c.1963 Triumph Special Formosa 120GR

As an ex-pattern maker and fibreglass laminator at Sunseeker Yachts, Glan Richards was totally familiar with contemporary design, yet his passion was for those glorious, curvaceous sports cars and sports racers from the 1950s. Cars created at a time when body panels were hand-shaped with hammers and wheels, dashboards were made of metal, seat belts were optional and impact bumpers, effective crumple zones, airbag steering wheels and pedestrian-friendly front ends were some way in the future.

Over a period of approximately ten months, Glan and colleagues shaped and created the Formosas fibreglass bodyshell, incorporating many of the features and styling cues from those fabulous 1950s racers. A close look will offer reminders of Jaguars C-Type, Maseratis 300S, the Ferrari 750 Monza, Astons DBR1 and others but, as the design didn't lean heavily or replicate any particular marque or model, it avoided all the copyright and patent issues that have recently caused replica builders legal problems. The Formosa was designed to accept the chassis and running gear from a Triumph Vitesse or a Reliant Scimitar SE5A and, by utilising the majority of the donor, minus the bodyshell, it retained the cars classic status, registration, chassis number, etc., still a true 1960s classic, just wearing a different suit of clothes.

This particular Formosa 120GR is based on a 2-litre Triumph Vitesse first registered on 1st May 1963 and has covered just 13,559 miles since the build. It was assembled in 2019/20 by Formosa 'guru', Dave Thickins and sold to its first owner in December 2021. Motivation is provided by a twin-carb 1,998cc Triumph six-cylinder generating around 100bhp and mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. The car is finished in an an attractive shade of steel blue metallic, a couple of shades down from Ecurie Ecosse blue enhanced by a single white 'racing stripe'. External sporty features include a single race-style rear headrest, quick release bonnet catches, twin period side mirrors, centre-mounted chrome filler cap, 'Speedster' style Perspex windscreen, Perspex headlamp covers with P700 lamps, an 'egg crate' front grille, painted wire wheels and a full mohair Tonneau cover.

More recent work includes custom-made, fully cushioned, sling back blue leather seats, angled correctly for optimum comfort, new harness seat belts, additional trimming to dash and other parts, new rubber mats, a battery cut out switch, K and N filters and an upgraded fuel tank. It's eligible for free historic road tax (ULEZ exempt!), inexpensive classic car insurance and is MOT-exempt.

The Formosa is supplied with its current V5C, an MOT valid until 5th December 2024, an HPI 'all clear' certificate, spare keys, knock-on wheel hammer and spinner spanner, Vitesse owners manual and workshop manual, a toolbag with sundry items and its history file.

We understand that this good-looking period road-race style special Triumph is great fun to drive and delivers a nostalgic raspy exhaust note through a single exhaust pipe.