Nick Webster Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I have just been going through a few old photos and having a wander down memory lane. I turned up this one of AP's Swallow Doretti which I photographed in the paddock at Goodwood in 1976. It may be of general interest. Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hi Nick, Happy memories indeed. One of the very few cars that I've ever owned that I regret having sold, although to be fair it was my first wife's car whilst I had the TR6. I'd still rather have that Doretti than a TR5, any day of the week. The fastest car for cross-country journeys that I've ever driven - the proverbial rep in his Cortina got out of the way to let you past and see what it was, whereas he recognised the TR6 and tried to keep ahead and thereby held you up. Heading back home after a race meeting, only the Porsche Carrera amongst our assorted team road cars could challenge the Doretti for who got to the pub first, and then only if there was a long motorway stretch - without overdrive, the Doretti ran out of revs around 110, the Porker was good for an awful lot more ! Note the Dunlop RS5 crossplies, those of you who can only think in terms of lower and wider radials . . . UHU could drift it's way round Goodwood, even in those days of dilapidated 1950s tarmac (a far cry from today's track surface), in under 2 minutes for a standing lap. Dave Wilson and Stuart Jenkins both came close to 1'50" in UHU - and on RS5s, drums all round and a Lockheed axle - mind you, it was a damn good SAH engine, and it ate the odd halfshaft, now and again . . . Sadly, we never did run it in a TR sprint. Then it went, along with the 6, to help fund that damn TR8 Le Mans effort ! Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I wonder where it is now - it sounds as if Alec needs to be reunited with this car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hi Brian, In Guernsey I believe, but after it left my ownership it was 'restored' and lost some of its go-faster bits in favour of originality, which dims the attraction, and I didn't much like the new body or trim colour . . . Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RandallD Posted August 6, 2008 Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 A pretty rare event, there is one for sale now in the U.S. - almost sad to see it on ebay, it deserves better than that! 1954 Doretti Regards, Randy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Have to say, I've always liked Dorettis. Unusual rear bumper and 1/4 bumper on the US Ebay car though Regards Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Hi Peter, The rear bumper is standard Doretti issue - compare it with the front on my old car . . . The rear trim tabs came as standard too, and they were functional more than decorative - Frank Rainbow had an aeronautical background, and knew a thing or two about aerodynamics. One virtue of the Doretti, as long as you were doing more than 30 hood down, you didn't get wet - unless you were over 6' tall ! Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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