Ashley (automobile)
Encyclopedia
Ashley were manufacturer of body shells and chassis
for special
s from 1955 to 1962. They also offered a range of products for special builders: radiators, header tanks, lighting sets, steel tubing, sheet aluminium, various suspension parts, water pumps, tires, tubes and wheels. The company also made bonnets and hardtops for other mass-produced sports cars, including the Austin-Healey Sprite
and Jaguar E-Type
.
and Keith Waddington. The name 'Ashley' was chosen as it was the name of Peter Pellandine's house in Woodford Green
. They designed and built their first car using GRP for the bodyshell. The two set up a small factory in a garage next to the Robin Hood Inn at Loughton
, Essex
to produce shells. The garage has now made way for the pub car park.
In late 1956, the Pellandine left the company to found Falcon Shells
, another specials company. Pellandine took with him the rights and tooling to manufacture the short-wheelbase bodyshell for the Ashley 750 and the Sports Racer which he continued in production as the Falcon Mark 1 and Mark 2 respectively.
In 1958, to increase manufacturing space, Ashley Laminates moved to the Potteries
in Upshire
, whilst retaining the Loughton premises as a showroom. He also introduced a new bodyshell, the 1172, and the Regent chassis. 1960 saw the introduction of the Sportiva. http://www.ashleysportiva.zoomshare.com
In 1961 the company moved again, this time to Bush Fair, Harlow
, but the following year production of body shells ceased when the specials market waned, due to a change in Sales Tax rules. The company, however, continued to manufacture GRP hardtops and bonnets for sports cars.
Adverts from 1963 onwards indicate that the company changed names to Ashley Auto Improvements and moved yet again this time to Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire
.
Although Keith Waddington died in the mid-1960s, the company continued until 1972.
The Ashley range of bodyparts has been re introduced in 2010 by Moto-Build Racing in Sutton in Surrey and whilst at present it focuses mainly on the MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite there are moulds in progress for the Triumph Spitfire Mk1 , 2 and 3, there is a website dedicated to this at www.ashleygt.co.uk
Based on the short-wheelbase (6-foot 3 inch) Austin Seven
chassis, with its 747 cc engine (hence the model name). Later a long-wheelbase (6-foot 9 inch) version was offered. The price of both was the same: £78 for the shell and £25 for the hard top. The early hardtops had gull wing doors but it is believed that none have survived. When Pellandine left, he took the rights to build the short-wheelbase version, while Ashley just manufactured the long version.
Introduced shortly after the 750 for £90, it was made to accommodate wheelbases from 6 in 11 in (2.11 m) to 7 in 3 in (2.21 m) As the name suggests the shell was primarily designed for track rather than everyday road use and could be mated to an Elva
chassis. A number of contemporary racing cars used it.
Launched in August 1958, it was initially a roadster with a detachable hard top, to fit the Ford
8 and 10
hp chassis of 7 in 6 in (2.29 m) wheelbase with the Ford 1172 cc motor from which the model took its name. The Regent chassis was advertised as an alternative underpinning for the shell. Early in 1959 a fixed head coupe was offered whilst from January 1960 the 1172 was also available to fit the 7 in 10 in (2.39 m) Prefect ladder frame. The roadster shells retailed for £105 and the coupes for £160.
Debuting in November 1960, it was initially an 1172 with revised front styling. It was made available as a bodyshell or with an Ashley chassis. It could be had as a drophead or a fixed head coupe with two or four seats. Later Sportiva's had a revised rear with boot lid and a longer wheelbase of eight feet to accommodate the new Mark 6 chassis. The fixed head coupe bodyshell retailed for £182.
Debuting at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show this Morgan +4 fitted with an Ashley Sportiva body-shell never went into production.
To see why and learn the full story visit the Morgan +4 Ashley Sportiva Coupe Story website See External Links below.
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
for special
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
s from 1955 to 1962. They also offered a range of products for special builders: radiators, header tanks, lighting sets, steel tubing, sheet aluminium, various suspension parts, water pumps, tires, tubes and wheels. The company also made bonnets and hardtops for other mass-produced sports cars, including the Austin-Healey Sprite
Austin-Healey Sprite
The Austin-Healey Sprite is a small open sports car which was announced to the press in Monte Carlo by the British Motor Corporation on 20 May 1958, just before that year's Monaco Grand Prix. It was intended to be a low-cost model that "a chap could keep in his bike shed", yet be the successor to...
and Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-type
The Jaguar E-Type or XK-E is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring...
.
History
Ashley Laminates was founded in 1955 by Peter PellandinePeter Pellandine
Peter Pellandine was an influential car designer and manufacturer in the field of specials/kit cars and steam-powered vehicles in both the UK and Australia.-Biography:Worked for the prestigious British coachbuilders H. J...
and Keith Waddington. The name 'Ashley' was chosen as it was the name of Peter Pellandine's house in Woodford Green
Woodford Green
Woodford Green, formerly in the county of Essex, is part of the North East London suburb of Woodford, on the edge of Epping Forest, mostly within the London Borough of Redbridge with a small part on the western side of the green within the London Borough of Waltham Forest .-History:Woodford Green...
. They designed and built their first car using GRP for the bodyshell. The two set up a small factory in a garage next to the Robin Hood Inn at Loughton
Loughton
Loughton is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located between 11 and 13 miles north east of Charing Cross in London, south of the M25 and west of the M11 motorway and has boundaries with Chingford, Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
to produce shells. The garage has now made way for the pub car park.
In late 1956, the Pellandine left the company to found Falcon Shells
Falcon Shells
Falcon Shells was a British company that produced specials/kit cars from 1956 until 1964.-History:Falcon Shells was founded in 1956 by Peter Pellandine following his amicable split with Keith Waddington of Ashley Laminates. It was originally based at 23 Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey in Essex....
, another specials company. Pellandine took with him the rights and tooling to manufacture the short-wheelbase bodyshell for the Ashley 750 and the Sports Racer which he continued in production as the Falcon Mark 1 and Mark 2 respectively.
In 1958, to increase manufacturing space, Ashley Laminates moved to the Potteries
Potteries
Potteries may refer to:* Pottery, or pottery manufacturing* The Stoke-on-Trent area, known as the Staffordshire Potteries after its once-important ceramics industry...
in Upshire
Upshire
Upshire is a village in the Epping Forest district, in the county of Essex, England. Nearby settlements include the towns of Epping and Waltham Abbey, Essex and the hamlet of Copthall Green. The M25 motorway passes close to the village. It is on Horseshoe Hill...
, whilst retaining the Loughton premises as a showroom. He also introduced a new bodyshell, the 1172, and the Regent chassis. 1960 saw the introduction of the Sportiva. http://www.ashleysportiva.zoomshare.com
In 1961 the company moved again, this time to Bush Fair, Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
, but the following year production of body shells ceased when the specials market waned, due to a change in Sales Tax rules. The company, however, continued to manufacture GRP hardtops and bonnets for sports cars.
Adverts from 1963 onwards indicate that the company changed names to Ashley Auto Improvements and moved yet again this time to Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
Although Keith Waddington died in the mid-1960s, the company continued until 1972.
The Ashley range of bodyparts has been re introduced in 2010 by Moto-Build Racing in Sutton in Surrey and whilst at present it focuses mainly on the MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite there are moulds in progress for the Triumph Spitfire Mk1 , 2 and 3, there is a website dedicated to this at www.ashleygt.co.uk
Models
- Ashley 750:
Based on the short-wheelbase (6-foot 3 inch) Austin Seven
Austin 7
The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the "Baby Austin", it was one of the most popular cars ever produced for the British market, and sold well abroad...
chassis, with its 747 cc engine (hence the model name). Later a long-wheelbase (6-foot 9 inch) version was offered. The price of both was the same: £78 for the shell and £25 for the hard top. The early hardtops had gull wing doors but it is believed that none have survived. When Pellandine left, he took the rights to build the short-wheelbase version, while Ashley just manufactured the long version.
- Ashley Sports Racer:
Introduced shortly after the 750 for £90, it was made to accommodate wheelbases from 6 in 11 in (2.11 m) to 7 in 3 in (2.21 m) As the name suggests the shell was primarily designed for track rather than everyday road use and could be mated to an Elva
Elva (car manufacturer)
Elva was a sports and racing car manufacturing company based in Bexhill, then Hastings and Rye, East Sussex, United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1955 by Frank G. Nichols. The name comes from the French phrase elle va .-Racing cars:...
chassis. A number of contemporary racing cars used it.
- Ashley 1172:
Launched in August 1958, it was initially a roadster with a detachable hard top, to fit the Ford
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
8 and 10
Ford Model C Ten
The Ford Model C Ten was a car from Ford built in the United Kingdom between 1934 and 1937. The car was also assembled in Spain between 1934 and 1936...
hp chassis of 7 in 6 in (2.29 m) wheelbase with the Ford 1172 cc motor from which the model took its name. The Regent chassis was advertised as an alternative underpinning for the shell. Early in 1959 a fixed head coupe was offered whilst from January 1960 the 1172 was also available to fit the 7 in 10 in (2.39 m) Prefect ladder frame. The roadster shells retailed for £105 and the coupes for £160.
- Ashley Sportiva:
Debuting in November 1960, it was initially an 1172 with revised front styling. It was made available as a bodyshell or with an Ashley chassis. It could be had as a drophead or a fixed head coupe with two or four seats. Later Sportiva's had a revised rear with boot lid and a longer wheelbase of eight feet to accommodate the new Mark 6 chassis. The fixed head coupe bodyshell retailed for £182.
- Ashley Sportiva Morgan +4 Coupe:
Debuting at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show this Morgan +4 fitted with an Ashley Sportiva body-shell never went into production.
To see why and learn the full story visit the Morgan +4 Ashley Sportiva Coupe Story website See External Links below.
External links
- The Ashley Story including Bodies, Hardtops, Adverts and much, much more.
- Morgan +4 Ashley Sportiva Coupe Story
- Fairthorpe Sports Car Club: incorporating the Ashley Register
- 50s Specials Web