Banham Conversions
Encyclopedia
Banham Conversions was a maker of kit car
s from the late 1970s until 2004. The company was founded by Paul Banham who started off building convertible conversions on commission. He made convertible versions of the Ferrari 400
, Aston Martin DBS
and V8, and the Rolls-Royce Corniche
.
By the 1980s, he was marketing a kit to rebody the Jaguar XJS
. He also offered convertible conversions for the XJS and Jaguar XJ6. http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhamjaguarsf.htm
The Banham Spyder (since 1980s) was based on the Skoda Estelle and Skoda Rapid
and was inspired by the Porsche 550
of James Dean fame. In the 1990s Paul Banham also bought the original bodywork tooling for the Ford RS200
and used it to make kits based on the Austin Maestro
(preferably the MG Maestro Turbo version). Being front wheel drive it offered both a rear seat and a boot where the engine was in the original RS200.http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhammaestrof.htm
In the late 1990s he had moved into making Rover
based kit cars. Kits based on the Mini
were the Roadster (which converted a Mini into a two seat roadster
) and the Sprint (inspired by the Austin-Healey Sprite
).http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhamminif.htm
Kits based on the Rover Metro
were the Banham X99 (looking very much like the concept car drawings of the soon to be released Audi TT
). After some intervention from VAG
over the origin of its design this was later revised slightly to the Banham X21 (looking a bit like a Nissan Figaro
and Audi TT
), the Banham BAT (based on the X21, but with a futuristic styling), the Banham New Speedster (inspired by the Porsche 356
Speedster), the Tiger (inspired by the Sunbeam Tiger
) and the Banham Superbug (a modern interpretation of the Mini Moke
).http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhammetrof.htm
The company ceased trading in 2004 and was taken over by Rally Sport Replicas Ltd who in turn ceased trading in mid 2005. Some of the kits were sold by 356 Sports during 2006, but they too have since ceased trading.
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
s from the late 1970s until 2004. The company was founded by Paul Banham who started off building convertible conversions on commission. He made convertible versions of the Ferrari 400
Ferrari 400
The Ferrari 400 and Ferrari 412 are front-engined 2+2 coupé cars from Italian manufacturer Ferrari. They were available with 5-speed all synchromesh or an optional 3-speed automatic transmission unit from General Motors. Their design was derived from the almost identical looking 365 GT4 2+2...
, Aston Martin DBS
Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
and V8, and the Rolls-Royce Corniche
Rolls-Royce Corniche
The Corniche was Rolls-Royce's coupé and convertible version of the Silver Shadow produced between 1971 and 1996. The Corniche was named "Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward two door fixed head coupé " from 1966 until 1971 when the Corniche name was applied. The exterior design was by John Polwhele...
.
By the 1980s, he was marketing a kit to rebody the Jaguar XJS
Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJ-S is a luxury grand tourer produced by the British manufacturer Jaguar from 1975 to 1996. The XJ-S replaced the E-Type in September 1975, and was based on the XJ saloon. It had been developed as the XK-F, though it was very different in character from its predecessor...
. He also offered convertible conversions for the XJS and Jaguar XJ6. http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhamjaguarsf.htm
The Banham Spyder (since 1980s) was based on the Skoda Estelle and Skoda Rapid
Skoda Rapid
The Škoda Rapid was a coupe designed and built by Škoda in Czechoslovakia between 1984 and 1990. Based on the Škoda 130/135/136 sedan, it was a replacement for the Škoda Garde coupe built between 1981 and 1984 itself based upon the Škoda 105/120 sedan design...
and was inspired by the Porsche 550
Porsche 550
The Porsche 550 was a sports car produced by Porsche from 1953-1956.Inspired by the Porsche 356 which was created by Ferry Porsche, and some spyder prototypes built and raced by Walter Glöckler starting in 1951, the factory decided to build a car designed for use in auto racing. The model Porsche...
of James Dean fame. In the 1990s Paul Banham also bought the original bodywork tooling for the Ford RS200
Ford RS200
The Ford RS200 is a mid-engined, four-wheel drive sports car produced by Ford from 1984 to 1986. The road-going RS200 was based on Ford's Group B rally car and was designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations, which required 200 road legal versions be built...
and used it to make kits based on the Austin Maestro
Austin Maestro
The Austin Maestro is a compact-sized 5-door hatchback car that was produced from 1983 to 1994, initially by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and from 1988 onwards by its successor, Rover Group. The car was produced at the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxford. It was initially...
(preferably the MG Maestro Turbo version). Being front wheel drive it offered both a rear seat and a boot where the engine was in the original RS200.http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhammaestrof.htm
In the late 1990s he had moved into making Rover
Rover
-Leyland companies:* Rover Company , a British motorcycle and car manufacturing company, absorbed into Leyland Motor Corporation in 1967* Austin Rover Group , a mass-market car manufacturing subsidiary of Leyland...
based kit cars. Kits based on the Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
were the Roadster (which converted a Mini into a two seat roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
) and the Sprint (inspired by the Austin-Healey Sprite
Austin-Healey Sprite
The Austin-Healey Sprite is a small open sports car which was announced to the press in Monte Carlo by the British Motor Corporation on 20 May 1958, just before that year's Monaco Grand Prix. It was intended to be a low-cost model that "a chap could keep in his bike shed", yet be the successor to...
).http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhamminif.htm
Kits based on the Rover Metro
Rover Metro
The Metro is a supermini car that was produced by the Austin Rover Group division of British Leyland and its successors. It was launched in 1980 as the Austin miniMetro. It was intended to complement the Mini, and was developed under the codename LC8....
were the Banham X99 (looking very much like the concept car drawings of the soon to be released Audi TT
Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
). After some intervention from VAG
VAG
VAG is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:* Freiburger Verkehrs AG, the municipal transport company of the city of Freiburg, Germany.* Vereinigte Astronomische Gesellschaft, United Astronomical Society...
over the origin of its design this was later revised slightly to the Banham X21 (looking a bit like a Nissan Figaro
Nissan Figaro
The Nissan Figaro is a small retro car manufactured by Nissan. The car was originally sold only in Japan. Despite this, the Nissan Figaro has become popular with owners in the UK and Ireland, given the popularity of second-hand Japanese import cars...
and Audi TT
Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
), the Banham BAT (based on the X21, but with a futuristic styling), the Banham New Speedster (inspired by the Porsche 356
Porsche 356
The Porsche 356 was the company's first production automobile. It was a lightweight and nimble handling rear-engine rear-wheel-drive 2 door sports car available in hardtop coupe and open configurations. Design innovations continued during the years of manufacture, contributing to its motorsports...
Speedster), the Tiger (inspired by the Sunbeam Tiger
Sunbeam Tiger
The Sunbeam Tiger was a muscle car version of the British Rootes Group's Sunbeam Alpine roadster.-Development:The West Coast Sales Manager of Rootes American Motors Inc., Ian Garrad, realized that the Alpine's image was that of a touring car rather than a sports car, and he set about changing its...
) and the Banham Superbug (a modern interpretation of the Mini Moke
Mini Moke
The Mini Moke is a vehicle based on the Mini and designed for the British Motor Corporation by Sir Alec Issigonis. The name comes from "Mini"—the car with which the Moke shares many parts—and "Moke", which is an archaic dialect term for donkey...
).http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?banhammetrof.htm
The company ceased trading in 2004 and was taken over by Rally Sport Replicas Ltd who in turn ceased trading in mid 2005. Some of the kits were sold by 356 Sports during 2006, but they too have since ceased trading.
External links
- Banham Bat Build Index // dead link
- Bat Building
- Banham 200 Forums
- The X21 // dead link
- Banham X21
- Banham Spyder Builders group
- Banham Sprint owners group