1957 Turner 803 Roadster
Turner Sports Cars was founded by Jack Turner in Wolverhampton, England, in 1951. The company stuck around for 15 years, building turnkey and kit cars featuring fiberglass bodywork that could be paired with Austin, Triumph, and Ford mechanicals. The 803, also known as the A30, was the first Turner product. It utilized a ladder frame and the engine, transmission, and suspension from an Austin A30. In 1966 the complex closed due to the owner having a heart attack
For consignment we have a rare bird in our midst with only 19 being left in the world. Our consigner nicknamed the car "Scooter". It has been fully restored at which time it turned from a street sports car to a full out race car. It sports a 948cc motor. You can read all about it and other achievements which due to limited characters I cannot go into detail all within the full and complete racing log book which comes with the car.
Exterior
This fiberglass with steel door, bumper less undulating body design takes on several influences in its design. I can see some AC influences, some Austin influences and some MG inspirations. It is bathed in Super Red II, has a Ferrari inspired semi circular and flat bottom egg crate chromed grille and single round headlights perched on the ends of each front rounded over fender. A long rectangular pinned down hood resides within the area framed by the rounded fenders. The hood runs back to the cockpit which has dual nifty windshields with rounded glass and a rear view mirror perched outside painted black, and I'd say you'd better wear your goggles. More side view mirrors are hanging off of each quarter panel near the windshields. Doors are pushbutton and suicide hinged. The curvaceous back of the car takes a graceful dive downward just aft of the doors and is Austin Healy curved with a single bullet style tail light on either corner. The trunk is hinged with a chrome handle and hinges. 15-inch VTO wheels painted silver are on all 4 corners. These wheels are wrapped with 120/5.90-15 Hoosiers which are all like new. A black roll bar perfects the driver and encompasses the cockpit.
Interior
Stripped down for limited weight and maximum speed we see a full brushed aluminum dash with various gauges, toggles and even stopwatches stretching from door to door. The center console has been custom fabricated with aluminum and houses the shift lever, dual toggles, and fire extinguisher resides just behind it. Simpson belted bomber styled buckets are in black tuck and roll with some red piping on the edges, and these sport the 5 point safety belts. Fronting the dash and between the dash and drivers seat is a Grant rally steering wheel with an original turner central badge. Black carpeting is in and there are some areas of padded black vinyl edging the interior tub and door panels. The trunk has an aluminum 5 gallon racing fuel cell within a custom fabricated aluminum tub.
Drivetrain
Under the fiberglass removable hood is a rebuilt for racing 4 cylinder 948cc .030 overbored motor built by Doug Frasier. It has been ported and polished for the head and has a racing cam installed. The timing chain is a double roller style and it has an aluminum alloy flywheel. On the back is a stock BMC 4-speed manual style; it has a Kevlar clutch and includes all ARP hardware. Dual 1.5 SU carburetors are on the passenger side of the engine. All new wiring and hoses with a recored aluminum radiator and belted fan is keeping things all cool.
Undercarriage
A solid rust free frame and undercarriage is beneath all this racing fiberglass. It has Wilwood master cylinder and clutch system. Headers and a glasspack style muffler give it a nice buzz when racing around the track. Independent coil springs for the front suspension, and torsion bars are for the rear which has a 4.90 geared differential.
Drive-Ability
She fired right up and off to the test track where it performed like a race car. Rail like handling, nice power with the low weight to high power ratio and solid bias free panic stopping. Shifting was smooth and all functions were working perfectly. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
A transformed rare sports car come race car by Doug Frasier, but still street legal. A rebuilt and souped up engine, fiberglass body, racing suspension and a lightened interior, it is a very nice presentation and lots of fun to boot. Truly British and truly rare. "Scooter" is for sale so snap it up!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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