Nimrod (Talbott Alternative Car Company)

 History

Mike Jupp and Ray Jay developed from 1969 an automobile . When it was finished in 1972, Jay retired from the partnership. Jupp founded the company Nimrod Engineering in Hunston near Chichester in West Sussex and started producing automobiles and kits . The brand name was Nimrod .

 Already in the same year the production ended for the time being. Vic Elam of Nova Cars of Bradford in West Yorkshire took over the project in 1979, but produced nothing. TACCO (Talbott Alternative Car Company) from Wincanton in Somerset , led by Nigel Talbott, continued production from 1981 to 1986. Fiberglass Applications from Westbury , Wiltshire, led by Pat Cuss, took over the project in 1986 . In total, about 20  were created til 1988.

The offer was only a model. A spaceframe frame formed the base. The front subframe as well as engine and wheels came from the Mini . The body made of fiberglass came without doors and had a Targa roof 

Nimrod styling is a cross between a sports car and buggy, and using Mini components and drivetrain, above average tenacity of the standard Mini together with reduced bodyweight, lower centre of gravity, wider trac
aerodynamic styling, the Nimrod is a quick, responsive car. Even when using an 850cc motor, the car still gives good all round performance with excellent fuel economy.

The kit set you back around £900 and for this amount you received a fully rust proofed and painted space frame chassis, all GRP body panels, a laminated front and rear screen, roll-over bar, seats and subframes, a pair of three-point harness seat belts and all the lights. In addition, the kit also contains a pair of rear shock absorbers, soft top hood, new fuel tank, a battery box, earth and main live feed cables, all of which are factory fitted to ensure perfect fit, professional finish and simplicity of construction. All that this leaves the builder to accomplish is the transfer of the subframes and mechanics from a donor Mini and the addition of some suitably stylish wheels and tyres in keeping with the car's general appearance. The standard Mini instruments can be pressed into service although the spacious dashboard allows great scope for builders with a little imagination.

OPTIONS

A set of 5 x 12 alloy wheels and 165 x 12 tyres are offered as options to the basic kit and you'll also find a good choice of seats and body colours to choose from. Kits can also be made available in knock- down form to suit builders' pockets.
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