Vintage Thing No.72 - Ontos

An Anglo-French hybrid, British Racing Green but definitely une bolide

I first met Ontos at the Exeter Kit Car show. It had been widely reported in the media that Lomax were going to do something different from their 2CV powered trikes and the result was this surprising device. It was a very clever motoring joke, recreating a vintage Bentley out of a 2CV. But what really made our heads spin was the drivetrain that looked like a supercharger.

Despite a great deal of publicity, it remained a one-off but Ontos cropped up at Geevor Tin Mining Museum earlier this year when I visited this fascinating site, and when it re-appeared at the Lanlivery Show this September I was able to talk to the owner, who works at the museum and instructs school children on rock breaking. If the government is seriously expecting to re-generate heavy industry, this is more important than most people think.

Ontos has a standard 2CV chassis so avoids any SVA test. However, everything else is different.

The engine and chassis are mounted much further back in the chassis and much higher, too. This is to allow the chains that run forward from the inboard drum brakes to clear the suspension arms.

High-rise but otherwise standard 2CV engine benefits from a low-line performance filter. Lightweight bodywork evens out extra weight of the unique transmission. There's no real reason why this little motor couldn't be blown - apart from reliability.

The chains drive another 2CV gearbox, cunningly mounted upside down and disguised as an Amherst Villiers supercharger, just like those on the fastest lorries of 1930. This box is compete with an SU carb, as per yer actual Blower Bentley, but lacks all its internal gears.

That's a nice bit of welding on the inverted but empty front bearbox. The light coloured things under chains are rubbing strips to protect the suspension cross tube from a mild chain saw effect. I understand that a patent has been applied for. When this car appeared at the Exeter Show, its transmission caused quite a stir but was top secret.

It occurred to me that if that second gearbox still had its gears you could have an eight speed transmission. If this proved too tall for the 2CV engine, then the sprockets could be altered. But maybe simple is best. Ontos is probably complicated enough as it is. At least it works.

How many other gearboxes do you know have their own carburettor?

 The higher centre of gravity bothered me a bit and I asked the owner how it drove.

He thought for a moment and then said, "It's nothing like a 2CV. You'd think it would be as all the running gear is the same but it isn't. Ontos is effectively mid-engined and it approaches corners quite differently."

Apparently my fears were unjustified. Ontos scrabbles round the bends all right without wanting to roll over and play dead.

It's a single-seater but not as we know it. Or thought we knew it.

"One more thing," I asked. "Why Ontos?"

"It's Greek for thing."

Some people say Ontos would benefit from wire wheels. I reckon the 2CV wheels are a sort of confusing clue - yes it is 2CV based but based on a 2CV in no way that you would have thought possible.

Now that Ontos has been around for a few and regularly clocks up some long trips with its enthusiastic owner, its acquired a patina that makes it even more authentic, although authentic of what I can't really say.