Alfa-powered Brit cars: Minutiae

[Keith Walker <100662.3423@domain.elided>]

>>What was the other proposed mid-engined Alfa-powered British specialist
car in the mid-eighties? Hint: think of the Imp...<<

This was the Clan Clover, made in Newtownards, Northern Ireland (not part
of Britain, but part of the UK).

The original Clan was built in the 1970's using a rear mountedHillman Imp
engine. This went back into production in the early 80's in NI, with a few
changes (such as pop up headlights). Just before they went bust they
built the Clan Clover which used the basic body shape (but widened and
modified) and a rear mounted Alfa Sud / 33 engine. It also used a Ford
Fiesta dashboard. It got very good reviews in the UK press.

Unfortunatly build quality was pretty dire. Suspension arms were made up
without using jigs, and the wheelbase could vary by quite a large amount
from one side of the car to the other. About 20 were built, with some of
those being sold after they went bust (some were bought by one of the
NI Alfa dealers I think).

As an aside, when they went bust there stock was auctioned off. One of
these
items was a shrink wrapped new engine which was bought by an NI Alfa
dealer. When they got it back they stripped off the shrink wrap to see what
they had bought and found a 16V boxer engine. This was about 1987, 3 years
before the 33 went into production with the 16V engine and quite a while
before
Alfa showed the engine off at a car show. The engine landed up in one of
their
mechanics 33's.

All the best

Keith (who used to go past the factory on the way to school every day.)

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