Page 70 - Mar2023

Irish Cars, contniued from page 69

Curtis was only 27 years old in 1959
when the prototype of the first
Shamrock rolled off the line. Design

credits belonged to Alvin Rhiando, a
Canadian and a former 500cc Formula
3 racer. There was no argument that
the car was innovative for its time,
featuring a one piece molded
fiberglass body on a ladder frame. It
Above: You can see a bit of the Ford Thunderbird in this
had a 98 inch wheelbase and was ill-fated 1959 made in Ireland Shamrock.
immediately christened the Irish
T-bird. Detractors nicknamed the car
business specifically to manufacture an all terrain vehicle
the 'parade float' because it was 17
with the very unCeltic sounding name of the Chico. It did
foot long and had excessive get a proper name that was better suited to the country,

overhangs. where people called it the Buncrana Beetle.

Unfortunately, the Shamrock was also The theme song for the company should have been ?High
underpowered. Its 1.5 liter engine Hopes?. Originally estimating that 1,000 Irishmen would
be employed at the plant, the final number with jobs was
and single SU carburetor, produced a
considerably less, amounting to fewer than 100 people
less than inspiring 53 hp. It?s top speed
employed.
was hardly awe inspiring at 90 mph
plus it took 19.7 seconds to get from While the company set a target of 15,000 to 18,000 off-
road vehicles to be produced, when closing day came in
0-60.
1984, somewhere between 130 to 150 trucks had actually
Only 8 (or possibly 10 cars) were managed to roll over the line. The Chico, it's fair to say,
was no Land Rover.
produced before production halted
and the factory shut down. Legend 1983 THE c o s t in
had it that the remaining fiberglass
The Irish are nothing if not persistent. Frank Costin,
bodies and all the other spare parts
under the name of the Thompson Motor Company,
were dumped into Lough Muckno. stepped up and from 1983 to 1987, designed a body ,
Curtis and his all-American enthusiasm again made of fiberglass, this time with an aluminum
proved that this was one time when a under tray and side panels, that resulted in a lightweight
sports car. It also managed a four year run. Costin's
shamrock brought no luck at all.
stated intent was to surpass the Lotus 7, a vehicle he
1981 Th e Ch ic o admired.

1981 rolled around and over in Country This was not a car built for all weather driving. The top
Donegal, someone else had a new idea and rear sections were open and if you wanted protection
ready to be translated into an automotive from the elements, you had to attach an oblong PVC
dream. Auto Montan Werkes went into panel to the car.

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