Forgotten ONES If indeed this is the last time we interact with you through written articles, then allow us to apologize for any mistakes. Now we will discuss a supercar if it can be called that which was once made by
Argyll Turbo Cars ltd, an automotive company from Scotland.
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| The Argyll Turbo GT is a 2 door coupé type body with a mid mounted engine supplying power to the rear wheels. (Picture from: Autocar) |
Well, the inquestioned above car was the
Argyll Turbo GT. It's a 2 door coupé type body with a mid mounted engine supplying power to the rear wheels, and known also as the brainchild of innovator (and former chief engineer of
Short Aviation)
Bob Henderson of Lochgilphead, who had already devised the
Minnow-Fish carburettor taught himself turbocharging since the beginning of this technology applied for cars.
 |
| The amazing Argyll Turbo GT is designed and built by Bob Henderson in Lochgilphead, and forgotten for almost 40 years. (Picture from: GrandToursOfScotland) |
This mid-engined
Argyll Turbo GT was built around an immensely strong spaceframe steel chassis designed to be extremely long-lived, and to accept various drivetrain units. While, the original prototype was powered by
Rover' V8 engine. But despite much interest from the motoring press in the early '70s, only a handful were built. How did it happen?
 |
Some of the Argyll Turbo GT were made with the Lancia Beta' engine and transmission in place of the Douvrin powertrain. (Picture from: AROnline)
|
Although the production car remained similar in principle to the 1976 prototype, the main changes were the adoption of a blueprinted and turbocharged version of the Douvrin V6 of the Renault 30, along with its own transaxle, as the core engine, and refinement of internal and external details. |
| The Argyll Turbo GT was built around an immensely strong spaceframe steel chassis designed to be extremely long-lived, and to accept various drivetrain units. (Picture from: AROnline) |
This
car was first launched in October 1983 at
Inveraray Castle and offered
with a price tag ranging from
£ 25,000 to £ 30,000. A surprising number
for such car from a new brand, considering that at the time the
Lotus Esprit Turbo was selling for around
£18,913, the
Porsche 911 Carrera £21,464 and the
Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole £26,181.
 |
| The Argyll Turbo GT was a true tourer, comfortable to drive and was capable of transporting 4 people in plenty of room. (Picture from: AROnline) |
As quoted from
AROnline, none of the cars produced had a
Rover' engine, but some were made with the
Lancia Beta' engine and transmission in place of the
Douvrin powertrain. Reportedly, some were even built with
Indycar V6 engines from
Buick. You
might think that given all this, the Turbo GT may not have given occupants the best ride, but apparently it was a true tourer,
comfortable to drive and was capable of transporting 4 people in plenty of room.
 |
| The Argyll Turbo GT has a suitably luxurious interior by using of Scottish leather, and done by Avon Coachwork of Leamington Spa. (Picture from: AROnline) |
At the time, production capacity was stated to be twelve cars a year, and the first customer cars were ready for delivery by 1984. But by then the planned twin-turbo V8 had been downgraded to a turbocharged 2,664 cc V6, as the result the potential customers had lost interest in the project, and the cars sold were unknown.
 |
| The Argyll Turbo GT was first launched in October 1983 at Inveraray Castle and offered with a price tag ranging from £ 25,000 to £ 30,000. (Picture from: BBCScotland) |
As Henderson's philosophy was that these bespoke cars ought to be completed to the whim of each customer, and it is thought it became part of a protracted dispute between Argyll with a third party in charge of finishing it. Although in the end the car was purchased, and completed by Royale coachbuilder, whose plate it bears.
Unfortunately, the high purchase price and ill-fitting parts meant that the Scottish sports car never truly competed with its contemporary rivals.😢 However it could be a kind of reminder that not all great supercars are made in Germany, Italy or America, with a lot of effort and passion, anything is achievable.
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Well, the inquestioned above car was the Argyll Turbo GT. It's a 2 door coupé type body with a mid mounted engine supplying power to the rear wheels, and known also as the brainchild of innovator (and former chief engineer of Short Aviation) Bob Henderson of Lochgilphead, who had already devised the Minnow-Fish carburettor taught himself turbocharging since the beginning of this technology applied for cars.
