Bellett in Australian Muscle Car Magazine Issue 86

[Teditor]

So I get my latest Australian Muscle Car Magazine and have a quick flick as usual, A story about Barry Ferguson starts on page 67, no big deal, I've heard of him many times, flick the page and top left, 67 Bellett (presume restored/preserved), over to page 71 and up it crops again running around Bathurst.

This would have been the same time my ex Bob Drane Bellett was campaigned.

Does anyone know the story on the Ferguson Bellett, does it still exist, if so, where?

[gt orphanage]

[Teditor]

Issue 87 came in my post office box and I immediately went for the Bellett story, some interesting bits and pieces in the story that brought back fond memories of my ex Bob Drane (Group 'C'?) Bellett I owned.

In the main photo, a Teardrop is shown behind the Ferguson Bellett, mention was made of three being entered, was the un-named one the Bob Drane car?

[PR91]

Nah mate. Drane never raced one at Bathurst. Well in the 500 anyway.
The other car in that pic is Bruce Darke and Don James. Was the only time they drove together and the only time in a Bellett but they did drive other stuff in other years.

[Teditor]

Ok, sounds fair, the Bob Drane car was running a 45mm sidedraft Weber (and if I remember correctly, extractors) when I purchased it, I'm sure it was a Group 'C' car.

I have seen a photo of it at Oran Park with Bob Drane driving, I think I may have a copy.

[PR91]

Yep, was an Improved Production car mate. They then morphed into Group C later on.
Bathurst was Series Production back then ie: standard road cars. We know they weren't actually "standard" tho, but things like Webers and extractors stand out and can't be hidden.
The 3 factory built sedans they imported for Bathurst were also far too modified to be used and thats when Crea, Murphy and Williamson were given them to race in Improved Production which meant other standard cars were sourced locally for Bathurst.

[PR91]

Autopics has a good shot of the Drane car at Oran Park tho.
I know I've got a copy somewhere.

[Teditor]

The Autopics one is the one I am referring to also, I can remember going to Castlereagh Drags and running 16's, the three works Belletts were there also and running about the same times, if I recall they were all red and were impressed with our private entries.

I had some fantastic times with the Bellett car Club and Belletts, a very memorable part of my life.

[PR91]

The works cars were white. 3 sedans.
Crea's had a green stripe down the middle of it, Murphy's had 2 thin red stripes and Williamson's had a gold stripe. They were all hand built race cars with light bodies, worked engines with twin webers, oil coolers, you name it, GT gearboxes, GT brakes, modified suspensions, wide wheels, the lot.
Crea and Murphy were in Melbourne, Williamson was in Sydney.
I don't know anything about the red ones you saw, but I'd luv to know more!

[Teditor]

I'm going on memory, but I could swear they were red and touted as works cars, I recall George Steeden gave his Falcon Tow car a run and got in the 14's. Beat the 'racing' Bellett's hands down.

The only other memories of Castlereagh was when I drove a GT Bellett up there and at around 85mph the car was all over the place, it had been dunked in a river when unloading a boat and basically the roof was all that held it together.

The other occasion was when I gave my 1946 Buick Straight Eight a run and pulled an 18.1 sec quarter, very impressive for the day and what the car was.

[PR91]

They were definitely white.
I've got pics of the Crea and Williamson cars at home from back then that most have never seen, as well as video footage of the Crea and Murphy cars racing at Sandown, in colour.
Would luv know what those red ones were then.

[PR91]

As stated in another thread speaking of Peter Williamson......
He passed away today aged 78.
RIP.

[toomanybelletts]

Could the red one be the John Malcolm Motors car as seen in that Wheels Magazine "Project Bellett " ?

[GerryBellettGT]

Good read,and to get the Bellett in Aust Muscle Car,well done,but where is the Tear Drop now,anyone know Gerry

[Glenn]

have a look also in 'Unique Cars" magazine, issue 386.

Page 37 & 38...... QLD Belletts !!

[Stickman]

have a look also in 'Unique Cars" magazine, issue 386.

Page 37 & 38...... QLD Belletts !!

That was from the All Jap day at Banyo with the OSJCC.... Same weekend that the Gnoo Blas Classic was on in Orange.
Myself, Greg and Lizzie would have been there too if we hadn't road tripped to Orange instead
Next All Jap day at Banyo is in June (we have 2 Jap days per year at Banyo high school)

[PR91]

Good read,and to get the Bellett in Aust Muscle Car,well done,but where is the Tear Drop now,anyone know Gerry

whereabouts of the other 3 (1 from 65, 2 from 66) is unknown.
get out there and start searching....