Re: Les SAAB RAARissimes!
Publié : dim. juil. 18, 2010 6:10 am
Reçu de Jim, mon pote du Minnesota, j'ai rajouté les liens en bas de page.
Hello, SAABistes in US and Europa!
Through the time and generosity of old friend, Rich Stadther, I had the great fortune to examine in close detail this delightful little SAAB-powered Jabro race car. I wanted to share this little jewel with all of you.
This 1959 Jabro Mk 3 is powered by a two-stroke triple. The block number of 709484 shows it to be a “standard” 850cc, with what I believe is a casting date of 2 June 1964. The 12-bolt cylinder head is number M-716 508, which is an “850 GT” item (higher compression ratio with this?).
This motor foregoes the typical triple-Solexes for a big, classic Weber DCOE 40. I’ve never seen this carb or manifold on a SAAB, and I’m curious if this unusual set-up is as efficient as the “straight shot” that the Solexes get through the ports. In any case, it looks and sounds great, and the motor certainly doesn’t have any breathing troubles, if 6200 rpm is any indication. There is a short (50 seconds) video of the car running, for anybody who would like to hear it: I wish I had track video!
The bird cage tube frame is a lovely thing to behold. As fragile as it appears, it is apparently more than adequate. The super-light chassis, fiberglass bodywork, and magnesium wheels help to keep the weight down to approximately 400kg (“wet” and with a full tank of fuel). Pictures don’t convey the extremely compact dimensions of this little car, but if you consider that those genuine vintage Halibrands are only 12” diameter, you can get a size reference.
Another unusual element is that this is the only SAAB-powered race car I have seen that is front-engined and rear-wheel driven. The Quantums, Sonetts and rally cars, of course, were all front-wheel drive, with the exception of the Quantum IV “Formula S” which featured a rear-mid engine placement. Other Jabro-SAABs were built, but from what I can find most had a rear-mid engine layout driving through a Fiat 600 transaxle. This 2-stroke powers through a BMC 4-speed transmission (Sprite 1275), to a quick-change rear-end and solid axle.
The Jabro was a popular kit for SCCA racing in the late 1950s and early 60s. They were designed and engineered by James Broadwell (Ja-Bro!) and Ed Alsbury. Manufactured in St. Louis Missouri, the Jabro was a popular way to get into racing: It was simple, low-priced, and competitive. Designed to fit into SCCA’s H-Modified class, most had Crosley drivetrains and components. H-Class (I think...) was a 45 cubic inch class (750cc), so the Crosley OHC motors were perfect. But as is normal in competition, racers got creative and fitted their cars with every possible engine that slotted under the limit. I've seen H-Class and midget racers with Harley-Davidson, Triumph cycle, Panhard, and DKW motors. The car in these pictures would have originally been fitted with a 748cc unit from a 93. No Jabro production numbers exist anymore, but I've seen late chassis numbers in the low two-hundreds.
I’m told this car had a troubled and unsuccessful competition history, with mechanical failures plaguing it with regularity. Apparently, Rich has sorted these problems out: The car goes beautifully, reliably and is stronger and faster than the Crosley competition. Rich has been acting as custodian of this car for its owner. He has greatly enjoyed racing it in vintage events this year, and is off to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania at the end of this month for one more race before surrendering the car back to its owner. (There is also a very lovely ’57 Crosley Special in his garage that I will share photos and info about, if anybody is interested). I met Rich and his wife Liz some twenty-plus years ago through the local chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, and it’s always a pleasure to see them again at car events around the Twin Cities. They have both been active drivers in vintage events, and Liz runs the website for the Vintage Sports Car Racing website (vscr.org). Splendid people, whom I wish to deeply thank for the opportunity to check out this Jabro-SAAB.
http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&source=we ... V3f325Ligw
http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&source=we ... g8QHaq3jtg
Hello, SAABistes in US and Europa!
Through the time and generosity of old friend, Rich Stadther, I had the great fortune to examine in close detail this delightful little SAAB-powered Jabro race car. I wanted to share this little jewel with all of you.
This 1959 Jabro Mk 3 is powered by a two-stroke triple. The block number of 709484 shows it to be a “standard” 850cc, with what I believe is a casting date of 2 June 1964. The 12-bolt cylinder head is number M-716 508, which is an “850 GT” item (higher compression ratio with this?).
This motor foregoes the typical triple-Solexes for a big, classic Weber DCOE 40. I’ve never seen this carb or manifold on a SAAB, and I’m curious if this unusual set-up is as efficient as the “straight shot” that the Solexes get through the ports. In any case, it looks and sounds great, and the motor certainly doesn’t have any breathing troubles, if 6200 rpm is any indication. There is a short (50 seconds) video of the car running, for anybody who would like to hear it: I wish I had track video!
The bird cage tube frame is a lovely thing to behold. As fragile as it appears, it is apparently more than adequate. The super-light chassis, fiberglass bodywork, and magnesium wheels help to keep the weight down to approximately 400kg (“wet” and with a full tank of fuel). Pictures don’t convey the extremely compact dimensions of this little car, but if you consider that those genuine vintage Halibrands are only 12” diameter, you can get a size reference.
Another unusual element is that this is the only SAAB-powered race car I have seen that is front-engined and rear-wheel driven. The Quantums, Sonetts and rally cars, of course, were all front-wheel drive, with the exception of the Quantum IV “Formula S” which featured a rear-mid engine placement. Other Jabro-SAABs were built, but from what I can find most had a rear-mid engine layout driving through a Fiat 600 transaxle. This 2-stroke powers through a BMC 4-speed transmission (Sprite 1275), to a quick-change rear-end and solid axle.
The Jabro was a popular kit for SCCA racing in the late 1950s and early 60s. They were designed and engineered by James Broadwell (Ja-Bro!) and Ed Alsbury. Manufactured in St. Louis Missouri, the Jabro was a popular way to get into racing: It was simple, low-priced, and competitive. Designed to fit into SCCA’s H-Modified class, most had Crosley drivetrains and components. H-Class (I think...) was a 45 cubic inch class (750cc), so the Crosley OHC motors were perfect. But as is normal in competition, racers got creative and fitted their cars with every possible engine that slotted under the limit. I've seen H-Class and midget racers with Harley-Davidson, Triumph cycle, Panhard, and DKW motors. The car in these pictures would have originally been fitted with a 748cc unit from a 93. No Jabro production numbers exist anymore, but I've seen late chassis numbers in the low two-hundreds.
I’m told this car had a troubled and unsuccessful competition history, with mechanical failures plaguing it with regularity. Apparently, Rich has sorted these problems out: The car goes beautifully, reliably and is stronger and faster than the Crosley competition. Rich has been acting as custodian of this car for its owner. He has greatly enjoyed racing it in vintage events this year, and is off to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania at the end of this month for one more race before surrendering the car back to its owner. (There is also a very lovely ’57 Crosley Special in his garage that I will share photos and info about, if anybody is interested). I met Rich and his wife Liz some twenty-plus years ago through the local chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, and it’s always a pleasure to see them again at car events around the Twin Cities. They have both been active drivers in vintage events, and Liz runs the website for the Vintage Sports Car Racing website (vscr.org). Splendid people, whom I wish to deeply thank for the opportunity to check out this Jabro-SAAB.
http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&source=we ... V3f325Ligw
http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&source=we ... g8QHaq3jtg