When doing any big project, things seldom go completely as planned. The Davy Special, as described in our last installment, was conceived, built and then sold in the late 1950s early 1960s. It vanished from sight for nearly 35 years, was rediscovered, recovered and it was determined that, naturally, a full and complete overhaul would be required to make it a viable competitor once again. At last writing, Fraser Earle, who spearheaded the resurrection with help of an impressive line up of teammates, envisioned the car being done in time for the June 30 VARAC meet at Mosport. Alas, this was not to be.
The frame has been rebuilt and primed at Don Davy's shop in Bancroft, Ontario, and sent back to Brian Hunter's shop in Pickering, ON, 
for installation of drive line and ancillary components. Details addressed modifications to accommodate the radiator, fuel pump, roll bar and shock absorber brackets.
It was decided that the original body should be straightened up a bit and sent out to be used as tooling for new body molds. This allows for easy replacement of panels should they meet the misfortune of any damage. Prophecy went a bit haywire on the old body's trip to Al Skipper's shop in Bancroft, ON, when the original nose panel came loose from its moorings on the trailer and crashed to the ground. The unavoidable damage has since been corrected and Skipper has since completed the molds for both the front and rear clips. The first completed new body was promised for July 1st. Fraser reports, "All of us have been reduced to nail-biting."
Also projected for an early July completion will be the rolling chassis from Hunter's shop. The differential and transmission are in place as well as the front suspension. The engine is trailing closely behind.
The engine slated for use is not the one planned for permanent installation, but rather one which is intended to be a bit more forgiving in attitude while the chassis gets sorted out. The fairly stock 1800cc block will be used in concert with a cam which is reputed to give strong power up to 7200 RPM. The cylinder head will be ported and modified to provide something above a 10 to 1 compression ratio. Induction is managed via a pair of Weber 45s and an exhaust header fabricated by Hunter, having four equal length primary tubes approximately 32 inches long -- the first 8 inches in 1-1/2 diameter followed by 24 inches in 1-5/8 concluding in a 2-1/2 inch collector. The design for this header was supplied by "Headers by Ed" Henneman.
Some admitted liberties have been taken in the finished appearance of the Davy Special which contrast with the shoestring budget extant in 1959. Fraser interjects "not that there's that much more money now!" Cost overruns have been no mystery throughout the concept, but things have now gone to extremes.
New instruments have been fitted to a walnut dash panel courtesy of Oakwood Cabinets, a fine custom woodwork shop in Niagara Falls. Competition seating in aluminum has been upholstered in leather by Dave Koop. 
For those fascinated by irony, Koop's shop is located about six doors away from the barn in Vineland where the Davy Special was first built forty years ago. A pleasing logo for the Davy Special has been designed and stitched into the headrest.
The same logo appears on the wire wheel knock-offs, the result of laser cutting performed by St. John's Trophies of Mississauga. The same technique was employed again allowing the logo to appear on the custom turned hub of walnut that, together with a leather-covered rim, make up a one-off steering wheel that would have fit the 1950s vintage Morris Minor which donated the steering mechanisms.
The car is the result of the ideas and actions of young amateurs some four decades ago, augmented by numerous professionals today, some of whom are modestly functioning as amateurs.
Hope against all hope is that the car will be together in time for the vintage event to take place at Watkins Glen in mid-September. The key players in this story should know that they are not alone in this desire as we await, after a 40 year slumber, the return to the racing arena of the Davy Special.
