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Argyll Turbo Cars Limited

 Automotive manufacturer of Lochgilphead , Scotland.Great Britain from 1976 to 1990.
Automotive manufacturer of Lochgilphead , Scotland.Great Britain from 1976 to 1990. 

 

Argyll Turbo Cars Limited was a British manufacturer of sports automobiles . The brand name was Argyll . 

History

The racing driver Bob Henderson, who already made in his company Minnow Fish Carburettors carburetor and turbocharger expert, founded in 1976, the company in Lochgilphead in the Scottish county of Argyll The name was re-used in 1976 by a new company who made a mid-engined sports car, the Argyll GT in Lochgilphead, Scotland.  The new car was named after the original Argyll of 1898, in honour of a grandfather of one of the investors who worked in the Argyll factory at Alexandria.

The model was the mid-engined Argyll Turbo GT which was based on a  box section chassis with space frame clothed in a 2+2 seat fibreglass bodyshell made next door to the old Arrol-Johnston factory in Dumfries by Solway Marine.

The 1976 prototype car featured a turbocharged Rover V8 engine . A version with a  2.0l turbocharged Saab engine was also made.The maximum speed was specified with 209 km / h for the version with Saab engine and 275 km / h, but not  built. The basis was a self-developed chassis tubular frame . The engine was transversely behind the seats in mid engine designmounted The  independent suspension came from the Triumph 2500 and the gearbox was a ZF 5-speed unit. By undoing 10 bolts, the entire rear end, suspension, gearbox and engine came away. Production versions of the car, had also had a turbocharged version of the Douvrin Euro V6 as used by Renault, Peugeot and others, together with a Renault 30 transaxle.

PERFORMANCE: 6 cylinder

  • max engine rpm 6,500, 93.8
  • max speed 140 mph, 225 km/h
  • hp/l (69.1 kW/l)

A turbocharged V8 of 3.5 - 4.2 litres, together with the ZF transmission, was an option. Other cars used the Lancia Beta engine and transmission.

PERFORMANCE: 3,528 cc Rover, turbocharged

  • max power (DIN): 250 hp (184 kW) at rpm
  • max torque (DIN): 310 1b ft, 42.8 kg m (420 Nm)
  • max engine rpm: 6,200
  • 70.9 hp/l (52.2 kW/l)
  • max speed: over 150 mph, 241 km/h
  • power-weight ratio: 9.3 lb/hp (12.6 lb/kW), 4.2 kg/hp (5.7 kg/ kW)

Production capacity was stated to be twelve cars a year though Bob Henderson has never stated how many vehicles were actually built. With a expensive quoted price of £25-30,000 at launch, however, numbers were likely to be low. 

Around 1990, production ended. 

Technical

  • Argyll Turbo GT Technical details and specifications

    ENGINE: Rover, turbocharged
    Location: central, transverse
    4 stroke; 8 cylinders in Vee
    215 cu in, 3,528 cc (3.50 x 2.80 in, 88.9 x 71.1 mm)
    compression ratio: 8.5:1
    light alloy block and head, dry liners
    5 crankshaft bearings
    valves: overhead, in line, push-rods and rockers, hydraulic tappets
    camshafts: 1, at centre of Vee
    lubrication: gear pump, full flow filter, oil cooler
    15 imp pt, 18 US pt, 8.5 1
    1 Minnow Fish TM 7 carburettor turbocharger
    fuel feed: electric pump
    water-cooled
    30 imp pt, 35.9 US pt, 17 1.

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: rear
    clutch: single dry plate
    gearbox: ZF mechanical
    gears: 5, fully synchronized
    ratios: 1st 2.580, 2nd 1.520, 3rd 1.040, 4th 0.850, 5th 0.740, rev 2.860
    lever location: central
    final drive: hypoid bevel
    limited slip

    WHEELS TYRES:
    width of rims: 8"
    tyres: 205 x 15. or 185 x 15 tyres.

    CHASSIS
    type box-section with integral roll cage
    front suspension: independent, coil springs, double wishbone, anti-roll bar telescopic dampers
    rear: independent, double wish-bone, coil springs, telescopic dampers.

    STEERING
    rack-and-pinion
    turns lock to tock: 2.50.
    (option) power steering
    BRAKES
    disc (diameter 10,30 in, 26 cm), servo.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    12 V
    60 Ah battery
    Lucas distributor

    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 118 in, 300 cm;
    front and rear track: 59.50 in, 151 cm
    length: 183 in, 465 cm
    width: 72 in, 183 cm
    height: 48 im 122 cm
    ground clearance: 6 in, 15 cm
    weight: 2.300 1b, 1,043 kg
    weight distribution: 48% front, 52% rear

    © Motor car History

Service

  • Argyll Turbo GT Maintenance and Service Guide


    Rover V8 Turbo
    fuel type: 97 oct petrol
    oil change: engine 15 imp pt, 18 US pt, 8.5 i. SAE 20W-30, change every 3, 100 miles, 5,000 km
    gearbox and final drive 5.8 imp pt. 7 US pt, 3.3 1, SAE 90, change every 12,400 miles, 20,000 km
    tyre pressure: front 22 psi, 115 atm, rear 24 psi, 1.7 atm.
    fuel tank: 20 imp gal' 24 US gal

    © Motor car History