TX Tripper!

[andrew e]

Spotted half under a tarp on little Ilford road earlier (between the Romford road and Dagenham's motor city) was this beast - hiretho only seen in my book of "World cars" a real live TX Tripper - far out man

 

 

 

[michiel]

Eeeww.

[bigstraight6]

What a truly awful looking vehicle, I shudder to think what its like to drive!...

[Hertz]

Where were the owners?

 

[bones96]

whats it based on ??

[Torsten2001]

Judging by the wheels a Spitfire

[Guest]

The vehicle details for EYV 11J are: Date of Liability 01 03 2009 Date of First Registration 16 02 1971 Year of Manufacture Not Available Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1296CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Licence Not Due Vehicle Colour YELLOW The details are:Vehicle Make/Model: FAIRTHORPE OTHER Vehicle type: PRIVATE CAR

[andrew e]

From another forum (cheers funf!)

 

Quoteth:

 

This was used on the TX-GT and TX-S and SS, a fixed-head two seater aimed at the TVR sector, with 1300, 2000 and 2500cc Triumph engines. As the Captain says, the Tripper was based on the Spitfire / GT6 chassis, and Technical exponents also offered new chassis to allow parts from a knacker Herald or Vitesse to be used.

 

There was a bit of multi-branding going on by the early '70s. Fairthorpe, under Air Vice Marshal Donald 'Pathfinder' Bennett, offered the traditional cars - Electron Minor, Zeta, and Mk. IV EM, while Technical Exponents, under his son Torix, had a range at various times comprising the TX-1, TX-GT, TX-S and SS, and TX Tripper.

 

Another oddity - there's a Ford Kent 1600GT engined version of the Tripper listed, although still with a Triumph chassis.

 

[garethj]

Good spotting!I think it would look better without the world's biggest bonnet bulge, what motor is under there?? I'm thinking a 4 cylinder, 4 litre, very long stroke....Other than that it's pretty cool, they've got the dash moulded in ok, the screen looks alright, there's no need for doors and the styling is "of it's time"

[Guest prbak99]

Hello Everyone

 

A bit late in the day (hah!), but I used to own this car between 1974-77 but I've only just seen the post... So just in case anyone else is still interested, I thought I'd give you the info about this car.

 

This is the prototype Tripper and was exhibited at the 1971 Racing Car Show in London (i've got Autocar magazine with a pic of it). It has (I hope not 'had') a GT6 Type 3 chassis (so with the lower wishbones on the rear suspension) and a Spitfire 1300 cc engine. That is a huge bulge in the bonnet and not necessary for the Spitfire engine. But it was also sold with the Triumph TR6 2.5PI engine and that needed all the space that bulge provided. With the 2.5 engine in it, it went like s#1t off a hot shovel and that explains why few (if any?) of those survive. But even with the Spitfire engine it was lively and good for over 100mph with 2 up; it weighed almost nothing. It also had excellent handling and road holding - stuck to the road like glue!

 

It was originally painted in Lotus Yellow and when I had it, the rollover bar was trimmed with red leather over its whole length. The bumpers were also painted black. Being the prototype, the seats were moulded into the body and had velcro fastened cushions on the fibreglass (fortunately, I was the same height as Torix Bennett, whom I met). It was actually a 4-seater - you can just make out the rear-facing back seats in the shot of the car from the rear. 

 

Interestingly, the body was stiffer than the chassis and I had to have the ends of the front outriggers welded up as they cracked around the mounting bolts!

 

I had the car as a student but sold it when my girlfriend inherited her (very boring!) grandmother's car. The buyer lived in West London and was too tall to be able to change into 3rd gear as that was where his knee had to be! But he loved it so much, he got a shorter mate to come and pick it up...

 

Would love to know if the car's still around and in use - looks like it's being loved in those photos. If anyone wants any further info - happy to provide it...

[robinmasters]

...you can just make out the rear-facing back seats in the shot of the car from the rear.

Jesus, they must be a terrifying place to be these days. Imagine being tail-gated by a German TDi, sitting out the back there with 1/4" of fibre glass between your knees and certain death.

[Manbearpig]

Freehand wheelarches, banana shaped rollover bar, I always thought if painted pink they would resemble Penelope Pitstop's car. Farking hideous though they were, they are a reminder of a simpler times for sure.

[michael1703]

Was it this one? There's a phone number in the ad

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-BASED-GT6-Vitesse-Herald-TX-TRIPPER-KIT-CAR-/151060782606?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item232bec9e0e

 

He might have details of new keeper

[michael1703]

Mot expired 3rd August 2015, so it's in serviceable condition anyway

[mercrocker]

Flabber-tastic spottage....I have only ever seen one of these but it was white. This is the colour I expected them to be - that, or Bond Bug orange or Chewy Fruit peach maybe. Looks remarkably pristine for something off the road so long. And its true, summers really were better in the Seventies.

[explosive-cabbage]

 

good for over 100mph

 

 

rear-facing back seats

 

 

 

No thanks.

[andrew e]

Cor 7 years from the grave thread! Cheers for the back story PRBAK99