142 rally photo

[john h]

Hi,

Here's a great photo that I have shamelessly stolen from new member dvdryan's for sale ad (he's selling his amazon).



This is his rally car and I am deeply jealous!

John

[Jaymz]

look at that wheel up action, love it

[dvdryan]

It isn't actually my rallycar. I navigate in this car in Ireland. This photo was taken during the 2009 West Cork Rally. The owner is a friend living near Reading. He also rallies in Belgium. The story is long and complicated here is another pic.

[volvo travel]

Originally Posted by john h

Hi,

Here's a great photo that I have shamelessly stolen from new member dvdryan's for sale ad (he's selling his amazon).



This is his rally car and I am deeply jealous!

John

Do you want to own it?

[dvdryan]

Hey Volvo Travel. Is that the Killarney leprechaun? Shall I give them a potted history of the car?
Cheers
David.

[john h]

Originally Posted by volvo travel

Do you want to own it?

So it is for sale? That is the sort of temptation I can really do without!

So as not to mislead you at all, I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford it, but I would love to know more about the spec and what it's worth.

Also, if you have time, some stories of the cars events, photos etc would be great. (I don't ask for much do I? Probably what people on ebay call a 'dreamer' or a 'timewaster', but at least I'm up front about it and, you never know, my lottery numbers might come up!)

Cheers

John

[dvdryan]

The car was originally owned by Mike Corns, now sadly deceased. Mike lived in North Wales and campaigned in historic tarmac stage rallies in Ireland and in long distance historic regularity type events in a variety of Volvos. He had a very nice PV that he used on Le Jog and the historic Monte Carlo. A tarmac rally prepared Amazon (FWB 30), which my brother-in-law now owns. He was building a 1963 P1800 to replace the PV and he also had the 142. The 142 is a 1967 reg. car making it eligible to compete as a historic car in stage rallies, meaning that we didn't have to compete against those (impossible to beat) Mk1 Escorts. The first time I competed in the car it was a revelation. Having being used to Mike's Amazon, the 142 seemed so much more nimble and responsive. During the 2000 West Cork Rally the first stage (for historics) was the Ring stage outside Clonakilty. This is a very fast 11 mile stage, a lot of which is flat out fifth gear stuff. I remember looking at the times afterwards and being amazed. Out of a 25 car field headed by Geoff Crabtree in a 911 Porsche, 3 other Porsches, a Lotus Cortina, a Sunbeam Tiger and the usual gaggle of Escorts and Coopers we were equal 5th fastest beside Paul Wignell’s Porsche. As the stages got tighter we slipped behind Paul Aston’s Cooper, but we were still by far the fastest historic class car. All the cars ahead of us were post 1967. Normally in the Amazon we would have been around tenth. Any day you end a tarmac rally in Ireland with only 4 Porsches, an RS Escort and a Cooper in front has to be a good day. I think we ended up 8th the following day but the 142 was amazing. We did some more events in the car but I don’t think that anything surprised me as much as that first outing. After Mike died the 142 was bought by Volvo Travel, another friend of mine, who is well known in historic tarmac circles. Volvo Travel usually drove Hillman Imps or Avengers. He tried the 142 on a number of events over 3 years but the car, while successful, was quite tired. He re-shelled the car in 2008. Everything was re-built into a very nice, one owner from new, low mileage ’68 142 that he found in London. The “new” car’s first outing was in The Killarney Historic 2008. I have included a few pictures. I’m not sure what the quality will be like as they are scanned photos. The first is the original 142 from the West Cork Rally 2000. Next is from the 2007 Killarney Historic. Note the alarming angles of the front wheels, the result of hitting a large rock on the Tim Healy Pass stage. Next is the newly rebuilt car before the start of the 2009 Killarney Historic. I’ll try to get Volvo Travel to supply some spec for the car and maybe some more photos. As far as I’m concerned engines and carbs etc is just “driver stuff” it gives drivers something to talk about when there isn’t a navigator around to tell them what to do!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dvdryan]

Sorry, I had to resize the pictures. I didn't realize how large they were until the server siezed up.
David

[MikeMS]

David.

Many years ago I sold a F reg 142 to a chap that I met at the Southampton Boat Show. He was exhibiting there and I drove from Kent to Southampton with my wife. I had a promise of some free boat show tickets to make it worth my while. I had the chaps phone number to call when I got there and when I called there was no answer. In the end I had to leave my wife at the gate as a 'deposit' to be allowed in to find this gentleman.

I think it was Mike Corns. I think the year was about 1996. He lent us the photopasses for him and his wife, bearing no resemblance to us and we had a wander around the show. Good to his word, he brought my car and a week later I had to drive to Southampton again, with my wife following in another car to get us back.

I am sorry to hear of his passing.

As for the car, it was a grey 142 and the number could have been JPA 11F.

Is that 142 up for sale?

Kind regards

Mike MS

PS My first post and I did try to PM but I don't have enough posts.

[dvdryan]

Hi Mike, that certainly sounds like Mike Corns. He was involved in yachting and boating and would more than likely have been exhibiting in Southampton. While I did see several 142s and 144s on his farm in later years the reg number doesnt ring any bells. I think any of the 140s in his yard were in "salvage" condition. Sorry that I don't have more info but I spent from 96 to 98 in Italy and didn't meet him often during that time. Also sorry for the late reply, I haven't been on line much. The weather is too good and there are lawns to be cut etc.
Cheers
David