Description
- Original NA racing car
- Raced in the 1930s, including at Brooklands and Donington Park
- Completely traceable history
- In Germany for 50 years / Ready to drive immediately
- Competed at countless race meetings
Vehicle history:
This car was purchased from the factory in December 1934 by Mr L. Levy as a bare chassis, having a special lightweight-metal bodywork made for it. The engine had been heavily tuned and featured a compression ratio of 9:1, a very light flywheel, and machined and polished inlet and exhaust ports. The total cost of the completed car was nearly £500. During the course of 1935, Levy raced the car at both Brooklands and Donington Park, though without much success, as he was up against ERA cars and other more powerful machines. At the end of the season, the car was offered for sale by J. H. Bartlett Ltd in the magazine “The Motor” for £245. It was bought by A. F. Thatcher. Freddie Thatcher, a friend of Levy, drove the car in competition until the end of 1938, mainly at Brooklands. During this time the car was maintained by Brian Finglass, who had a workshop at Brooklands; at the end of the 1936 season Finglass reworked the inlet ports, fitted different jet needles, and installed a higher final-drive ratio in the rear axle. Top speed increased by around 10% to 110 mph. Although Finglass never raced the car himself, he completed numerous test laps at Brooklands. During Thatcher’s ownership, the car was also used in motorsport by the Haesendonk brothers. Towards the end of 1938, when he stepped back from racing for business reasons, Thatcher offered the car for sale at £250.
The next known race meeting it took part in was in March 1939 at Brooklands, where it was driven by A. S. Whiddington. It did not finish among the placed cars. Nothing is known about the car during the war years, until Michael Holt bought it in 1955 with an overhauled engine from a workshop in Hove. Jim Bellamy of Great Bookham, Surrey, purchased the car in 1957 and dismantled it. In 1958, he sold it in dismantled condition to J. A. Haynes, who completely rebuilt it. There are records that Haynes campaigned it at VSCC events in 1966. In 1969 the vehicle was acquired by Peter Scott, who used it only rarely. The car was bought by Peter Altenbach in 1976 and was actively campaigned between 1976 and 1985, including at races held at the Nürburgring, the Salzburgring and the “Mille Miglia”.
Around 20 years ago, Peter sold his car to an MG collector in north Germany. He too used it frequently and with great enthusiasm for events. Today, the NA presents in visually good condition and is mechanically spot-on.
