Project: Moral Imperative

The unexpected project car. I purchased an abandoned project from the shop. Not because it is a car I really want to own, but because it is a really cool thing that I feel needs to be saved and unless I did, it would be parted out.

The car you ask?

A 1958 Fairthorpe Electron Minor

These were either sold assembled or as a kit.  The Electron Minor was powered by the little Triumph Standard Ten motor of about 1 liter. 

This car came in in quite rough shape. The worst issue was that the 18ga sheet metal chassis was damaged and heavily rusted out meaning the door gaps changed an alarming amount depending on whether or not a person was in it. I feared it would collapse with two occupants. The car was torn completely apart for a full build and I reproduced the chassis before the project was called off.

So what exactly have I bought, you ask?  An absolute mess! and some crates of parts

But this is something I thought was way too cool to let disappear. 

and since I already did the hard work

This will primarily be a paint and powdercoat and assemble with new bushings and bearings type of project. That is unless I find a good Samurai transmission in time. Anyone have one in the PNW ? I bet that would improve this thing a lot. The Standard 10 unit doesn't have a lot going for it.

The car as it arrived semi-complete

In person they give very strong "Bugeye sprite" vibes. They are wide for their length. the track width is almost the same as the wheelbase. almost a foot wider than the sprite.

Fiberglass bodies over a folded 18ga chassis. Triumph Standard front and rear suspension. 

I found a pic showing they had bumpers at one point

Which I quite like the look of. 

Also this old press photo shows some grill bars that I think look sharp 

So I might see what I can do to replicate those features.

For now, make it a rolling chassis

Sweet

Cool little car! Never heard of it, carry on!

I remember a reputation for "twitchy" handling. Gee imagine with those proportions!  Vice Marshall Bennett had some strange ideas, this is the most conventional of Fairthorpes. There was an enginless, noseless Electron parked in a field near where I grew up in 1970. It already looked pretty poor then. Haven't seen one since!  I have vague recollections of seeing one race at Vineland N.J. around 1961. I think it was a Climax powered one, not a "Minor". Until your post I had no idea they were a folded sheet structure, I had assumed round tubes like a Turner. 

First time I see one of these.

The grill bars really change the look for the better!

Interesting. How close to stock - or to <ahem> Standard, if you prefer - are you planning on leaving it?

Pretty much stock. 

The  1098cc motor was replaced with a 1296cc "small journal" Spitfire lump at some point which is a nice upgrade.

When i built the chassis,  i did make one concession.  The original layout used a 4 link with triangulated lower arms. It pretty much bound up solid within 2° of roll. I converted it to a normal 4 link with panhard.  I was concerned that it would oversteer pretty wildly as it was. However,  that might have been really fun and part of their appeal. The ultimate donut machine.

Like I said, if I can find a reasonably priced Suzuki Samurai transmission,  I would love to swap that in, otherwise it will be the original 4spd. 

The Samurai box is an unexpected choice. What's the appeal of that particular unit?

Somebody like Nic might have a spare Toyota T50 kicking around, on the off chance that's viable.

Tiny and lightweight.  

I don't need strength for a 60hp, 1300lb car. I do however need it to be very short because of the small wheelbase. 

If you find the Samurai gearbox, have you thought about a Suzuki Swift engine in front of it?

And I am sorry, but it was hard to focus on the tiny  Electron with all the other   exotic cars photo-bombing the poor thing!

Never heard of Fairthorpe! Wikipedia says 20-30 standard Electrons made. Now that is rare! About 700 of the minors supposedly. 

NOHOME said:

If you find the Samurai gearbox, have you thought about a Suzuki Swift engine in front of it?

That is exactly the train of thought that lead me to it. Bench racing the "ideal" swap for the thing. "A G13B on side drafts with a Sammy 5 speed!" light and simple.

So if I did the transmission swap, upgrading the motor later would be pretty simple