1959 Ashley 750
Registration No. 720 GTU
I was first introduced to this Ashley 750 by Ian the original builder in December 2014, when he contacted me from California, USA, after seeing this website he sent me this message and we went from there:
Dear Ivor,
During the year 1957 I built up a 750 Formula engine with the intention of competing. In 1958 I attained the age of 21 and sitting in the driveway was a large wooden crate with a Red Ashley Laminates body, my 21st birthday present from my father. Lovely thought but terminated any ideas that I had to build a 750 Formula car. I was living in Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire at the time.
The "AUSTINI 750" was born shortly afterwards and I even made a special badge with those words. The car was registered 720 GTU. The chassis was standard Austin 7 "A" frame with front and rear extensions to locate the body. The inside was panelled in riveted aluminium and was bonded to the body around the wheel arches.
Bowden Engineering front suspension and my own telescopic S/A rear. I believe that the brakes were also Bowden enclosed cable conversion.
On its first outing in North Wales I was crossing a long single track bridge and was just exiting the far end when a Royal Mail van coming from the opposite direction misjudged his approach and the cab footrest sliced through the driver's side rear wing. (See picture by the tent).
During the year 1957 I built up a 750 Formula engine with the intention of competing. In 1958 I attained the age of 21 and sitting in the driveway was a large wooden crate with a Red Ashley Laminates body, my 21st birthday present from my father. Lovely thought but terminated any ideas that I had to build a 750 Formula car. I was living in Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire at the time.
The "AUSTINI 750" was born shortly afterwards and I even made a special badge with those words. The car was registered 720 GTU. The chassis was standard Austin 7 "A" frame with front and rear extensions to locate the body. The inside was panelled in riveted aluminium and was bonded to the body around the wheel arches.
Bowden Engineering front suspension and my own telescopic S/A rear. I believe that the brakes were also Bowden enclosed cable conversion.
On its first outing in North Wales I was crossing a long single track bridge and was just exiting the far end when a Royal Mail van coming from the opposite direction misjudged his approach and the cab footrest sliced through the driver's side rear wing. (See picture by the tent).
At that time I made many runs between Hale and Ipswich, many at night, and I would tuck myself in behind one of many pieces of Detroit iron belonging to the American airmen in the Cambridge area and get sucked along at a speed which totally ignored my potential stopping rate.
I have to reproduce the pictures and will forward separately. No idea where the car finished up.
Regards Ian
I have to reproduce the pictures and will forward separately. No idea where the car finished up.
Regards Ian
It would appear that Ian continued to follow his interest in motor sport, spectating if not completing.
A great collection of what would now be classic cars.
I
checked on the DVLA database and Ian's Registration No.
did not appear on it,
which normally indicates that it didn't get entered onto it in the late 1970's, and hasn't been registered since under that number, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't still exist, it could have been unlicensed for a period of time and re-registered later with an age related number.
I mentioned that I would write this webpage and see if anyone knows more of it's past after he sold it, and that any additional photo's or information would be welcome, resulting in the following email:
did not appear on it,
which normally indicates that it didn't get entered onto it in the late 1970's, and hasn't been registered since under that number, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't still exist, it could have been unlicensed for a period of time and re-registered later with an age related number.
I mentioned that I would write this webpage and see if anyone knows more of it's past after he sold it, and that any additional photo's or information would be welcome, resulting in the following email:
Hello Ivor,
Some pictures of the chassis on 720 GTU showing extensions to pick up on the Ashley body. There was a mistake in my earlier email, as I did fit hydraulic brakes. I cannot find any pictures of the engine or engine bay but at the time the engine was built to go in a 750 Formula car.
It was fitted with twin 1.1/4" SU carbs. I did not have the Nippy 3 bearing crank, already in short supply in the late 50's. I have just found an original sketch of the proposed rear for the chassis tucked inside "Building and Racing my 750" by P J Stephens.
I unfortunately have no records of the sale.
The proceeds went towards my TVR Grantura MK1 kit which I did race in the early 60's.
In later life I have just sold an 1959 MGA Twin Cam which I restored and owned for some 30 years.
Last year I completed an 11 year restoration of a 1962 Lotus Elite and I also have a 1935 Riley Special.
I look forward to the new web page and many thanks for perpetuating the Ashley 750.
Regards Ian.
Ian's chassis photo's are shown below, the chassis look a very well designed construction and would have been a very good base for the bodyshell.
Ian's life with cars does not seem to have diminished over the years, going on from the Ashley "Austini" 750 to TVR Grantura, MGA Twin Cam and now to my all time favourite, a Lotus Elite.
I guess a natural progression
from Epping, the Ashley 750
then 5 miles up the road to
Cheshunt, the Lotus Elite.
If you have any information about the car, between the original owner and the last owner of
this
Ashley 750 car
Registration No.
720 GTU
(originally registered by Chester C.C. in June 1959)
please email me 0n
[email protected]
or use the contact page on this site to contact me