Information on Royale Super Vee?

[greggearhead]

Hello,

I work at a shop that is going to restore a 1974 Royale Super Vee. We purchased it in A-Mod autocross trim, with a supercharged Type 4 engine and associated monster wing, etc. We would like to put it close to original, and wondering if anyone knows about this car or it's history. Appears there were 11 made that year?

Thanks for any and all help.

[greggearhead]

Parts:

[HayesCages]

Geez, with that super charger wheel spin must've been an issue!
That chassis is probably the same as the one we're selling here:

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63961

If you need any photos let us know.

You may be able to do some background checking by the roll bar stamp, if it has one.

[Agitator]

Rollin Butler (Cricket Farm Motors - builder of FV & FF engines) was a Royale factory FF driver for a while in the late 70's early 80's. (Also was the '74 or '75 FV National Champion) I don't think he's on the forum, but visit his website for contact info. He might not know exactly, but might be able to point you in the right direction.

[Charlie Schmidt]

Lawrence-this is a RP-18, very little interchange with -14

I'll try to hook him up with a friend in OK who has an 18

Charlie

[scorp997]

of course you can always try to contact RoyaleRacingLLC (www.royaleracingllc.com) to find out more.

according to their registry, the RP18"A" came out in 1974 and only one is currently listed. The book "no where to hide" will tell you who the original importer was, since you have the serial number (chassis #16). I will try and look tonight in my book.

[Steve Demeter]

I owned an RP-18A many moons ago.

Last I knew "belair" on this forum had it and IIRC he had it for sale.
Check with him. The B Mod car looks pretty much "unoriginal" from my admittedly foggy recollection.

[Dave Cutchins]

I may know this car! The wing mount on the roll hoop and the paint color on the nose sure looks familiar.

[Rick Kirchner]

IIRC the -14 and -18 were identical except the way the tub sides interfaced with the tub liner. On a -14 the sides rivet to the top of the tub liner. On the -18 the liners had an extra 90 deg bend at the top and the sides riveted to the sides. Somewhere I have pics of the car that might have been Steve's.

Otherwise, the -14 and -18 are pretty identical. The -18 used different bodywork, sometimes with a sportscar nose.

The front shock mounts look like someone moved the attachments outboard.

[TeamFRD]

I sold my RP18 in 2010 to a shop in CT as parts for a customer's car. I'd have to dig up a name if you want. PICS =

[Craig Henry]

Jim Fry ran a '72 Royale AM SV in the Susquehanna Region. My memory is foggy but the autocross pictures look like his car at the Harrisburg Farm Show complex and Salina?

Craig

[Craig Henry]

Sorry Dave,

I just noticed you owned/ran the car too.

Craig

[Dave Cutchins]

Craig, the pictures are of me in the car, but Jim owned the car and I co-drove with him.
You are correct about the pictures being taken in Harrisburg. The one on the airfield is at NAS, Norfolk. They always had a good variety of open wheel and modified cars at those Farm Show events.

[greggearhead]

Cool - awesome info. We have repaired the damage to the tub, and reassembled it to see where we are at. We still have some different noses, and the revolution wheels, though the hubs were changed to 5 lug at some point?

Any idea where to look for a log book for this car??

Thanks again for all the help.

[Dave Cutchins]

Jim Fry may have some information. I'll see if he can help with your search. Where you able to source the "Royale" trailing arms?

[greggearhead]

No, but we will either make some or repair these depending.

[G.Rossman]

That is a wild looking car. What class could it run? Must scoot along looks like it should make some power.

[greggearhead]

It's current configuration is SCCA A-Modified for Solo II/Autocross. It was our intent to restore to vintage race Super Vee format, but the owner is considering selling it, apparently. I want to find more info on history either way.

[G.Rossman]

Up on ebay?

[greggearhead]

So I heard, today. Sigh.

[G.Rossman]

It looks like fun, I'm just not sure I can get past that huge wing. I would autox it for now anyways. How much power is it putting out if you know?

[greggearhead]

It's supposed to be a 2.8L Type 4 engine, with the blower should be around 350hp, but I would trust a previous owner's info more than that - it is just what I have heard and have no documentation yet.

[G.Rossman]

Wow...350hp! That thing must haul.

[Dave Cutchins]

Cool - awesome info. We have repaired the damage to the tub, and reassembled it to see where we are at. We still have some different noses, and the revolution wheels, though the hubs were changed to 5 lug at some point?

Any idea where to look for a log book for this car??

Thanks again for all the help.

PM me for Jim Fry's contact info.

[AoHE]

Craig, the pictures are of me in the car, but Jim owned the car and I co-drove with him.
You are correct about the pictures being taken in Harrisburg. The one on the airfield is at NAS, Norfolk. They always had a good variety of open wheel and modified cars at those Farm Show events.

Hi Dave, the car is now back in the UK and in need of a complete rebuild. I founded and run an organisation called the AoHE (association of heritage engineers) we support engineering apprentices and training on what I called 'mobile heritage' so cars, boats and aviation. I have purchased the car for the apprentices at the Heritage Skills Academy to rebuild and hopefully compete in sprints and hillclimbs here in the UK. We have recently owned forces with a similar organisation in the USA called the Piston Foundation of which I am the UK ambassador. Any information on the car, owners, history and performance would be gratefully accepted.
Dom