The Daren Mk1 at HMSA in Macao - June-July '06

Latest developments

Highlight for the project to-date was the visit by David Sewell all the way from Nigeria via Farnborough . David spent a weekend in HK and Macao and visited Neville's facilities to check on the progress of the rebuild. Below are some of the photos from Macao that we took with David recounting some of the history behind the car and subsequent Darens built. A book on Daren Cars is now being contemplated.

One particularly interesting observation is that John Green had been employed at Fairthorpe Cars after working as an apprentice at Rolls Royce. It took me a while to locate material on Fairthorpe - one of these small production car companies from Bukinghamshire that was founded by Air Vice-Marshal Donald Bennett. Fairthorpe Cars by J.H. Allan apparently has a reference to the Daren Mk1, a copy of which should arrive shortly from the United States from a book dealer I often use for such obscure titles. I also discovered a bit more of the Hugh Dibley and Palliser connection - Dibley's involvement being to "productionise" one of the Daren models (Mk2). Dibley was a pilot in the BOAC while he ran Palliser Cars with Len Wilmhurst (hence the WD plus category designation for their cars) and was close enough to John Green to have a Daren on the Palliser stand at one the UK motor shows. In fact, the race community being what it was, John was familiar with just about everyone - from Arthur Mallock to Alan Mann, Jeff Uren and the Richardson brothers. 

What's new with the Mk1

We now have the original chassis plate as used on Daren cars, appropriately made at Leighton Buzzard by a signcraft proprietor who knew John Green and the workshop that was used to build the cars. We also have the appropriate badges and stickers which David kindly brought over from the UK (see photos attached). The 65kg quarter-scale model of the car remains in the UK.  

The "dashboard" of the car - with all the gauges still in place but probably beyond resurrection. Most are still available off the shelf Smith items - refurbishment and replacement that will only be undertaken at the tail end of the project.		Left to right - Neville, David Sewell, Isabel, the author - surveying the Daren Prototype.
David Sewell must have been wondering what it would take to resurrect the remains of that "barn find".  Customs officers in Macao had a good laugh when they saw what was inside the container upon its arrival from Singapore. Friends have suggested that the owner be institutionalized.	Assessing the Triumph Herald suspension arms and comparing them to that of a Lotus Elan chassis that sat nearby.	The semi-finished chassis minus the upper sections.
Examining the state of the magnesium wheels. We may just sandblast these and use them as a coffee table. The original wheels John Green used were from his monoposto Merlyn. After the ADAC 1000km Nurburgring in 1968, the rear end was converted from uprights to a de Dion and the wheels replaced with ones from an Alexis - the ones you see above.	David refitting the door after describing the Group 6 rules for 1968 that created the profile for this car. Subsequent rule changes resulted in open cars becoming the norm.	The author and David Sewell discussing structural issues that will be addressed before the bodywork is fitted.
The aluminum body - nothing a decent panel-beater can't fix	Rear section of the bodywork being inspected	Discussing the merits of a roll cage and the overall design of the chassis
	Discussion over how to reinforce the windscreen surround. During the 1968 1000km Nurburgring event, the windscreen cracked when course marshals mishandled the car after it had caught fire. Dave Taylor managed to procure a replacement screen (about a dozen had been made for the Ford Mirage GT40 project).	Discussion on how the door would be jettisoned if the driver needed to exit rapidly.