The Adams Probe 16/Durango 95 - A Clockwork Orange movie car... where is it now? | FerrariChat

The Adams Probe 16/Durango 95 - A Clockwork Orange movie car... where is it now?

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by ApexOversteer, Jan 27, 2010.

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  1. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
    5,968
    Smoky Mountains, TN
    Full Name:
    T.A. Bell
    Made in 1969 by the Adams Brothers, the Probe 16 was a outrageously styled car, of which only 3 were made.

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    It was known in Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange as the Durango 95, the vehicle that carried our anti-hero Alex and his Droogs into the night to play "hogs of the road", finally taking them to the novelist's house and the famous Singin' In The Rain scene.

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    The car then drifted into obscurity for all but a few anorak petrolheads. It would reappear in 2004 as one of the voting choices in Top Gear's segment Restoration Rip Off. It was joined by a Chrysler once owned by Keith Moon, the Queen's Land Rover, a Lotus 10 ordered by (but never delivered to) James Dean and Paddy Hopkirk's first racing Mini Cooper, which eventually won the voting.

    Click to watch the Top Gear segment on the Probe 16

    As any Top Gear fan knows, the Probe 16 wasn't chosen for restoration, and even if it had been we'd never have seen it, we never did get to see the results of the restoration of the Hopkirk Mini.

    So where is the Probe 16 from A Clockwork Orange now? Has it been restored, or does it remain in that English lockup, rotting away still?

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  2. pitbullforte

    pitbullforte Formula Junior

    Apr 26, 2006
    275
    Oporto
    i tought these should have one the TG voting, it is crazy and exclusive.
     
  3. lola9090

    lola9090 Rookie

    Sep 28, 2010
    7
    It is 99% restored alive and well. I'll post a pic if I knew how!!
     
  4. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
    5,968
    Smoky Mountains, TN
    Full Name:
    T.A. Bell


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    I can't wait to see the photos of the Probe!!!
     
  5. lola9090

    lola9090 Rookie

    Sep 28, 2010
    7
    #5 lola9090, Oct 4, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
    5,968
    Smoky Mountains, TN
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    T.A. Bell
    WOW! Nice work! What a car! Makes me very happy that it was saved and restored! Thanks for posting these!
     
  7. dbw

    dbw Formula Junior

    Apr 3, 2005
    897
    palo alto ca
    Full Name:
    dave
    too bad alex hasn't aged as well.......
     
  8. mseals

    mseals Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Sep 9, 2007
    24,468
    Kuwait
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    Mike Seals
    Wow.... so, how did you end up with one of three cars made?

    And, any idea where the other two are?

    Mike
     
  9. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
    5,968
    Smoky Mountains, TN
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    T.A. Bell
    The first one is unknown today, possibly burned and destroyed. The second car is in a private collection in Ottawa, Canada. This is the third Probe 16 and the most famous, being the A Clockwork Orange movie car.
     
  10. lola9090

    lola9090 Rookie

    Sep 28, 2010
    7
    The other two cars are now being restored. One lived in California and in a sorry state, the other in Canada. Both are being restored together in Canada I believe. I'm now restoring my Probe 2001.........
     
  11. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
    5,968
    Smoky Mountains, TN
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    T.A. Bell
    #11 ApexOversteer, Oct 6, 2010
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2010
    So the rumors were true and Probe #1 (AB2) still exists... nice! I'd love to see pics of your Probe 2001!
     
  12. ClassicFerrari

    ClassicFerrari F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 7, 2004
    16,798
    Toronto
    Full Name:
    Vasco
  13. DenisC

    DenisC Formula 3

    Oct 11, 2009
    1,132
    #13 DenisC, Oct 7, 2010
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2010
    Actually, the other 2 are here in Ottawa, I was there last fall, one car in storage (as stated in poor shape- but since the other is so close it would be easy to replicate any part) and the other is in a collection. I was it unfortunalely it was parked close to the wall and too boxed-in to examine it properly. The celan one is in very ggod shape, would not need a restoration, a simple refresh would do.

    You guys realise these were powered by a rear mounted small 4 cylinder motor, you get in the car by stepping over the side glass, in through the sunroof, lie on your back with the steering column between your legs like a go-kart and runs on 13 or 14inch wheels :) I am not quite sure why they are (if they are) considered production cars or kit cars ??
     
  14. ApexOversteer

    ApexOversteer F1 Veteran

    Feb 15, 2007
    5,968
    Smoky Mountains, TN
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    T.A. Bell
    Austin 1800cc straight fours indeed. I love how you have to climb over the side and the roof slides into place over you, like a fighter jet canopy. It's about the only car in 1969 that could out "wow" a Miura at a stop light. They are the ultimate expression of that 60's sci-fi sub-genre of the mod culture. If David Bowie's Space Oddity was a car, it would be a Probe 16.
     
  15. lola9090

    lola9090 Rookie

    Sep 28, 2010
    7
    Funny you should say that as the guy who owned my car before it was sold to Pollock in the US was a genuine playboy in London and he owned a Miura as well. He found he had more luck picking up the girls with the Probe than the Lambo.

    He had enough of the Probe when the rear wheel came off yet again as the design of the rims put too much force through the Imp stub axle which tended to snap. This time he swiped a lamp post!!

    Peter Adams fitted a Triumph 1500 stub axle instead which cured the problem.
     
  16. don

    don Karting

    Jan 7, 2004
    56
    Dunedin Florida USA
    Full Name:
    Don Nelson
    I think that you will find that there were more than 3 of these cars made.
    I remember at least 2 of them being for sale at one time in England. One in my old home town.
    It was also offered as a kit, after sales of the built car didn't come up to expectation.
    Don
     
  17. GrayTA

    GrayTA F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 25, 2006
    15,112
    Deep South
    Full Name:
    PDG
    Wow, what a fascinating car. I had no idea!!!


    And to find the owner is a member here too!!! This is just too much!!! Thanks for being here among us Lola9090!!!!




    PDG
     
  18. nugent

    nugent Rookie

    Oct 17, 2010
    3
    #18 nugent, Oct 17, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. Lemke

    Lemke F1 Rookie

    Oct 27, 2004
    4,644
    Vancouver, WA
    Full Name:
    Daniel
    It looks like a '60s Le Mans racer from the back. Very cool looking car.
     
  20. Mr. Francesco

    Mr. Francesco F1 Rookie

    Oct 10, 2010
    4,934
    Full Name:
    Mr. Francesco
    Nice to see that they are still alive and restored (or being restored).
     
  21. nugent

    nugent Rookie

    Oct 17, 2010
    3
    #21 nugent, Jul 14, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ww.probe2001.com is now relaunched as www.adamsprobe.com. The site has full information on all known Adams Probe 15, Adams Probe 16 and Adams Probe 2001 cars as well as a section on the Concept Centaur GT, a Probe 15 derivative.
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  22. Durango 95

    Durango 95 Rookie

    May 4, 2013
    1
    Is Here at Adams Probe 16.

    Adams Probe 16

    They also have information on the Probe 15, Probe 2001 and Centaur GT.
     

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