Lot Ended
Description
Intriguing special professionally built by Cabron Ltd in the late
1980s; aluminium bodywork; Morris Marina 1.8 running gear; front disc brakes; in
runnning order but in need of recommissioning following a period without
use
This most
attractive Bugatti replica is something of a mystery and has been entered into
the sale by a close relative of the actual owner who is unwell.
According to a brass chassis plate on the bulkhead, it was built in the
UK by Cabron Ltd, a firm who have since disappeared without trace. The current
owner acquired the car in 2018 and was told that it was originally meant to be
the first of a limited run of such replicas but in fact ended up being a one-off
as Cabron ceased trading after a fairly short period in business.
The chassis number indicates that the donor
vehicle was a 1976 Morris Marina 1.8 and according to HPI/Experian it was
colour-changed from brown to black in 1988 and the registration number was
changed from RNB 384R to 8589 PX in 1989 so this is presumably when the car was
built.
It had just one owner from 1989 – 2005
(the man behind Cabron, perhaps?), the next owner keeping it until 2018 when it
came into the hands of the current keeper. The MOT history online implies that
it has been in light regular use, clocking up some 4,200 miles since 2006, the
odometer currently showing 6,447 miles which even may be the distance it has
covered from build - who knows?
The last MOT was
issued in April 2019 (with no advisories recorded) and it has only covered some
500 miles since. Classed as a Historic Vehicle on the V5C (which calls it a 1976
Morris Sports), it is now MOT-exempt and free to tax.
We are
told that the car was last driven on the road about 4 or 5 years ago and has
been unused since due to illness. Immediately before the auction it was
recommissioned at a cost of £480 (plugs; brakes; lubricants; fresh fuel and
battery) and was driven on and off the trailer that delivered it to
Brightwells.
Starting promptly and running well on site, with healthy
oil pressure and a pleasingly rorty exhaust note, it has developed an issue with
the transmission which means we have been unable to drive it. The gears all
select easily but it won't move forwards or backwards under its own power
when you take your foot off the clutch. It rolls easily in neutral
but can't be pushed when in gear so we suspect a failed clutch
plate.
The cockpit is nice and roomy and taller drivers will have no
trouble getting comfortable. The car itself is 13ft 8" long and 5ft 3"
wide.
As you can see in the photos, it has been
very nicely built, with well-crafted aluminium bodywork, and we imagine that it
will have a good turn of speed by virtue of its light weight and modern
four-cylinder 1.8 engine. Some useful spares, a tool kit and a tonneau
cover are stored in a locker behind the black leather front seat. The
icing on the cake is the period West Sussex-issue number plate, 8589 PX, which
is transferable and doubtless has a value of its own.
On offer here as a straightforward recommissioning project, it
shouldn’t take much to get this intriguing Type 35 lookalike back on
the road where it will no doubt fool most of the people most of the time.
And if rarity is your thing, don't forget that whereas Bugatti built around 330
Type 35s, there is only one Cabron! Bid vigorously now and it could be you who
takes it home...
For more information contact
James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com