Jump to content

Manufacturer test mules


CortinaDave

Recommended Posts

Pulled up next to very odd looking XJ-S , late one night at a Shell garage in Milton Keynes , It was white with pop riveted wide arch extensions and the biggest wheels I'd ever seen. The bonnet had a huge lump in the middle and I could see it was a manual and had a full cage.

 

The guy filling it up was quite chatty, but wouldn't go into too much detail, he did say when I asked if it was a V12. " No it's a six, but it's faster than any V12 Jag, or V8 Aston come to that" When he roared off, the supercharger whine was pretty obvious. Thing is , this was about 4 years before the DB7 was launched.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was the MGF mule that was a Metro.

 

Apart from the SD1 and princess I can't think of any cars that have surviving pre production models. There was the SD1 in red that sat on a caravan site for years before someone at PC bought it and AFAIK it got restored.

 

there are a few, 

 

Range Rovers, this is the oldest survivor. 6th engineering prototype. tbh 3rd had it pretty much nailed

 

often these prototypes were sacrificed for roof and other impact type testing

 

http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/collection/range-rover/1969-range-rover-velar-engineering-prototype-the-oldest-range-rover#v

 

3.jpg

 

the only Mule part of the above was its name VELAR no mention of the word Land Rover or Range Rover anywhere until June 1970

 

All of the press cars were pre production but built on the production line.

 

Stags there are a couple of very very early motors around still

 

3rd engineering car, 2nd by the factory because the first was built by Micholetti in his Italian studio

 

Started out like this

post-3439-0-16031200-1526059392_thumb.jpg

 

now looks more of less like this as far as I know

post-3439-0-64685000-1526059392_thumb.jpg

 

Other stuff I have found over the years

 

Jaguar 4.2 XJC-Reg. OHP 21M. This car with chassis no. 2J1002BW is the second prototype Coupe built by Jaguar. First registered in 1973, it was used in the static display at the first launch of the type in Ellon, Scotland. 

post-3439-0-01451400-1526059532_thumb.jpg

 

development TR8 , registered in April 1977 , with chassis number X898

post-3439-0-83417800-1526059607_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are a few Rover 75 test mules still around I think... Certainly remember one with the 1.9 fiat diesel that escaped the crusher.

 

There was also a ZT tourer with Freelander 4x4 running gear that I *think* survived...

 

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

That 4x4 version belongs to the owner of summit garage in Dudley that’s still going.

There are a couple of 1.9 jtd 75s about and various g series diesel cars too though it’s all gone very quiet now in regards to these cars. Guess most have had problems due to all the prototype parts fitted

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the XJ220 Transit is one of my favourites. I was having a good look around when putting together the current issue of Classic Jaguar that went on sale today (hint, hint!). Apparently, it was good for 172mph! That was apparently done on the standard Transit front suspension. It apparently didn't handle it very well...

 

Another favourite test Jag is the MkX that had the quad-cam V12 installed before they decided on single-cam V12s. Apparently it was rather brisk!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quite a few TR7/8 development cars have survived as they were kicking around at Solihull and Canley when the plug was pulled and sent to public auction. Many of the pre-production Sprint batch were also sold off engineless, often with a brand new crated V8 for the lucky buyer to fit. This one is a pre-prod RHD car later used as a Sprint development hack (the first production UK TR7s were P-reg).

35653125796_34c8e90e94_c.jpg

1975 Triumph TR7 Sprint by Adam Floyd, on Flickr

 

There's also this automatic diesel Montego once owned by Captain Slow, a remarkable survivor and quite a Heath Robinson lash-up by all accounts.

20011969402_a6d443ff41_c.jpg

1991 Rover Montego 2.0D SLX automatic estate by Adam Floyd, on Flickr

 

I'm sure I read on AROnline that one of the six-cylinder P7 prototypes still exists as Rover actually sold it into the public domain and it ended up with a journo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to love the spy photos of mules in autocar etc, think they were mostly by a guy Hans Lehman ?, weird that's stuck in my head for 35 yrs

 

Yes- same here. IIRC he used to pretty much camp near known winter proving routes and hide up trees etc

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These days you just need to drive up the M40 to see a JLR product covered in black and white sticky-backed plastic every few miles. They seem to give them employees to go home in, see no end at peak commuting times.

 

Running the reg through various websites normally gives no clue - it'll often say LAND ROVER UNKNOWN 0000cc etc. Bare minimum.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These days you just need to drive up the M40 to see a JLR product covered in black and white sticky-backed plastic every few miles. They seem to give them employees to go home in, see no end at peak commuting times.

 

Running the reg through various websites normally gives no clue - it'll often say LAND ROVER UNKNOWN 0000cc etc. Bare minimum.

Or go to an event at Gaydon. Every time I've been there recently I've seen at least one camouflaged prototype on its way in or out of the proving ground next door.

 

Which reminds me, this thing got the chop in an emergency services demo there a couple of years ago and I now believe it to have been an F-pace mule. They had difficulty cutting it as it was apparently a mix of Jag and LR bits welded together in odd places.

27324746736_d775d194d3_c.jpg

Jag gets the chop by Adam Floyd, on Flickr

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The MGF project had a whole fleet of interesting vehicles created for it.

 

Before the Metro's, there were a number of Mk1 Toyota MR2's that were doctored to run K series engines and PG1 transmissions. 

 

The Metro's came after, and there were a few different versions dependent on the purpose. Some had the fibreglass lift-up rear body and others were pick-up style with a canvas tilt.

 

IMGP0002.jpg

 

Beige MGF6R4 anyone?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Couple from the Saab museum:

 

The Toad. This was a mule for the Saab 99. For secret road testing the body from a 96 was widened and fitted with the mechanicals from the 99 so that they could be road tested four were built, one survives.

post-3950-0-28369400-1526073992_thumb.jpg

post-3950-0-62563400-1526074006_thumb.jpg

 

Edited to add. Once the secret was out (after running a Toad in convoy with a normal 96 allowing the increased width to be clearly visible) the 99 was road tested without any disguise apart from badging it as a Daihatsu.

 

Saab 9000 mule:

post-3950-0-94904500-1526074029_thumb.jpg

post-3950-0-74300500-1526074017_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Much as I mock the official suppliers of ‘That’ll Do’, I still think it’s a crying shame that MG Rover UK died a death. Back in 2003, the MG TF 200HPD hybrid was a thing. It deserved to come to fruition, but was aborted as soon as the company went into liquidation. It’s suggested that features of the drivetrain were then taken over by Honda for the NSX.

It should have lived. I don’t know if it was road tested as such, but thought it deserved a place on this thread.

 

post-4721-0-83429800-1526077065_thumb.jpeg

 

post-4721-0-02130800-1526077083_thumb.jpeg

 

post-4721-0-81700600-1526077100_thumb.jpeg

 

https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts/concepts-and-prototypes/concepts-mg-tf200-hpd/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That would have been fantastic if it had made production.

 

 

The ideas were still there. It’s such a bloody shame we screwed up, sold out and held up our hands in surrender.

It really could have worked.

 

Weren’t mgr looking at a cam-less engine too? Would have been about 2003/4- Probably would have been something grafted on to a k series

Hadn’t heard that one before. Any more info?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These days you just need to drive up the M40 to see a JLR product covered in black and white sticky-backed plastic every few miles. They seem to give them employees to go home in, see no end at peak commuting times.

 

Running the reg through various websites normally gives no clue - it'll often say LAND ROVER UNKNOWN 0000cc etc. Bare minimum.

I remember have a race with a pre production X Type Jaguar on my GSXR600SRAD. I can assure you the JLR test driver knew how to fucking drive! I'd easily outrun traffic plod driving T5 Volvos on that bike but he was stuck to my back wheel for over five miles.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was a mk1 Capri estate that ended up in Australia, it was sold to a member of the public, then a few years ago after being restored ford tried to take it back saying it should never have been sold & so was thiers.

 

A judge told them as the owner had all the legal paperwork that it was tough shit if they didn't want it in the public domain they should haven't allowed it to be sold back in the mid 70s.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...