Ian from the Isle of Man – RTV
Ian bought this RTV in October 2013 and found it to need a full restoration due to neglect over the years.
This one was built in Church Stretton Shropshire in 1995 when Lawrence Hawgood owned the company. From what we understand the chassis work was part of Harper Adams Agricultural College research and development work prior to the Ford powered RTV’s. The bodywork was done by S. F. Body Builders in Church Stretton Shropshire.
It is powered by the more powerful Mini Metro 1300cc engine through the Metro automatic gearbox. Slightly different to the earlier Robert Mandry vehicles having a more square form chassis and squarer lines to the cab. Being Classic Mini based spares to do this restoration are plentiful and not too expensive. Andrew Mac Clean owner of the Scamp kit car company who is an RTV enthusiast has helped with the “odd type” spares such as the articulation bearings and the extra long accelerator and choke cables etc.