1950 FJS 500cc F3

This FJS, as it was named by its builder, was self-built by 500cc F3 entrant Lucien Quadbach of Haccourt, near Liège in Belgium and raced in the early 1950s. The car has a number of mentions in the book “La Bible du Racer 500” by Henri Julien, which covers half-litre racing in Europe from 1949-1959. The races in this period were typically local events and not usually recorded formally.

Powered by a 500cc (obviously) JAP engine, the frame would have been fabricated and, as was apparently quite common in period, the suspension and running gear were based on that of the Fiat Topolino.

The car later became the property of Luc Dupanloup - better known as cartoonist Dupa who penned the Cubitus character for the TinTin magazine. As part of a programme of repairs in 2000, he sent the JAP engine away for a rebuild but sadly Dupa passed away and the engine has never been recovered.

A Swiss gentleman bought the car from the deceased estate and fitted a 650cc Norton Twin engine - probably not aware that this is not in line with the 500 racing rules. It was then sold to an enthusiast from Germany, whose hobby is Formula Junior racing. It was then offered to members of the 500 Owners' Association. In readiness for a would-be buyer from the UK, the engine was removed - as it wasn’t to formula - and it was paired once again with a JAP 4B speedway motor before being cosmetically restored and put away into storage in Warwickshire.

The current owner, our vendor, bought the FJS in 2017 and set about recommissioning the car for racing. He was an apprentice at a major British car manufacturer, and had sought such a car for many years.

The JAP engine - fed by a Gardner carburettor - was rebuilt by a recently retired and very capable enthusiast from Ipswich - a keen speedway rider with a well-equipped workshop. The transmission and clutch assembly was re-built by a Norton specialist, a side-car racer and a supplier of Norton engine and gearbox parts.

The Final drive--chain and sprocket ratios, was set up with the assistance of club members to optimize the performance of the 4B engine .

The rebuild is almost complete, with a few jobs to sort:

• The vendor suggests new brake washers, as the current ones have been in the cylinders for 4 years
• Fit the master cylinder supplied
• Fit engine cut-off cable on magneto to switch on dash
• Fit throttle cables, both hand and accelerator
• Fit clutch cable
• Purchase and fit a fire extinguisher

For competition and technical support the vendor would recommend that the buyer joins the 500 Owners' Association. It comes with a 500 Owners Association Vehicle Identity Form - number 117 - which validates it for competition.

The owner had a fall during 2018, damaging his right foot. Treatment and surgery have not been successful "and this is the Stop and Go foot!", he wryly says. It is unlikely to be sorted, and standing for a long period is not possible. He is in his late 70s, and has decided to sell the car - as he says, "it should be on the track!"

This car is perfect for someone who either knows these cars already or is willing to immerse themselves in the world of 500cc racing and the machinery involved. It should be noted that as a historic racing car, it is not the most spacious of vehicles. On arrival on site with us, several staff members tried it for size. A colleague of 5ft 9 and slight build could just about fit; for further tailoring, the currently-fitted seat could be removed and a custom-made seat formed with the foam that comes with the car.

The bodywork of the car is in reasonable order, with no serious damage evident - key body panels are easily removed for maintenance to the engine or for pedal adjustment. The striking racing green and yellow paintwork is not immaculate but more than adequate for a period racer.

It has a small aero screen at the front, mirrors either side and white race number roundels on the nose and the sides of the engine cover.

The 15-inch wheels are fitted with Dunlop Racing cross-ply tyres, which are in near-new condition.

Compared to our usual fare, the interior of this period racer is pretty basic - intentionally so. Up front there’s a Smiths tachometer, a switch and a vintage leather-clad steering wheel, which has some damage around the 9 o’clock position.

Mounted on the right wall of the cockpit is the gearshift lever. It is pretty much sequential - once you’ve changed up to second gear - as it follows the same pattern as a motorcycle shifter.

The seat is probably more padded than might have been the case in period and is upholstered in black vinyl.

And that is pretty much it!

The FJS is powered by a single-cylinder 500cc JAP engine dating from the 1950s, with magneto ignition and methanol-fuelled through a reproduction Gardner carburettor. On file is a statement from the Gardner company that - other than a few non-performance-enhancing safety modifications to the slide, adjuster and bellmouth - the unit is to 1952 specification.

The gearbox is a 4-speed, Norton laydown transmission driving the rear axle via a chain and sprockets.

Suspension is provided by transverse leaf springs operating over lower wishbones and McPherson strut dampers.

Underneath, all looks in good order with just a touch of surface rust around the frame and on the drive sprocket hubs and chain. There’s also a little scraping and subsequent rust under the nose.

The trailer looks in reasonable condition too, with what looks like surface rust in a number of places around the frame and bed. It has a fitted tarpaulin cover.

Interested bidders should scrutinise the detailed photographs in the gallery or, better yet, arrange a personal inspection at our Oxfordshire HQ by using the ‘Contact Seller’ option.

The race car comes with the custom-built trailer and cover, plus an unused spare wheel, an as-yet unused battery-powered chain-driven starter and four dollies to move the car around more easily. There’s also the new brake components and a small box of other spares.

The history file contains some engine manuals, magazine articles on the Gardner carburettor, various documents from the 500 Owners Association, the 500OA VIF, various invoices and extracts from the Bible du Racer 500.

There are also copies of correspondence on matters pertaining to the car’s history, specification and race set up.

For anyone who fancies getting into historic motor racing, the 500cc F3 cars have to be one of the cheapest routes in. Despite the motorbike power, these cars deliver exciting close-quarters duels throughout the 15 or 20 minute races.

Joining the 500 Owners Association would doubtless be a smart move, enabling the new owner to compete in some, if not all, of their 2023 race programme at venues including Snetterton, Brands Hatch and Zandvoort. There are also several more sprints and hill climbs to have a crack at too - Harewood, Shelsley Walsh and Prescott to name just a few.

Although this car is a one-off, there are some comparable vehicles to be found to base our estimate on - some with period racing successes, others without. We think this strikingly liveried example, with recent restoration and recommissioning but still some work to do, will fetch between £12,000 and £18,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.