1964 Cannon GT Coupé, Registration no. Not registered Chassis no. MCGT1

*One of only two believed completed
*Rebuilt 1,098cc Ford 'screamer' engine
*Last raced in the Guards Trophy in 2015
*HSCC Historic passport
*Potentially eligible for a wide variety of historic motor sports events

One of only two believed completed, this pretty little GT was designed and built by Tasmanian, Mike Cannon, who is best known as one of the most successful of all trials drivers. Mike Cannon came to Britain to farm and got involved with trials in the 1950s at a time when it attracted the likes of Colin Chapman (three of the first four Lotus designs were trials cars). Cannon first sprang to prominence campaigning a modified Cotton which he ran with a Ford Ten engine and Ford Eight gearbox together with other components from an Austin Seven and a 1951 Morris Minor. He later made the basis of around 120 trials cars of his own design – a Cannon was normally supplied as a chassis with a body already fitted, leaving the customer to provide the Ford Ten engine, front axle, wheels, etc – and throughout the 1960s his products dominated the UK trials scene.

This car was built by Mike Cannon to beat the all-conquering Divas, which were ruling the roost in the UK's small-capacity GT classes in the 1960s. It is constructed on a spaceframe chassis with glassfibre and aluminium bodywork, while the suspension is Lotus Elan 26R with 'solid' drive shafts and disc brakes all round. Raced only once since being rebuilt, the engine is a 1,098cc all-steel Ford 'screamer' unit incorporating some Martin parts, which drives via a Ford straight-cut close-ratio gearbox. Other noteworthy features include a plumbed-in fire extinguishing system and Dunlop racing tyres.

This car comes with a most substantial file of history including photographs of past races and event programmes listing drivers such as John Alexander. It was last raced in the Guards Trophy in 2015 and has an HSCC Historic passport. However, the 76 year-old owner now feels the car is a little too quick for him, hence the decision to sell. Potentially eligible for a wide variety of events worldwide, this beautiful Cannon GT represents a relatively affordable entry into the exciting world of historic racing.