This page is devoted to my mate Duncan’s Sylva Leader. It’ll include track day shots and general stuff we hope you find interesting.
Car Info:
It was built in 1989 with Vauxhall Magnum front subframe suspension and brakes. The shocks and springs have been replaced with ride height adjustable spax units. The track control arms are rose jointed. The rear suspension originally was the Magnum rear axle. However the rear axle was changed to an Escort English axle and five linked and is fully adjustable through rose joints. The brakes are drum and the diff ratio is 3.9:1. Tyres front and rear are 185/60HRx13 and pressures are 19lbs/sq inch front and 21lbs/sq inch rear.
The engine and gearbox are from a Fiat 132 1800. When the engine was rebuilt many years ago Guy Croft was involved, a later rebuild and uprating was completed by Bill Richards the last BMC Works Apprentice. The last time the car was on the rolling road it made 160 bhp at 6200 rpm and 142 lbs/ft of torque at 4200 rpm. It runs on twin Webber 40 DCOE’s Piper high lift cams and the sparks are controlled by Lucas sports electronic ignition via a distributor. To keep things cool a Golf radiator is plumbed in with a 13 row oil cooler.
The gearbox has been rebuilt twice due to wear as a result of much abuse.
The car is mainly used for sprints, the odd track day and fast road blasts.
Winning its class in 4 years running in regional sprint championship competing at such venues as Lydden, Goodwood, Brands Hatch, North Weald, Carver Barracks, Wethersfield, Snetterton, Hethel, Llandow and Colerne.
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