Same as mine mate, was a 2.1zvh, made 270bhp/325 ft/lb, but was on a 2.5" exhaust and a restrictive t34 .48.

Would have made a LOT more given the right bits, but I had just been made redundant, mortgage to pay, and it kept eating gearboxes.

Maybe a similar issue?

 

I also know from the inside, having been there and done it, that the constant battles with development, broken bits, down time and so on eventually get the better of you. OK, so he didn't have the CVH cam-wear issues to worry about, but I'd bet he just got sick of owning a high-powered RST and all the baggage that goes with it. Only someone that has owned one could really know.

Owning one is how I'd imagine it to be if you were going out with a stripper. Fun while you're in it, but 99% of the time it just a fucking high-maintenance headache.

 

i was speaking to ian howell(area six) and he said it was 380ish hp, james broke it cause it was too quick, dont think the 18"s and low rider stance helped,

the box was from jamsports demo car, quaife straight cut short ratio job, maybe if he put another box in he would have gone quicker,

im interested in what times he did at totb anyone know????

 

Christian....

I don't think James was into the whole "times" scene he just wanted a fast car that was different from the norm, when he told me what he wanted (ie braeak her up) I asked hime why and after a long discussion he had nowhere to park it safely and wanted a more useable car as the Escort was now a car that couldn't be used "everyday" after throwing some ideas about we decided on a M3 Evo E36 which is what he bought.... I'm 100% sure you know where he was coming from back then as you yourself now have done the exact same thing albeit buying a Renault R26...



Steve

 

fook it too late with my reply.....lol

 

My red series 2 would of been one of the very best around but then redundancy forced me to sell some the really good parts on it. Am building it up again at moment to cossie management etc after the shell had sat there untouched for 3yrs but my hearts really not in it this time round and its not gonna be anywhere near as i had originally planned. Shame really. Would of been a definite magazine feature.

 

Back onto the original topic..

Does anyone think that the Kei RSS wheels are quite similar? I've heard they're pretty much a copy, but I don't think the look quite as wide. Still, think I like them though! Would post a pic, but on iPhone and not sure how to be honest!

Let me know what you think!

 

yes mate very similar, but im sure the gt's are still for sale could be wrong lol

 

 

A9 James Bentley Ford Escort 13.71 110

Compare that to my times on the same day in a car with apparently 100bhp less

A11 Paul Roberts Fiesta RS Turbo 12.78 112

It may have been 380 but the figures speak for themselves, it just wasn't that quick off the line due to stupidly big wheels and incorrect suspension setup.

 

350hp should pull 120 terminals all day long no matter how shit you are off the line.

S1 what were 60ft's from back in the day ? and when will we see you on the strip? was expecting it out this year after reading the feature in fast ford mag at the begining of the year.

 

Correct,there also 18s on soy

 

was it an earlier incarnation of SOY that had twin tailpipes exitting through the rear panel, where the numberplate usually sits? im 99% sure it was, but struggling to find a pic

 

No idea on 60ft's tbh.

Will be next year now, I'm switching management & inlet plus replacing the currently std rods with something more appropriate!

 

Yes.....

 

no worries, ill look forward to seeing it in action next year then.

 

I couldn't give a rats ass if SOY didn't prove its figures, it was a legend in its own right. It was one of the first tricked out S2's on the scene that carried that kind of reputation and it didn't exactly have a little 1.3 under the bonnet....it had the kit needed to prove whatever was said. The fact it looked immaculate and demonic and the same time was just a bonus, such a shame it was broken up....

 

i still prefered SOY when it had the exhausts hanging out the back, was a proper car back then tbh as later on it was just bitched about for "not proving"

still love the car though and was a legend as you remember the car when someone mentions "SOY"

 

Like I said above, James always wanted something different...... Not many people would take a jigsaw to a mint S2 and cut the floor and back panel to fit an exhaust..... Looked the bollox popping flames outta the 2x tailpipes between the rear lamps....lol

 

was an inspiring car for all and set the path for modified fords back in the day, im sure it could have set some great times if he kept it together long enough, as steveb has said he pulled it apart months after finishing which was a great shame

 

i agree,couldnt give a shit what it proved
whats any big power RST proved? that theyre not as quick as a shitbox vauxhall corsa up the qtr mile?
i can first remember seeing soy way back at a max power live show at the nec,mustve been about 1998 when it had the tsw evos on
i deceided there and then that i wanted a red rst,not because of times it had or hadnt achieved but because it was a mint looking car

 

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY SOY IS A LEGEND !!!

i also loved it aswell, it was nothing like a ERST should be BUT it was far from a chaved up erst aswell that had some one off mods that,,, well unless you see it you would take the piss

 

I've got the gearbox which was in this I believe.

 

old thread i know but is there a build thread on 'soy'

 

What a broad statement to make with so many genuinely fast cars about.......

 

In its last "guise" it came to me as a rolling shell (2003/4). Back then camera phones were't really the norm so I never actually got any pics of the "big build". I only took a few snaps with a normal camera after I stripped it.


Amazes me that after 7-8 years its still gets talked about.....lol



Steve

 

Like people say thats what makes it special not the times it never made i guess.

Crazy eh

 

I always preferred it with the TSWs and the exhausts coming out of a stupid place myself. Was a bit more "out there" which I quite liked at the time. Not my tastes now. I thought the black one pulled off the big wheels look a bit better.

I think the lack of times are probably part of it's legendary status, as it's all about what could have been.

 

I always thought it was hideous, Nobody ever proved how fast it was.

 

i said of its time

 

it was never built to make any records or set times etc

james just built it for himself and used it when and where he wished


ive built my mate dean a 500 plus bhp fez turbo and that wont set any times because he aint bothered

 

lol

it was proved by the owner

ian howell built the engine and he can vouch how fast it was

remember it was on a short ratio box so was never going to set massive top speeds
it accelerated like a bastard

 

this car was around 400bhp and with the correct gearing could of done 170+mph easily , as proved by paul johnson fiesta as he was running 20 psi (400bhp) on the day of his fwd record , plus c&b s2 ran 176mph i think with around 360 bhp so it not impossible , plus this was one of ians first big powered engines with then graced many cult engine bays , paul johnson , sunnys ,carismadave etc etc so being one of the first is what makes this car fanastic imo

cheers paul

 

I can vouch for how shit to live with a decent power rst is... Had a couple, one a van aaken/power engineering 1.9 jobbie and the other a harvey gibbs jobbie... Pain in the fucking arsehole... Gearboxes, cam, head, turbos etc etc al for a not so quick(in the real world) cvh.

 

One of my favourite Rs turbos of all time, along with twins.

 

James Bentley was a top bloke and became a good friend after doing various jobs on his car such as the cossie management when it was the 1.9 cvh and the rear disc conversion.
As Steve B has said, he didn't build it for times or for other peoples opinions, he just had ideas and then carried them out like the mass of gauges along the dash, the exhaust that came inside the car just behind the handbrake then exited out the number plate etc etc.
Top bloke and a legend of a car no matter what people think!

 

Despite everyone saying big power cvh's are shit i still want to complete my project ive allways wanted........ill more than likley live to regret this statement but its something i wanna do just for myself not so i can set any times just because i can.