Broadspeed GT 1967
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:46 pm
Hi guys and gals,
I am proud to announce my latest arrival. This car has an interesting history (as I know it) and has been in New Zealand for almost all it's life. It was the last Broadspeed GT built by Broadspeed and done for Mr Roy Bagnell (sp?) of Birmingham area. It has rubber suspension (the only one built with it) and was not built as a converted Cooper S. Instead, the Cooper S body and mechanicals were bought in and so the car was registered (LOX172E) as a Broadspeed GT, the only Broadspeed done that way. Interestingly, the FE number has always been recorded as the serial number as there is no BMC plate and it has never been drilled for one.
Miles Udy was a young Kiwi mechanic that had read plenty of the racing success of Ralph Broad and contacted him to see if he could get a job with Broadspeed in England. He was successful and eventually took up employment. I believe he saw the car in it's final stages of completion. In this time, he became a very successful mechanic for Broadspeed Racing, mostly on Escorts and he was made responsible for the number 2 Escort (XOO342F), driven by Chris Craft in '68 and '69. In 1968, he bought the Broadspeed from Roy and owned it for 12 months before sending it and an Alexander Mini (for his brother) and heaps of Cooper S parts home. Before he sent the Broady home, he bought and fitted a set of new 5" magnesium Minilites, a Motolita steering wheel and replaced the cream seats. Miles says he found a rear seat in black, a black driver's race seat ex one of the Broadspeed Anglia's, a Microcell reclining passenger seat in storage at Broadspeed and fitted them but retained the cream door cards. The car arrived in Wellington and was registered on 30th December 1969.
The car is roadworthy and I was able to drive it home from Wellington, a trip of some 4.5 hours. It goes nicely and there were no problems. I have some friends to thank for being given the opportunity to own it, it wasn't publicly advertised and the owner for the last 30 years preferred someone with passion to be the next owner. I must have been that person. As I piece the history together, I am getting help from a number of people, including Miles, who is still competing in motorsport and who still posses a very sharp memory. I find him immensely interesting to chat with. Can anyone add anything to the history of this car?
Regards
Al
I am proud to announce my latest arrival. This car has an interesting history (as I know it) and has been in New Zealand for almost all it's life. It was the last Broadspeed GT built by Broadspeed and done for Mr Roy Bagnell (sp?) of Birmingham area. It has rubber suspension (the only one built with it) and was not built as a converted Cooper S. Instead, the Cooper S body and mechanicals were bought in and so the car was registered (LOX172E) as a Broadspeed GT, the only Broadspeed done that way. Interestingly, the FE number has always been recorded as the serial number as there is no BMC plate and it has never been drilled for one.
Miles Udy was a young Kiwi mechanic that had read plenty of the racing success of Ralph Broad and contacted him to see if he could get a job with Broadspeed in England. He was successful and eventually took up employment. I believe he saw the car in it's final stages of completion. In this time, he became a very successful mechanic for Broadspeed Racing, mostly on Escorts and he was made responsible for the number 2 Escort (XOO342F), driven by Chris Craft in '68 and '69. In 1968, he bought the Broadspeed from Roy and owned it for 12 months before sending it and an Alexander Mini (for his brother) and heaps of Cooper S parts home. Before he sent the Broady home, he bought and fitted a set of new 5" magnesium Minilites, a Motolita steering wheel and replaced the cream seats. Miles says he found a rear seat in black, a black driver's race seat ex one of the Broadspeed Anglia's, a Microcell reclining passenger seat in storage at Broadspeed and fitted them but retained the cream door cards. The car arrived in Wellington and was registered on 30th December 1969.
The car is roadworthy and I was able to drive it home from Wellington, a trip of some 4.5 hours. It goes nicely and there were no problems. I have some friends to thank for being given the opportunity to own it, it wasn't publicly advertised and the owner for the last 30 years preferred someone with passion to be the next owner. I must have been that person. As I piece the history together, I am getting help from a number of people, including Miles, who is still competing in motorsport and who still posses a very sharp memory. I find him immensely interesting to chat with. Can anyone add anything to the history of this car?
Regards
Al
Lucky you 
