My New Dutton

[James Doulton]

Today I bought another Dutton. This one has a 3.1 litre Essex V6. It's MOT has lapsed and it has a number of issues, the biggest one being that it has had a front end shunt which has upset the suspension geometry, and the bonnet fit, and the steering. The last 6 inches of the main rail is crumpled, moving the ARB. Finding a good reference to work from to restore the geometry looks to be an interesting puzzle. In this picture you can see that the nearside wheel has a different camber to the offside. It was the nearside that was hit.

I will do some investigation over the weekend and post some pictures of the damage. It was dark by the time I got home, and I was worn out. The journey was 400 miles in total, all but a handful were motorway : M5, M42, A42, M1. The car was about 15 miles south of Sheffield.

[Dave Adams]

Previews owner told me it had been confirmed with the capri club that it was a genuine 3.1 RS engine.

[Big Vern]

RS3100 engines were built from selected block and use an increased bore size  95.25mm (stock was 93.67 for all Essex V engines) RS3.4 used the Cosworth GA engine which though based on the hugely heavy production block was 100mm bore

Until you strip it, it will be difficult to tell whether it is a 3.1 but I doubt it'll be a genuine RS3.1

[Steve Kerswell]

Didn't Ford build them all, 250, in one month, to get through homologation, then send most of them to Australia? Or is that another myth that legends are made of. Anyway, as long as your happy, and you must be, get some pictures up, we all want to pry :-))

[James Doulton]

The engine number recorded on the V5C is LELY39076. "LY" would be June 1971, so about 2 years early. "LE" is also 1971. I'll have a proper look when it stops raining.

[James Doulton]

By the way, the registration is quite appropriate: "Very Naughty James, 6 Sylinders".

I haven't checked the engine number to find out if it is an actual RS3100, as claimed, but I'm not banking on that. Chinese whispers often applies in these things: "Like is the Capri" turns into "From a Capri".

[James Doulton]

It is a Malaga B+ with a Triumph front end. I haven't worked out what the rear axle is yet but it is a solid axle, not a Herald swing axle. The wheels seem to be Ford. It's chassis number is 398, so it is quite old whereas those Johnny-come-lately Phaetons started at 700.

The driver's seat is very narrow. I might see if there is enough clearance to narrow the transmission tunnel because my bones are an interference fit with the sides. Losing weight won't affect that. I might need to take a file to my feet as well, but driving it is some way off!

[Steve Kerswell]

Nice one James, good winter project. As a mathematician I'm sure you'll soon work out the angle of the dangle. Like the colour too. So anti roll bar? Is it a 3-4 or an early one with triumph set up?

[Dave Adams]

yeah i know it has the B+ bonnet but the B+, Malaga's and S1/2's are similar enough to use my post for details.....

[Dave Adams]

properly set up they dont need ARB's even with the V6. it will allow softer springs up front though giving a better ride though.......

[Dave Adams]

it is very quick but has some cooling issues, likely no ducting to the radiator.

the damage looks to be similar to that on my green car when it got crashed.....my post gives some dimensions for the front chassis legs.

the different camber on the front looks about right for the average S1 or similar cars....i have seen very few that were right from the factory.

those headlights are Citroen 2CV....replacements if needed should be easily available.