Daren Mk1 Prototype

The prototype was built by John Green in 1967 and was developed to race in the Nurburgring 1000km race in 1968. With it's gullwing doors and Mirage windscreen it stood lower than even the Ford GT40 at 38". Body fabrication was shared by Maurice Gomm who did the bodywork on the Ford F3L

Daren Prototype - Specifications and details when first built in 1968

Built to conform to Group 6 Appendix J of the International sporting code 1968.

Built by John Green of Daren Cars, Station Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds.

Chassis - no. DP681 (Daren Prototype 1968 Number 1). Space frame with semi-monocoque cab construction. Designed for rear mounted engine and gearbox.

Chassis multi-tubular constructed from 18 Standard Wire Gauge (1.22mm thickness). Tubing - square steel of 1" section with some lighter 1/2" section used for supporting body panels.

Bodywork - All aluminum panels. Designed by Dave Taylor ex. Ford GT40 aerodynamics advisor and in the employment of J.W. Automotive.

Stressed aluminum undertray fitted with steel panels to stiffen the frame near the front suspension mountings.

Bodywork features - Hot air from the radiator is removed via openings in the top of the nose section. This also helps to generate a down pressure on the front wheels.

Screen - Triplex laminated. Ex Ford Mirage Group 6

Side and rear windows - Perspex

Front Suspension - Double unequal length wishbone construction with an adjustable roll bar. Triumph Herald front uprights. Armstrong fully adjustable coil springs/shock absorber units. All rose jointed apart from mounting points on chassis.

Rear Suspension - de Dion construction with twin parallel radius rods. de Dion constructed from 3" diameter 16 S.W.G. (1.63mm thickness) steel tubing. A lateral link to determine roll centre height was made to specifically for the Daren. Armstrong adjustable coil/spring/shock absorber units, Panhard rod and roll bar all fully rose jointed.

Steering - Rack and Pinion from Standard Triumph, modified for the Daren.

Brakes - Girling 10 1/4" front with AR alloy calipers to F2 specification; Girling 10 1/4" rear with iron calipers all outboard mounted. Dual braking system with twin master cylinders. Ferodo linings fitted all round.

Wheels - Ex-Alexis F3 cast Magnesium all 13" diameter.

Front - 8" wide by 13" diameter, 4 stud fixing

Rear - 10" wide by 13" diameter, 4 stud fixing

Tyres - Dunlop 970 compound CR65

Front - 4.75 x 10 x 13

Rear - 6.00 x 12 x 13

Electrical - 12 volt Lucas

Fuel - Capacity ~10 gallons (45.5 litres). Aluminum tank

Oil capacity - 2 gallons (9.1 litres)

Systems - Instruments

Rev counter 0-12,000 Smiths Mechanical

Oil Pressure Gauge

Water Temperature Gauge

Weight - 10.5 cwt (1180lb) as per appendix J 1968

Dimensions

Wheelbase 90"

Height 38"

Length 144"

Track f/r 52"

Width 51"

Engine - Twin Cam Lotus-Ford modified by Vegantune of Spalding Lincs. developing 173 bhp on twin 45 DCOE Weber Carburettors.

Compression ratio 13:1

Gearbox - Hewland Mk5 with LSD.

Driveshaft - Manufactured specifically for the Daren and fitted with Hardy Spicer joints at outer ends and rubber doughnuts at the inner end.

Daren Mk1 #2. The Mk1 was restored many years later after being discovered rotting away in Singapore.

Very nice, I got some shots of a Spyder version, any info on that too?

Yes...working on Mk2 and 3 which were spyders.

[quote=Dino Scuderia;919377]Yes...working on Mk2 and 3 which were spyders.[/quote]
I'll put on some shots then.