Topic: Lea Francis 2,5l 2+2 open sports touring special 1950

[grobmotorix]

Who knows this car?

[Allan L]

I do, when I'm allowed to!

[grobmotorix]

Why did I know that in advance... 

[grobmotorix]

>>> Expert AutoPuzzles >>>

[Jean-Marie H]

1950 2.5l Lea Francis 2 seater sports

[grobmotorix]

Yes!

[Jean-Marie H]

Thank you !   

[nicanary]

Well, not quite, although the answer is roughly correct. The car started life as a Lea Francis 14hp saloon, delivered to Bonnier & Pattenden in Norwich in 1950, and therefore first registered in that year. It was much later purchased by Roger East who arranged to have the car rebuilt into its present form in 1985 - it retains part of the original chassis, but has Morgan front wings and rear chassis section. The 14hp engine was replaced at this stage with a tuned 2.5-litre which first appeared in the production 2.5 Sports which had been introduced in 1949. The actual Lea Francis Sports production car and this special have little in common apart from the engine. It has had some very interesting owners over the years.

(PS I wonder when this photo was taken? It looks even older than 1985 - there's what appears to be an FB Vauxhall VX4/90 in the background. Has it been photoshopped to look older?)

[grobmotorix]

O.K., "Lea Francis 2,5l 2+2 open sports touring special 1950" was the name it was given, when it was auctioned in the early 1990s.

I did not know of this special story.

So, i´ll check to find my source again and if you´re right, I´ll give you an additional point, of course!

[nicanary]

O.K., "Lea Francis 2,5l 2+2 open sports touring special 1950" was the name it was given, when it was auctioned in the early 1990s.

I did not know of this special story.

So, i´ll check to find my source again and if you´re right, I´ll give you an additional point, of course!

No  No point required. I just thought people would be interested in the story.

[grobmotorix]

I think you deserve this additional point!

I never would have known those details without your post.

Here´s the 1992-93 ad I´ve found again:

[nicanary]

Where's Allan Lupton when you need him!?

[grobmotorix]

O.K., this gentleman is the only autopuzzler I´ve ever met in person so far and a most likeable guy
with a bit of Leas Francis knowledge.

Let´s hear what he can contribute - I thought he would be first to solve this puzzle, to be honest...

When this story is correct, I will definitly award you this second point.

[Jean-Marie H]

Here is the car





and the text of an advert which was on Post War Cars :

Details for 1950 Lea Francis 2 Seater Sports Special
1950 Lea Francis, 2 seater sports special. 2.5L, overhead cam, twin carbs, high ratio axle, four speed, runs beautifully. Looks stunning in old English white with a soft beige leather trim. Chocolate tonneau cover with side screens, new hood which needs fitting, knock on wire wheels, drives superb. Totally unique and very rare, no expense spared on the restoration. Beautiful car taxed and MOT, some spares included. Derbyshire area of UK. Price £16,500 GBP

[Allan L]

Where's Allan Lupton when you need him!?

Asleep in front of the television, since you ask!
Your description tallys with my recollection of the car apart from the bit about the Morgan chassis rear end which must be fiction.
I'm pretty sure that Roger East shortened the Lea-Francis chassis in the same way and place that the L-F Works did when they produced their Sports versions. That would give a wheelbase of 8'3" (99") not the 111" stated in the 1992 ad. the photo came from.
Roger ran the car with its original engine for a year or two while he sorted it out and put the 2½ litre Sports engine in when he felt the car was fit for it. Lea-Francis engines of that period are twin-cam but not twin overhead cam, by the way.
The puzzle photo seems to show the car in its early state and I do not recognise the man at the wheel and the one just posted by Jean-Marie H is more recent.

[grobmotorix]

O.K., thank you.

That´s an additional point for nicanary...

[Carnut]

Where's Allan Lupton when you need him!?

Asleep in front of the television, since you ask!

There wasn't a Grand Prix on was there?!

[nicanary]

Where's Allan Lupton when you need him!?

Asleep in front of the television, since you ask!

There wasn't a Grand Prix on was there?!

He's just getting on a bit, like me. I stopped watching the GPs myself about halfway through this season - that's me finished with it. In its present form it's just entertainment for the newcomer "fanboys" and a shadow of its former greatness.

(I don't know why I thought the rear end of the car was Morgan - I think I must have misread the rebuild description. It's all there on the site of an auction house.)

[Carnut]

Yes, I have to say after having been a devout follower of F1 for many years I got bored with it this year and haven't really sat through a whole race since the summer.  It needs a bit of spice and uncertainty injected into it.  Perhaps compusory stops for a tea-break or a liberal sprinking of water on the track might do the trick...

Plus I think the spirit has gone out of it.  I know it's a race and these guys are essentially single-minded racers, but there was a time when Mark Webber's team mate might have stood by and sacrificed the 9 wins in a row record to give him victory on his last GP ever, especially as he owed him one anyway and he was already this year's champion.  I always thought of Vettel as a really nice guy and a sportsman but I have to say I've rather gone off him, given his somewhat self-centred approach this year.

[nicanary]

He's a stat-collector in my book. Fine driver, though. It will never be the same sport again until the organisation is handed back to the CSI and the circuit owners, and entries are open to all. In other words, never.

My apologies to the OP for hijacking his thread.

[Allan L]

there was a time when Mark Webber's team mate might have stood by and sacrificed the 9 wins in a row record to give him victory on his last GP ever.

Time was when that might have happened, but the real epitome was at Aintree in 1955 when nobody except Fangio knew if he let Moss win or was beaten in simple racing. Even Moss doesn't know, but he said at the time that JMF could have passed him at any time . . .
At least Herr Vettel general attitude has undone some of the damage inflicted on the German image by a recent multiple WDC!

[nicanary]

there was a time when Mark Webber's team mate might have stood by and sacrificed the 9 wins in a row record to give him victory on his last GP ever.

Time was when that might have happened, but the real epitome was at Aintree in 1955 when nobody except Fangio knew if he let Moss win or was beaten in simple racing. Even Moss doesn't know, but he said at the time that JMF could have passed him at any time . . .
At least Herr Vettel general attitude has undone some of the damage inflicted on the German image by a recent multiple WDC!

The Old Man was so good he could come first or second, and nobody would know whether he had been trying or not. Sheer class, as a driver and as a human being. Not like a certain ex-world champion, who stood on the brakes as they approached the finish to let his teammate past. No names required. It's all about the money now.

[grobmotorix]

My apologies to the OP for hijacking his thread.

DAS IST VERBOTEN! 

No, just joking...

I´ve stopped watching Formula 1 racing in the mid 1990´s, when Schumacher dictated all the scene.

And I never started to develop any interest in it again.

I´m a bit of old-fashioned with 41 now, I fear 

[Carnut]

Its value seemed to have dropped substantially between 1992/3 when it was advertised for £40-50,000 and the end December 2013 ad when it was only £16500.  And I thought classic car values were going through the roof..

If you missed it then it's For Sale again right now.
It's reputed to belong to the LFOC president and is described as "not concours but good working order".
No price is mentioned but if anyone wants to discuss it with the vendor phone him on 0208 4628146.

[Allan L]

It's reputed to belong to the LFOC president and is described as "not concours but good working order".
No price is mentioned but if anyone wants to discuss it with the vendor phone him on 0208 4628146.

I don't know where the LFOC President idea comes from, and perhaps the description of it as an S Type comes the same way (cloud cuckoo land). The ad I found prices it at £25000 and that phone number is that of the owner we have in LFOC records.