Fib’s (my name for Peter John Filby in forums) is an ignorant and dodgy character who spent his entire working life either bluffing or fibbing for a living. Right to the very end, even the last issues of Which Kit? gave bum-steers toward his Python through biased, insincere and excessive coverage.
To get the Python story into perspective, and in context, there are other narratives dealing with:-
Early History involving Fibly's dodgy business dealings and lack of knowledge and how it led to legal conflict with DT
DT's First Writ of Summons against Fibly - presented as a story.
The Howell issue presented as a story and how it became subject of a second Writ.
After the legal battles records what happened after PF finally admitted that he'd lied.
Monty Python Sketch the story of PF's involvement with the Python confidence trick.
Monty Python Sketch
Part of the Filby Fact Files
To truly understand Fib's involvement in Python, one needs to understand the history. Fib's was loosing readers because Kit Car magazine had been improved (see Early Dealings for detail ) and the costs of the litigation he'd brought upon himself (see DT's First Writ of Summons against Fibly for detail) were high and added to his commercially dire situation. Come the end of 2000, things had deteriorated; Ian Stent resigned as editor, WKC magazine size and quality was reduced and its priced increased. KCi had been closed down.
At the beginning of 2001 it was clearly apparent that Fib's was moving into new areas. The classified advertisements at the back of WKC started carrying a large number of cars for sale with Fib's telephone number on them! Additionally, Fib's announced a number of failed 1980's kit cars that were being resurrected by unnamed mystery newcomers. The Razer was, apparently, a new version of the Eldon - advertised sometimes by 'Unique Autocraft' and sometimes by 'Razer Sportscars'; both of 1 Howard Rd, Reigate. Then there was the AF Sports (and its PF Roadster derivative) - advertised by 'Unique Autocraft'. Finally; there was the Unique Autocraft Python which was apparently 'Back with Bite' under mystery new management which later transpired to be RVD.
Fib's was never clear about the fact that he was behind these 'new' products. He promoted all of them upon the basis that he was impartial; when, in fact, he was gamekeeper turned poacher. In respect to Python, in the June 2005 issue of WKC, it's retrospectively reported how Vince Wright (VW) proposed that Fib's become involved with Python and how Fib's "fancied the idea of becoming a kit car manufacturer" and accepted. It certainly explains why Fib's attacked the Pilgrim Sumo with such enthusiasm at that time (see The Howell issue.)
The story of Fib's vendetta against Sumo can be summarised: Fib's heard this Judgment then published this report: alleged Sumo safety concerns : made this blackmail demand : went on to publish these two letters then published these a month later. He subsequently published notices like this in order to get more dirt to publish.
So, on the one hand Fib's admits that he invested in becoming the Python "car manufacturer". On the other hand, he was engaged in a vendetta against its well established rival. Balanced journalism or what?
In the Jan 2002 issue; WKC announced that "Python is back - with bite" - mystery new owner? Virtually every month from then; there was editorial mention of Python in the pages of WKC. The Feb 02 said "it will be well into production by March 02" .Apr 02 it's said to be for taller drivers and belongs to RVD (omitting to mention that PF has a stake in RVD). Aug 02 RVD moves to SriLanka . Oct 02 said to be an "ambitious international development". Dec 02 the advertisements make definite claims (as if one has actually been made) and the address on RVD advertisements becomes that of WKC. Apr 03 Python is said to be "potentially excellent" .Sept 03 production is underway . Oct 03 advertising implies it's fully sorted, tall drivers advised to wait for its arrival. Nov 03 It's said to be "very affordable". Feb 04 said to be light and strong and has crumple zones (which are not visible in photos). March 04 It's said to be "light yet super strong". April 04 It's said to have "superb engineering, advanced chassis". May 04 it's said to be good and really cheap and nearly sorted. June 04 pictures of prototype in SL .July 04 it's arrived in UK (but still not finished). This list isn't exhaustive by any means, I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
Also in Jan 2002, VW booked a series of advertisements in KC. The bill wasn't paid, so KC issued proceedings against RVD. PF's Defence and VW's Defence. The Judgment is here. VW was ordered to pay £800 odd which he still hasn't paid. He had no intention of paying and relies on the fact that he's a long way away in Sri Lanka. Note PF's Defence where he labours the point that he wasn't involved "At the time".
I set about exposing RVD's dishonest practices from June 03 onwards. In this country, RVD and WKC are one and the same business - run by Fib's for Fib's from the same address. For that reason, in the following articles, both are referred to in the same breath.
2003 June. 4 page article entitled Which Kit Exposed! Present roller coaster gets under way!
2003 December. KC publishes advertisement warning that Python isn't what it's said to be in WKC.
2004 June. DT points out that he'd not said anything about Python to date - that he'd only mocked/corrected its advertising.
2004 Aug. DT suggests that VW is a "Dope".
2004 Nov. DT reports the legal problems faced by VW in SL .
2005 Jan. DT pokes fun at the Python and takes a pop at WKC's company name (Kit Cars Ltd).
2005 May. KC prints e-mail from VW and a note from PF.
2005 June. Python is tested for the first time. Admission is made that PF and VW brought it "when Python was up for sale".
2005 July. KC advises that Python isn't yet ready for sale and is being dishonestly promoted.
2005 September. BMW Car reports that Python is far from sorted, whilst WKC published a challange to KC to publish a proper report on Python.
2005 November. KC reprints BMW Car magazine report (with permission of BMW Car)
2005 November. WKC reports that Python is on a par with GD and that Python problems are limited to the prototype.
The big difference between what's printed in KC concerning Python and what was printed in WKC concerning Pilgrim is that KC has been entirely truthful at every stage. Let's not forget that Fib's actually admitted that he'd published lies! He retracted and apologized even although he refused to do so in print.
2006 During this year Python (and other RVD products) recieved about 60 pages of sickeningly sweet publicity in Which Kit? 10 pages in one issue!
2006 November. VW and DT meet at the Exeter kit car show which resulted in fisticuffs.
2006 December. VW and DT attempt to resolve their differences through an exchange of posts , second page, on the Cobra Club forum.
2006 December. PF sold Which Kit? magazine and with it the means to dishonestly promote Python. Whilst Python is theoretically still being sold, without Which Kit?s sickenly sweet publicity (60 pages of it in the 12 issues of 2006), it'll wither on the vine - and rightly so.
2007 and onwards. The Python is still being advertised with full colour pages in every issue of Complete Kit Car. I can't see that being good for the public or for Complete Kit Car.
There are many detours I could have made: concerning the legal wranglings in Sri Lanka (which are very close to being resolved): the product development was never finished (as admitted in Which Kit? June 2005 and suggested by BMW Car magazine): and there remain serious concerns over its front suspension design. However, since they are not selling (despite full page advertising in Complete Kit Car) these points are mute.
The 6 year Python confidence trick utterly failed to achieve its primary objective. Instead it brought the whole industry into disrepute and caused untold damage to Pilgrim, Kit Car magazine and many other innocent third parties. But, more than anything else, Pinocchio Fibly did the most damage to himself and his precious Which Kit? magazine.
The Monty Python saga isn't quite over yet though. The new owner/editor of Fib's ressurected rag said "Blimey, if anyone has had a bad wrap recently, it's Pete........ He remains a good friend..... Peter will remain a contributor......" . He remains an advertiser too - just for good measure! So, you know where you can go if you'd like to be bitten by a Python.
