The name's Bond..........Lawrie Bond

[Futuramic]

It's a sanitised world. The old established maxims of poking things with a screwdriver and getting covered in oil have been replaced by squeaky-clean white plastic technology. No longer does the driver repent his sins and close his eyes as cross-ply tyres break adhesion with a wet lane. Motorway lay-by condenser changes are a thing of the past; as are dim headlights, un-servoed brakes and wooden steering wheels.

"Good riddance" would cry many a driver of a modern car; "I want to be guaranteed a safe trip to my intended destination". Why not? A car that gets one from A to B without fuss is a noble machine. It is also dull; so the driver is given distractions such as spinning air vents and talking computers.

But what of that grimy, grey past. That era in black and white; of popping exhausts and hungry carbs. Is that not a bit alluring - that promise of involvement, being the organic part of a greater machine; actually driving a car instead of vaguely programming a computer to carry out the task.

I like it.

Thus my 1966 Bond Equipe 4 GT 2+2. Plastic body on a Herald chassis. Spitfire Mk2 engine with a few tuning bits. All independent suspension with Spax telescopics on the rear. 4 speed non-overdrive manual. In many, many pieces and hasn't run for 3 years. I shall update everybody on progress (if any).

[sniff diesel]

I'd heard of a Bond Equipe before but never seen one. Good luck with the project.

[bingbong]

Not sure about the front end, but the rear looks lovely.
Good luck

[Inny]

Futuramic said:

But what of that grimy, grey past. That era in black and white; of popping exhausts and hungry carbs. Is that not a bit alluring - that promise of involvement, being the organic part of a greater machine; actually driving a car instead of vaguely programming a computer to carry out the task.

I like it.

Thus my 1966 Bond Equipe 4 GT 2+2. Plastic body on a Herald chassis. Spitfire Mk2 engine with a few tuning bits. All independent suspension with Spax telescopics on the rear. 4 speed non-overdrive manual. In many, many pieces and hasn't run for 3 years. I shall update everybody on progress (if any)

What a clarion call! This is certainly a Churchillian statement of intent, the Agincourt spirit rekindled.

Make it so.

[Waynester]

If any...!

My good man, you have shown your hand, to back out now would be cowardice!






Good luck with your project.

[shalmaneser]

Ummm, that rear axle suspension setup scares me!

also, what is a condenser?

Looks like it will be a beauty though, well done that man!

[Futuramic]

shalmaneser said:

Ummm, that rear axle suspension setup scares me!

also, what is a condenser?

Looks like it will be a beauty though, well done that man!

That rear axle setup is probably the most frightening thing ever fitted to a production car. Lifting off, powering on and driving in a straight line on a flat road can all induce lurid oversteer. Triumph called them "swing arms" and they did give good handling (for the time); the Bond should be an agile machine when complete. However the price to pay is rampant unpredictability.

Now for a little information. Bonds were desinged and built in Preston by Lawrie Bond, responsible for the Minicar and Bug, and about 250 of the Equipe 4 (mine) were made. It is not known how many survive as the Herald structure they are based on is a total rotbox.

It is powered by a Spitfire 1200 high compression engine on twin SU's and a sports manifold. And this is where modern manufacturers should really take note! Although the engine only spits out 68 bhp the kerb weight of the entire vehicle is about 800 kg. Yes 800 kg! Even the bumpers are thin ally sheet to save weight. This means lively performance and about 40 mpg are attainable.

The bad side of my conscience is already whispering in my ear about a possible direction for the project. Apparently the 2.5 litre TR6 engine bolts straight in, along with the overdrive box. So that's a potential 130 bhp on tap in a car weighing under a ton. Should I?

[Futuramic]

Sorry forgot to say. Condenser is the old word for a capacitor. Basically an electronic device that can hold and release a charge. It's a key component of a distributor.

And thanks for all the support.

Edited by Futuramic on Wednesday 24th September 19:07

[shalmaneser]

Futuramic said:

shalmaneser said:

Ummm, that rear axle suspension setup scares me!

also, what is a condenser?

Looks like it will be a beauty though, well done that man!

That rear axle setup is probably the most frightening thing ever fitted to a production car. Lifting off, powering on and driving in a straight line on a flat road can all induce lurid oversteer. Triumph called them "swing arms" and they did give good handling (for the time); the Bond should be an agile machine when complete. However the price to pay is rampant unpredictability.

Now for a little information. Bonds were desinged and built in Preston by Lawrie Bond, responsible for the Minicar and Bug, and about 250 of the Equipe 4 (mine) were made. It is not known how many survive as the Herald structure they are based on is a total rotbox.

It is powered by a Spitfire 1200 high compression engine on twin SU's and a sports manifold. And this is where modern manufacturers should really take note! Although the engine only spits out 68 bhp the kerb weight of the entire vehicle is about 800 kg. Yes 800 kg! Even the bumpers are thin ally sheet to save weight. This means lively performance and about 40 mpg are attainable.

The bad side of my conscience is already whispering in my ear about a possible direction for the project. Apparently the 2.5 litre TR6 engine bolts straight in, along with the overdrive box. So that's a potential 130 bhp on tap in a car weighing under a ton. Should I?

As a 205 gti driver (115bhp/850kg) I would say yes!

thanks for the explanations!