1959 Ashley 1172
Registration No. UN 2475
This Ashley 1172 was built in 1959 and has remained in the ownership of the same family ever since.
I was first notified about it in
January 2016
when Peter the current owner contacted me:
I was first notified about it in
January 2016
when Peter the current owner contacted me:
Hi, I have an Ashley 1172, early car with wind up windows. its been in my family probably since the late 50's, grandfathers car. Has been all together at different times used for reliability trials I think late 50's early 60's.
When I first remember it was running an MGA 1500cc mechanical set up, fitted to a bespoke chassis I understand from the family that grandfather made it, with help from friends here on the farm, has modified TR4 front suspension, as it does today.
Since I took over the farm in 1979 it has lay dismantled in the barn till recently, with more time I have started to rebuild it.
It was wasn't long after a few emails exchanged between us that Peter sent a couple of pictures
of the car as it was in 2015 just before
he started work on it.
of the car as it was in 2015 just before
he started work on it.
Peter also sent me the Registration No. and more information about the Ashley:
Hi Ivor, thank you for your reply. I am in North Wales not far from Chester, as I understand it my car is not original, Grandfather kept upgrading the car till his death in 1975, when the car was in bits in the barn !! He had an off and damaged the front end including the chassis, I at that time was away at school, grandfather had repaired the chassis but not rebuilt the car. It's now back together and rolling now, needs a few tweak's, the F/glass has been repaired, mounted back on the chassis.
As for photos I only have those from its incarceration in the barn, earlier were lost when the old house was flooded!
Will ask the family, but I am not holding my breath grandfathers hobby was not popular except with me!
The car was road registered, but not as an Ashley unfortunately, as I understand was often the practice back then, he had built it on an old Morris chassis I think, then altered it down the years, so the car is registered as a Morris.
As for photos I only have those from its incarceration in the barn, earlier were lost when the old house was flooded!
Will ask the family, but I am not holding my breath grandfathers hobby was not popular except with me!
The car was road registered, but not as an Ashley unfortunately, as I understand was often the practice back then, he had built it on an old Morris chassis I think, then altered it down the years, so the car is registered as a Morris.
I checked on the DVLA Vehicle details and this
is what it shows:
The DVLA vehicle details for Morris - UN 2475
Date of First Registration 30.03.1929
Year of Manufacture 1929
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1697cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker No
Vehicle Status Not Taxed
Vehicle Colour BEIGE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
is what it shows:
The DVLA vehicle details for Morris - UN 2475
Date of First Registration 30.03.1929
Year of Manufacture 1929
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1697cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker No
Vehicle Status Not Taxed
Vehicle Colour BEIGE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
I checked on another Registration list and it indicated that it was a 1929 Morris Oxford,
so nearly 90 years old.
I heard no more from Peter until
December 2018
when he contacted me again and sent some more current pictures and further details:
Ivor, its strange how we get emotionally attached to cars. I got the pics sent and will send more, not that I have many.
All the glass is out and stored safely, I have been trying to obtain a windscreen for my Heron gt for nearly 30yrs, so I Know the trouble getting glass can be.
Further Car history
The car sat semi-dismantled until 2016, my son frustrated at not being able to get a suitable job set to resurrecting the car, he rebuilt the mechanicals, chassis and refitted the body, started to prep for paint, then he got a job in the US, the car consigned to the back of the barn again.
All the glass is out and stored safely, I have been trying to obtain a windscreen for my Heron gt for nearly 30yrs, so I Know the trouble getting glass can be.
Further Car history
The car sat semi-dismantled until 2016, my son frustrated at not being able to get a suitable job set to resurrecting the car, he rebuilt the mechanicals, chassis and refitted the body, started to prep for paint, then he got a job in the US, the car consigned to the back of the barn again.
My earliest recollection of the car would be Jan 62, when my grandfather drove the car to see my mother in hospital having given birth to my brother. Grandfather, drove the 200+ miles from North Wales to Wallingford (Then Berkshire) arriving before my Grandmother who had taken the train!
My grandmother never rode in a car driven by my grandfather! something to do with back in the 30's he had put his Essex 6 into a ditch and just kept driving till the car came out.
I guess you are right it is an interesting car.
My grandmother never rode in a car driven by my grandfather! something to do with back in the 30's he had put his Essex 6 into a ditch and just kept driving till the car came out.
I guess you are right it is an interesting car.
Hope to get more pictures as the work progresses
although it might get put on the back burner again
or even sold on, only time will tell.
although it might get put on the back burner again
or even sold on, only time will tell.
If you have any information about this
Ashley 1172GT car
Registration No.
UN 2475
(Donor car originally registered by Denbigh C.C. in 1929)
please email me 0n
Ashley.Sportiva@yahoo.com.au
or
use the contact page on this site to contact me