lsdweb
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| posted on 21/11/20 at 12:45 PM |
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Pulsar Sportscars
Hi All
I'm doing some digging into Pulsar sports cars and was wondering if anybody on here has one; there were only about 15 made and some other cars
that used the bodywork I believe. I know the 'company' is up for sale hence my research :-)
Thanks
Wyn
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Sam_68
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| posted on 21/11/20 at 01:19 PM |
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I've not owned one, but I guess my first question would be what exactly it is you're buying.
IIRC (I could be wrong) the original project passed to MNR and the version that they built was based on their own chassis, with pushrod front
suspension and IRS (whereas the original had a bespoke chassis designed by Rob Bicknell, with outboard front suspension and a Mumford Linked live axle
at the back).
In other words, they were completely different cars, in engineering terms, just carrying the same bodywork and the 'Pulsar' name.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 21/11/20 at 04:53 PM |
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Thanks Sam
I'm in lengthy discussions with the seller and pretty clear about what's on the table and the involvement of others. Still.early days
though.
I was more interested to find some of the original cars.
Wyn
quote:
Originally posted by Sam_68
I've not owned one, but I guess my first question would be what exactly it is you're buying.
IIRC (I could be wrong) the original project passed to MNR and the version that they built was based on their own chassis, with pushrod front
suspension and IRS (whereas the original had a bespoke chassis designed by Rob Bicknell, with outboard front suspension and a Mumford Linked live axle
at the back).
In other words, they were completely different cars, in engineering terms, just carrying the same bodywork and the 'Pulsar' name.
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femster87
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| posted on 21/11/20 at 06:01 PM |
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Stuart Taylor developed the first chassis I believe. Great chassis and the fabrication looked good
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SPYDER
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| posted on 21/11/20 at 11:43 PM |
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GSXR engined live axle Pulsar at Pembrey. Watch Race 1 too. Mental.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpoy3zNKynI&t=201s
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Sam_68
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| posted on 22/11/20 at 08:46 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by femster87
Stuart Taylor developed the first chassis I believe. Great chassis and the fabrication looked good
Stuart Taylor had the project several steps after Rob Bicknell - it was Bicknell who designed the first chassis. The project went through several
hands before it reached MNR and, as above, about the only resemblance between the MNR version and the original was the bodyshell. Everyone who held
the project dabbled with the chassis design along the way, hence my comment - if the OP wants to find owners of the 'original' cars, he
will need to define 'original'.
I was under the impression that there were only two properly 'original' RBM cars built - a white one and a yellow one, neither road legal.
The project then passed to Brace Engineering, who developed it for bike power as per Spyder's link. I believe that Midas Metalcraft in
Bedfordshire and Caged over in Somerset have also had a hand in various generations of the chassis development/fabrication.
The original design was very nice indeed, hence I've vaguely followed the project from the outset, but it's one of those cars that has
been passed from pillar to post with nobody every managing to sell more than the odd one or two, and with the design being progressively diluted along
the way.
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SPYDER
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| posted on 22/11/20 at 10:09 AM |
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I remember asking Tim Gray, the driver in the video, to name his favourite car. He named the Pulsar. It's obvious from the Pembrey race footage
that he relished driving it.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 22/11/20 at 06:48 PM |
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Thanks everybody.
It's true there have been a few iterations of the car, although the same could be said for other kit manufacturers I guess.
Ta
Wyn
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TimC
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| posted on 23/11/20 at 02:45 PM |
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I’ve always liked this Pulsar - nearly bought a STM kit when I instead built my Vortx.
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procomp
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| posted on 23/11/20 at 06:00 PM |
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The Original as you may know was Rob Bicknels project, Then taken over by Phill Second name escapes me. I did some work on the project with phill,
infact he still has a diff unit here. Then friend STM motorport took it over When Tim Grey was driving one for Ian. The cars where mainly just pulsar
body's over STM phoenix chassis. Hence there's a lot of cars but most are only Pulsar body's on various Sylvia / STM phoenix
chassis.
The only thing that let the Pulsar down was its Aero, Tim Grey proved that by running car with Pulsar body and same track following week with striker
body work. It was much faster in Striker form than Pulsar setup. the same was proved with the simalar shaped car i owned the moulds for the Westfield
SS sports. I am not sure how many genuine Pulsar Robs chassis and body are actually out there but most are various Phoenix chassis STM / Sylva with
pulsar body's fitted. Never straight forward in the kit car world.
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Sam_68
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| posted on 23/11/20 at 07:09 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by procomp Then taken over by Phill Second name escapes me.
Phil Alcock?
But that was a LONG time after the project had moved on from Rob Bicknell.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 23/11/20 at 07:39 PM |
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Phil Alcock bought the company in 2005 I believe.
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Rich J
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| posted on 23/11/20 at 10:15 PM |
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For sale over the water
Should have stuck with the Striker Wyn 
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lsdweb
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| posted on 24/11/20 at 07:52 AM |
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That's the chap who's selling the business too Rich!
And yes, I probably should have stuck with the Striker although I made a couple of quid on it and I have the Fury ready to 'clean up for next
season depending on lots of other factors. My funeral director is now in and up and running so I can, at least take a breather for a couple of
days!
Wyn
[Edited on 24/11/20 by lsdweb]
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SPYDER
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| posted on 24/11/20 at 02:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Rich J
For sale over the water
Should have stuck with the Striker Wyn
Am I right in thinking that the black car for sale and the blue car in the Pembrey video are one and the same?
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procomp
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| posted on 24/11/20 at 05:45 PM |
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The Blue car in Video with Tim driving is Phill's car one of the originals, after i had just fitted a better ratio diff for the engine. But was
still lacking the straight line speed really needed for the longer tracks. Not much choice in BL ratios though.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 27/11/20 at 11:28 AM |
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I've pulled out of any potential sale. The figures weren't adding up for me at the asking price and it had to be a 'sensible'
financial decision.
There are others interested apparently though so, hopefully, the brand / cars will re-emerge.
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TimC
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| posted on 29/11/20 at 09:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by procomp
The Original as you may know was Rob Bicknels project, Then taken over by Phill Second name escapes me. I did some work on the project with phill,
infact he still has a diff unit here. Then friend STM motorport took it over When Tim Grey was driving one for Ian. The cars where mainly just pulsar
body's over STM phoenix chassis. Hence there's a lot of cars but most are only Pulsar body's on various Sylvia / STM phoenix
chassis.
The only thing that let the Pulsar down was its Aero, Tim Grey proved that by running car with Pulsar body and same track following week with striker
body work. It was much faster in Striker form than Pulsar setup. the same was proved with the simalar shaped car i owned the moulds for the Westfield
SS sports. I am not sure how many genuine Pulsar Robs chassis and body are actually out there but most are various Phoenix chassis STM / Sylva with
pulsar body's fitted. Never straight forward in the kit car world.
Hi Matt,
Are you sure that you aren’t confusing Fulcrum aero story with Pulsar? I think you might be - the Fulcrum was apparently a brick. In fact, I’m sure
Austen once told me that the usual slip-streaming benefit at Snetterton was greatly reduced when following the Pulsar as it cut through the air so
well.
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procomp
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| posted on 30/11/20 at 05:56 PM |
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NO, i didn't have anything to do with the fulcrum setup. as i say i did a fair bit with the pulsar with Phil and then Ian took it on as a body
to put over the Phoenix chassis. The Pulsar is basically to tall to blunt. There was 3 or 4 running in Sports specials, all reverted back to the
Phoenix body hence there's many pulsar body's lying around un used.
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