1959 Ashley 750
(Turner 803)
Registration No. 684 SMX
I was advised of this Ashley 750 - Turner
in an email courtesy of Richard @ (FSCC) and Russell @ (TSC)
in September 2014
The Turner Sports Cars website supplied this information, also with
some old the photo's
The following notes and photo's are reproduced courtesy of George, the builder and original owner, and taken from a letter written by him:
I was showing my daughters boyfriend pictures of the "Turner" I built in 1955, after he checked on the Internet we were surprised to see it was still alive.
My daughter and boyfriend have urged me to send pictures and information about it - this is as best as I can remember.
It was purchased from "Turner Sports Cars", Penderford Airport, Wolverhampton in 1955, consisting of a tubular chassis with Austin A30 front suspension, "Turner" torsion bar rear suspension, A30 engine, gearbox and transmission and Morris Minor steering.
"Ashley Laminates Ltd" body, colour Royal Blue and sprayed Silver in 1956, from Loughton, Essex.
Received body only to find the chassis wheelbase was slightly to long to fit the body.
Chassis was sent to engineering workshop for shortening.
Radiator, cross-flow was made to fit by firm in Wrotham, Kent.
1950's was before DIY centres to buy materials, even the wire mesh for the grill was another Greenline bus trip to Cooper Racing Cars, Surrey.
The seats were Austin Healey with the seat base reduced to give more headroom.
Grill on bonnet was from a "Rover" saloon front grill.
Chassis was hand painted with a galvanising paint with 2 coats of "Valspar" Grey.
Aluminum panels fixed with 2BA nuts and bolts, before pop rivet guns were easily available.
Lamps, "Lucas", Wiring Loom and Wiper gear all Morris Minor.
Motor Insurance for 1958-59 cost me £24.15s.0d
Car built in a rented house garage at Edgware, Middlesex.
All journeys for parts made using Greenline Bus Service, like coach travel stopping only at main towns en-route.
Chassis was sent to engineering workshop for shortening.
Radiator, cross-flow was made to fit by firm in Wrotham, Kent.
1950's was before DIY centres to buy materials, even the wire mesh for the grill was another Greenline bus trip to Cooper Racing Cars, Surrey.
The seats were Austin Healey with the seat base reduced to give more headroom.
Grill on bonnet was from a "Rover" saloon front grill.
Chassis was hand painted with a galvanising paint with 2 coats of "Valspar" Grey.
Aluminum panels fixed with 2BA nuts and bolts, before pop rivet guns were easily available.
Lamps, "Lucas", Wiring Loom and Wiper gear all Morris Minor.
Motor Insurance for 1958-59 cost me £24.15s.0d
Car built in a rented house garage at Edgware, Middlesex.
All journeys for parts made using Greenline Bus Service, like coach travel stopping only at main towns en-route.
These notes and photo's show the dedication and time put in by the original builders of the 1950/60's specials.
Unfortunately all this can come to nothing and years later someone's pride and joy can be left by the years of use, (or misuse), as a semi-wreck, until a possible restorer takes ownership.
This appears to have happened to Ashley 684 SMX, until Sam, in Yorkshire, acquired the shortened Turner 803 chassis fitted with an Ashley body and Reg. No. 684 SMX.
These "as found" photo's below are courtesy of
Robert, David and Turner Sports Cars,
I checked on the DVLA online database and came up with the following:
Current DVLA information 1/11/2014
The vehicle details for Ashley/Turner - 684 SMX are:
Date of Liability 01 05 2015
Date of First Registration 16 05 1982
Year of Manufacture 1955
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 803cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Current DVLA information 1/11/2014
The vehicle details for Ashley/Turner - 684 SMX are:
Date of Liability 01 05 2015
Date of First Registration 16 05 1982
Year of Manufacture 1955
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 803cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
I do not know any of the details but the hope to find more about the rescue mission and restoration hopefully when Sam see's or hears about this webpage.
If you have any information, between the original owner and the present owner, about this car
Ashley 750 (Turner)
Registration No.
684 SMX
(originally registered by Middlesex C.C. between Aug-1958/June-1959)
please email me 0n
[email protected]
or use the contact page on this site to contact me