nalaeroom Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Ok, so here's my car "The Beast" 1983 Janspeed 2.8i Turbo. Bought new by my brother on 1st August 1983 from Norman Reeves Motors Slough. I remember the day vividly when the salesman drove the car from the compound to the showroom and we watched it coming down the Windsor Road towards us mmm. The first thing my brother said when we got into it was "wow, these seats are a bit firm" (he had a 2.0 Ghia before so was used to something softer) but after a few miles of driving aimlessly they suddenly became very comfortable. After about a year he decided he wanted it to be different so we checked out all of the options for turbocharging, supercharging and tuning and Janspeed was, and still is, the best looking conversion. It was now May 1985 and after a test drive in Simon Lee of Janspeed's Sierra XR4i that was it !! I think they had the car for about 2 weeks to do the job but I may be lying (getting old slight brain fade) Anyway on the night we collected it from Janspeed factory in Salisbury I was driving my XR2 and it was very dark on the M3 with no street lights or speed cameras wink wink........ halfway home we pulled up on the hard shoulder and he asked me if I wanted to drive it, well I dont think I can use those words on here but it was WHAT THE F.......!!!! cant tell you anymore but it was very fast and it would easily have seen off one of those slow old Tickford Capri things (sorry if you own one) Following a telephone conversation with Janspeed the next day we were told it would be expected to do 160-165 MPH and would stick with a Ferrari between 80 and 120 MPH......... and maybe it did and maybe it would mmm. It was my brother's daily drive for several years but other than the winter of '83 when it was new it has been garaged every winter since and it has just had it's 25 birthday !! So now we move on several years to April 2003 and my brother owns a BMW convertable and wants to sell The Beast and I had to buy it, just could not bear to see it go, I don't remember how much I paid him for it and don't really care because it did not matter and still doesn't. It is just coming up to 50,000 miles and my heart still misses a beat when I floor the pedal and aim it. It has not had any restoration or spraying apart from the front spoiler I bent when I had a coming together with a rabbit at ? MPH one morning on the way to work, it was like hitting a wall !!(bent the spoiler and the bumper and the plastic grille under the bumper) and the rabbit was not too well either. I had a bit of a game finding Good Year NCT's but thanks to Turbo-Mike I found some. When they were fitted I had them all fitted the same way on the wheel also the wheels have only ever been fitted on the corners of the car that they were on when it was new. Had to have NCT's as that was what it came with and the original spare is still in the boot unused. Yea ! I know sad old git but do I care Noooo not a chance !!I have to be fairly careful with it now as the Wastegate is allowing it to overboost beyond 7 PSI and that does not have a good outcome, BANG, SMOKE, CLATTER, CLATTER, STOP !! Oh well enough rambling and on with some pictures........ This was at the Janspeed factory 1985 Thanks for looking Alan
Admin Vista Posted February 17, 2009 Admin Report Posted February 17, 2009 Very nice, no too many of them around now either. Any idea how many Janspeed converted?
v6power Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 That is SPOT ON Nice to be able to know it's full history as well. I assume by your comments, it is going to stay completely original? As much as I love looking at some of the modded cars on here, I still love to see one as it was meant (apart from the turbo lol)
Mick The Cabbie Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 Wow what a stunning car! And being an original Janspeed conversion, it's a very special one too It's nice to see it has remained in such original and unmolested contition. It's a real credit to your brother and yourself! Keep looking after it.
nalaeroom Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Posted February 21, 2009 Hi Vista, sorry no idea how many Janspeed converted have tried to find out but.............. Janspeed don't have any records now And yes it will be staying standard apart from to turbo that is the only way it should be for me !! Alan
brooky24v Posted February 21, 2009 Report Posted February 21, 2009 How about contacting classic ford for a grudge match between your janspeed turbo and my slow old Tickford only mods are t5 box and alloy rad and larger intercooler. shes been moth balled for 10 years and im getting her out this year to do a few shows so she could do with a blast, and it would be interesting to see how it pans out
JC T ONE Posted September 17, 2009 Report Posted September 17, 2009 Hi Vista, sorry no idea how many Janspeed converted have tried to find out but.............. Janspeed don't have any records now Hi that is such a nice car you got there, only this week 2 more dissapered one Range Rover sold for scrap. and I found the remains of the only Metro, I have seen, (they only made a handfull). regarding other cars, it was the Capri, and Range Rover, that was their biggest sellers but this is only logical, as these cars attracted people with more than average interest for driving, plus they would spend that little extra, to make it go faster I have a magezine with a interview of Jan O´dor, and in it he say they made 300 (app) in 1984, most for export to Africa (Land rover Diesel)but remember this was their biggest time, as all car manufactures was starting to make their own turbo model, he also talk about the "one offs" that was made for big money. Simon Lee built my car they had it for 8 weeks, as they did a paint job on it also, (out in town) Simon gave me his keyring, new badges, and cufflinks, after I send him pictures of the car, I am SO happy about this, as I newer saw any on Ebay?
caprinerd Posted September 22, 2009 Report Posted September 22, 2009 the other thing you got to take into the pic is how many janspeed kits were sold as well as how many janspeed themselves fitted up
JC T ONE Posted September 26, 2009 Report Posted September 26, 2009 the other thing you got to take into the pic is how many janspeed kits were sold as well as how many janspeed themselves fitted up yes you are right, but in the interviev Jan O´dor was talking about all sets made, (364 in 1984) and of which most was exported to other parts of the world, but to this day, I have not seen or heard, of any diy kit, only found cars that was sent to Salisbury for the conversion. The second owner of my car, was at Earls Court, or Birmingham Motor Show, in the 80ies, and when he saw the A series engine on display, at the JANSPEED stand, he said he wanted to buy such a kit, but was informed that (and I quot) "this is not something you can have in a box to go, this is a real conversion, where brakes - suspension - fuel system is upgraded" , so he signed a contract, and the car was send to UK. The guy in France with the Datsun 260, said both his, and the other 260 was send to UK for the conversion, in their advert for the TURBO sets, they also write, that there is only a garantee, if the kit is fitted by them, or appointed garage, but I would like to hear from someone who have a kit, they bought, and fitted themselwes? I think its a great shame when people scrap these rare cars, it could be fun to make a meeting for JANSPEED turbo cars, maybe as a smaller part, of a big Classic car show? I saw a BBC television program, about a car meeting, just for Downton built cars, very interesting.
wardtimothy Posted October 3, 2009 Report Posted October 3, 2009 Lovely Capri, so nice that its been in your family all of these years.
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