Jack of all trades wrote: The drivers seat is a Restall type 5 competition seat, Broadspeed used them in all their racecars.
I thought it was that seat when I saw the photo (on page 1), ie this seat :
I'd also heard (from Fitz) that Ralph fitted Restall seats to his racers as you say but didn't know it was that seat in all of them, just found the photo that made me ask, looks pretty different..
The type 5 was developed by Restall in close co-operation with Broadspeed.
They were only a mile apart (Restall in Floodgate street and Broadspeed at Stratford road).
The part of the pic you show (looks like a BOP car, i would love to see the whole picture) is a 1965 teamcar.
The upholstery changed thrue the years, if you look at the type 1 (the "recliner") you'll see the same "evolution"
The one you show is in lets say "pre 1965/66" upholstery, the perfotated center came at a later date.
And the one in the Udy GT is of a later date, they were even fitted in the Broadspeed Escorts (now that was what Udy worked on, what a coincidence!)
Re the driver's seat, I have spoken with Miles and he told me the seat came from one of the Broadspeed cars that was sold to Leonard Ward Racing and was in for a off-season overhaul in '68 or '69. One of the jobs done was to replace the seat with a new lightweight one. Miles, in true Kiwi fashion, saw an opportunity and bought the old one for what he recalls was 30 pounds. I asked him if he recalled which Broadspeed driver had driven it when in their ownership but he didn't know. So, that has been interesting.
The type 5 was developed by Restall in close co-operation with Broadspeed.
They were only a mile apart (Restall in Floodgate street and Broadspeed at Stratford road).
The part of the pic you show (looks like a BOP car, i would love to see the whole picture) is a 1965 teamcar.
The upholstery changed thrue the years, if you look at the type 1 (the "recliner") you'll see the same "evolution"
The one you show is in lets say "pre 1965/66" upholstery, the perfotated center came at a later date.
And the one in the Udy GT is of a later date, they were even fitted in the Broadspeed Escorts (now that was what Udy worked on, what a coincidence!)
Interesting post Jack, I thought it looked a different shape?
Yes the photo is BOP 243C at the Nurburgring, 1965. I'll PM you about the photo.
From what i've heared years ago, the seat in the car came from Lawrie Hickmans Escort.
As Leonard Ward Racing (for whom Hickman drove) campainged a 1000cc Broadspeed prepared Escort, and Broadspeed themselves used 1300cc cars the seat will probably have never had any connection with Team Broadspeed cars.
Looking at the brochure of the GT under the "Selected clients only" it states;
"Broadspeed" designed competition driving seat trimmed in black ambla.
I sure a Broadspeed prepared racecar could be ordered to have the same is "the selected client" payed enough!
Miles said Leonard Ward Racing ran an Anglia and a 1000 cc Escort but he has no doubt the seat came from the Anglia. Not much more I can do to help, I've asked him and he has told me as he recalls it.
Hi Pete,
There is no original paperwork with the car, only the NZ registration papers
Photos of the car seem to be quite hard to find but I'm still working on it. I am hoping the first owner may have something, when Chris find his contact details. I am still trying to work out a plan for what I will do with the car. It will have to be repainted but how much further? Do I take it to when it was delivered to the first owner or how it arrived in New Zealand. In some ways, I favour the last option because that is most relevant. The car has never been restored and quite a bit is undisturbed so maybe I should only do what has to be done and leave the rest. Mechanically, it seems fine but it has a later 4 synchro box with straight cut gears and LSD so I will return that to what it should be, certainly the gearbox.
Al
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Miles said Leonard Ward Racing ran an Anglia and a 1000 cc Escort but he has no doubt the seat came from the Anglia. Not much more I can do to help, I've asked him and he has told me as he recalls it.
Recallection after a long time tend to get blurry, Leonard Ward Racing ran an Anglia at the latest at Snetterton april 1968(the only thing they done with that car for 1968). So the car coming in for "a off-season overhaul in '68 or '69" just doesn't ty in with the dates(you don't overhaul an outdated racecar). Now an Broadspeed prepared Escort coming in for service that sounds right and coming the 69-70 seizon the seats getting updated could even be more right. Comparing that with Miles buying the car 1968 and sending it home somewhere 1969 would probably ty the knot (my humble opinion)
Hi Pete,
The first owner has yet to be contacted and that process is turning out to be lengthy. Hopefully, we will get an address for him before too much longer. In the meantime, I have spoken or e-mailed all but two previous owners and that has been interesting. I have learnt that the car was hill-climbed and circuit raced by a woman who was the 3rd NZ owner. None of the previous owners knew that. She said she will look out some photos but they have yet to show.
That sounds fantastic Pete. I've had someone else looking for quite a while but he has not been able to find him yet so I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed !!