Dutton Pheaton S3s
Discussion
I had an S3 for more than 8 years , It was used for daily transport for 6 of those. I never stopped it leaking - so I drilled holes in the floor . it drove great , After I corrected the camber at the front end (one wheel was 3deg the other was 7deg. At the rear end I removed the leaf springs and replaced them with trailing arms & coil overs .I had many years of fun with the car and as long as you dont expect sanity to remain, get one! Good cheap fun. It had a 1600 X flow in it and could at those times still see off a 911 without too many problems.
Dave Ingerson
Brisbane OZ
Dave Ingerson
Brisbane OZ
pwig said:
So its not nessercerilly(Sp?) a bad thing then?
Not IMHO. I reckon that live axle cars on cart springs are excellent fun to drive. They’re so predictable and controllable. They won’t corner as fast as more complex machines, but that’s only a problem if you intend to race. On a track day or on the road you drive only against yourself. Anyway, at a couple of grand you can’t go wrong IMHO. If you get fed up you can always sell it on and you can refer future buyers to me.
Den
. As someone who is rebuilding a Dutton I could be ever so slightly biased, but I'd say go for it!
I ended up buying an S3 and an S4 so am playing the lets use the best bits of the two to make 1 good one game (S3 logbook thought it was still an escort). The chassis are basically identical with minor differences in the bodywork. Both came with Escort leaf springs but as both were past their best I'm converting it to trailing arms and coilovers, but I've seen plenty handling very well with the leafsprings.
I'd agree about the looks but as my bonnet has seen better days it will shortly have an accident with the jigsaw to remove the wings, I've got some cycle wings, headlights, etc to make the front end more like a 'normal' 7. I quite like the back end complete with a boot to carry sandwiches or pies in!
If you're talking about a £2k budget then that should get you one of the best Duttons out there and still leave change. For a winter project like mine (ok it's so far taken a winter, spring, summer, autumn and the coming winter!) I'm on target to get it on the road for around £1200 and will have rebuilt the car completely including an upgrade from 1300 Crossflow to 2.0 Pinto & 5 speed gearbox and 5 link rear end.
If I haven't plugged it enough then check out www.duttonownersclub.co.uk for more info. The earlier Phaeton's may also be worth a look. Enjoy
I ended up buying an S3 and an S4 so am playing the lets use the best bits of the two to make 1 good one game (S3 logbook thought it was still an escort). The chassis are basically identical with minor differences in the bodywork. Both came with Escort leaf springs but as both were past their best I'm converting it to trailing arms and coilovers, but I've seen plenty handling very well with the leafsprings.
I'd agree about the looks but as my bonnet has seen better days it will shortly have an accident with the jigsaw to remove the wings, I've got some cycle wings, headlights, etc to make the front end more like a 'normal' 7. I quite like the back end complete with a boot to carry sandwiches or pies in!
If you're talking about a £2k budget then that should get you one of the best Duttons out there and still leave change. For a winter project like mine (ok it's so far taken a winter, spring, summer, autumn and the coming winter!) I'm on target to get it on the road for around £1200 and will have rebuilt the car completely including an upgrade from 1300 Crossflow to 2.0 Pinto & 5 speed gearbox and 5 link rear end.
If I haven't plugged it enough then check out www.duttonownersclub.co.uk for more info. The earlier Phaeton's may also be worth a look. Enjoy
I ran a S3 for five yaers or so, if only I'd known the S3 is by far the worst dutton phaeton you can have 
why not go for the prettier but rarer B+ or if you really have to go for the big cockpit phaeton buy the later S4 or Eagle P21 which I think was basically the S4 anyway.
Mine went from 1600 to 2 litre to 3 litre whilst I owned it, was fun but always looked too big compared to the petite Locaterfields. You can buy much cheaper than 2 grand also .. that should buy you something vauxhall powered, I've even seen tidy turboed rover V8 cars for that price including a trailer, so bargains are to be had, do some more digging befoer you buy though .. ever thought of an unfinished sylva? a much better car..
why not go for the prettier but rarer B+ or if you really have to go for the big cockpit phaeton buy the later S4 or Eagle P21 which I think was basically the S4 anyway.
Mine went from 1600 to 2 litre to 3 litre whilst I owned it, was fun but always looked too big compared to the petite Locaterfields. You can buy much cheaper than 2 grand also .. that should buy you something vauxhall powered, I've even seen tidy turboed rover V8 cars for that price including a trailer, so bargains are to be had, do some more digging befoer you buy though .. ever thought of an unfinished sylva? a much better car..
Sorry , not all P3's had carthorse springs , there was a live axle conversion that was done to P3's by the factory , this changed the handling charictoristics and they drove very well . As for the dashboard & anterior , I lived with the dutton one for bout 2 weeks before attacking it with an angle grinder and fitting some richfield recliners & custom dash with veglia dials . Carefull or I will post a picture!!
'PHAETON S3 V8 Twin Turbo, Red, Superb Condition, Full Mot, Tax, Alloys, Adjustable Boost For Turbos, Harnesses, 5 Speed Box, Rover V8, App 200BHP, 360LB Torque, 0-60mph in app 4.6 secs, very fast, superb handling. Very Reluctant Sale. Featured in issue 99 of Dutton Torque and shown at Stafford earlier in the year. £2,500 07880 600607'
That was on the dutton web site, 200bhp seems a bit low for a TT V8 does it not?
That was on the dutton web site, 200bhp seems a bit low for a TT V8 does it not?
God's teeth, I remember when the Phaeton was launched. I thought it looked like a pile of poo then aand I haven't seen any reason to revise my opinion. And no, the one about sticking a fast engine onto a skateboard doesn't hold water. The Phaeton dates from the days when kit car styling relied on straight lines and dim lighting... and it should remain there. Build something with a bit of style and finesse, like a Morgan replica.
You'll be starting a thread on Magentas, next...
You'll be starting a thread on Magentas, next...
Friend of mine rebuilt a Magenta once .. first test drive he forgot to fasten the bonnet down, got a (little) bit of speed up, wind caught bonnet, flew up and smashed him right on the nose.
There's a Magenta looking very unloved at the garage at the end of my industrial estate. anyone want to give it a home? .. no, thought not ..
There's a Magenta looking very unloved at the garage at the end of my industrial estate. anyone want to give it a home? .. no, thought not ..
Hi
yeah always enjoy karting, thing is I can never undestand why you think you're driving the nuts off the damn things, trying to be smooth and trying to be slippy-slidey, doesn't matter how you drive them there's ALWAYS someone 2 whole seconds a lap faster than you are .. how does that work then?????? 
was good after too pwig said:
Anyone????
Possibly an early Robin Hood, there might be the odd Sylva Leader or similar out there too (has similar styling to the Phaeton). I'd say that you're looking at kits that have been on the road for at least 10 years anyway.
Other than those there's probably not a lot about for that money, even the locosts seem to sell for more (well the ones with SVA)!
Sorry I can't help more, unless I can sell you my Dutton in bits for 2 grand. No? didn't think so
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