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Cromard Special - continuous evolution up to Formula 2

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Created on June 15, 2018

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

29

Bruno von Rotz

6

Daniel Reinhard

29

Bruno von Rotz

6

Cromard Special (1950) - keine 600 kg schwer

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Cromard Special (1950) - ungefähr so stand er in Goodwood und anderen Rennen am Start

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Cromard Special (1950) - einsteigen und losfahren, solange man nicht zu gross ist ...

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Cromard Special (1950) - schöner Rennwagenbau

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Cromard Special (1950) - viel Platz für den Motor, wenig für den Fahrer

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Cromard Special (1950) - elegante Silhouette im Monoposto-Stil der Fünfzigerjahre

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

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Cromard Special (1950) - Platz nur für einen Mitfahrer

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Cromard Special (1950) - zweckmässiges Cockpit

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Cromard Special (1950) - wenig Windschutz für den Fahrer

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Cromard Special (1950) - geringe Querschnittsfläche

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Cromard Special (1950) - klassische Monoposto-Ansicht

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Cromard Special (1950) - grosser Drehzahlmesser im Zentrum

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Cromard Special (1950) - komplett instrumentiert

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Cromard Special (1950) - man sieht Teile des Rohrrahmens

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Cromard Special (1950) - Blick über den Tankdeckel

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Cromard Special (1950) - zwei Zündkreise mit getrennten Schaltern

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Cromard Special (1950) - alles schön aufgeräumt

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Cromard Special (1950) - über 6000 Umdrehungen sollte man nicht gehen

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Cromard Special (1950) - vierstufiges Wilson-Vorwählgetriebe

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Cromard Special (1950) - mit dem Wilson kann der Gang vorgewählt werden, geschaltet wird erst nach Bedienung der Pedalerie

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Cromard Special (1950) - der Wählhebel für das Wilson-Vorwählgetriebe

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Cromard Special (1950) - das Benzinreservoir ist gleich hinter dem Fahrer

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Cromard Special (1950) - Weber-Vergaser seitlich montiert

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Cromard Special (1950) - schöner Motorenbau

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Cromard Special (1950) - Lea-Francis-Vierzylinder mit Doppelzündung

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Cromard Special (1950) - "Cromard" war eine Produktlinie von Laystall

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Cromard Special (1950) - vorne sind fortschrittliche Querlenker für die Radführung verantwortlich

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Cromard Special (1950) - die Hinterradaufhängung erinnert nur noch entfernt an den Volkswagen

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Cromard Special (1950) - Tankdeckel

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Cromard Special (1950) - bei der ersten öffentlichen Ausfahrt nach der Restaurierung an der Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2018

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Cromard Special (1950) - bei der ersten öffentlichen Ausfahrt nach der Restaurierung an der Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2018

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Cromard Special (1950) - Feld 7 - Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2018

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Cromard Special (1950) - bei der ersten öffentlichen Ausfahrt nach der Restaurierung an der Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2018

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Cromard Special (1950) - Feld 7 - Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2018

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Cromard Special (1950) - ein F2-Rennwagen aus Wolverhampton (GB) - Swiss Classic World Luzern 2018

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Summary

Can you build a competitive Formula 2 racing car on technology that is over 20 years old? You can, but more modern construction principles are better in the end. With the Cromard Special, the builder went through all these evolutionary steps until finally, in 1950, a fast and attractive single-seater with a chance of winning was created. The one-off survived and was recently completely restored. This report describes the long history of the British F2 racing car and shows it in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

With a lot of experience at work
Pre-war racing car as a starting point
Independent suspension thanks to Volkswagen
Further and further away from the starting point
More power, higher demands
Tragic turning point
Disappeared and rediscovered
Completely restored and back in shape

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the post-war period, many racing cars were built from the remnants of others. There was not yet a proper accessories industry, so you had to take what you had. This also explains why a French Amilcar C6 from the 1920s could become the basis for a British Monoposto from the 1950s. The builder of the Cromard Special was called F. R. G. (Bob for short) Spikins. And he was no novice when it came to building a Special. Even before the war, he had caused a sensation with the "Bantam", a Special based on a supercharged 972 cc Singer.As soon as some time and money became available again after the war, Spikins, who was head of Laystall Engineering Co. Ltd. in Wolverhampton, started developing again, true to his credo that you have to try out what you develop yourself.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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