Author Topic: Solved: Allemano's № 645 - 1939 Orlebar-Schneider Le Mans Special (Read 1410 times)

Carnut · « **Reply #25 on:** August 02, 2014, 08:16:05 AM »

Quote from: mekubb on August 01, 2014, 03:52:48 PM

Found it on another forum : 1939 Orlebar Schneider Le Mans Special, based on Amilcar with AC engine. Built by RAF pilot Nigel Orlebar

You've got the right car and builder but it's neither Amilcar-based nor does it have an AC engine. You're obviously confusing it with something else!

Locked for you to take another look.

mekubb · « **Reply #26 on:** August 02, 2014, 10:54:35 AM »

I mixed it up with the first car Orlebar built. This one has an Elva engine and is based on a Ford

Carnut · « **Reply #27 on:** August 02, 2014, 02:02:48 PM »

Quote from: mekubb on August 02, 2014, 10:54:35 AM

I mixed it up with the first car Orlebar built. This one has an Elva engine and is based on a Ford

Yes, it was originally based on a Ford.
There were two Orlebar Specials (the first one actually being called the Rabelro for obvious reasons if you look at his name; it has been puzzled here on AP.)
But what's an Elva engine? Did they make engines?!

mekubb · « **Reply #28 on:** August 02, 2014, 03:06:43 PM »

I don't know about the Elva part, just adding some extra info and repeating what the caption said at Gooding where the car was auctioned. I answered your what, by whom, based on what and from when, so we call it solved ?

mekubb · « **Reply #29 on:** August 02, 2014, 03:21:43 PM »

Looking into it further, this is what I found about the Elva part :

'its currrent engine, a 100E Elva-Ford from the Cox Autosport championship (1961) Lotus XI'

D-type · « **Reply #30 on:** August 02, 2014, 03:30:58 PM »

Elva made an overhead valve conversion for the side valve Ford 100E engine. Hence an Elva-Ford engine

Carnut · « **Reply #31 on:** August 02, 2014, 03:33:25 PM »

Yes, thanks.
I knew it had come out of an Elva which had been modified a bit with twin SU carbs producing 88 bhp at 5800 rpm, but I had it just as an 1172 cc Ford engine.

So it's time to call this one solved and promotemekubb to Professionl!
Very well done and welcome to the barren wastelands!

Just to add a bit more info about this car, the Le Mans part of its name refers to the fact that Orlebar built it with the intent to enter it at Le Mans, but WW2 interrupted things so he never did. He sold it just after the war, never having had the chance to race it at all. It was never registered until 1951 when it was sold to R.W Evans, who was the first to ever race it. It was sold to a buyer in the USA in 1978 who totally restored it. It was auctioned at Goodings fairly recently.

The Schneider part of the name refers to the Schneider Trophy, a 1930s race for seaplanes, which is what the original ancestor of the Spitfire was built for by Supermarine. Orlebar's cousin, a squadron leader, took part in the 1933 race and his team took the victory. Orlebar named his special in recognition of that win.