FORD-BASED TWO-SEATER WITH SUPERCHARGING AND I.F.S.
IN the present state of the market it was almost inevitable that the North Downs Engineering Company, of Godstone Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, should sooner or later, turn their attention to the production of a complete vehicle of "Warm" performance. They are sole contemporary manufacturers of what used to be known as the Marshall supercharger and the Ballamy independent front suspension system-now rechristened Marshall-Nordec and Nordec respectively. In view also of the close association during recent years between this firm and Ford and Ford-inspired products, it was also a reasonable supposition that a Nordec car would utilize a preponderance of Dagenham-made components.
Blown
Prefect
Both of these expectations are now fulfilled, and
The Autocar was recently able to inspect a prototype Nordec
two-seater sports car, employing a mildly supercharged Ford Ten
engine ; transmission, wheels and brakes of the same antecedents ;
and a modified Ford Eight chassis frame, embodying the i.f.s.
system mentioned above. It should be made clear from the start,
however, that " prototype " is the operative word, it
being the constructors' intention that the production article
shall have lower and more rakish lines than those seen in the
accompanying photograph. On the other hand, if particular
customers have a preference for the exceptional all-round
visibility conferred by the relatively high build of the car
pictured, they will he able to purchase replicas of the prototype.
Marketing policy for the newcomer may be summed up thus : during
the forthcoming competition season the prototype will be on view
as often as possible at race meetings, hill-climbs, and so forth,
and then, provided " prospect reaction " warrants it, as
it should, limited scale production will be launched.
Although
basically Ford Eight, the Nordec chassis frame has the same
wheelbase as the Ford Ten (7ft 10in), the additional length being
obtained by extension forwards ; thus, the position of the engine
relative to the front wheel centres differs from that of the Ford
Ten. There is a considerable degree of crab track, the respective
front and rear dimensions being 4ft 2in and 3ft 9in. Ground
clearance is 8 ½ in.
To ensure maximum effectiveness for
the divided-axle i.f.s., which employs a modified Ford transverse
leaf spring, considerable pains have been taken to lend extra
stiffness to the frame itself, the side members having gussets
added to convert the channel girders into box section. Marles
steering with a column adjustable for rake replaces the Ford
system, the turning circle being 36ft, while 1 ¼ turns give
a lock-to-lock sweep.
The body, reminiscent in its bonnet and
frontal treatment of the current Allard, is aluminium-panelled on
a robust framework of angle steel. The commodious stern
accommodates the 13-gallon petrol tank, which has twin filler
orifices, one at each side ; a large luggage locker, in which the
detachable side screens are stowed when not in use ; and a
separate locker at floor level for the spare wheel. The doors,
hinged at the rear, have no external handles,
The Works
In
common with the transmission system, the engine itself is standard
Ford. but incorporates a Series J Marshall-Nordec supercharger of
Roots type, driven at 1.3 times engine speed by a steel-cored
Fenner belt, a jockey pulley being provided for adjustment; 43
b.h.p, at 4,000 r.p.m. is claimed. There is a manually operated
regulator valve for blower lubrication (oil is drawn automatically
from the engine lubrication system), but in normal practice, once
the best all-round setting has been found, this regulator can
safely be ignored. The dry weight of the complete car is 1,516lb,
some 330lb lighter than the Ford Prefect saloon and, as regards
performance, it is claimed that a 33 ½ per cent reduction
in times from zero to the normal Ford maximum -or to any
intermediate point-is well within the Nordec's compass. General
appointments include a neat, though unenclosed, remote-control
gear change, disappearing hood, twin windscreen wipers, a pull-on
hand brake and a four-spoked spring steering wheel.
The price
of the Nordec, as described, will be about £650, exclusive
of Purchase tax. At the customer's option, a Ford Eight engine,
with either Eight or Ten gear ratios, will be available.
(The
Autocar, March'49)
