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Specials
Tornado
Tempest

Tornado Tempest - (1960 - 1962)

Tornado Cars Ltd was founded in 1957 by Bill Woodhouse and Tony Bullen and was based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, UK. Their first model was the Tornado Typhoon Sports, which was available as either a body for fitting directly on to the Ford 8/10 chassis (following the then current market trend for "specials" based on Ford mechanical components) or with a Tornado designed and manufactured chassis to which a range of engines and transmissions could be fitted. The Typhoon continued in production until 1962 by which time some 400 models are believed to have been made.

The Tornado Tempest was announced in 1960 and exhibited at the London Racing Car shows in 1961 and 1962. The Tornado Tempest was an intermediate model which bridged the gap between the Ford side valve based Typhoon and the as yet to be introduced Talisman. The body was basically the same as the Tornado Typhoon, but the model had a more complex tubular chassis and coil spring front suspension. Power came from the more modern overhead valve 997cc Ford 105E power unit. With a kerb weight of 9 3/4 cwt for the two seater and a power output of 39 bph at 5000 rpm the Tornado Tempest performed reasonably well.

Tornado Tempest

Produced in kit form, the Tornado Tempest was marketed in many different forms, 2 seater, 2 seater Coupe, 4 seater, 4 seater Coupe and a Sportsback. The original price of a kit, which came as a complete package of new parts was £595, an assembled car was available ex-works at £1167.

Tornado Tempest

In 1962, the company introduced the Talisman 2+2 coupe carrying an attractively styled fibreglass body on a more sophisticated tubular steel chassis with either Ford 1340cc or 1500cc engines, which were available in various states of tune. This model was available either in component form or factory finished and was praised for having lively performance combined with good ride and handling characteristics, and a high standard of finish. Cash-flow problems forced the company into liquidation in 1964 after approximatley 186 Talismans had been made.

  Tornado Tempest
Production 1960 - 1962:
15 Built
Bodystyle Various
Engine 997cc Ford 105E
Engine position Front
Driven wheels Rear


It is believed that only 15 examples of all body types of the Tornado Tempest were produced.

(Article Copyright © MellY Designs - Please do not Reproduce without Permission)

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