I know, it’s not really a kit car, but it might as well be. The Adams brothers produced a number of wild cars that I’m a big fan of — the completely mad Mantis XP (another car that I’d love to see a kit made of) — but the practically knee-height Probe 16 (the Imp Site has a great page on it) is arguably the wildest of the bunch. One of the Probes showed up on Top Gear a while back seeking restoration (it didn’t win), and they shot some great video of it that really show what a suberb car it was, and I’d like to share that here.
Before you ask, yes, I’ve called the owner of the Probe 16 in Canada and bugged him to let me splash a mold off of it. For now he’s not interested…
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When I look at the rear of the Probe 16 it reminds me of the Sterling/Nova kit. That would be one fun ride the power top looks like fun. With some creative fabrication you might be able to do a good clone using a Sterling as a base.
Rich
When I look at the rear of the Probe 16 it reminds me of the Sterling/Nova kit. That would be one fun ride the power top looks like fun. With some creative fabrication you might be able to do a good clone using a Sterling as a base.
Rich
I have been a fan of the Adams bros since I was first turned on to A Clockwork orange, before the net it wasnt easy tracking down a car that had its name changed for a film and that at the time no one really cared about.
Many of the Adams cars “look” like they could have at least in part inspired styling for many of the early VW based kit cars,
I have been a fan of the Adams bros since I was first turned on to A Clockwork orange, before the net it wasnt easy tracking down a car that had its name changed for a film and that at the time no one really cared about.
Many of the Adams cars “look” like they could have at least in part inspired styling for many of the early VW based kit cars,
Great looking car, Those tail lights look like they are from a Fiat 850 Coupe. I think in A Clockwork orange there are four people riding in it!!
Schmitty
Schmitty
If you put the movie title in the YouTube search that scene is there. Can you imagine how long it took to get all the guys in there lol. What would be cool is to see how they did the wooden frame for it.
Marcos cars used them until the 70’s there was a story of a guy who crashed one at Silver stone. The car went off into the infield and tumbled and flipped into a million chunks. When it all came to a hault there was the driver shaken but not seriously hurt. The structure absorbed the majority of the impact energy.
Rich
Schmitty
If you put the movie title in the YouTube search that scene is there. Can you imagine how long it took to get all the guys in there lol. What would be cool is to see how they did the wooden frame for it.
Marcos cars used them until the 70’s there was a story of a guy who crashed one at Silver stone. The car went off into the infield and tumbled and flipped into a million chunks. When it all came to a hault there was the driver shaken but not seriously hurt. The structure absorbed the majority of the impact energy.
Rich
I think they’re basically just sitting on top of the car in the movie.
As I understand it this isn’t one of the wooden frame cars?
I think they’re basically just sitting on top of the car in the movie.
As I understand it this isn’t one of the wooden frame cars?
Right, one scene shows it drive into “Home” but otherwise its a moving background with them on the car appearing to ride,
I read somewhere on the net while the car in the film IS an Adams bros car no one was 100% sure which car was in the film as a couple were reworked and of course each owner wanted their car to be the movie car, are they sure the one in the above video is in fact the movie car or one “like” it?
Right, one scene shows it drive into “Home” but otherwise its a moving background with them on the car appearing to ride,
I read somewhere on the net while the car in the film IS an Adams bros car no one was 100% sure which car was in the film as a couple were reworked and of course each owner wanted their car to be the movie car, are they sure the one in the above video is in fact the movie car or one “like” it?
Howdy guys
Here is the youtube link. The looked packed in there like fat ladies in a Yugo lol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ltwX603Ft4
Rich
Howdy guys
Here is the youtube link. The looked packed in there like fat ladies in a Yugo lol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ltwX603Ft4
Rich
We are at the moment restoring the car from the film for the the current owner who has the letter from Stanley kubrick asking for the car to be hired to him for the filming If their is any interest out there we may post some photos of its progress.
Mick
In 1969 or early 1970, an exiled Cuban financial wizard brought a Probe to Madrid, Spain where he was living and racing a Capri 3000. The yellow “wedge” caused a lot of furor as then a couple of Spaniards were getting seriously involved in auto styling, and the Formula 1430 and 1600 single seater racing was getting off the ground. The Probe underwent major cockpit surgery when we completely remodelled the instrument distribution, bringing everything into a cluster in the middle of the dash. Sometime in the mid 1970’s, Fernando sold the Probe to a USAF airman who drove it for a while until one day the roof flew off at some 90 + kph. After that, the car disappeared.
I am restoring a Centaur MK1 and a friend of mine the Probe 15. Can you give some infos concening the Cuban financial and his Probe in Spain? Do you have some pictures. The only yellow Probe AFAIK is the one actually restored by Club auto sports in London. Would be great to get some pictures from the interior trim, best before the cockpit surgery.
As well pictures of the early Probe 15 would be great, because the shape of today was made in the mid 80´s. New roof from a Bond GT, side windows as doors …
many thanks in advance.
Christian
The Probe is now very near to completion and with luck should be at the Marcos show Prescott. It may also be shown on Top Gear next year. We should have some preview photos on line soon
I was looking at pictures from the classic car extravaganza at Pebble Beach USA and was reminded of an unusual car I saw as a small boy parked outside Whitechapel tube station in London’s east end back in ’71 or ’72. It was silver and the name ‘Adams 16’ stuck in my mind.
I now know I wasn’t dreaming.
For George Potter.
Hi george, really interested in the story of the Probe in Spain. Be really keen to hear more if you have any info. This could be the one and only rumoured 4th Probe 16. It wouldn’t have shown any original Red paint under the yellow would it ?
Was it you yourslf who did the remoddeling. We have a website dedicated to the Adams Probe at http://www.probe2001.com
cheers
EWAN
Any links of the Probe 16 being/been restored?
have a gander at http://www.adamsprobe.com for comprehensive info