Allan Staniforth


Allan Staniforth was a British journalist and engineer, notable as the joint-designer of the Terrapin style race car.

Early life

Staniforth was born in Kings Norton in Birmingham, England to jeweller Arthur Staniforth and Maude Cross. He flew in the Royal Air Force during World War II and was a navigator during the Berlin Blockade in 1948. He suffered hearing loss which he attributed to the flying of the Lancaster Bomber.

Career

Staniforth worked as a journalist for the Daily Mirror, writing reports on various subjects such as The Troubles, the Cod Wars and the Moors murders. Although he was well regarded in the journalism world, he is most notable for his motor racing hobby. He published books on the subject invented the small Terrapin car based on the A-series Mini engine.
In 1969 he wrote his first book High Speed, Low Cost where he described how to construct the Terrapin Hillclimb. He would use these cars to set fastest times in competitions around Britain.

Publications