Descrição
To be offered by Classic Car Auctions at The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale 2021 on Saturday 25th September in Hall 1, NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Nr Coventry CV8 2LG. Please contact the office and speak to Arwel Richards for further information on the car, how to bid and viewing days.
Lot No. 535 - 1990 Lea-Francis Ace of Spades - Direct from Barrie Price
Offered without reserve
(+ buyers premium of 13. 2% (including VAT at 20%))
The final production Ace of Spades, unfinished and offered directly by former Lea-Francis owner Barrie Price.
- In 1962, Lea-Francis Cars Ltd. was bought by Midlands engineer and entrepreneur Barrie Price
- He became known as 'Mr Lea-Francis', only selling the company as recently as 2019
- Barrie and his friend, the late Peter Engelbach, decided to produce a new car and, in 1980, launched the distinctive '3-litre Sports' using a ladder-type box-section chassis frame, with a hand-crafted aluminium body
- At the 1992 Motor Show, a longer version was shown, which revived the name Ace of Spades. A total of 5 of these cars have been built to order, in either short or long-chassis configuration.
- They were powered by a 3. 4-litre Jaguar XJ6 engine and the interiors featured leather seats, wood veneers and polished aluminium accents
- This car, Chassis #5506, would have been the sixth car but its build was suspended in 1990 and never recommenced
- The engine is a second-hand, 4. 2-litre Jaguar unit that we understand has covered some 40, 000 miles
- The car requires an amount of work (wiring, interior, soft top, lights etc.). Chassis #5504 is a fully completed Ace of Spades (sold at auction in 2018) and may be available for reference, measurements etc.
- Mr Price has included a letter of provenance which states his intention to sell the car due to his recent 90th birthday. Chassis #5506, is believed to be the final Lea-Francis production car and displays a brass plaque confirming chassis and engine numbers
- This will be a very rare motor car when finished and possibly quite valuable. Interested parties are invited to watch David Harper's video (below) and are welcome to view the project to establish just how much work might be involved. It could be an interesting journey.
