1960 Ashley 1172
Registration No. Z 6953
I was first notified of this Ashley roadster
in April 2018 by
Norm Owens the builder and owner who contacted
me after discovering my websites.
He wrote;
Dear Sir,
Just by accident I have come across your website whilst looking for something else and felt I could perhaps be of some help.
I enclose photographs and a rather embarrassing newspaper article (I claim no responsibility for the rather cringe worthy article) of my Ashley 1172 which I build whilst living in Londonderry in Northern Ireland between September 1959 and March 1960.
(Ashley had an agent in Belfast, in Donegal Square West in that City, I bought the shell through him. He had if my memory serves me right an Ashley 750).
The registration number of my Ashley was Z 6953. I seem to recall that the car was given the unusual ‘Z’ registration because the original vehicle was imported from Southern Ireland.
Dear Sir,
Just by accident I have come across your website whilst looking for something else and felt I could perhaps be of some help.
I enclose photographs and a rather embarrassing newspaper article (I claim no responsibility for the rather cringe worthy article) of my Ashley 1172 which I build whilst living in Londonderry in Northern Ireland between September 1959 and March 1960.
(Ashley had an agent in Belfast, in Donegal Square West in that City, I bought the shell through him. He had if my memory serves me right an Ashley 750).
The registration number of my Ashley was Z 6953. I seem to recall that the car was given the unusual ‘Z’ registration because the original vehicle was imported from Southern Ireland.
.
Back then, money was always tight and if truth be told I never really finished the project properly.
I certainly could not afford any refinements to finish the car off as it deserved, however I do recall that that did not affect its performance.
I remember how the little 1172 Ford engine with such a light body could leave most cars of the day at any set of lights.
.
I kept the car for a few years and eventually sold it (well swapped it) for a Hillman Minx, yes, really!
My circumstances had changed, sorry to say, I never saw the car again.
Perhaps this information will help you with compiling your registry.
I hope this information is both relevant and of some use and please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Below are further photo's that Norm sent to me;
Back then, money was always tight and if truth be told I never really finished the project properly.
I certainly could not afford any refinements to finish the car off as it deserved, however I do recall that that did not affect its performance.
I remember how the little 1172 Ford engine with such a light body could leave most cars of the day at any set of lights.
.
I kept the car for a few years and eventually sold it (well swapped it) for a Hillman Minx, yes, really!
My circumstances had changed, sorry to say, I never saw the car again.
Perhaps this information will help you with compiling your registry.
I hope this information is both relevant and of some use and please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Below are further photo's that Norm sent to me;
Sorry to say the Hillman minx in the photo above belonged to my brother, the one I got in exchange for The Bomb was more of a heap of junk! I didn't keep it very long and traded it for a TR2.
The donor car was an old Ford (I think it was an early, very rusted, Prefect). I recall most of the nuts and bolts were removed with a hacksaw rather than with spanners. The engine/running gear were kept bog standard (financial constraints). I had the engine re-bored and the crankshaft reground and replaced the exhaust system with a straight through exhaust (sounded great) but a bit like the Jet Provost Mk3 it was a case of 'constant power/variable noise'.
.
I do recall having to do something with the suspension as initially the car sat too high. Probably removed a leaf or two! Again, sorry about being so vague, but it's a long long time ago, but I seem to recall being given a pair of shock absorbers to replace the old Ford lever arm type! I can't even remember if I fitted them on the front or the back! As Del boy would say - 'what a plonker'.
I should be very pleased to have the car and whatever you want to say about it on your register and please take that as permission to publish.
Since I am enjoying the entries as I slowly go through the site then that only seems fair.
Kind regards.
Norm Owens
The donor car was an old Ford (I think it was an early, very rusted, Prefect). I recall most of the nuts and bolts were removed with a hacksaw rather than with spanners. The engine/running gear were kept bog standard (financial constraints). I had the engine re-bored and the crankshaft reground and replaced the exhaust system with a straight through exhaust (sounded great) but a bit like the Jet Provost Mk3 it was a case of 'constant power/variable noise'.
.
I do recall having to do something with the suspension as initially the car sat too high. Probably removed a leaf or two! Again, sorry about being so vague, but it's a long long time ago, but I seem to recall being given a pair of shock absorbers to replace the old Ford lever arm type! I can't even remember if I fitted them on the front or the back! As Del boy would say - 'what a plonker'.
I should be very pleased to have the car and whatever you want to say about it on your register and please take that as permission to publish.
Since I am enjoying the entries as I slowly go through the site then that only seems fair.
Kind regards.
Norm Owens
Well after 9 months I have at last managed to
publish this story,
not sure where all the time goes,
but if you have owned it or have any other
information about this
Ashley 1172 Roadster
Registration No.
Z 6953
(originally registered by Londonderry C.C. in March 1960)
please email me on
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me,
so that I can update this page.
information about this
Ashley 1172 Roadster
Registration No.
Z 6953
(originally registered by Londonderry C.C. in March 1960)
please email me on
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me,
so that I can update this page.