Probe 16
Encyclopedia
The M-505 Adams Brothers Probe 16 was a car, designed by former Marcos
cars designers Dennis and Peter Adams, (Bradford on Avon
, Wiltshire
England
) in 1969 as 'an investigation into extremes of styling'. It was powered by a mid-mounted tuned Austin 1800 engine and stood a mere 86 centimeters (34 in) in height. It has 10" wheels up front and 13" wheels on the back. Entry was gained via a sliding glass roof.
The second Probe 16 (AB/3) was completed in 1969 and exhibited in the 1969 London Motor Show. With the intention to initiate a British Styling showpiece stand at the '69 Motor Show, the Daily Telegraph Magazine cooperated with the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers to show the Probe 16 on the IBCAM stand – where it obtained a tremendous reception and won the design award as the best British styling exercise. This second Probe was originally sold to bassist Jack Bruce; Corky Laing
bought it from Bruce as a birthday present. It later became the property of a Canadian collector and car designer Dr. Clyde Kwok until 1983. Since then it has been in the private collection of Phil Karam.
The third Probe 16 (AB/4) had been displayed at the 'Pollock Auto Showcase' in USA until returned to the U.K. around 1990, by Colin Feyerabend. He told Karam in 2001 that his Probe was hoisted improperly and broke in half. A complete rebuild and restoration of the car was completed in 2010.
featured Probe 16 (AB/4) in his 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange
. In the film, it is referred to as Durango 95. In the TV-programme Top Gear (Season 2004, 2nd episode, aired October 31, 2004
), the one used in the film was nominated for restoration in the Restoration Rip-off feature, but it was out-voted by Paddy Hopkirk's Mini for restoration.
A subsequent model to the Probe 16, the Probe 2001 was also manufactured from 1970 to 1972 by the Probe Motor Company and WT Nugent (Engineering Ltd)
Marcos (automobile)
Marcos was a British sports car manufacturer. The name was a combination of founders Jem Marsh and Frank Costin.-History:Marcos was founded in Luton, in Bedfordshire, England, in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin. Frank Costin had earlier worked on the De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers and...
cars designers Dennis and Peter Adams, (Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) in 1969 as 'an investigation into extremes of styling'. It was powered by a mid-mounted tuned Austin 1800 engine and stood a mere 86 centimeters (34 in) in height. It has 10" wheels up front and 13" wheels on the back. Entry was gained via a sliding glass roof.
History
A total of only 3 were built. The first one (chassis number AB/2) which was sold to famous American songwriter Jim Webb, and was believed to have been burnt quite early. Around August 2005, some pictures of a Probe 16 with the matching engine number AB/2 surfaced on the internet, but their authenticity couldn't be verified.The second Probe 16 (AB/3) was completed in 1969 and exhibited in the 1969 London Motor Show. With the intention to initiate a British Styling showpiece stand at the '69 Motor Show, the Daily Telegraph Magazine cooperated with the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers to show the Probe 16 on the IBCAM stand – where it obtained a tremendous reception and won the design award as the best British styling exercise. This second Probe was originally sold to bassist Jack Bruce; Corky Laing
Corky Laing
Laurence Gordon "Corky" Laing is a Canadian rock drummer, best known as a longtime member of pioneering American hard rock band Mountain...
bought it from Bruce as a birthday present. It later became the property of a Canadian collector and car designer Dr. Clyde Kwok until 1983. Since then it has been in the private collection of Phil Karam.
The third Probe 16 (AB/4) had been displayed at the 'Pollock Auto Showcase' in USA until returned to the U.K. around 1990, by Colin Feyerabend. He told Karam in 2001 that his Probe was hoisted improperly and broke in half. A complete rebuild and restoration of the car was completed in 2010.
Film appearances
Stanley KubrickStanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
featured Probe 16 (AB/4) in his 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange (film)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...
. In the film, it is referred to as Durango 95. In the TV-programme Top Gear (Season 2004, 2nd episode, aired October 31, 2004
Top Gear (series 5)
The fifth series of Top Gear began in the United Kingdom on October 24th and concluded on December 26th 2004. The series contained nine episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, which aired January 2nd, 2005, charting the best moments from Series 4 and 5....
), the one used in the film was nominated for restoration in the Restoration Rip-off feature, but it was out-voted by Paddy Hopkirk's Mini for restoration.
Probe series
A previous model, the Probe 15 was manufactured by the Adams Brothers. It is believed that only one of these were ever made and it is still intact in Switzerland.A subsequent model to the Probe 16, the Probe 2001 was also manufactured from 1970 to 1972 by the Probe Motor Company and WT Nugent (Engineering Ltd)