I have been asked by Grenville Phillips to advertise his unfinished Excelsior Kit, which he must sadly sell due to health and space issues.
The Excelsior started life as a planned demonstrator for the Redditch factory. Amongst the developments included were to be a new dashboard and 14" wheels. The dashboard disappeared long ago, but the 14" KN wheels and 195/45-14 Yokohama tyres are still on the car.
I know a little bit of the history of the car as a couple of previous owners have been in contact with me for parts and advice. When the Redditch factory closed the car was in the possession of one of Mark Bailey's collaborators. He was owed a great deal of money and kept the car as payment. I believe that the development dashboard contained various electronic gizmos and these were sold off before the car was also sold on. It appeared at some point on ebay, but the next time I heard about the car was some years later when it had been bought by a Mr Donaldson, from Leeds. He bought a number of parts from me so that at he had everything needed to finish the car. His plan was to put a Peugeot 1.5 Diesel engine, from a Rover 115D, into the car, but I don't think he got very far as it still had a 1.4 8v K-series in it when Grenville bought it. Furthermore, the car had changed changed hands at least once before then. Grenville found another donor Rover 114, with better subframes and engine and he also has all the paperwork for the donor (important for IVA). So the car has had a newer subframe and engine fitted recently. The car has spent all of its life under cover so, whilst it has been covered in dust at times it has always been dry.
Grenville is an experienced kit car builder and it is only ill health that has stopped him from finishing the car. He believes that all the parts to finish the car off are present and from what I have seen the only major task remaining is to finish the interior. This includes bonding the lower dashboard section in place. I have the setting jig that is required to get the dashboard positioned correctly and would be happy to assist whoever buys this car. Grenville will include a pair of MX5 seats which he had intended to fit.
This is now sold so please do not contact Grenville.