SA Production Car Racing Homologation Specials

[Can-Am ZN]

Alconi were to Renault like Meissner was to Ford, both had official factory backing and both could be bought out of dealers.

Yes, the Alconi conversion kits were sold like the Meissner kits.

But there were also complete Renault Africa production models sold, off the showroom floor, which were built in batches of 50, painted in a particular shade of blue, and differed from the Gordini blue, with complete recognition from Renault France. Read the Car Magazine R10 Alconi road test.

How is that different from a Basil Green Perana, and it’s considered a homologation special?

What you say does make sense and is quite interesting, Indy...I have had my doubts whether the Capri Perana is pukka homologation special and the reason for me saying so is this.

The SA homologation specials were special editions of road-going models, created specifically as a reactive action by a motor manufacturer in their quest to gain the upper hand or a competitive edge over their rivals in a closely contested local production car racing series, obviously with the end goal of an increase in sales of their brand in mind. The manufacturer usually only made sufficient numbers of these "special racing editions" to satisfy the minimum numbers required by the motorsport governing bodies (100, 200, 250 or 500, depending what the minimum required number was at the time) for it to be deemed a "production car".

Was this really the case with the Capri Perana, or was it merely created to satisfy South African appetite for a muscle car, and it ended up being raced due to it's performance nature?

Those who know the development of the Perana can perhaps shed more light on this

[Scorpionman]

Was there really a required amount of homologation cars to be made in the early 60's for racing. Could be that a certain amount of homologation special cars was only later required by the motorsport authority to control everything. Why I ask is that GSM raced the Dart in the late 50 and early 60's with very low production levels. Most Darts was made in 62/63.

Speaking of the Alconi guys the Fiat 125 Scorpion is another special. Only 1608cc, but wasnt afraid of cars with much bigger engines. The kits was available from many performance parts sellers in SA or directly from Alconi. Cars was also available from Cartoria Fiat in Pretoria.

Found a 125 Scorpion brochure this December holiday in my dads archive of brochures along with Renault Alconi R10 pricelist for converting a standard R10 into a R10 Alconi

[Can-Am ZN]

Was there really a required amount of homologation cars to be made in the early 60's for racing. Could be that a certain amount of homologation special cars was only later required by the motorsport authority to control everything. Why I ask is that GSM raced the Dart in the late 50 and early 60's with very low production levels. Most Darts was made in 62/63...

Good question...I initially found myself asking the same question when I read Indi's last post regarding the Alconi Renaults.

Without access to regulations from the time, we can only speculate and, in view of the small volume "racing specials", coupled with the very relaxed regulations during that time, leads me to assume not.

Can anyone provide any more clarity here?

[Scorpionman]

In the early 60's Renault imported 12 Dauphine R1093 cars. Also called the Dauphine Rally. They were all LHD. There engines were tuned even more than the Dauphine Gordini's but the car was not as luxurious inside as the Gordini. So more hp and less weight. Most of them went directly to the track. My uncle had one of these in the 60's.

My point was that Renault imported them solely to race them and a few ones was for sale to the public. Maybe the regulations at that stage was that if it can be bought from a dealer floor it could be used on the track.

R1093 parts were available from the SA dealer network so you could modify a regular Dauphine to R1093 spec

[Scorpionman]

Pics taken from the Rand Summer races program at Kyalami 31 Jan 1970

Saloon car Championship cars are divided in engine capacity sizes

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The Star production cars were didvided in price groups.

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Article from the Goldfield raceway "Welkom 100" program. 17 Oct 1970.
Looks like the production numbers was introduced with the Star/Argus production car championship

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[Killarney Racer]

Had to share this...

Genuine Fiat 131 Racing racing in Fine Cars at Killarney yesterday, not my photos, mr Kent's, hope he doesn't mind.

No problem - Tony Kent

[ZA Perana]

Alconi were to Renault like Meissner was to Ford, both had official factory backing and both could be bought out of dealers.

Yes, the Alconi conversion kits were sold like the Meissner kits.

But there were also complete Renault Africa production models sold, off the showroom floor, which were built in batches of 50, painted in a particular shade of blue, and differed from the Gordini blue, with complete recognition from Renault France. Read the Car Magazine R10 Alconi road test.

How is that different from a Basil Green Perana, and it’s considered a homologation special?

What you say does make sense and is quite interesting, Indy...I have had my doubts whether the Capri Perana is pukka homologation special and the reason for me saying so is this.

The SA homologation specials were special editions of road-going models, created specifically as a reactive action by a motor manufacturer in their quest to gain the upper hand or a competitive edge over their rivals in a closely contested local production car racing series, obviously with the end goal of an increase in sales of their brand in mind. The manufacturer usually only made sufficient numbers of these "special racing editions" to satisfy the minimum numbers required by the motorsport governing bodies (100, 200, 250 or 500, depending what the minimum required number was at the time) for it to be deemed a "production car".

Was this really the case with the Capri Perana, or was it merely created to satisfy South African appetite for a muscle car, and it ended up being raced due to it's performance nature?

Those who know the development of the Perana can perhaps shed more light on this

Ok.

Let me try and explain this, at the time there was an imminent threat of the Holden Monaro arriving on the modified production car scene, which at the time was being dominated by Ford via the Meissner built Escort, there were apparently concerns about whether this 4 cylinder powered car could compete with the possible challenge from the Monaro.

Basil Green arrived and suggest sticking a V8 into the Capri and building road cars to homologate the racing car. Hence it is in fact a homologation special, it was built, unlike some specials in order to allow them to race the car in the modified saloon car championship. Thus it is very much an homologation special.

It should also be noted that in essence the DFV powered Escort which dominated in 1969 would not have been eligible to race with that engine in 1970 as it was not derived from an engine which was on sale to the public.

[barrydorr]

I have just entered these class of cars by buying a Superboss....
I just learned a lot by reading this tread, I appreciate my buy evermore with knowledge gained here..

soon I will start a new topic on my "new" car

[Can-Am ZN]

Congratulations on the purchase of your own very special, giant-slaying "Supie", Barry. I hope that it is an original example and not one of the many clones that are circulating out there.

I owned a few back in their day, when I ran the Opel Club of Natal in the early '90s and enjoyed every minute of the driving excitement that they provide.

My enthusiasm for the car led me to became quite knowledgeable on them, so please do not hesitate to ask anything you may want to know about the special little beast

[barrydorr]

Congratulations on the purchase of your own very special, giant-slaying "Supie", Barry. I hope that it is an original example and not one of the many clones that are circulating out there.

I owned a few back in their day, when I ran the Opel Club of Natal in the early '90s and enjoyed every minute of the driving excitement that they provide.

My enthusiasm for the car led me to became quite knowledgeable on them, so please do not hesitate to ask anything you may want to know about the special little beast

Thanks Gavin,
I bought it from Alex (not on this forum, but maybe you know him) he has several SB, lot of parts and he is a member of the official superboss owners club.
The car I bought is confirmed by GM as to be an Official SB.
It is pretty original:
Original seats, 276 Shick Cams, Coscast Head, F20 Gearbox with limited slip diff, Promotec ECU, 4 into 1 branch and still working on the K&N airfilter.
Body is in good shape aswell, colour Monaco blue.
There is a problem with the gearbox apparently a problem with the 5th Synchro, but my knowledge on gearboxes is very minimal

I have yet to pickup her up but looked at the car 2 weeks ago.

As soon as I have it in my possession I will open a topic in show us you car