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Arkleys

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Simon TR4a

Simon TR4a

Jedi Knight
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Are we allowed to talk about Arkleys?

You may remember these little cars as basically a Spridget with a body kit to make them look more "traditional", flowing front wings and a more prominent radiator grille. I haven't seen one in 35 years but used to love the humorous ads placed by the main dealer, Nick Brittan, in Motorsport.

Then, to my surprise, I saw an ad in Grassroots Motorsports for a company still selling the kits in the US. Anyone got one? I remember they were touted as being lighter in the front, with better handling for that reason, and I thought them quite nice looking in a Morganish sort of way.
Simon,(TR4a guy checking out the other boards.)
 
There was one for sale in Huntsville a year or so ago...wish I had bought it...where was the ad located?
 
Tony I haven't got the mag with me at the office, and its possible it was in Classic Motorsport, there's an index at the back, I'll try to find it and post the details tomorrow.

A company called Lenham also made fronts to replace the pop-up light front with faired-in lights, which looked very nice, and also made a variety of hardtops.

Just found the "John Britten" ad in January 1971 Motor Sport, (I had the name wrong). A side view clearly shows the Spridget door, but the back bodywork is different too, with external spare mounted like a TD or Morgan. Virtually no front or rear overhang, it looks a little "stumpy" but interesting. 168 pounds for the kit, 575 pounds complete!
Simon, (not working as hard as I should be!)
 
I think Lenham has been making Spridget kits for some time. IIRC they started off making racing cars based on Sprites. They also, years ago, made the Lenham Healey, a sort of open, Healey Silverstone-ish traditional sports car based around 3000 mechanicals. They made six.
-William
 
Tony, I haven't yet found the ad I was looking for, but don't think I imagined it, hope not! Will look some more and post it when found.

Some nice pics of these cars and "Dragonflies" which was new to me, if you do a google search.
Simon.
 
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