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Buchanan Bodies
Body # 1,
body only fitted to MG by Bill Weekes, whereabouts unknown
Body # 2, built for
Nat Buchanan racing on MG TD chassis and driven by Bruce Maher
Body # 3, built for
Wal Anderson QLD and
fitted to replica Lotus 6 chassis with Holden engine
Body # 4, built for ?
Body # 5, built for ?
Body # 6, built for
Adrian Daniel, Hervey
Bay, QLD and fitted to Austin A40 chassis in 1957
Body # 7, built for ?
Body # 8, built for ?
Body # 9, built for ?
Body # 10, built for
? and fitted to
Rizzo chassis with Holden engine and
suspension
Body only, found on Singer chassis,
originally on MG.
Owned by
Andrei Shinkarenko, QLD.
Body only, nose modified to DB3S shape, owned
by Graeme McPhillip, NSW. Originally on MG TC, car restored by Eric Sale
and body removed and sold to Graeme in 1995
Buchanan lightweight racing bodies
Amongst the large number of fiberglass bodies Nat Buchanan was churning
out from his factory in Annandale (at a rate of 2 a week at one stage) he
offered, to special order, a simplified version specially suited to
sports-car racing.
Weighing in at around 90 pounds with only one door of regulation size
and minimum interior fittings it was designed for purpose built race cars.
Additionally the bonnet was offered without a scoop for bodies fitted to a
chassis where the engine was mounted lower than standard. The body was
also available without the passenger side dash cowl and in place of an
opening boot lid a drivers headrest was fitted.
The first racer with all these features was the Gladiator, a MG powered
Rizzo chassied car built up by Barry Taylor. Wal Anderson's Buchanan with
replica Lotus 6 chassis featured a body with all the above features minus
the headrest fairing as did Gordon Dummer's MG TC special.
Jim Corcoran's Dorcas MG TC, the Jack Edward's HRG Holden "Godfrey
Special" and the "RM Spyder" Buchanan Repco-Holden special built in 1958
by Horst Kwech sported these lightweight racing Buchanan bodies but with
the hood scoops. Interestingly the works race cars all featured the
standard fittings available on the production bodies.
As production went along lightweight race seats, molded off those
fitted to the Porsche Spyder, and a hardtop, to meet the regulations for
closed racing cars in the GT class, became available.
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Buchanan Racing bodies |
Lightweight body |
Headrest |
Smooth bonnet |
Passenger
dash cowl |
Gladiator Rizzo MG
Wal Anderson Lotus Repco Holden
George Websdale MG TC
Gordon Dummer MG TC
Dorcas MG
Godfrey Special HRG Holden
RM Spyder Repco Holden
PRAD Amilcar |
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes |
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No |
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No |
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes |
Buchanan Body Moulds
The original moulds for the body are
still in existence and owned by a consortium of Buchanan enthusiasts in
Sydney. Considering the number of cars built from them they have
survived remarkable intact. The only piece missing in the nose
section. Additionally there are moulds for the head faring behind
the driver and also for the bonnet without a scoop. The mould for the
Buchanan seats has also been found
The
consortium plan to make both fibreglass and aluminium bodies available. Replacement body panels may also become available for damaged
cars. As of early 2010 bodies and parts are not yet available.
Replica serial number plaques
and a limited run of Buchanan Body badges based off the
Buchanan Cobra badge are now available.
Cost is AUD $ 30 for the serial number plaque and AUD $45 for the badge.
Shipping is AUD $15.
If you are interested in any of the above items email
Buchanan
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