Ashley 750 (Austin 7)
Registration No. FA 5097
This Ashley was only shown on this website's Registration Index
and the photo's only date
from April 1986 when
the Ashley was owned by Peter May and he applied
to the FSCC's Ashley Registrar for any
information on the Ashley.
Peter commented that prior to his purchase
it had been stored for
about 12 years by
the previous owner.
No further information was supplied by Peter and he made no contact after May 1986 to the FSCC.
In his last letter in May 1986 he was requesting a letter from Richard, the Ashley Registrar, to help him retain the FA 5097 registration number via the DVLA as they were asking for historical proof in order to do so, and that he had already re-registered by
using the "Lost Logbook" method
Then in January 2022 one of
the previous owners
came to light whilst browsing through
some car groups on Facebook in
the "Austin Seven Group",
this was Ray Prichard and the following is
his story of his years of FA 5097 in
his own words:
the previous owners
came to light whilst browsing through
some car groups on Facebook in
the "Austin Seven Group",
this was Ray Prichard and the following is
his story of his years of FA 5097 in
his own words:
In the early 1970's I bought three Austin Seven's for £180 from Bill Foster, who lived in Warwickshire.
The 3 were: 1. SX 4076 which was clad in aluminium plates and formed a Hillclimb Special.
2. A Cambridge body comprising a double-bowed scuttle of aluminium
on a wood frame sat on a complete rolling chassis.
3. The third Austin 7 was FA5097 a red Ashley body on a full rolling chassis with no cylinder head, no interior and no bonnet.
I only had a rented lock-up garage behind shops in Rocky Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham with no power or lighting.
But I had removed the body of the running Hillclimb special and loosely transferred the body of the Cambridge special to the chassis of SX 4076.
Then in the mid-late 1970's I lost the use
of the garage and sold all 3 cars to a Mr Sandbach in Erdington, Birmingham.
Later at an Austin 7 Longbridge Rally, I saw SX 4076 wearing a fairly mundane dreadful body painted bright yellow.
The 3 were: 1. SX 4076 which was clad in aluminium plates and formed a Hillclimb Special.
2. A Cambridge body comprising a double-bowed scuttle of aluminium
on a wood frame sat on a complete rolling chassis.
3. The third Austin 7 was FA5097 a red Ashley body on a full rolling chassis with no cylinder head, no interior and no bonnet.
I only had a rented lock-up garage behind shops in Rocky Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham with no power or lighting.
But I had removed the body of the running Hillclimb special and loosely transferred the body of the Cambridge special to the chassis of SX 4076.
Then in the mid-late 1970's I lost the use
of the garage and sold all 3 cars to a Mr Sandbach in Erdington, Birmingham.
Later at an Austin 7 Longbridge Rally, I saw SX 4076 wearing a fairly mundane dreadful body painted bright yellow.
From 1978 I was using my 1937 Austin Ruby - DLP 70 as everyday transport for work all year round and everywhere else (I still have that unrestored car and I've done 267,000 miles across Wales, Eire and France for work, holidays and weekends).
Anyway whilst attending the Midlands Austin 7 Club meetings, I was one night in the mid 1980's, standing next to a friend Peter May who, in conversation said he’d just bought an Ashley.
“I used to own an Ashley, FA 5097”, I retorted. Upon which he produced, from his inside jacket pocket, the logbook for FA 5097.
Some months later whilst travelling in my Ruby from Birmingham to a
rally in Wollaton Park, Nottingham, my wife & I ended up in the
middle of Nottingham City Centre just behind the Ashley FA 5097
with Peter May driving.
He pulled into the side of the road and we passed hoping that he would follow, he started to but then pulled in again so we carried on presuming that he had deliberately stopped as he had seen us and not indicated anything amiss.
Only when I next saw Peter did he tell me that was the moment he could go no further as there was no drive to the rear wheels, (later found to be a broken Woodroff key in the torque tube ?).
Sadly, I recall that Peter died suddenly months later in March 1990.
R.I.P Peter May
Anyway whilst attending the Midlands Austin 7 Club meetings, I was one night in the mid 1980's, standing next to a friend Peter May who, in conversation said he’d just bought an Ashley.
“I used to own an Ashley, FA 5097”, I retorted. Upon which he produced, from his inside jacket pocket, the logbook for FA 5097.
Some months later whilst travelling in my Ruby from Birmingham to a
rally in Wollaton Park, Nottingham, my wife & I ended up in the
middle of Nottingham City Centre just behind the Ashley FA 5097
with Peter May driving.
He pulled into the side of the road and we passed hoping that he would follow, he started to but then pulled in again so we carried on presuming that he had deliberately stopped as he had seen us and not indicated anything amiss.
Only when I next saw Peter did he tell me that was the moment he could go no further as there was no drive to the rear wheels, (later found to be a broken Woodroff key in the torque tube ?).
Sadly, I recall that Peter died suddenly months later in March 1990.
R.I.P Peter May
The vehicle details for the Ashley 750 Austin 7
seem to indicate that Peter was the last
owner to register the car.
Current DVLA information on 16/08/2022
The vehicle details for Austin - FA 5097 are:
Date of Liability: 01/10/1988
Date of First Registration: 31/12/1933
Year of Manufacture: 1933
Cylinder Capacity (cc): 748cc
CO2 Emissions: Not Available
Fuel Type: Petrol
Export Marker: No
Vehicle Status: Untaxed
Vehicle Colour: RED
Vehicle Type Approval: Not Available
Wheelplan: 2 Axle Rigid Body
Date of last V5C (logbook)
Issued: 06/11/2013
The above DVLA records show that the car was last registered until the end of September 1988,
But it also shows that
"Date of last V5C (logbook) Issued: 06/11/2013"
So has somebody got the car now and is restoring
it ready to take to the road again,
let's hope so
and let's hope whoever it is, see this page
and contacts me.
But it also shows that
"Date of last V5C (logbook) Issued: 06/11/2013"
So has somebody got the car now and is restoring
it ready to take to the road again,
let's hope so
and let's hope whoever it is, see this page
and contacts me.
Then in June 2022 an email from the
*** "other side" ***
Peter May - Re: FA 5097
I’m not a ghost. Some mistake in reporting here.
I still own the above car but have not used it since 1988 when it ran a big end. Later that was fixed but the car never recommissioned. Life intervened as they say.
It’s been in a shed at the bottom of the garden since 1992..ish
On Wednesday I dragged it out with the intention of selling it.
It's currently covered in 30 years of dust etc.
I’m a member of the Online Austin Seven Club and have seen
Ray’s posts on there.
Happy to talk about it.
Peter May
*** "other side" ***
Peter May - Re: FA 5097
I’m not a ghost. Some mistake in reporting here.
I still own the above car but have not used it since 1988 when it ran a big end. Later that was fixed but the car never recommissioned. Life intervened as they say.
It’s been in a shed at the bottom of the garden since 1992..ish
On Wednesday I dragged it out with the intention of selling it.
It's currently covered in 30 years of dust etc.
I’m a member of the Online Austin Seven Club and have seen
Ray’s posts on there.
Happy to talk about it.
Peter May
I replied, as the old story goes
*** "The reports of your death have been
grossly exaggerated" ***
and if
you still know Ray you had better appear before him and let him know your still around,
so sorry if it's caused you any problems.
At least I got it right "that you were the last owner", perhaps you can throw some light on the V5C Logbook issue in November 2013.
Peter Replied:
*** "The reports of your death have been
grossly exaggerated" ***
and if
you still know Ray you had better appear before him and let him know your still around,
so sorry if it's caused you any problems.
At least I got it right "that you were the last owner", perhaps you can throw some light on the V5C Logbook issue in November 2013.
Peter Replied:
Yes, I am still the owner. I last taxed it in 1988 but have moved since then and obtained a V5 in 1995 and a V5C in 2013 to keep things
up to date, as in 2004 someone tried to become the recorded keeper
which I thought a bit strange, so I keep the records up to date.
The car never had a proper GRP bonnet and to get hold of one I bought two Ashley bodies from a guy in Southminster, Essex. These were left at an MG racing guys place near Salisbury.
I can't remember the rego numbers of these but the tale may ring a bell with you. One was red and the other green. They were subsequently passed on by the Guy down there and may have turned up on your register. I will try and send you a current photo.
Regards Peter
Yes, I am still the owner. I last taxed it in 1988 but have moved since then and obtained a V5 in 1995 and a V5C in 2013 to keep things
up to date, as in 2004 someone tried to become the recorded keeper
which I thought a bit strange, so I keep the records up to date.
The car never had a proper GRP bonnet and to get hold of one I bought two Ashley bodies from a guy in Southminster, Essex. These were left at an MG racing guys place near Salisbury.
I can't remember the rego numbers of these but the tale may ring a bell with you. One was red and the other green. They were subsequently passed on by the Guy down there and may have turned up on your register. I will try and send you a current photo.
Regards Peter
Here is the photo of Peters Ashley 750,
after he dragged it out of the shed were it stood for 30 years.
He thought I might appreciate the “barn find” type of photo,
he also said that he never used it with the top on as he couldn’t fit under it
after he dragged it out of the shed were it stood for 30 years.
He thought I might appreciate the “barn find” type of photo,
he also said that he never used it with the top on as he couldn’t fit under it
I will add more information about Peters car as and
when I receive it.
when I receive it.
So if you have owned owned the car or have any other information about this
Ashley 750 car
Registration No.
FA 5097
(Donor Austin Originally registered by
Burton-on-Trent C.B.C in December 1933)
please email me on
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me
Ashley 750 car
Registration No.
FA 5097
(Donor Austin Originally registered by
Burton-on-Trent C.B.C in December 1933)
please email me on
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me