If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)

Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules

Shamrock car

airnwater · 2007-02-11 12:53:28

I have some info on these, have seen bit on wikipedia... Have seen one at mosney show.. Anyone know of any more ?......or anyone have any more info. or good stories about them ??

11-02-2007 1:53pm

#1

airnwater

Registered Users Posts: 124 ✭✭

Join Date: May 2006

Posts: 89

I have some info on these, have seen bit on wikipedia...
Have seen one at mosney show..

Anyone know of any more ?......or anyone have any more info.
or good stories about them ??

0

Comments

#2 11-02-2007 2:01pm

Max_Damage

Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 5225

Weren't they built in Kerry, or somewhere back in the 50's?

I remember watching something about them years back on that rubbish Irish version of Top Gear, Drive.

They had the engine from an Austin in them, the Americans didn't like them because they were too small, and the Brits didn't like them becasue they looked too American, and thus the company failed.

There isn't many around at all now, about 2 or 3 left in the world?

0
#3 11-02-2007 2:16pm

TomMc

Registered Users Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2006

Posts: 1610

Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan

http://www.castleblayney.ie/html/news/newsdtl.asp?newsid=207

http://www.celtic-connection.com/around/around2006_04_07.html

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050321/FREE/503210705&SearchID=73243149673505&template=printart

0
#4 11-02-2007 7:39pm

Silvera

Registered Users Posts: 4,026 ✭✭✭

Join Date: April 2003

Posts: 3702

Didn't Top Gear also do a piece on the Shamrock?

There is a page about the Shamrock in Richard Hammond's book 'Car Confidential' (which I bought recently).

I also recall seeing a green(!) Shamrock taking pride of place in a photo (or film?) of the annual St Pats parade in a small US town:)

The biggest problem with the car was/is the weedy Austin engine .....and the lack of support by the govt for any local car makers.

0
#5 14-02-2007 11:17am

TigerTim

Registered Users Posts: 1,234 ✭✭✭

Join Date: April 2005

Posts: 1078

There is a guy who lives near Killarney who has one in his collection. I've never seen it but believe its a minter. He also rallies a beautiful historic Mini Cooper.

T.

0
#6 15-02-2007 2:19am

Mahatma coat

Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,869 ✭✭✭

Join Date: March 2006

Posts: 6516

Ah yes Classic Irish car design, take the worst features of both American and british cars and couple them together badly.

Seriously tho wouldnt you have loved to have seen that design meeting

"ah shur we can get an aul deal on some bodies from detroit and miley there swears he's got a mate in Austin can send us engines"

"that is austin Texas right Miley?"

0
Advertisement
#7 16-02-2007 1:10pm

green-blood

Registered Users Posts: 610 ✭✭✭

Join Date: February 2005

Posts: 586

only 3 left on the planet as fara as I know

It was built in Dundalk and then production moved to Monaghan. Its a giant 50s american wings and all apeng glassfibre body mounted on (I think) Ford Pop running gear,silly narrow track and all...

awful

0
#8 16-02-2007 2:25pm

MercMad

Registered Users Posts: 4,269 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2004

Posts: 4230

Didn't they toss the remaining unbuilt glass fibre bodies into a local lake ! I remember hearing that, maybe its an urban myth !

0
#9 17-02-2007 4:26pm

Hifive

Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2006

Posts: 469

Came across one of those Shamrocks in a shed in Kilkenny about 10 years ago, A ridiculous looking thing, looked like someone had put a 50's Chevy body on a milk float chassis!

0
#10 17-02-2007 7:13pm

Max_Damage

Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 5225

I wonder how much they would go for?

0
#11 17-02-2007 7:23pm

Mr. Presentable

Closed Accounts Posts: 9,496 ✭✭✭

Join Date: September 2004

Posts: 8848

http://www.answers.com/topic/shamrock-car

Lough Muckno. Fibreglass wouldn't have perished, would it?

0
Advertisement
#12 22-02-2007 12:55am

Silvera

Registered Users Posts: 4,026 ✭✭✭

Join Date: April 2003

Posts: 3702

Photo I took of ZV-reg Shamrock at Mosney Show in 2000 ........

0
#13 22-02-2007 2:46pm

Max_Damage

Closed Accounts Posts: 5,461 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 5225

nipplenuts wrote:

http://www.answers.com/topic/shamrock-car

Lough Muckno. Fibreglass wouldn't have perished, would it?

I'm going fishing!

0
#14 02-07-2009 10:32pm

carchaeologist

Registered Users Posts: 11,318 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: February 2008

Posts: 11079

1960 Shamrock 2-Door Convertible Coupe

The Shamrock Automobile Company was established by an American businessman, William K Curtis. The aim was to produce these large luxury cars in Tralee, Kerry Ireland, for export to the US market. This 1960 Shamrock, is one of only four known to exist.

Shortly after production began, design flaws became apparent. Although the fiberglass-bodies car was big and heavy, it used a relatively small Austin A55 1.5 liter engine, which limited performance. The A55 also provided the transmission and suspension. Also the rear wheels were shrouded by body panels and could not be removed (for flat tire repair for example) without dropping its axle. The car used fiberglass body panels and was styled as a four seat, two door, coupe with removable hardtop. The wheelbase was 98 inches.

Production of up to 10,000 cars a year was talked about but eventually, only ten complete cars were produced during the six months before production ceased. After the factory closed, the unused parts were apparently dumped into the local landfill.

The car is now very rare, and only four are believed to be still in existence: three in Ireland — one each in Castleblayney, Killarney, and Drogheda — and one in Reno,Nevada.

Anyone know anything about the supposed cars in Ireland?

0
#15 02-07-2009 11:07pm

DaveCol

Registered Users Posts: 353 ✭✭

Join Date: December 2006

Posts: 329

There was also one that used to appear at shows around Wexford a few years ago. I think someone posted a photo of it on here a few months ago

0
#16 02-07-2009 11:29pm

gfwd

Registered Users Posts: 291 ✭✭

Join Date: April 2008

Posts: 270

Shortly after production began, design flaws became apparent.

Yup, it was ugly.

0
#17 02-07-2009 11:37pm

Silvera

Registered Users Posts: 4,026 ✭✭✭

Join Date: April 2003

Posts: 3702

I photographed a Shamorck at Mosney Car Show a few years ago.....complete with 'ZV' plates.

Top Gear also featured the one in Drogheda about then years ago. I recall them opening the garage and revealing it, and one of the presenters driving it around local roads...and complaining about it.

Richard Hammonds book 'Car Confidential' has a pic and a few details of the 'ZV' reg Shamrock I photographed at Mosney.

0
#18 02-07-2009 11:45pm

carchaeologist

Registered Users Posts: 11,318 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: February 2008

Posts: 11079

Silvera wrote: »

I photographed a Shamorck at Mosney Car Show a few years ago.....complete with 'ZV' plates.

Top Gear also featured the one in Drogheda about then years ago. I recall them opening the garage and revealing it, and one of the presenters driving it around local roads...and complaining about it.

Richard Hammonds book 'Car Confidential' has a pic and a few details of the 'ZV' reg Shamrock I photographed at Mosney.

I wonder where it came from,as its on ZVs.Thanks for that silvera.

0
#19 02-07-2009 11:58pm

Satrastar

Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭

Join Date: June 2009

Posts: 11

I remember that episode of Top Gear (the old format).

The whole tone of the segment quite offputting. They were presenting the Shamrock as the pinnacle of Irish engineering, and completely mocking it.

But then the Shamrock was not very well engineered. It was a huge car whose wheels were lost underneath the car with a gutless engine. It didn't handle well, and apparently wasn't built very well. It doesn't seem surprising that it didn't last...

It was the Shamrock Louth if I remember correctly.

The car wouldn't start and the owner had to hit something in the bonnet with a hammer to get the car to start. The bonnet didn't close very well due to poor panel fit too.

0
#20 03-07-2009 12:41am

rugbyman

Registered Users Posts: 1,783 ✭✭✭

Join Date: March 2007

Posts: 1685

Not often you are wrong carcheologist, but I believe the shamrock was built in Castleblaney

regards,
rugbyman

0
#21 03-07-2009 1:17am

PanhardPL

Registered Users Posts: 511 ✭✭✭

Join Date: November 2006

Posts: 444

rugbyman wrote: »

Not often you are wrong carcheologist, but I believe the shamrock was built in Castleblaney

regards,
rugbyman

Carcheologist is not wrong. The firm was started in Tralee.

The Shamrock was a car produced in Ireland for a brief period during the 1950s.

The business was established by an American businessman, William K Curtis in Tralee, Co. Kerry, but was moved to Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, before production began. The aim was to produce a large luxury car model for export to the US market.

Shortly after production began, however, design flaws became apparent. Although the car was big and heavy, it used a relatively small Austin A55 1.5 litre engine, which limited performance. The A55 also provided the transmission and suspension. Another problem was that the rear wheels were shrouded by body panels and a rear wheel could not be removed (for puncture repair for example) without dropping its axle. The car used fibreglass body panels and was styled as a four seat, two door, coupé with removable hardtop. The wheelbase was 98 inches (2487 mm).

Production of up to 10,000 cars a year was talked about but eventually, only ten complete cars were produced during the six months before production ceased. After the factory closed, the unused parts were dumped into the local Lough Muckno.

The car is now very rare, and only four are believed to be still in existence: three in Ireland — one each in Castleblayney, Killarney, and Drogheda — and one in Reno, Nevada.

0
Advertisement
#22 03-07-2009 1:26am

G Luxel

Registered Users Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 1290

Is it the only Irish car ever?
Will there be any 50th anniversary celebrations?
Is there anyone out there who worked in the Shamrock factory?
And why would all the unused parts be dumped in the local lake? The Irish Motor Industry goes from bad to worse...

0
#23 03-07-2009 7:36pm

carchaeologist

Registered Users Posts: 11,318 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: February 2008

Posts: 11079

Thank you Mr Panhard.

Is it the only Irish car ever?
Will there be any 50th anniversary celebrations?
Is there anyone out there who worked in the Shamrock factory?
And why would all the unused parts be dumped in the local lake? The Irish Motor Industry goes from bad to worse...

I doubt it the only irish car ever,and there isnt really much to celebrate really is there?

I havnt heard of anyone that worked in the factory,though i posted the same post on the tralee thread to see what happens.

Iv never heard of lough Muckno,is it near castleblaney?

0
#24 03-07-2009 11:51pm

Pagoda113

Registered Users Posts: 67 ✭✭

Join Date: December 2006

Posts: 60

Chambers manufactured car's in Belfast back in the 20's. I don't know a lot about their history though.

The photo attached was taken in 2002 in the Museum in Killarney.

0
#25 04-07-2009 10:18am

trevorbrady

Registered Users Posts: 551 ✭✭✭

Join Date: March 2008

Posts: 508

there was an unfinished one (the story went that it was pulled from the lake) in "Barry's Tyres/Bargaintyres" in Kilmaganny, Co. Kilkenny about 7-8 years ago. At the time I had heard of them but never seen one and had a great chat with the shop owner about it. He has since moved it on but anyone looking to find out more info he might be a good place to start.

It might be car no. 5. Who knows?

0
#26 04-07-2009 9:18pm

colm_mcm

Registered Users Posts: 73,379 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 72102

wasn't this car featured on that (awful Irish) Drive programme?

0
#27 05-07-2009 1:14pm

Hifive

Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭

Join Date: September 2006

Posts: 469

I saw the one in the shed in Kilmoganny (Kilkenny) a few years ago.
Heres a previous thread about them from 07.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=52789131#post52789131

0
#28 05-07-2009 2:31pm

MorrisCooper

Registered Users Posts: 176 ✭✭

Join Date: January 2009

Posts: 163

There is a Shamrock project owned by a well-known old car enthusiast just outside Killarney in white but it's unlikely to see the light of day for a long time.

Other Irish manufacturer: TMC in Wexford

0
#29 06-07-2009 3:12am

G Luxel

Registered Users Posts: 1,407 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2005

Posts: 1290

The car is so ugly that it looks more appropriate on the set of The Flintstones. It looks more at home on a cartoon strip, something like Batman or one of those syndicates black and white heavy prints you would see in a newspaper.

0
#30 06-07-2009 12:06pm

2 Espressi

Registered Users Posts: 1,043 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2004

Posts: 1018

Shamrock Trivia: No two cars were identical, the fibreglass bodies all used slightly different grilles, headlight positions, etc.

0
Advertisement
#31 06-07-2009 12:34pm

w123

Registered Users Posts: 155 ✭✭

Join Date: January 2006

Posts: 144

MorrisCooper wrote: »

Other Irish manufacturer: TMC in Wexford

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMC_Costin

I remember seeing one of these in the States in the mid eighties, it was green and looked like a real race car from the 50's, nice I thought.

Here's a pic

http://www.tmc-costin.de/9254.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*

On mature reflection nice front, shame about the rear. Not unique in that regard...

0