Making room

[Mark Bagnall]

My enthusiasm seems to return with the, slightly, warmer weather so I'm clearing up the garage and planning the revised cockpit. Hopefully I can attach a photo with this to show the large hole in the fibreglass to be filled.
A little background might be useful, it was a salutary lesson for me, and should at least give you a laugh. I decided to buy a 2 seat Dutton last year with my eBay earnings from clearing out the garage. I investigated several cars trying to find one that didn't need too much work and was still in my budget.
Now comes a simple lesson which I knew but ignored, always take someone with you when looking at a car so they can make sure you check the obvious! I was so engrossed with checking all the information I'd found out about Duttons (not a lot really) I forgot to sit in it!!
Once trailered back to the new space in my garage I soon realised that even taking the seats out my legs were wedged against the wheel and tube under the dash, impossible to drive.
Any guesses what it is? I thought I'd bought a Phaeton, but right now it could be a "B-" with the amount of fibreglass cut out of the cockpit. The idea is to panel in steel between the crossmember at the rear of the gearbox and the cross piece below the roll bar taking this as close to the axle as possible and as low as possible (level with the cross member). I'll then use high density foam to make a seat directly on the floor - there isn't enough room for a separate seat. I'm hoping I will then fit without having to move the pedals as well.
The other main job I have at the moment is a full re-wire (I'll use Dave Adams approach) as it is a complete mess at the moment.
I'm hoping writing this will encourage me to speed up the work as I really want to drive it.

[Mark Bagnall]

The fuel tank out so I can re-wire the lights - the tank was in the middle of the boot opening which is pretty small anyway:

Rubbish quality on this photo but shows the tank in place.

Also shows why I don't plan on taking the rear bodywork off - someone added the rear roll bar stays (which I like the idea of) welding them to the chassis inside the boot, then glassing around.  So when I do finally remove the rear body, I'll either have to cut off the rollbar/stays or make some large cuts in the body.

[Mark Bagnall]

Yes, I was keen on the 5 link setup, and it has a full width panhard rod - not sure how much of it is original (the bodywork is B+ Malaga) but the last usage appears to have been sprint/hillclimb.

Unfortunately my wife isn't so keen on sports cars with the comfort and convenience of a Dutton!  So I don't think I'll be able to persuade her out of her classic Saab convertible into the Dutton.

[Dave Adams]

it should be 4 link was it modified by a previous owner?

p.s. i do like Malaga B+'s (my first dutton was one of them)

[Mark Bagnall]

I don't know much about it.  I bought from someone who did some engine work (FR32 cam) and bodged up the electrics but hadn't used it. I believe the previous owner sprinted or hillclimbed (the beam splitter is still on the front).  The chassis, suspension and brakes look generally tidy and corrosion free for the age.  Unsurprisingly as I take parts off I find some less than ideal features (like mixed bolts) but nothing else too bad so far.

I'll probably keep the fuel tank for now but does anyone know what was originally used in the B+ Malaga or what fits best?  It would be great to mount a tank under the boot floor but I don't think there is enough space.

FYI my chassis has a small square tube cross member under the middle of the boot floor and a full size rectangular cross member at the very back.

[Pete Clayton]

The Phaeton S1 used a mk2 Cortina tank bolted to a hole cut in the boot floor

[Mark Bagnall]

Thanks Pete, does anyone know if the S1 has a longer boot than the B+ ?

[Dave Adams]

The S1 boot is about 3“ longer than the B+.
my Malaga B+ had i think a cortina Mk2 fuel tank in it. my S1 has two Reliant robin fuel tanks joined end to end to give a tank of about 10 gallon capacity. it sits under the boot floor.

[Dave Adams]

The full size cross member at the rear was for the factory towbar.

[Mark Bagnall]

Thanks Dave, I now know what I can use as a tow car when my old Land Rover packs up ;-))
I will take some photos and measure up underneath but until I feel like making a special It seems the best approach will be to fit the existing tank as far out of the way as possible.