lancaster]

Ha that's classic man!

[Ellis]

The old primitive A frame towbar served many people well in frugal times...



and

Nothing like towing it with something thats suitable for spares in the event of problems



and

I would take any of these....dirt and all

[Shano]

That HR Holden must have struggled to keep that trailer/Camaro rig under control.

[Steve Holmes]

Loving this thread guys!

[Steve Holmes]

Stuart Lewis-Evans and Tony Harris lowering their Cooper 500 Formula 3 racing car from the roof of a Land Rover at the Crystal Palace race circuit in September 1953.
[ATTACH]21757[/ATTACH]

This just scares the crap out of me!

[Steve Holmes]

The old primitive A frame towbar served many people well in frugal times...


Nothing like towing it with something thats suitable for spares in the event of problems

This is classic. Once a common site, its great to see images like this.

[Ellis]

The Moffat Transam didnt always ride in or on something befitting its status...but I dont think they are looking at the trailer.....Symmons Plains Tas

[Ellis]

Fords at Bathurst 1970.......

[fullnoise68]

That HR Holden must have struggled to keep that trailer/Camaro rig under control.

They also had an HR ute which on one of the trips to Levin tore the centre out of the clutch towing the Camaro south of Tokoroa and the Camaro was driven to Taupo. Try doing that these days. Rod used to have a mint red/white 56 Chev as a tow car for his earlier cars and if I recall correctly he had a J2 Bedford for towing the Firebird which may be in one of the photos in his thread.

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[Ellis]

Longford Tas cc 1960 Pits.....

The well heeled entrants/teams seemed to have a preference for Rice covered in trailers......

[Shoreboy57]

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Always a favourite at Goodwood. Looks like an early Tyrrell transporter in background

[Shoreboy57]

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And something very special from 3 pointed star