Spyder S/F chassis

[MartinH]

Can anyone help me with this. I have a 1967 S3 DHC with a Spyder S/F chassis. In the history file I have, the only chassis invoice dates from around 1978 and is for s/f chassis supplied by Christopher Neil to Karparts in Aldridge.

Were Spyder manufacturing the s/f chassis in 1978 and if yes when did they start?


Thanks in anticipation
Martin

[TroonSprint]

Yes I believe they were. When I got my car all in pieces (it was dismantled in 1977), with it came a brand new but never used Spyder chassis. Attached to the front cross-member/vacuum tank is a serial number. I asked Sean at Spyder if he knew when the chassis would have been bought, and he thought about 1982. Have a look at yours and see if there is a number on it. Mine is numbered SPY 0368. I guess it was the 368th one they made, so they must have started a few years before that, assuming they don't sell hundreds in a year.

One thing he did tell me was that the earlier chassis like mine could suffer from cracking where the suspension pivot goes through the vacuum tank. He sent me some strengthening pieces to weld on round the attachment points front and back of the tank.

Mike

[pharriso]

I bought a Space Frame chassis from Spyder in 1983 or 1984, it was a 10th anniversary edition of the chassis & it was painted metallic Gold with a commemorative gold badge (Since donated to Bill) - so they must have started in 1973 or 74.

[Grizzly]

This is quite interesting, i have a number of Chris Neil brochure's going back to the late 70's and the Spyder Chassis only appeared in there catalog in 1984 (i'm missing 82 and 83) it's defiantly not listed in the 79 price list but that doesn't mean they didn't sell one.

Spyder say on there web page they have been making components for over 30 years and servicing Lotus cars since the 60's http://www.spydercars.co.uk/who-we-are-2/ so read into that what you will.

[Bill]

I have chassis #1963 on my 1973 Sprint FHC (project) installed, I believe, by PO about 20 years ago along with Spyder suspension. Don't know if this may help.

Bill

[elj221c]

Mine is 0481 purchased from CN in August 82 for ?355 (!) Their November '81 price list quotes ?349.

It was cheaper from them as Spyder were charging ?450 according to their June '82 price list. Their May '83 list shows a reduction to ?395. From April '83 the chassis (their wording, not mine!) came with the extra mounts for the twin wishbone suspension conversion.