What is a speciale' ?

I am trying to define what the term Speciale' means. This in regard to ''cars'' assembled by people other than manufactures and used in races.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Charles on August 15, 2011 at 2:51am

Many car nuts and mechanics assembled there own ''cars'' using the parts of other cars, adapted and modified to suit their own design and needs. But how do you define a Speciale' today, in regard to vintage cars refered to as this. My question goes further on what was a speciale' when it was refered as such in the 1930's and 1940's ? Please comment !!!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Orr on September 23, 2011 at 6:45pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB9ged09ewQ&feature=related Phillip Island GP Circuit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M08ID9v1qvE&feature=related Mallala South Australia.

Here is my Special. Built by my Father during the 60's most of Car is Home Made & mostly has BMC (Sprite) running gear.. It's a one off Aussie Special.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick JEAN-PHILIPPE on April 13, 2012 at 3:52pm

To me, first and foremost a Special is essentially a love affair. A Special will always epitomise the petrolhead freedom to reach is goal and express himself irrespective of material considerations since it is built with the means at hand. A Special is made by petrolheads for petrolheads so for oneself or for another member of the fraternity. There were and still are many reasons for building a Special. Some wished and wish to develop their own ideas. It could be a cheap way to reach race car ownership... and actually race. It could be a one off custom made affair although in the UK a vintage racing special is commonly known as an assembly of parts from other cars selected for their own merits and specifications or for their plentiful availability, low cost or otherwise.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Orr on April 13, 2012 at 5:20pm

Hi Patrick,

Great Words. My father built this car as a cheap way to race although the chassis & body work are home made, I guess he had his own reasions for the shape (easy repaire costs). Generally the rest of the Car is an assembly of parts from other cars. e.g. front brakes - Triumph Herald, rear brakes - Renult. Wheels 3 piece home cast centers. The rest of the major running gear is BMC. Bmc A Series Engine, Sprite Gear Box, Morris Minor Diff with mods.

http://www.vhrr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=758 A short story about the car.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick JEAN-PHILIPPE on April 14, 2012 at 11:27am

Hi Paul,

I have read the story of your Special. The Orr's Tin Special exemplifies what a Special is all about. It's about someone being skilful and innovative to fulfil one's desire to compete in races, sprints or hillclimbs irrespective of one's financial means.

Since you are into Specials you may also enjoy this book: The Enthusiast Guide to Vintage Specials by John Bateman. As a pre-war pretrolhead I really enjoyed reading it and discovering what people did such as John Bolster's Bloody Mary nicknamed as the Special, Mother of all the Specials:

http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/24...

=> Ingenuity triumphing over meagre resources turned Bloody Mary into one of the most famous of all the pre-war ‘Shelsley specials’.