Lenham

LENHAM


Lenham GT	Le Mans Coupé	& GTO

A RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT

[Seen in the UK based Classic & Sports Car Magazine, for January 2009]

"The Lenham Motor Company of Kent epitomises the cottage industry that grew up around the heyday of the British sports car in the '50s, '60s and '70s. Perhaps best known for its Spridget coupé conversions and the A-H-based Lenham Healey, the firm also produced hard-tops for E-types, Triumph TRs and Stags, plus the Jensen-Healey, Lotus Elan and MGB. Now the intellectual rights to the drawings*, moulds and the company name - acquired from founders Peter Rix and Julian Booty by Dave Coplowe in 1998 - have been bought by Classic Cars of Kent & Sussex. CCK & S has a history with Lenham, MD Shaun Rainford having raced a GT at the Goodwood Revival, and the firm now plans to offer all of Lenham's designs to enthusiasts. First to enter production will be the Lenham GT and Le Mans Coupé tops for Spridgets, priced at £705.

Call 01825 733060 for details."

[ To avoid confusion please note that Peter Rix and Julian Booty are employed at Lenham Sports Cars Ltd a completely separate company, in their original premises at Harrietsham in Kent. * It would seem there were no drawings! ]

LENHAM GT


Peter Warren's beautifully restored Lenham GT (with Ashley bonnet)
The following is a brief history of his rebuild: "I bought the car about 18 months ago and on the surface the bodywork appeared to have been extensively overhauled. I had intended to tidy the car up and fit a new engine and gearbox. However when I came to strip the shell prior to blasting I discovered it had been repaired with a 2 inch twist in the shell from nearside to offside. The distance had been compensated for by tons of filler on the bulkhead panel and an 'adjusted' windscreen surround. I scrapped the shell and found another 1/4 elliptic shell for sale in the Dartford area, totally rotten but unmolested. Having repaired the shell which had deteriorated in all the usual places, and purchased a new rear body from Classic Cars of Kent, together with an Ashley bonnet, I fitted an engine created by Bill Richards with a Marina block, for fast road use. The roll cage is a Fabricage MIDB1 with additional seat belt mounts - £320 +. I hope to use the car on the road and possibly in races or hill climbs". The restoration in progress, below:

FISC Series contender Pierre Aguettant's Lenham Sprite at Montlhery in 1988.

A Lenham GT from the Netherlands(with Speedwell Monza bonnet)


Thomas Von Kreisler's 1962 GT (with Lenham bonnet) here seen at the Sports Car Garage at Harrietsham (near Lenham, Kent) - now in Cologne, Germany.


These pictures were sent to me by David Birchall, and are of his friend's car (originally registered 505 CYF) in Vancouver, Canada - it has a rather unusual windscreen fitted! He says that another similar one turned up in New York. Anyone know of others?


Shaun Rainford's re-creation of John Britten's SS1800 with an Ashley Mk 2 bonnet, testing at Goodwood 2007


Pictures from an early Lenham brochure


A very smart Lenham GT racer seen at Gaydon 2008

LENHAM LE MANS COUPÉ


Denis Best racing his lovely Lenham Le Mans (with W & P bonnet) in Australia

and his friend, Neville's very unusual Lenham GT with wind-up windows!


This Lenham Le Mans (complete with proper Lenham bonnet) and which was rallied so successfully by the Late Gordon Howie for many years has just been purchased by well-known racer Barrie (Whizzo) Williams from Lenham Sportscars. They have re-sprayed the car Tartan Red at his request and he is now considering in what events (probably hill-climbs and sprints) he can enter the car this season. It has laminated screen, SCCR gearbox, limited slip diff, alloy wheels, full cage, rally seats, long centre branch manifold and 45 Weber on its 1360cc Peter May engine and up-rated suspension.


Mike Haigh's Le Mans Coupé testing at Goodwood 2007

This is David Smith's Lenham Le Mans - another one fitted with a W & P bonnet (see the Williams & Pritchard Register website)


Chris Pass found this Lenham GT in a barn in Scotland some 14 years ago. It had been re-imported from Texas and was LHD. A Triumph TR windscreen had been fitted and originally it had a Frogeye bonnet with the headlight cowls removed. Chris fitted the W & P bonnet and restored the car to race in the SMRC Classic Series. It now has a 1380cc engine.

LENHAM LINKS
Lenham Sportscars	Classic Cars of Kent & Sussex	Lenham History (Dave Matthews)	Lenham Spridget Register
www.lenhamsportscars.com	www.classiccarsofkent.co.uk	www.wwah.org/wa_01car7.htm	www.lenhamspridgetregister.com