Engine Punk

In my recently acquired copy of Hot Car magazine for January 1973 I've spotted this advert for an original GP Centron. This is the one as originally conceived with the lifting canopy instead of doors by Pierre du Plessis at GP Concessionaires Ltd and just look who's selling it. Then check out the spec. There's a Porsche flat-6 engine in the back and an ominous comment about being for experienced drivers only. I interpret this as meaning that it was far too fast for its chassis. It would still have had a Beetle chassis and all the joys and disappointments that brings. Nowadays there's quite a lot of chassis tuning expertise for Beetles but back in 1973 cars like these were pioneering ways of showing the limitations of rear-engined swing-axle layouts. But the invitable question is - does this car still survive? And if it does is the paperwork straight? And if that admin hurdle can be overcome, can the latest corner better goodies be applied to it?

Well, as I'd hoped, I've made contact with the owner of the Centron mentioned on here as Vintage Thing No. 53 . It belongs to Gerald Dawson who has confirmed that it was once black. He's kindly passed on some better images of his car to use on this blog. As the registration number is the same as the Statestyle car that I once knew, Gerald's car must be that demonstrator as well as the Lalande show car. As you may have gathered I have a soft spot for the Centron. I think the front end styling is highly successful but there are some awkward angles to the window aperture in profile. Softer lines here might improve the overall look but the kamm tail doesn't bother me at all. Gerald's Centron is a striking motorcar. Gerald says, "By the time I got it, it had already been painted red, with a black vinyl roof. The auction catalogue I was given describes it as a black show car, and that it was featured in a magazine article. I have been unable to find which magazin...