Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

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Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby robinhen » Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:52 am

I am currently in the planning phase of a project to recreate a replicate as close as posible an Nimrod Aston Martin.
The starting point for the vehicle is based on a complete NRAC2 body which I have been reliably informed was produced from the original factory tools. The chassis has a Lola designation number of T385 which is unique to Nimrod and my investigations seem to indicate that there may not be any surviving drawings. I have been in contact with various Lola experts with an intention of having a chassis built, but without drawings I am reluctant to commission the build without more detailed information. Not much has been documented about the technical side of the car and a copy of the Technical Passport is not available from the FIA. The drive train, fuelling system, brakes and electronics are not a problem as I have much of this information already, but obtaining the detail for chassis and front and rear uprights is drawing a blank. I have contacted most of the key Nimrod personnel who worked for and ran the two teams who raced the cars and have obtained as much information as I can, so I am hoping that someone in the forum may have some detailed knowledge or point me in the direction of someone who has.
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby timbo » Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:00 am

I believe there were some spare body panels produced by the Nimrod factory, so yours may be from that stock. Certainly a complete set was sold at auction last year, mounted on a very grim-looking tubular chassis with various Renault(?) bits propelling it or holding it up.

The original Nimrod chassis was indeed a Lola design with the T385 designation but, if I recall, the drawings went to Nimrod Racing Automobiles.

I assume you have been in touch already with Robin Hamilton? Phil Stott? Andy Thorby? If none of them can help then I'm not sure where you can turn. Alternatively could you not make arrangements with the owner of an existing, genuine Nimrod to get the various details from them?

Both the Mallock-revised cars are still in existence as is the car Jack Miller owns in the US. Jack's is perhaps the most original. The other two should be about, somwhere.

Another option would be to try to trace the last Nimrod - the carbon-chassis car that was never completed. I know for certain that all the drawings exist for that...
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby robinhen » Sat Aug 06, 2011 3:30 pm

The subject of the discussion is indeed the vehicle sold at the H&H auction and in spite of the chassis has at some time in it's life been road registered. Since my last post I have made some progress. Although not in the form of drawings, I do now have access with the owners consent to one of the cars, soI am able to measure the chassis and take photo's. Of the 5 original cars only four survive. NRAC1/001 which is described as the prototype was destroyed in testing and not rebuilt. My current task is to use the measurements to create a 3D CAD model, a process which is already quite advanced. When the models are complete I am likely to commission a chassis from a competent specialist.
I have also sourced a VGC transaxle and have a supply source for the engine. Lola also had a big hand in the suspension design and supplied the uprights which I am also having problems identifying. I will be adding some photo's in the next few days in the hope that someone will recognise them. although not an authentic vehicle I intend to record the progress of the build on the forum as there is little technical record for a car I consider Lola than Aston Martin. I intend to follow the original design as close as possible with a target of achieving a FIA HTP and racing the car in future historic events.
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby timbo » Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:51 pm

Are you quite sure that NRAC1/001 was destroyed? Surely that was the chassis owned by Peter Kaus and displayed for some time in the Rosso Bianco Museum?

002 = Factory car, then Jack Millar
003 = Factory car, then Roger Bennington, sold by Christies, Le Mans 2004
004 = Viscount Downe, revised by Mallock
005 = John Cooper, then Viscount Downe, revised by Mallock
006 = Second-generation, unfinished
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby robinhen » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:26 am

I need to do some more research on the subject of NRAC1/001 and current ownership of the other cars.
The list below was created after discussion with a current Nimrod owner.
Do you know the location of the carbon NRAC3 chassis?

001 car destroyed - but what remains????
002 Jack Miller USA
003 NRA/Hamilton works racer where?
004 Gaydon Museum. rebuild of car wrecked at 1984 Le Mans but where are the remains? Owned by Viscountess Downe (Bovis Car)
005 Roger Bennington (Bovis Car)
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby timbo » Mon Aug 08, 2011 1:01 pm

001 was catalogued by AMOC as owned by Peter Kaus and I have a photograph of that car on display at Rosso Bianco museum, so unless it was destroyed recently...

003 was certainly at Roger Bennington's premises at one point - again I have photographs of it there.

The last known location of 006 is the USA. Apart, that is, from one of the front suspension mounts which is in my hand right now! I have copies of all the spec sheets, etc. for that car along with a considerable quantity of other information, built up over a number of years.
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby timbo » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:27 pm

Following the closure of Rosso-Bianco, chassis 001 appears to have moved to the Louwman Museum in Holland.
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby nimrod overalls » Tue Aug 26, 2014 9:49 pm

I have inherited a pair of Nimrod Aston Martin Racing team overalls - not sure what to do with them - anyone interested? :?:
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby motacarblog » Sun Aug 02, 2015 10:40 pm

Hi,

I know this is a bit of an old thread revival but I'm extremely interested in all things related to the Aston Martin Nimrod and wondered what happened with this project?
I was also wondering if those of you who have information on the car could share it with me, particularly with reference to drawings and measurements of the chassis etc. I am looking to collate as much information on the cars as possible.

Thanks.
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby robinhen » Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:04 pm

Hello,
It is an interesting project and after 2000 plus hours of research and CAD development I now have an extremely accurate chassis design. The original drawings could not be found.although a number of original chassis parts have been sourced including correct gearbox and Nimrod lower suspension mounts. I assume you are talking to the owner of the factory moulds. I have viwed these and made an offer. The chassis build is progressing but the my drawings will not be made available until the project is complete
robinhen
 
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby motacarblog » Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:50 am

I am interested in building my own version of the car, so any details that anyone could provide me with would be of a great help.
Do you have a build thread online anywhere documenting the progress of your own car?
Thanks.
motacarblog
 
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby timbo » Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:25 pm

Presumably the moulds to which you refer are the ones offered for sale recently on eBay?
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Re: Nimrod Aston Martin (T385)

Postby motacarblog » Tue Jun 14, 2016 1:28 pm

Whatever happened with this? Any updates or progress on your recreation?
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