IK Classics and Racing

Trying the deck out with a load

The Transporter nearly finished and ready for action.

IK Classics & Racing recently bought a Vanguard phase II saloon with the intention to convert it into a replica of the Mike Anthony's transporter of the 1950's 60's. The vehicle is being constructed to carry our phase 1  race car.

Over the next few months we will be updating the photos and running a report on what is being done, so please keep dropping in to catch upon the project.

January 2009 
As you can see from the image gallery we have cut off the rear of the body in order to fabricate the cab back using the rear window from the car.

The revealed chassis appears to be in sound condition which will help when it comes to extending it to the required length.

The rear window and cab back where welded on and at that point the project ground to a halt for the remainder of 2009 due to the amount of revinue work that required attention at IK Classics.

At the begining of 2010 IK Racing took a number of vehicles down to Goodwood for selection to the 2010 Revival.

IK were luck to have 4 cars selected and one of them being our 1951 Standard Vanguard race car so it was now a case of re-starting the transporter project in order that it could become the carrier of the race car to Goodwood in September.

The rear section of the saloons chassis was cut off and a second chassis modified and attached with a 2 foot extension to form the extended wheel base. I had been contacted by Mr Mike Anthony and he gave me details as to how he constructed his transporter in the 1950s which is mostly how we were constructing our vehicle. 

Once the chassis had been welded up the cab section got all the attaention to prepare it for paint and on the 8th of August the chassis cab was collected by J & T Autobodys for them to paint the cab prior the the rear body being fitted. 

It is now a race against time to get the transporter finished and not forgetting the four race cars ready.

The transporter was finished just in time for Goodwood and I begane to think about the 260 mile journey down to Sussex driving a vehicle that had lain in a field for the last 15 years, how would the engine take to such a rude awakening and demanding trip?

Well unfortunatly fate took a hand and the driver we had lined up to take my racing Vanguard down to the Revival had some pressing work comnitments come up and would'nt beable to get down untill very late on the Thursday or early Friday morning which was obviously far too late. So the decesion was taken that the transporters first public debut would have to go on hold and I would have to take the race car down to Goodwood. The Transporter remained in the workshop. 

2011 arrived and with it the start of the Historic Racing Drivers Club race series (www.hrdc.eu). The first event was a press release day at The Porsche Centre on the  Silvertstone circuit. The transporter was tried out for the first time carrying our Morris Lowlight on its back to be displayed in front of the press. Unbelievably the vehicle ran faultlesly and was quite a star attraction at the event.

Over 2011 the transporter has so far covered 1350 miles carrying our race cars to Silverstone (twice), Brands Hatch and Mallory Park it has also been to various local car shows and is due to be exibited at the Classic Car Show in November at the NEC on the Standard Owners Club stand.