Purvis Eureka

Last updated

Purvis Eureka
Purvis.JPG
Overview
ManufacturerPurvis Cars
Production1974–1991
Designer Allan Purvis
Body and chassis
Class Sports car
Kit car
Body style Coupé
Targa coupe
Layout RR
Platform Volkswagen Beetle
Related Nova
Powertrain
Engine VW 1.6 F4
VW 2.0 F4
Ford 1.6 I4
Ford 2.0 I4
Mazda Rotary
Transmission Volkswagen four-speed
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,400 mm (94.5 in)
Length4,420 mm (174.0 in)
Width1,753 mm (69.0 in)
Height1,067 mm (42.0 in)
Curb weight 700 kg (1,543 lb) [1]

The Purvis Eureka is a sports car which was produced by Purvis Cars at Dandenong in Victoria, Australia [1] from 1974 until 1991. [2]

First exhibited at the 1974 Melbourne International Motor Show, [1] the Eureka was based on the British Nova kit car design of 1971. [3] It utilised a Volkswagen Beetle chassis, [4] a fibreglass body [3] and, most commonly, an air-cooled Volkswagen flat-four or a Ford inline four-cylinder engine. [4] Some cars with Mazda rotary powerplants were also produced. [2] The Eureka was offered both as a kit car and as a fully assembled vehicle. [5] The coupe body had no doors, with access being via a manually operated one-piece canopy, although a power-operated canopy was later offered as an option. [5] A Targa top version was also available from the early 1980s on. [2]

Three models of the Eureka were produced.

Some 235 examples of the Eureka Sports were produced [4] and the total output of all Eureka models had reached 683 when production ended in 1991. [3]

In 1977, Eureka Cars NZ, of Auckland, New Zealand, was set up to manufacture the Eureka in New Zealand. The number made by them is unknown but some still exist. The company closed in 1990. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden Torana</span> Motor vehicle

The Holden Torana is a mid-sized car that was manufactured by Holden from 1967 to 1980. The name apparently comes from an word meaning "to fly" in an unconfirmed Aboriginal Australian language. The original HB series Torana was released in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle closely based on the British Vauxhall Viva HB series of 1966 - 1970.

Automotive Design and Development Ltd (ADD) was an English company responsible for the creation of the futuristic-looking Nova kit car. It was based in Southampton from 1971 to 1973 after which it moved to Accrington, Lancashire until 1975. ADD failed and the rights to the Nova were bought by Nova Cars in Mirfield, West Yorkshire in 1978, which continued until 1990. A low volume production run was made by Nova Developments in Cornwall in the 1990s and the company was sold to India-based Aerotec Nova around 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Fairlane (Australia)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Fairlane and LTD are full-sized luxury vehicles produced in a series of models by Ford Australia between 1959 and 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Golf Mk1</span> Motor vehicle

The Volkswagen Golf Mk1 is the first generation of a small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen. It was noteworthy for signalling Volkswagen's shift of its major car lines from rear-wheel drive and rear-mounted air-cooled engines to front-wheel drive with front-mounted, water-cooled engines that were often transversely-mounted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolwell</span> Australian sports car manufacturing company

Bolwell is an Australian company that originally produced sports cars between 1962 and 1979. A new company of the same name began production of new cars in 2009 after several years of concept and show cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Falcon (XA)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Falcon (XA) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1972 to 1973. It was the first iteration of the third generation of the Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (XA)—the luxury-oriented version. The XA platform was also used for the Australian Ford Landau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Falcon (XB)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Falcon (XB) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1973 to 1976. It was the second iteration of the third generation of the Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (XB), the luxury-oriented version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Falcon (XD)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Falcon (XD) is a full-size car that was produced by Ford Australia from 1979 to 1982. It was the first iteration of the fourth generation of the Falcon and also included the Ford Fairmont (XD)—the luxury-oriented version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goggomobil Dart</span> Motor vehicle

The Goggomobil Dart was a microcar which was developed in Australia by Sydney company Buckle Motors Pty Ltd. and produced from 1959 to 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000</span> Endurance race for Group C Touring Cars

The 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was an endurance race for Group C Touring Cars, held at the Mount Panorama Circuit near Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia on 6 October 1974. The race was Round 3 of the 1974 Australian Manufacturers' Championship and was the 15th in a sequence of annual “Bathurst 1000” races commencing with the 1960 Armstrong 500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden HJ</span> Motor vehicle

The Holden HJ is a series of automobiles which were produced by Holden in Australia from 1974 to 1976. The HJ series was released on 4 October 1974 and was an improved and facelifted version of the superseded Holden HQ series which had been in production since 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in Australia</span> Car making industry in Australia

A substantial car industry was created in Australia in the 20th century through the opening of Australian plants by international manufacturers. The first major carmaker was Ford Australia and the first Australian-designed mass production car was manufactured by Holden in 1948. Australian manufacture of cars rose to a maximum of almost half a million in the 1970s and still exceeded 400,000 in 2004. Australia was best known for the design and production of 'large' sized passenger vehicles. By 2009 total production had fallen to around 175,000 and the Australian market was dominated by cars imported from Asia and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden EK</span> Motor vehicle

The Holden EK series is a motor vehicle produced by Holden in Australia from 1961 to 1962. Introduced on 2 May 1961, the EK series was a facelifted version of the Holden FB, which it replaced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden HR</span> Motor vehicle

The Holden HR is an automobile that was produced by Holden in Australia from 1966 to 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler VIP</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler VIP is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1969 to 1971. It is an extended wheelbase, luxury variant of the Australian developed Chrysler Valiant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Valiant (SV1)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler Valiant (SV1) is an automobile which was produced in Australia from March 1962 to April 1963 by Chrysler Australia. It was the second Australian Chrysler Valiant model, replacing the RV1

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almac (automobile)</span> Motor vehicle

Almac is a New Zealand-based kit car company founded in 1984 and located in Upper Hutt. Almac cars is a part of Almac Reinforced Plastics Ltd fibreglass product manufacturing a company founded in 1971 by Alex McDonald. McDonald's interest in kit cars started while he was living in England, having purchased a Jem Marsh Sirocco. Jem Marsh founded the Marcos car company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Valiant (VJ)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler VJ Valiant is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1973 to 1975. It replaced the Chrysler VH Valiant and was a facelifted and revised version of that model. The VJ series Valiant was the tenth Chrysler Valiant model from Chrysler Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Valiant (CL)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chrysler Valiant (CL) is an automobile which was produced in Australia by Chrysler Australia from 1976 to 1978. The CL, which was the twelfth Australian Chrysler Valiant model, replaced the Chrysler Valiant (VK). It was also built in South Africa by Sigma, who marketed it there as the Chrysler SE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kit and replica cars of New Zealand</span>

New Zealand had a long history of small garages and vehicle enthusiasts modifying and creating sports and sports racing cars. Out of these interests grew the New Zealand kit and replica car industry with the introduction of fibre-glass car bodies in the 1950s.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Purvis Eureka sales brochure, page 2 at www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au Retrieved on 27 August 2010
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Purvis Eureka at www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au Retrieved on 17 August 2010
  3. 1 2 3 Models at www.eurekacarclub.com.au Retrieved on 27 August 2010
  4. 1 2 3 Mike McCarthy, Great Australian Sports Cars and Specials, 1987, pages 110-115
  5. 1 2 Tony Davis, Aussie Cars, 1987, page 151
  6. Purvis Eureka - Keith McAdam, Constructors Car Club, retrieved 1 February 2016