Topic: SOLVED: Djetset 738 - Harper Roscoe TF 1800

[Carnut]

Amazing!
You thought it was easy yet it's a car nobody has ever heard of!

Even Googling "Harper Roscoe MG TF" produces no results at all if looking for an image, though it did bring up one reference when searching the Web, and that must be one nicanary is referring to.  The owner of car no. 3 says:

QUOTE
Hi. These replicas are named Harper Roscoe TF 1800s in the UK. There were only four built here in 1984 for the London Motor Show. At £12000 they were expensive and no further orders were received. I have car number 3, and as a new owner have been searching the web for more info on these cars.
Now understand that the body moulds were taken from a 1956 TF by Victor Antique Auto of New York. Although only four cars were built in the UK it sems there are a lot more "Victor TFs" in the US.
I have heard that there is a register or forum for owners of these cars, anybody know if that's true?
Brian
UNQUOTE

So there you have it; I wasn't so far off with Victor as it does seem to be related..

oko94 - how on earth do you find a car when even Googling with the answer produces not a single result?!

[nicanary]

They seek them here, they seek them there, those Frenchies seek them everywhere...........

(apologies to the late Emma Orczy....)

[oko94]

Carnut : I figured out it was pointless to search for images as all those quality TF replicas look almost exactly the same. I rather went hunting for information about these replicas and someone somewhere mentioned these rare british Roscoes. I thought it was quite the kind of cars Djetset would post so I submitted this answer. As simple as that, no magic trick from me !

[oko94]

Googling Harper Roscoe TF (without quotation marks) does provide some pictures of these cars (lost in a sea of unrelated stuff)

The first one is currently for sale, the other one was spotted in a classic car gathering in Luton Hoo in 2012.

[oko94]

The only thing that puzzles me is how on earth Djetset could think that it was an easy puzzle as even our most seasoned puzzlers had never heard of these cars !

(I'll keep the point anyway, thank you)

[Djetset]

I took the photo of my puzzle example a couple of months ago at the huge Harpenden 'Classics on the Common' gathering.

[Paul Jaray]

3/4
It's for sale as well:

In 1983 the Harper Roscoe Motor Co was founded.  Their aim was to produce an accurate reproduction of the iconic 1950s MGTF.  The funding came via America and the Noble car group.
 
The company produced a total of just four cars over a short period until the funding was withdrawn and the company ceased trading.
 
This car was the second to be produced and is still in its correct silver paint.
The cars shape, dimensions and looks are absolutely correct to the original TF.  It even uses the TF radiator surround, hood frame and windscreen.
The engine, transmission and running gear are all MG.

The car includes new leather seats, brand new tyres, black  mohair hood and side screens.
 
The engine is an 1800cc unit from the MGB so the power is greatly improved.  So is the braking ability as the front brakes are also from the MGB and run discs with brake pads.
 
This car is an absolute dream to drive.  The engine pulls really well and the gearbox and brakes perform effortlessly to give to a most pleasurable drive.
 
This stunning little TF gives you all the looks and curb appeal of the 1950’s TF, with added power and handling characteristics.

This car will be supplied with a MOT

[Paul Jaray]

The same from oko94's post:

The stunningly beautiful car you see is a Harper Roscoe TF1800 . A very faithful recreation of one of the prettiest MG's ever made . the 1953 TF1500.
The car was factory made in 1983 by a company called Arden and Bull Ltd who were BL main dealers .
Two of the directors started harper roscoe cars ltd . a company set up solely to manufacture and market a replica of the mg tf based on the then modern
MGB mechanical components.
The bodies were made in USA and were fitted to harpers own steel ladder chassis  . tilising the MGB font crossmember together with all mgb
engines  suspension steering and drivetrain.
What emerged was a dimensionally perfect copy of the '53 Tf with bullet proof mechanicals and rust free bodywork.
The factory made just 4 cars and went into receivership. It seemed the cars were so well engineered that even at the princely sum of £12500 each
(the same price as a new morgan) they made a loss on every car sold.
Although the cars were made from all new body panels and chassis . some of the mechanical parts were reconditioned or nos. therefore dvla
would not allow them to be registered as new so all 4 vehicle were allocated "Q"plates.
Q224 GBU was the first car made. It served as factory demonstrator . featured on all sales literature and brochures and was reputedly exhibited
at the 1983 Earls Court Motor show.

I acquired the car in 2001 . at that time the previous 6 owners had racked up the amazing total of just 12. 00 miles. the car was however not in very
good order. The paintwork was tired and the mechanical condition was not good through lack of use. The upholstery was faded and worn .
I set about a program of repair . enewal and upgrade which has been on going for 12 years ! including the following;

ENGINE:  Fully reconditioned with unleaded head. eground crank. ew shells. alanced and lightened flywheel.
                 rebored with new pistons . new camshaft. followers. springs and valves.
                 new timing gear. il pump. lternator. istributor. il cooler.

FUEL SYSTEM;  Recon hs4 su's. new solid state electronic pump. ew custom made aluminium fuel tank. ew sender. br>                            Braided fuel lines and filters.

COOLING SYSYTEM; Recored radiator . ew water pump. enlowe fan controller and electric fan. ew hoses and belts.

TRANSMISSION;  Recond gearbox (had it done twice . asnt happy with it first time) all syncro with overdrive on 3rd and 4th. new clutch and slave cylinder.
                              Recon back axle .

SUSPENSION BRAKES ;  Rear suspension conversion with adjustable telescopic dampers . new leaf springs and shackles
                                          new front calipers and rear cylinders . master cylinder overhaul. new copper and flexi pipes all round.

BODYWORK;  Body off restoration. all panels stripped and refinished BL old english white and std black (and about 15 coats clear lacquer)
                        new bumper overriders (tf parts from moss). rechromed screen surround and pillars . ew toughened screen.

 

INTERIOR;  Re trimmed throughout with Muirhead green leather. new carpets . Re worked dashboard with period dials and switches .

                      fitted woodrimmed steering wheel push button starter.

 

GENERAL;  Custom made stainless steel exhaust . Chassis cleaned and finished in black hammerite. 4 new tyres (fitted 2012).

The car has its original chrome wire wheels and spinners which are in excellent order . ull wet weather gear with folding  hood

in a heavy black canvas material piped in green to match the interior and clip in side screens (perfect copies of the TF originals).

The period of works has been ongoing since 2002 during which time the car has done less than 5000 dry miles. The body and interior refurb

was done first and has patinated well .  The works are supported by photos and receipts. Whilst most of the labour was mine . all the specialist

works have been done by local independent tradesmen . ll being done to my very exacting standards.

I set out to make the car beautiful but not just a show piece  so all the greasy bits had to work well . be reliable and easy to maintain

and fun to drive with good performance . roadholding and creature comforts.

I now find with failing eyesight . air and teeth . I am not enjoying crawling around cars like I used to and with the inevitable growing

list of little jobs that will constantly need doing on these old cars I think its time to hang up my overalls and pass the mantle to some one

keen to be the next custodian of my precious little car.

How to value the car? . well if you'd have bought the morgan in 1983 and done 16k miles it would be worth £20k+

A genuine TF in this condition would be worth £25k+ but would be dearer to maintained and a lot less fun to drive. /p>

I suppose the closest comparison would be the Naylor TF1700 with the doors that open the wrong way and that AWFUL O series

1700 engine. at anywhere between £13-£16k.

The only precedent for the actual car is car number 003 sold by Peter Edney MG in 2011  which was being offered at £13995.

A car I know well as I met the previous owner and my car outshone his in every way!

With the car comes a huge history file of letters  documents and photos. racing the story of the car and its past owners.  I also have

 magazine articles and copies of the original marketing brochures and press photos featuring my actual car. Together with

manuals. handbooks . parts lists  etc. in all. a small suitcase full!

The car is currently taxed mot'd and ready to use but it does need a couple of niggling little jobs done to make perfect which are;

temp and fuel gauges are a bit temperamental . the carbs need setting up and balancing . Hood needs stretching

(a couple of sunday afternoon jobs).

PLEASE READ THE NEXT BIT CAREFULLY;

I don't need to sell the car but I want it to be enjoyed by a new caring owner. so no silly offers and if I were to be tempted to p/x

it would need to be something really special and in show or concourse condition. (or an e type. ).


If you read this ad and have. or know someone who has a Harper Roscoe . please let me know as I currently

only know of the whereabouts of one of the other 3 cars and would dearly love to put all the owners in touch

with one another. this would have the makings of one of the worlds most exclusive owners clubs!!

[Carnut]

Plenty of info out there then... (if you know how to look for it!)
So was the body actually made by Victor?