Conan Cars Heritage Centre

[conan]

Welcome to Conan Cars Heritage Centre. My name is Steve Mur Geoff Derr, I’m the curator of the Conan Cars Heritage Centre.

Established in 1988, in Surrey, England, just a few miles from the headquarters. We at Conan Cars Heritage Centre have one and only mission, that is to preserve and herald the history of every single Conan Cars and Coaches as much as it is possible. We have the collection of hundreds of historical Conan Cars and Conan Coachworks stuff, with new addition being obtained every day from all over the world.

All of these cars have a story to tell. We cannot let these stories went into obscurity. There’s a lot of thing we can learn from the past. And we, at Conan Cars Heritage Centre believes that remembering the past will be the key to the great future.

Conan Coachworks was founded in 1862 by Conan the First, in Surrey, England. To produce coaches. From that point on, the company produced a lot more of the great stuff. The company have seen many period of time. It had faces downtime, war, strikes, perils, government interference. But Conan Cars never stop, it soldiered on until the money stop, which never happened, as we’re still making cars. We at the Conan Cars Heritage Centre doesn’t only glorified the golden age further, we also look at the time when we stalled and fall over.

Conan Cars Heritage Centre public exhibition opens from Tuesday-Friday, 9am-4pm. Tour and Events can be arrange at almost any time, we’re glad to give you a tour at 1am in the Sunday Morning if you call us. Just don’t call us at Beer O’Clock, please.

[conan]

The New Start.

On display
1948 Conan C31 1600
British Racing Green
Significance: The first post-war Conan.
Production Number: 62,750

Having been producing cars since 1900. Conan Coachworks was doing good business. Despite being call “Coachworks” the last Conan Coach was built in 1923. And since then their business was only with producing either complete Conan Cars, or bodies for other luxurious motor vehicle. Thus, they decided to still label themselves a Coachworks.

During the war, Conan factory in Surrey was turned into a factory making components for the Spitfire. Unfortunately, that factory was successfully targeted during The Blitz. Both the facility for producing mainstream cars and bespoke coachworks were lost.

After the war, as a result of the factory loss. Conan the Fifth, who was the chairman at the time, decided not to try and save the old tooling for the pre-war car, and decided to start over again. Conan Coachworks department was entirely scrapped.

The new car was being developed. In fact, the development started during the war in 1944 as a secret project. It was going to be the future of the company. The car was a small, lightweight, family saloon. With independent front suspension, and coil springs at the back. The only thing that got carried over was the engine, which was a 1600cc 50hp unit found in many pre-war Conans.

Conan the Fifth set out a few objectives for the engineer to achieve. Like fuel economy target, as the rationing seems to stick around for a while. And it should be quite cheap, despite having a nice accommodation. It should also be tough, unlike any other cheap runabout there’s been before. And most important of all, Derr the Fifth, as a speed freak, made top speed of more than 84mph as a main target. It appeared that this was set because it was the top speed of contemporary Vanquist V14, which Derr the Fifth particularly disliked.

The production didn’t commence until 1948. It launched with a great fanfare. The car might look old. But step inside and you’ll find that it felt modern, and it drove quite modern indeed. Driving one today will make you realise how good it still is. Back in 1948 it was mind-blowing.

The car was quick, properly quick. With it’s streamline design, the car was capable of 84mph. 0-60mph can be done in 15.9 seconds. How good was this? It was in the league of it’s own, really. Especially at the time when most cars could not achieve 70.

The handling wasn’t too bad either. With coil springs, nicely set up suspension, good brakes, and direct steering. The car handles like sports cars of the day.

To think of it as a rival for typical saloon is wrong. It’s a compact sports saloon. Think of it as a Bavaria compact saloon of the 1940’s. With good performance with great fuel economy. The price was right as well, and it was reliable. This was the choice of many well respected professionals despite having a small dimension.

Not only that it was popular with the respected figure. It was also popular as a police vehicle. As the good performance, and great reliability was perfect for police duty.

The particular example you see here is one of the earliest example to survive. The serial plate dated this car as having left the factory on 22th July 1948. It was sold to Dr.William Wilkinson, a GP in London. It survived in remarkably good shape despite being nearly 70 years old.

[Manche]

I feel like cramming a v8 in one of those… one things I havent seen in these museum threads is what was the fate of these cars once out of the dealership…

Ferdinand Porsche never expected his nazi-mobile to be one of the most modified cars around.

[conan]

[quote=“Manche”]I feel like cramming a v8 in one of those… one things I havent seen in these museum threads is what was the fate of these cars once out of the dealership…

Ferdinand Porsche never expected his nazi-mobile to be one of the most modified cars around.[/quote]

It’s funny you should say that, but one of the popular modification back in the day was to put the then new 1958 FRE (French Racing Engineering) 2.8 Flatplane V8 in these 1950 Compact, with 213hp I could say that the result was interesting, and sometime terrifying. I’m going to go into Conan relationship with the historical French company later, and how Conan ended up buying the whole company.

[conan]

Will be redone.

[VicVictory]

I like how you carried on the overlapping tail lights between generations. That’s a nice effect. Can’t wait to see the generations unfold.

[conan]

The New Era

On display
1955 Conan C32 2000 L
British Racing Green
Significance: The first Conan to have monocoque constuction and independent rear suspension.
Production Number: 98,369

The success of the C31 prompted Conan to prepare for it’s successor. The C32 went into development in 1950. This time, the goal is to create a whole new engine and chassis platform that can be adapted for many applications. This approach was quite a novel thinking that Conan pioneered with the C32.

The C32 construction was unique in that it used the very cutting edge technologies in a family sedan. The car itself is a monocoque, designed with safety and rigidity in mind. The suspension is also pioneering. Conan licenced the patent of new type of suspension to use with the C32, the MacPherson strut front suspension. It also comes standard with trailing arms rear suspension, fully independent, very modern. This particular chassis was very expensive to developed, but it’s always meant to be a modular type platform. Conan Cars adapted this chassis for use in the bigger S6, and the sporty S4. Perfecting it until the 80’s when it was replaced by the new, Double Wishbone suspension. The car also came standard with Radial Tyres.

The engine is also meant to be modular, it’s the beginning of the entirely new Surrey Inline 4. Short stroke and overhead cam. The engine in the C32 2000 model is a 2.0-litre with SU Carburettor, producing 80hp. The C32 2000 was capable of 94mph and 0-60 can be done in 13 seconds. This particular engine then got another 2 cylinder added on to become the Conan Suffolk Inline 6. And was redesigned as a 3 valves in the 70’s.

It became an instant hit. With smooth and luxurious looks, combined with solid chassis building and potent engine. The car is very popular with people who wish for one car that can do everything. Be it carrying their kids to school in comfort and safety, or a blast down the road for pleasure.

It also spawned many variants, such as the GT that was exploited in the early day of British Touring Car racing. Or the 2000GXL which created a whole new market of automobile. We’ll visit them later.

This particular example was purchased new in 1955 by a banker, Thomas Roy. When we acquired it in the 90’s it was a well preserved and usable example. But we decided to fully restored the car to original spec, including repainting the car to it’s original green colour.

[conan]

Awesome 80’s

On display
1980 Conan C35 2000 GT-T
Metallic Black
Significance: The first front wheel drive Conan, The first 4 valves Conan engine, The first Conan to use Turbocharger technology (2000 GT-T).
Production Number: 759,630 (7,396 were 2000 GT-T)

Conan C35 was a huge undertaking for Conan. The development started in 1975 to replace the beloved Conan C34, a huge departure from the old C34. The world was changing, and the C35 was developed from the get go as a totally modern front wheel drive compact car.

The C35 debuted in 1979. It features front wheel drive, double wishbone rear suspension, highly advance corrosion resistance metal finishing the crisp, new hatchback body. But people wasn’t impressed with the engine. The C35 debut with only the old 2 valves 4 cylinder Hull unit that still utilize old carburettor as a fuel delivery system.

But one year later, Conan finished the development of a new engine. The engine which will paved the way to the new era of Conan engine. Conan Hull 4 Valves was first introduced in the C35 in 1980. It features all aluminium construction, double overhead camshaft 4 valves design, and German constant pressure fuel injection system. Some Conan had some of these feature before then. But the Hull 4 valves was the first to featured all of these.

But it wasn’t all the advance features that wowed the people of the world. It was the 2000 GT-T. The car on display.

Debuting with the new engine. The 2000 GT-T was the top of the range Conan C35 in 1980. It utilized the new engine coupled with Turbo. The 2-litre engine produced nearly 220hp enabling the 950kg car to do 0-60mph in only 6.1 seconds and the top speed of 135mph. It’s safe to say that this is one of the fastest hot hatchback available on the market in 1980.

This car paved the way to the 1983 AWD GT-T4, and the 1984 Group B homologated GT-T4B. It started a revolution in Conan’s performance range. The transition from classic sports car to an era of high tech hot hatchbacks.

The C35 lasted until 1992. With a few revisions along the way. Conan produced more than 700,000 unit making it one of the most popular Conan at the time. The 2000 GT-T only accounted for less than 1% of sales number. But it captured the heart of everyone who was lucky enough to experienced it’s performance and handling. Another reason for rarity was that it only lasted for 2 years before getting superseded by AWD GT-T4.

The C35 2000 GT-T is a very rare car now, as it was a fast, relatively affordable hatchback. Not many example survived the 80’s. The black example on display used to belong on our press fleet, and it has covered only 54,000 but entirely spirited driving miles. But this car is still in immaculate condition and is impeccably maintained by our highly skilled staffs.

[squidhead]

Ooooh god those foglights

[conan]

Optional, you may have it only if you wish to.

[squidhead]

I NEED THEM NOW ON ALL CARS

[conan]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1187042944&searchtext=

Hella awesome!

[DeusExMackia]

That is one awfully pretty machine

[abg7]

Looks like a Lancia Delta, but had 220 horsepower way before its real-life equivalent did. I’m sold!

[conan]

S64 and S65: The Executive Golden Age

On display
1975 Conan S64 3000 GXL
British Racing Green
1980 Conan S65 3000 GL
British Racing Green
1983 Conan S65 3000 GXL
British Racing Green

Ever since the early days of Conan Cars. One of the bread and butter for the venerable company has always been the big, executive saloon car. After the adoption of new naming system. The S6 series, introduced in 1953, have been the most exclusive car of the Conan range. Being the largest, most luxurious model. The S6 series offers as the tagline says, “Prestige, Performance and Practicality” to the most discerning customers. This car is the pinnacle of common sense.

The car you’re seeing here is the Conan S64. Introduced in 1975 to a great fanfare in both the UK and mainland Europe. This car offers luxurious accommodation, independent rear suspension, and powerful 3 valves Inline 6 Suffolk engine producing nearly 200 horsepower. It’s 0-60mph time can be achieve in around 8 and a half seconds. With it’s tough construction and great performance, This car was also the favourite choice for both powerful patrol car and motorway police vehicle all over England.

The car prominence, however, arrived when it was the featured car in a cult classic British police drama “Flying Squad” that ran from 1976 to 1979. Featuring a 1975 Conan S64 3000 GXL as the car used by the hero cops DCI John Hoskin and DI Frank Leslie. It also appears in many other TV series of the period.

Sadly, this car was also popular, due to it’s strong construction, with the banger racing crowd. Which means it’s an incredibly rare car today.

In 1980, the S64 was massively redesigned as the S65. This car utilized the same body and chassis as the S64, although heavily revised to use a new Double Wishbone suspension design, also used in the smaller S44. It’s design also followed the S44 very closely with new aerodynamic looks.

The car on display here is the 3000 GL. The mid range model. It features 4-wheel disc braking system, trip computer, electric windows and many more.

But the most famous of the S65 is displayed here. It’s the 1983 Conan S65 3500 GXL.

The year 1983 was significant to Conan history in that it was the first year of new range of Conan engine. The renowned 4 Valves. While Conan pioneered the multi-valve engine design with the previous 3 valves generation, it’s performance was greatly improved with the 4 valves.

For example, the 3500 GXL here features the newest Suffolk Inline 6 with 4 valves per cylinder. It produces 240 horsepower enabling this luxury saloon to achieve 0-60mph time of only 6.8 seconds, and the top speed of nearly 135mph.

The appearance of this car can still send chills down the spine of every criminals. The powerful, reliable engine and even tougher construction, and good handling provided by double wishbone suspension. Meant that this car was yet again popular with the police force. In fact, it was so successful that when Conan announce the discontinuation of the S65 to pave way for the S66 in 1988. The Police force started to stockpiled S65 for use until the mid 90’s.

Changing market trends meant that the S6 series had to change it’s direction in the late 80’s. So the S64 and S65 are seen as the ultimate in Conan Executive range. It was luxurious, powerful, simple, yet advance, highly reliable and tough machines. And because not many still exist today due to it’s popularity with banger racers, the value of these model starts to rise up at an incredible rate. With the 1983 S65 3500 GXL being the ultimate, most desirable model.

[DeusExMackia]

Love the 70s/early 80s minimalism you’ve got here. Those wheels you used on the S64 born for it.

[conan]

I have a little theory that Rostyle wheels do look good on any 1960’s to 1970’s automobile.

[Radster]

The 1975 version of this car looks Mad Max worthy