1947 Ashley 1172
Registration No. DDP 201
This Ashley 1172 Roadster only came to my attention at
the very beginning of January 2024 when it was posted
on the Ashley Laminates Facebook Group.
The post was from David Montgomery of the Buckler Car Register
and his post will explain how this car is listed as a 1947 Ashley 1172. David wrote that:
"After Derek Buckler's special, registered DDP 201 and built in 1947 with an innovative space frame chassis designed by him was retired from competitive motorsport, it was fitted with an Ashley 1172 body."
I wanted to know more so contacted David and he directed me to the
Buckler Cars and Karts Register
from where I was able to find the history of Derek, his car and his company.
What follows is a very condensed view of the History.
*****************
In 1947 Derek Buckler designed his own chassis to take the engine and running gear from his Ford 1172cc side valve E93A and he set up
Buckler Cars Ltd.
He won over 200 awards in this car, competing in trials, hillclimbs,
circuit racing, sprints and even won an economy rally achieving
just under 100 mpg.
Extract from: Buckler Car Register Archives.
Derek Buckler with Racing Sports car DDP 201 taken at his Reading works displaying some of the over 200 awards won.
Extract from: Buckler Car Register Archives.
Extract from: Buckler Car Register Archives.
Derek Buckler in his prototype car at various motor racing events,
often driving to the event from Reading in Berkshire and then driving home again afterwards.
In the mid 1950's Derek appointed a manager to run his company
Buckler Cars Ltd after he was told to rest by his doctor.
Buckler Cars Ltd was first advertised for sale in ’62 and eventually sold to Mike Luff and Frank Fletcher who continued to build cars and Karts until c1965.
Derek Buckler died in 1964.
Extracts from: Buckler Car Register Archives.
***************
often driving to the event from Reading in Berkshire and then driving home again afterwards.
In the mid 1950's Derek appointed a manager to run his company
Buckler Cars Ltd after he was told to rest by his doctor.
Buckler Cars Ltd was first advertised for sale in ’62 and eventually sold to Mike Luff and Frank Fletcher who continued to build cars and Karts until c1965.
Derek Buckler died in 1964.
Extracts from: Buckler Car Register Archives.
***************
It's not clear when the Buckler DDP 201 was converted to an
Ashley 1172 Roadster or by whom, however the Ashley looks to be
maybe a 1959/60 model with internal door hinges,
the earlier 1958 model originally had external door hinges.
The Buckler DDP 201 was fitted with an Ashley body towards the end
of it's life and it was last heard of sometime later when it's owner,
who lived in Lincolnshire, contacted the Buckler Register
wanting to sell the car, which he had laying derelict in a field.
There being no members living nearby it was a few weeks before the chairman of the Buckler Car Registry managed to get there, by which time it had been stolen, never to be seen again.
Ashley 1172 Roadster or by whom, however the Ashley looks to be
maybe a 1959/60 model with internal door hinges,
the earlier 1958 model originally had external door hinges.
The Buckler DDP 201 was fitted with an Ashley body towards the end
of it's life and it was last heard of sometime later when it's owner,
who lived in Lincolnshire, contacted the Buckler Register
wanting to sell the car, which he had laying derelict in a field.
There being no members living nearby it was a few weeks before the chairman of the Buckler Car Registry managed to get there, by which time it had been stolen, never to be seen again.
However
in the December 1983 Buckler Car Register Newsletter it was
reported that two members of the Buckler Car Register
drove up to Alkborough & Scunthorpe in Humberside to try to locate
Stephen Cowling and confirm once and for all what happened
to the Buckler Car DDP 201.
Well, they did find the remains of the car and also talked to Stephen Cowling and a previous owner Brian Drinkwater and
they borrowed some photos of the car from Brian in its final form.
In the June 1984 Buckler Car Register Newsletter these two photos shown below were shown together with the information given by Brian Drinkwater.
Also the Buckler UK Archives show that the remains of the car are
now in the care of members Hibberd and Silverthorne.
I'm assuming that somehow the remains of the stolen car
was found maybe after being
stripped of useful parts and dumped.
in the December 1983 Buckler Car Register Newsletter it was
reported that two members of the Buckler Car Register
drove up to Alkborough & Scunthorpe in Humberside to try to locate
Stephen Cowling and confirm once and for all what happened
to the Buckler Car DDP 201.
Well, they did find the remains of the car and also talked to Stephen Cowling and a previous owner Brian Drinkwater and
they borrowed some photos of the car from Brian in its final form.
In the June 1984 Buckler Car Register Newsletter these two photos shown below were shown together with the information given by Brian Drinkwater.
Also the Buckler UK Archives show that the remains of the car are
now in the care of members Hibberd and Silverthorne.
I'm assuming that somehow the remains of the stolen car
was found maybe after being
stripped of useful parts and dumped.
Anyway
I have only seen two B&W photo's of the Ashley 1172 Roadster,
the cover photo shown at the top and the other one below.
Both of which I have taken the liberty of colourising here.
I have only seen two B&W photo's of the Ashley 1172 Roadster,
the cover photo shown at the top and the other one below.
Both of which I have taken the liberty of colourising here.
So if you have owned it or have been a passenger
in it or have any other
information about this
Ashley 1172 Roadster
Registration No.
DDP 201
(original registration Reading C.B.C in September 1947)
please email me on
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me,
so that I can update this page.
in it or have any other
information about this
Ashley 1172 Roadster
Registration No.
DDP 201
(original registration Reading C.B.C in September 1947)
please email me on
[email protected]
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me,
so that I can update this page.