Need help identifying vintage Cat

[alo]

Hi,

I'm clearing out my garage and intend to sell my old schumacher cat which I've had sitting in a box for over 20 years..

I had no idea these cars are quite sought after so I would like it to go to someone who will restore it or use the parts to restore another car. However, my problem is I dont know what version it is. I think it may be an XLS but I am not sure. Can anyone help me identify it?

The distance between front and rear wheel axles is 25 cm, and across the front assembly, the distance between the two vertical steering pivots is 18.5cm. I have read some other posts on here about identifying an xls but I just don't know the terminology anymore so I'm a bit stumped! It's a bit battered as I really put it through its paces as a teenager, it was a really fast car!

Any help or advice appreciated - here are some photos

Thanks in advance, Al

[Groomi]

Looks like an XL that has been widened to replicate the XLS and has a DIY aluminium rear shock tower. I'm sure it would clean up nicely. I could be tempted...

[alo]

Hi,

Did they produce an XL with a 25cm wheelbase? I've not seen a metal rear suspension tower like this on any other cats - I got it second hand in the late 80's so perhaps the previous owner fitted it.. it doesnt look handmade though, but its a bit dented due to a big crash no doubt. usefully, I have an original bottom chassis plate where the two prongs on the front snapped off (i recall buying and fitting the replacement chassis back in the 80's - so still an original schumacher part) - that means a new suspension tower could be fashioned from the old chassis plate potentially? It does also have an aluminium receiver housing attached to the top chassis plate which, again, I haven't seen on any other pictures of cats so may well be a custom addition. I'm still digging out bits from the box, and have a feeling I have the body shell somewhere (will search the loft!)

Al.

[CAT3K]

25cm wheelbase would make the chassis a SWB. Looks like it would make a good candidate for restoration

Paul.

[Groomi]

Ah, apologies. Didn't have a tape measure to hand last night and didn't know the wheelbase off the top of my head.

[Bormac]

Looks like a modded SWB Cat. As previously mentioned it has some period mods/fabrications to make it a wider wheel base. The alloy rear tower was most likely traced from the original.
Nice find

[alo]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies in helping identify the car - it does look to be a little bit of a hybrid, then, built on top of an original SWB base. That does explain why certain things matched with a SWB description and others not so - e.g. it has a black bumper and not grey. The chap who owned it before me must have done some modifications back in the 80's. I will spend a bit of time trying to locate any other bits for it and will have a good look through the garage and loft for any other spares etc so I can include them in the sale. I will really miss it because it was such a great car but I dont want it to sit in a box for the next 20 years when someone more skilled than me could bring back some life to it. I'll hopefully be able to access the B/S/T area to keep you informed of the sale.

Thanks

Al.