Topic: Barrett's #332 - Solved! - Firecrest, Doug Glover's Irish Mini-based sports car c.1968

[barrett]

I have no idea what this is - just the mechanical base, the approximate year and the country it was (probably) built in. If you can tell me that much, you'll get a point (Easy!) - If you can provide some concrete information about who built it then you can have another point!

[barrett]

Moving up...

[Oswald]

This is a Mini derivative, built in the early 1960s in Dublin, Ireland.

[barrett]

Yes, that's all I know about it so you get the point! Another point still on offer for anyone who can tell me who built it and if it had a name...
I'll move this up to the Pros for a while to see if anyone can help

[shamrock]

its the Firecrest  , going out now will complete the post in 30 mins plus

[shamrock]

The Firecrest was a project iniated by Doug Glover , production manager of Lincoln & Nolan  ( Austin agents for Ireland ) ,the idea being to produce a sportacar  for the Irish market  as all cars sold in Ireland had to  be assembeled  in the state .A prototype and 3 cars were built , body bucks ere built by the maintenance staff and sent out for moulding . 2 cars were as in the photo , famously PJ Wilhare cars his car at Knockalla hillclimb in 1970 and in a scene resembling an air crash ended up sitting on the remains of the floorpan with the debris scattered far and wide . The project stalled when Doug left the company .I would be keen to knoe the source of the photos posted as I have never seen them before

[Oswald]

Thank you for this information, Shamrock. Was the one car differing from the others simply called DGS by any chance?

[shamrock]

the prototype may have been called a DGS , Doug Glover Special or Sports , it was used in competition

[barrett]

Incredible! I thought this one would never be solved. Once again, proving what a hub of automotive knowledge Autopuzzles is. Do you have any other photos of the cars Shamrock?

The first image I posted is from a 1968 copy of Autocar magazine (I forget which issue) but it has no other information about the car, the other is from Classic & Sports Car Some time in the last 15 years (!) but again no other information provided.

[Carnut]

I love the way they casually show a picture of that car simply to describe the joys of motoring in the Irish countryside, as though you'd see a Firecrest around nearly every corner!

[shamrock]

The third fglass car was a GT I saw it but have never seen a photo of it .

[shamrock]

The Firecrest dates from 1963

[barrett]

The hardtop coupe Firecrest GT. Looks better than the open car - I'd love to see a side or rear view...

[shamrock]

so would I, I do remember seeing parked in Ranelagh ( Dublin ) where I lived , will keep looking for photos