I’ve often wondered about my Halibrand 201 Center , it’s an IRS unit, mag casing and mag side covers. Some people say it may have been in an Allard, but I can’t find any pics of a rear like this in an Allard. I recently found out who the guy I bought it from, bought it from, an English guy called Colin Mullen, he used to run Mullens Speed Shop. I called him today, he’s retired, but still does bits, and is currently rebuilding a Curtis. I asked about the Quick change, he said it came out of the Stovebolt Special. I’d heard of the car, but didn’t know much about it, however, a little bit of digging found that the Stovebolt was. British HWM formula 2 car, driven and crashed by Sterling Moss. HWM then sold it to Hollywood for a film, and it was then sold again, and had a new 55 Chevy V8 in it , and a special Halibrand Quick change. I’ve hunted around for pics of the car, but they are all of it fully built, no build shots, does anyone have anymore info, or knows someone that worked at Halibrand at the time? I’ve attached the one rather rubbish pic I have if it on my phone.
Thanks for that, that’s basically all the history I’ve been able to find, same stuff written by different people. I know it’s now in the UK, road registered and driven alot, but no tech info seems to be around
Update....just found this for sale, and bought it. A Mag article from 'back in the day', bottom pic, my Quickie, so it looks like it is out of the Stovebolt Special....
I would think the owner of the car would want that quickie, and would trade you a regular shaped center for it. The weird front casting as shown in the magazine pic (shorter than normal?) would make installation in an old Ford more difficult.
@neilswheels, Does your center section actually say 'Halibrand' on it? Not implying that it is not, but it certainly isn't a run of the mill 201. Not only is the front shorter than normal, the change gear cavity appears to be deeper. The side plates definitely have an Allard look to them but the rear cover sure looks to be a Halibrand. My guess is that it is a hybrid, possibly built at Halibrand. 1955 would put it in Culver City. Can you get and post more pictures? Very interesting piece!
I used to subscribe to a great British car magazine Cl***ic & Sports Car. At that time the editor Simon Taylor owned the car and it was published in the magazine frequently. Unfortunately I recently threw out my collection of those magazines. Not sure why the diff would have been pulled out of the car either, unless it was broke or he crashed it?
Simon still owns the car and isn’t afraid to use it as it was intended. The catch is that, if I recall correctly, it still has the Halibrand diff that Tom Carstens spec’d during the conversion from tired British F2 car to C-modified sports car. In 1949-50, when the car was originally built, Britain had strict currency controls, and it would have been nearly impossible to get import approval for an American item when several British firms could make a similar unit. So if what you have is American-made, it almost certainly didn’t come off of the stovebolt special. Simon isn’t the editor of C&SC. He founded it way back when, and is the chairman of the publishing company that produces it. He do***ented a very thorough rebuild in the magazine several years ago. Unfortunately, I lost those magazines in a ba*****t flood. You can e-mail him @ SimonTaylor@StoveboltSpecial.com, tell him what you have and see if he can send pics of its diff when the car was stripped down to a bare frame.
Thanks, I found out that Simon owned it, and we have been in touch. Apparently it was in the Stovebolt, but was removed over 20 years ago as the center section is out of true, and a Winters replaced it.
It does indeed have 201 and calif cast in it, see attached pics, I dont have a pic of halibrand cast in it, so I'm ***uming it doesn't, but its currently at Royal Kustoms, about 3 hours away from me. I've read on line that it was an experimental center section.
I'll get you some pics - this is just the diff inside, side plates and the stubs to mount half shafts to. The side plates are Halibrand magnesium...
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