Owner: Paul MacDiarmid Year Purchased: 1997 Year First Registered: 1995 Type: Kit Profile Date: July ‘04
After the Heron officially ceased production, a handful of the MJ1 cars were built as component cars. The fibreglass bodies were built by Rotorua Fibreglass Industries and Paul was one of the companies owners. By the time Paul purchased it in 1997 the car had been given a raised (domed) roof, and it no longer sported a mid engine configuration. The east/west Mazda motor and gearbox make for a very tidy installation, but room is better due to extensive reconstruction work carried out in the engine bay. The rear bulkhead behind the seats had been moved back to provide greater seat movement and thus leg room, the raised roof providing that little extra headroom.
However along the way it had also become a mechanical disaster. Paul removed the front subframe, cut and widened it nearly 140mm, threw away an absolutely shot Skoda Steering Box, modified and fitted a near new Ford Rack. Two badly worn S.U. carburettors have been replaced in the interim by a regular dual throat Telstar carburettor. This arrangement is hardly sporty, but it at least does not leak, and the motor will now rev right out, without spluttering in a cloud of soot. Later twin sidedraught carburettors will be fitted once Paul has been able to make a new manifold. Gradually though, these silly little details were put right. The car became very reliable and a lot of fun to drive. The 2ltr motor is decidedly undeveloped, but the 5 speed box matches it well.
Paul does not regret buying the car, he thought the car was too good to allow it fall into the hands of some pimply kid and be added to the number that have been butchered so badly. The MJ1 profile is strikingly distinctive, and with its innovative construction, can be proudly displayed alongside it's contemporaries from our rich, inventive sports car construction history
By the time Paul purchased it in 1997 the car had been given a raised (domed) roof, and it no longer sported a mid engine configuration. The east/west Mazda motor and gearbox make for a very tidy installation, but room is better due to extensive reconstruction work carried out in the engine bay. The rear bulkhead behind the seats had been moved back to provide greater seat movement and thus leg room, the raised roof providing that little extra headroom.
