MOTORING SPECIAL: A gathering of the Clan

The Clan Crusader was a remarkable car which evolved in the early 1970s, essentially a successor to the Lotus 7 which never was! The team behind the concept was led by Paul Haussauer, who resigned from Lotus after a dispute with Colin Chapman. Haussauer engineered the final series 4 Lotus Elan. The body design was by the late John Frayling. Around 350 were built. The concept was so good that there have been several attempts to resurrect the project.

The Clan Owners Club is active, members gathering on Sunday 13 July at the North East Land Sea Air Museum, by the giant Nissan plant, once Sunderland Airport (RAF Usworth) where a Clan Crusader is proudly on display.  All 14 Clans in attendance relocated to the former factory on the Crowther Industrial Estate, Washington, County Durham, the building which still survives.

The car appeared at the 1973 Earl's Court Motor Show, the company calling in a receiver midway through the show. Malcolm Ginsberg, with the help of show organiser Gerry Kunz, retrieved the show car, registering it at a later date. Its current owner is Andrew Wild, who has done a meticulous rebuild.

Today it is thought that around 100 exist, in various conditions. Powered by a Hillman Imp engine it was turned into a very successful rally car by Alan Conley. That a car only produced in small numbers over 50 years ago is still alive and kicking is a tribute to the original design.

Both Haussauer and Conley attended the occasion. Ginsberg’s first date with wife Linda included a drive in a Clan, October 1972.

AN AUTOCAR road test October 1971  www.clanownersclub.org/clan-history/autocar-auto-test

Wikipedia is as good as it gets  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_(car)

www.clanownersclub.org 

A proud Paul Haussauer and ten of his cars outside the original Washington County Durham factory July 2025.

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