Spartan cars
Encyclopedia
Spartan Cars was a manufacturer of kit car
s based in Pinxton
, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
, which operated from 1973 to 1995. The company was founded by Jim McIntyre.
Steve Beardsall, who had been the production manager, took over in about 1991 and introduced the Spartan Treka, a Jeep style car, which was based on the Ford Fiesta
Mk2. Over 4000 kits were produced and they have been exported to over 23 countries.
The main product was an open, 2+2 seater, traditionally styled kit car
based at first on the chassis and mechanical components of the Triumph Herald
. An aluminium panelled body and glass fibre wings completed the car. As the Triumphs became rarer, and collectable in themselves, a complete new chassis was designed in 1980 to take components from the Ford Cortina
Mk III-V.
The Sherwood was an estate car conversion based around the Ford Cortina but using a new chassis. The rear roof section was detachable to make the car into a pick-up.
More unusual was the Starcraft, a six wheel motor caravan conversion for the Ford Cortina Mk III to V. A new steel chassis took the Cortina's mechanical components and on this was mounted a large body shell which included an overhanging section above the driver and passenger seats. The bonnet area was restyled but the centre section of the Cortina was retained including wiring, instruments and windscreen.
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
s based in Pinxton
Pinxton
Pinxton is a village on the eastern boundary of Derbyshire in the Bolsover district, England.In Anglo-Saxon times it was a small agricultural community, thought to have been recorded in the Domesday Book as "Esnotrewic." It is also thought that it was known as "Snodeswic," given by Wulfric Spott to...
, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, which operated from 1973 to 1995. The company was founded by Jim McIntyre.
Steve Beardsall, who had been the production manager, took over in about 1991 and introduced the Spartan Treka, a Jeep style car, which was based on the Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
Mk2. Over 4000 kits were produced and they have been exported to over 23 countries.
The main product was an open, 2+2 seater, traditionally styled kit car
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
based at first on the chassis and mechanical components of the Triumph Herald
Triumph Herald
The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models....
. An aluminium panelled body and glass fibre wings completed the car. As the Triumphs became rarer, and collectable in themselves, a complete new chassis was designed in 1980 to take components from the Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
Mk III-V.
The Sherwood was an estate car conversion based around the Ford Cortina but using a new chassis. The rear roof section was detachable to make the car into a pick-up.
More unusual was the Starcraft, a six wheel motor caravan conversion for the Ford Cortina Mk III to V. A new steel chassis took the Cortina's mechanical components and on this was mounted a large body shell which included an overhanging section above the driver and passenger seats. The bonnet area was restyled but the centre section of the Cortina was retained including wiring, instruments and windscreen.
| Models | Type | Years of production |
|---|---|---|
| Roadster | 1973-1995 | |
| Sherwood | estate car | |
| Starcraft | motor caravan | |
| Treka | Jeep | 1990-1995 |