1959 Ashley 1172 Roadster
Registration No. PTY 655
This car has been listed on the Registration Index for many years now and I was always intrigued by the registered name on the DVLA records:
Vehicle details for: Holmes Special Sport - PTY 655 are:
Date of Liability 01 05 1997
Date of First Registration 11 05 1995
Year of Manufacture 1959
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1172cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Date of Liability 01 05 1997
Date of First Registration 11 05 1995
Year of Manufacture 1959
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1172cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLUE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Was the registered name the owners name, did a Mr Holmes
build it in Northumberland back in 1959
When I wrote the above I had a "File Photo" displayed as at the time
I had no details of the car except the Registration No. and the DVLA Data above.
Then in
May 2015
Martin Cook contacted me via the websites
Contact Page
to inform me that he had only just discovered my website
and that he owned PTY 655, he continued:
I've owned an Ashley 1172 (PTY 655) for about 30 years now, total wreck when I got it, did a full restoration on it and ran it for a few years then jammed it in the corner of my workshop in 97 and left it there.
At Xmas 2014 I decided to "freshen " it up a bit, swapped the side valve for a X-flow with modified sump, as its stood for so long (plus engine change) I've quite a few ancillary jobs still to do but fingers crossed it will back on the road to enjoy the summer....this year!
It was a convertible but I didn't like the roof so now it's a "top less " but I will get a tonneau cover made for it.
At Xmas 2014 I decided to "freshen " it up a bit, swapped the side valve for a X-flow with modified sump, as its stood for so long (plus engine change) I've quite a few ancillary jobs still to do but fingers crossed it will back on the road to enjoy the summer....this year!
It was a convertible but I didn't like the roof so now it's a "top less " but I will get a tonneau cover made for it.
Naturally I bombarded Martin with questions and requests for pictures which I'm glad to say he followed up on.
Martins first 3 pictures are above
he also confirmed my assumption
that the first owner and builder was a Mr Holmes,
(his name is on the original buff log book).
May 2016
I emailed Martin to see how it was all going, unfortunately hardly any progress as he had been a bit unhealthy over a few months of the previous year.
He has managed however to get the wheels off and sent away to get the rims blasted then re-coated and a new set of tyres fitted.
It was not until
March 2017
that I had another email from Martin this time to update
me with his progress:
Ivor,
Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve been in touch, the car came off the road in 1997 so it seems fitting that 2017 will see it back on the road!
I took the decision to “re-restore” the car hopefully to a better standard than it was done originally, I’ve a little more time and better placed financially than I was 25 years ago.
The upholsterer has just returned the seats and I’m really pleased with the finished job, the car (when its running) will go back to him for a tonneau cover to be made (it’s never had one) I’m hoping that this will make it a bit more driver friendly if I get caught out in the rain…fingers crossed!
I’ve had the aluminium flooring out (chassis still in lovely condition from the last blasting/coating it had) steam cleaned, polished and waxed and it’s really come up well.
I’m hoping this weekend will see the “strip down” finished and the re-build begin, I’ll start taking photos from now on and let you see the progress, my target is to be able to attend the NECPWA rally in mid-July at Newby Hall, which is sort of ironic because it was on the way back from there in 1997 the big ends went on the old engine, now changed to a fully re-built 100E engine.
There’s still a lot to do but I feel it’s manageable…fingers crossed!
Martin
Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve been in touch, the car came off the road in 1997 so it seems fitting that 2017 will see it back on the road!
I took the decision to “re-restore” the car hopefully to a better standard than it was done originally, I’ve a little more time and better placed financially than I was 25 years ago.
The upholsterer has just returned the seats and I’m really pleased with the finished job, the car (when its running) will go back to him for a tonneau cover to be made (it’s never had one) I’m hoping that this will make it a bit more driver friendly if I get caught out in the rain…fingers crossed!
I’ve had the aluminium flooring out (chassis still in lovely condition from the last blasting/coating it had) steam cleaned, polished and waxed and it’s really come up well.
I’m hoping this weekend will see the “strip down” finished and the re-build begin, I’ll start taking photos from now on and let you see the progress, my target is to be able to attend the NECPWA rally in mid-July at Newby Hall, which is sort of ironic because it was on the way back from there in 1997 the big ends went on the old engine, now changed to a fully re-built 100E engine.
There’s still a lot to do but I feel it’s manageable…fingers crossed!
Martin
Over the next few months Martin sent photo's showing scenes of the restoration up until the finished on road family group.
March
There's very little to come off now, fingers crossed I get the engine back out, bell housing modified, new clutch fitted and engine back in again this weekend.
Obviously there's still brakes/bushes to check as well...the list gets longer instead of shorter...ha ha!
March
There's very little to come off now, fingers crossed I get the engine back out, bell housing modified, new clutch fitted and engine back in again this weekend.
Obviously there's still brakes/bushes to check as well...the list gets longer instead of shorter...ha ha!
April
I’m making very slow progress as every job I’m doing is leading to one if not two more things to do plus delays from parts suppliers.
Despite the chassis being in good condition it did need touching up in places… so I removed most of what parts I could and repainted it totally….no fun or enjoyment at all!
This weekend I’m taking out the tank to clean it as the fuel in there will be ancient plus there’s bound to be crud in there, changing the fuel line at the same time while the floors are out.
At the umpteenth attempt the engine finally decided to go back in....sod!!!!
Just waiting to get the fuel tank back then I can get the floor plates back in - the big milestone passed of no more bits to come off.
I'm hoping for a hand from a pal over Easter so fingers crossed for a real push forward!
June
Brakes and bushes all done,every thing greased, wheels back on and back on the ground.
Next on the list, refit the alloy flooring this will allow me to get the driver’s seat back in, renew all new hoses, partial rewire, then fingers crossed kick her into life…I hope!
Then new ss exhaust and tonneau cover and it’s good to go!
September
As if I didn't have enough to do I've bought a 1961 A35 van, I've
had a soft spot for them as I learnt to drive in one, they were the fleet vans at an Electrical company I was employed by when I was a teenager!
It shouldn't slow the Ashley down as other than a good clean up and a few little tweaks as far as I can see it doesn't need much. Failed it's mot on a blocked washer jet and brakes, just needed fluid and bleeding and the tester said its solid underneath.
November
Had her running only to find what I thought was a blown head gasket,
no cracks or imperfections in head or block or in the old gasket for that matter, but both the head and block could have been better prepared in the "re-con'd" engine that I'd bought.
They'd used all old head bolts, some of which looked like they were on their third or fourth time around, and I didn't notice when i removed them that 3 of the were 5/7mm longer than the rest, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the head just hadn't been set up correctly....
here's hoping!
I've also got twin carbs and the Aquaplane inlet and exhaust manifolds
to go on now as well.
Not 100% finished but it’s back on the road.
Never thought I’d see the day!
Had her running only to find what I thought was a blown head gasket,
no cracks or imperfections in head or block or in the old gasket for that matter, but both the head and block could have been better prepared in the "re-con'd" engine that I'd bought.
They'd used all old head bolts, some of which looked like they were on their third or fourth time around, and I didn't notice when i removed them that 3 of the were 5/7mm longer than the rest, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the head just hadn't been set up correctly....
here's hoping!
I've also got twin carbs and the Aquaplane inlet and exhaust manifolds
to go on now as well.
Not 100% finished but it’s back on the road.
Never thought I’d see the day!
Well done Martin, not only have you got the Ashley 1172
back on the road again
but
you have purchased an Austin A35 Van and reworked it,
adding your company Logo and contact details
and turning it into a prize winning classic vehicle.
I also noticed that you appear to have been to the
2018 Newby Hall, Historic Vehicle Rally too.
"Tempus Fugit"
Martin
Photo's Courtesy of Simon Geoghegan & Tristan Williams - on Facebook
If you have any more information about this
Ashley 1172 car
Registration No.
PTY 655
(originally registered by Northumberland C.C
in June to August 1959)
please email me 0n
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me.
Ashley 1172 car
Registration No.
PTY 655
(originally registered by Northumberland C.C
in June to August 1959)
please email me 0n
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me.