I think it was Gordon Murray at McLaren who put the nail in the coffin of pop-up headlights when they were designing the McLaren F1. They tried pop-ups, but they put the aerodynamic centre of pressure of the car something like two metres in front of it, causing massive instability at the 200mph the thing was supposed to do. Murray wanted the weight distribution, centre of gravity and the aero centre of pressure perfect..

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

My mates with mx5s with flippy up headlights do say they take the top speed off quite a bit. But it could go either way for them cos the cooling intake is under the passenger headlight.

Getting back to original point of the thread -

I have been searching for Project X for about 15 years, without success.

I hot on to one chap about 10 years ago who said he knew where it was, but wouldn't tell me because he was looking at buying it.

I contacted him again last year, while researching for Issue 17, and he said he didn't buy it, that it was owned by a tow-truck operator in Sydney and that he believed it went to the local tip! He also said it was so long ago he couldn't remember the name of the tow-truck operator, and he was not prepared to go hunting in his files for the info.

So, a dead end - but it appears the car may have been destroyed.

I certainly hope not. I think it is a brilliant car.

If anyone does turn up any more info on it, I would be pleased to get anything on it. If it turns up, I would love to do a feature on it in TME.

Cheers,
Watto.

What a useless moronic waste of space! That idiot needs a good kick in the balls! To let something like that die because he's a selfish fool is disgusting!

Totally effing dumb sh!t!!!

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"I'm sorry, but a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!"

Yes, well I was none too impressed.

Watto.

At least a Leyland Cougar has been saved. ( used the V8 from the P76 )

[img][img]http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7858/leylandcougar.jpg[/img]

http://www.chequeredpast.com.au/cougar.htm

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Love or hate it.
Project X certainly does not deserve this end.
But heres a good opportunity for someone to build Project X MkII

Hi Daren here I owned the X in the 80s and gave it to a mate he had a fang and moke in merrylands syd. I still have the headlights and would like to reunite them. The last I heard it went to gosford on a tow truck and was in a padock ??? Regards Daren

Just sent you a PM Daren .

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don't know if anyone else mentioned it but the chassis is the same style as most lotus road cars - elan europa esprit

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

Reviving an old thread here, but I have some news......

(drum roll)

I have just photographed what remains of Project X - and it is not pretty. That is to say its condition is very poor, but it is quite restorable, by the right person.

I can't say much more than that at the moment, but can Morris 1100 or anyone please put me onto the previous owner, regarding those parts and whether they are still available.

Cheers,
Watto.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

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65 panel van Sprog
73 panel van Iggy

Project X or an early concept of the Porsche 928?

Morris hasn't posted here for about 6 months or so. You might have to get a friend to contact him.

As a bit of trivia he is still the 4th highest poster on ausmini.

Morris knows about it, He is on the case.

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