The History of Eagle Cars
In 1979 Tim Dutton (Dutton Cars) took a trip
to the States, his mission was to find an exotic
US kit car to me marketed under a new wing of Dutton cars, in the UK. After
arriving in America on Corcorde Tim visited several
manufacturers, yet he left undecided on the venture and the project
was shelved.
It would be nice to imagine that over
Christmas dinner Tim’s cousin, graphic artist Allan Breeze breathed life back
into the project, but that may be poetic licence. However it was that in
September 1980 both Tim and Allan flew to the States to view the Kelmar, Sebring,
Cimbria SS, Laser 917 and Bradley GT with the intention of striking a deal.
Knowing that the Milwaukee based Amour Cars were looking to bring the Cimbria
S.S. to the UK, Tim and Allan decided that this was the obvious choice as they
felt that it was time to challenge the Nova as the UK’s most exotic kit car.
Negotiations with Amour
Cars were long and drawn out but in the end it was decided that the quickest
and easiest was to push the deal through was for Tim and Allan to pay Amore a
substantial one off lump sum, in return for one complete kit and sole rights to both the
UK and the Common Market.
A new company, Eagle Cars
Ltd, was formed to handle manufacturing and sales of the car. However
Dutton’s large Worthing factory actually saw the birth of the first Eagle SS
as it was there that all the development of the original Cimbria body shell
was performed using the experience of the Dutton family and the resources
available to them.
Despite the Cimbria’s
stunning looks it was decided that the Eagle SS should have some significant
identification features to distinguish if from its American counterpart, the
most obvious of those being the Porsche 928 style pop-up headlights, which
were in fact actually moulded from a Porche 928. Lamborghini Countach style
rear air scoops were also added with the intention of giving the car a
little “bruit” appeal. The only other changes involved small body
modifications for the UK market, these included the obvious LHD to RHD
conversions as well as ensuring that British made rear lights would fit the
doors were also modified to accept ford Fiesta Handles and lock mechanisms.
The rear engine cover was tided-up as was the bonnet.
New inner and outer moulds were created in
July 1981 and the Eagle SS was born. The first body was bolted on to a VW
Beetle Chassis In July. From this exercise all the photographs were taken,
price structure finalised and marketing material was printed in preparation
for the launch at the prestigious Earls Court’s MotorFair Event
on October 21st.
And so it was, for the
first time since the early 70’s when the Nova was launched there was a new
exotic looking kit car on the market. The launch was hailed a great success
with enormous public interest.
How the
Cimbria came about, I am not so sure, I believe that it was built by Joe
Palumbo at Amore Cars in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1978.
The original Cimbria was based on a Sterling, or Nova as it is known
in the UK.
Eagle Cars grew rapidly thought the early
1980s to become one of the largest operations in the component car industry.
Then, in mid-way through 1985, boss, Allan Breeze
restructured the company and relocated it in
pleasantly rural premises tucked under the south downs at Storringham.
The SS was very popular,
with over 600 sold. Early cars used a full length VW Beetle floorpan with
rear engines. Later the SS used a box section chassis and Ford
Cortina running gear to provide
a front engined vehicle.
Eagle Cars then introduced the Eagle plus 2. The Plus 2 had conventional doors (SS had gullwing doors) and
offered high-speed open top motoring. It could also accommodate four people
(just) safely with its integral targa roof design. Most Plus 2’s used the
box section chassis from the SS.
The most commonly
produced component car was the that of the Eagle RV. This originated as a VW
based Rhino yet evolved into a Ford based no-nonsense off road type vehicle.
despite rugged character, the RV still manages to retain a strong element of
civilised practicality. A 4WD version base on Land Rover running gear was
also available.
1986 saw Eagle take over
the rights to manufacture the M30 from Hensen Automotive. This car was very
dramatic and imposing in appearance, the Eagle M30 has an angular, macho
styling that reminds one of a TVR Tasmin, a modern Cobra Coupe and an
American muscle car all in one! But behind that brutal image, the car was
actually very practical for two adults, well finished and very strongly
constructed. At the time it was said that the M30 was one of the safest cars
on the road thanks to its safety-conscious structure and thorough
engineering. Furthermore, it is superb at cornering, handles confidently and
is pretty rapid thanks to its Granada donor with all-independent suspension,
large ventilated disk breaks and Ford v6 3-litre power. This kit was
retailing at the £2500+vat mark.
The Ford based car uses engine,
gearbox and
all running gear from the Mk3/4/5 Cortina and engine capacities ranging from
1300 up to the 2 litre ohc. Some customers have even fitted V6 or even V8
power plants. This must surly make the Eagle fly! The torsion bar front
suspension identifies the type of Beetle required for the basis of the SS
with manufacturer's advice to to opt for a model later than 1967. This
ensures the later front disk breaks and ball joint suspension and if you're
really lucky, the superior double jointed rear suspension. Models using
McPherson strut front end are unsuitable unless you have the means with
which to convert the torsion beam variety. Any size engine can be used from
the lowly 1200 up to highly tuned 2.2 litre jobs or Porsche power. the
standard 1600 motor will give good performance whilst retaining fuel
economy.
Both
SS variants were supplied in assembled format with all glass, doors, the
boot, bonnet, headlamp raising system, nose cone and rear bumper ready
fitted along with a separate dash moulding, lights wiper assembly, weather
seals, associated bracketery, external trim, etc. The Ford kit supplies all
this plus a tubular steel chassis ready to accept the Cortina running gear
and a body with an integral grp floorpan. SS prices were structured at £1845
+ VAT for the WV version and £1995 + vat for the Ford.
The SS and Plus 2's were sold out in 1987
with over 600 SSes and about fifty Plus 2 cars
built. Kits were exported as far as South Africa, Sweden,
Belgium, Nigeria, Holland, Germany and Switzerland.
Unfortunately the company
closed in the recession of the early 90s.
The RV moulds went to Pilgrim but few were manufactured. Everything else just seamed to
disappear.
In 2004 Jordan
Developments acquired the RV moulds from Dutton and Exhibited the RV at
several Kit Car Shows. Unfortunately the RV didn't quite take off for Jordan
and the project appeared to be overtaken by other commitments.
A New Beginning
In
April 2006 the Eagle SS moulds
and rites appeared on eBay. They were instantly snapped up by Tim Naylor of
the newly formed "Teac Sports Cars" based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Tim
did not hang around and exhibited at the September 2006 Donnington Kit Car
Show. Tim's stand was an "exercise to judge interest." Tim was proposing a
New Eagle "SS 3R" as well as supporting earlier cars with replacement panels
and parts. Tim's ideas were very well received and work has began an a
Mid Engine model based on a Mark 2 Toyota MR2.
In
November 2006 Teac Sport Cars acquired the rites to the Eagle RV from Jordan
Developments.
It is
anticipated that the New SS and RV will be launched at the 2007 Stoneleigh
Kit Car Shown in April.
Please
keep you eye on
how the story unfolds at:
Teac Sports
Cars
