Dutton Sports Cars
This page did start out as the Dutton Phaeton page but since they are now the minority of the collection of these cars that I have I think its time to rename the page. I also don’t want to confuse the “Sevenesque” cars with the more utility based Sierra and Rico cars that Dutton produced or the Melos 2+2. I do appreciate that Dutton was very successful with the variety of cars that they produced and that by being versatile managed to stay in business and produce a huge number of kit cars in the 20+ years of production.
The association of the sports cars with the less sporting models is a bit of a blessing in disguise, unfortunately you do get the Dutton stigma of some truly hideous and very poorly built and presented models but at the same time this devalues some very capable and well made cars. So if you can put up with the jokes and jibes you can get some very well handling and pretty high performance cars for very little money. How little? – The most expensive car on this site cost me £850 and the average price paid is £380. But it does pay to know what to look for and shop around and you must have a fair mechanical knowledge and ability.
I currently have a Series 4 a B+ and two B –Types although I am also leaving on the site the previous cars I have owned with a little bit of detail about what I did with them prior to selling them on.
B-Type
This car has been bought in bits and lots of them chassis and bodywork and a few parts like rack and some triumph hubs. The spec below is what the car will be when its finished.
Colour Green with aluminium alloy side panelling Engine Alfa Romeo 1300 DOHC from 105 series coupe Gearbox Alfa Romeo 5 speed Axle Ford Anglia Van axle – reinforced 4.1:1 ratio Front Suspension Double wishbone derived from Lotus/Westfield/Triumph Rear Suspension Full Five link axle location - Fully adjustable coil over shock absorbers Accessories Full wet weather gear B-Type
This car has been bought in bits and lots of them chassis and bodywork and a few parts like rack and some triumph hubs. The spec below is what the car will be when its finished.
Colour Red with aluminium alloy side panelling Engine Alfa Romeo 2.0L Twin spark DOHC from Alfa 75 Gearbox Alfa Romeo 5 speed from 105 series Axle Alfa Romeo live axle from 105 series coupe with LSD Front Suspension Double wishbone derived from Westfield but with revised geometry Rear Suspension Full Five link axle location with Mumford link- Fully adjustable coil over shock absorbers Accessories Full wet weather gear B+
I have very much liked this model of Dutton since I bought my first Dutton the S4 and found out a little bit more about Dutton’s and all the different variants. This one is a bit special with the rear wheel arches widened by 50mm each side to clear some very large split rim alloys. The engine has a mind tune with Holley carb and tubular headers.
Colour Red with aluminium alloy side panelling Engine Rover V8 3500cc - From late model 1976 Rover P6 3500S (9.25CR) Gearbox Rover LT77 5 Speed Gearbox from Rover SD1 Axle Ford Capri MK1 3000L fitted with 3.09:1 Ratio Front Suspension Derived from Triumph Spitfire/Herald Double wishbone - Fitted with fully adjustable coil-over shock absorbers Rear Suspension Full Five link axle location - Fully adjustable coil over shock absorbers Accessories Full wet weather gear Series 1
Car was first registered in 1983 built for hillclimb and sprints by the original builders. My first V8 Dutton that I sold to fellow Dutton enthusiast Sean Clarey in 2004 when I bought the B+ - See more of the work on this car and Sean’s previous Dutton an S2 on his website.
Colour Yellow with aluminium alloy side panelling Engine Rover V8 3500cc - From 1976 Rover P6 3500S model (10.50CR) Gearbox Rover LT77 5 Speed Gearbox from Rover SD1 Axle Ford Capri MK1 3000L fitted with 3.09:1 Ratio Front Suspension Derived from Triumph Spitfire/Herald Double wishbone - Fitted with fully adjustable coil-over shock absorbers Rear Suspension Full Five link axle location - Fully adjustable coil over shock absorbers Accessories Full wet weather gear and optional 'Long' hardtop Series 3
Car was first registered in 1987 – I had plans for this car for hillclimbs at the local venue Loton Park but the S1 shelved that idea as a V8 had far more potential. Subsequently both the S3 and the S1 have made way for the B+ with the S3 being sold to DOC member Pete Belton.
Colour British Racing green with stainless steel decorative side panelling Engine Frd 'Kent' 1600 GT spec' cross-flow Gearbox Ford 4 speed GT Gearbox Axle Ford Escort Van with 4.1:1 ratio and 9" brakes Front Suspension Special Dutton design using Ford Escort strut cut down and using Dutton upper wishbone and Escort track control arm and anti roll bar - Fully adjustable coil-over shock absorbers Rear Suspension Full Five link axle location - Fully adjustable coil over shock absorbers Accessories Full wet weather gear Series 4
Car was first registered in 1989
Colour Black Engine Ford 'Pinto' SOHC 205 2000cc Gearbox Ford Type 9 Five Speed Gearbox Axle Ford Escort MK2 with 3.89:1 ratio and 8" brakes Front Suspension Modified from standard to double wishbone type that required many chassis modifications. Fully adjustable coil-over shock absorbers Rear Suspension Full Five link axle location - Fully adjustable coil over shock absorbers Accessories Full wet weather gear and optional short and long hard tops The car that started all this interest the LOTUS SEVEN SERIES 4