The Abbey tourer, now resident in Holland, which was restored by Keith Kopp in the early 1980s. This is the second oldest of our cars on the road and, until recently, the only known surviving Abbey.
NEWS
Item 1 entered 15/10/2007 FBHVC. deleted 31/10/07.
Item 2 entered 15/10/2007
Ford promotional film.
Member, Dave Minnett, has referred us to a website, which shows a hitherto unknown
Ford film, probably made in 1935, promoting our cars. Please click on to:-
http://classiccar.woop.tv/Members/classiccar/my-videos/launch-of-the-ford-v8
Item 3 entered 02/11/2007 Abbey tourer find
We first heard of this rare tourer some three years ago and have been following its movements ever since. It was owned for a long time by a secretive hoarder, who was reluctant to give us the details of the car. More recently, he sold the car to a serial restorer, Russell Abrahams, who lives in Prestwich in the northern suburbs of Manchester. Russell has more classic cars to restore than time and space to restore them. The Abbey, which was fairly low down on his restoration project priority list, was garaged with his daughter, who is threatening to emigrate to Australia. Hence his need to sell the car. It appeared on ebay, but Russell withdrew it.
The Abbey tourer was bodied by Abbey Coachworks Ltd., which started life in Merton, London and moved premises to Acton in 1933. As can be seen from the photographs, it was an attractive design, being instantly recognisable by the rows of brass pot rivets along the bonnet hinges. Until this attractive navy blue car came known to us, we were only aware of the often-illustrated green Abbey, which is now in Holland. This was beautifully restored by Keith Kopp in the early 1980s.
The ‘new’ Abbey, AGJ 536, registered in London in May 1933, is a short rad tourer, which looks remarkably original, although the front bumper and the head and side lights appear to have been replaced. The boot on the rear and the wicker front seats may well have been a specification asked of Abbey Coachworks by the original owner. The wicker seats are now disintegrating and will need to be replaced. There is evidence of some woodworm in the body frame, although Russell assured me he has had an expert along who says that the worm is now dead.
I am delighted to say that an enthusiast, Doug Tunstead from Cheshire, has recently bought the Abbey from Russell and has moved it to his brother’s premises in Manchester. Doug has sensibly joined our ranks as a member of the Y&C Register. We are able to give him the technical advice and spares support he needs to restore the Abbey to its original specification.
The Abbey tourer, now resident in Holland, which was restored by Keith Kopp
in the early 1980s. This is the second oldest of our cars on the road and, until
recently, the only known surviving Abbey.
The recently discovered navy blue Abbey, ripe for a sympathetic restoration,
and now owned by Doug Tunstead from Cheshire.
Item 4 entered 14/01/08 Model
Identification page
Sam Roberts has prepared an updated model identification
page, and you can check it out now. 15/02/08..
Item 5 entered 29/05/08 From Wreck to Riches
Having fabricated the new body on Jack Bezzant's Model 'Y' racing sports tourer for John Griffiths, Terry Mortiboy yearned for a Model 'Y' tourer of his own. As they are like the proverbial hen's teeth to find, his only immediate hope of salvation lay in the complete wreck of a Model 'Y' Arrow Alpine owned by the autojumbler, Keith Ardley. So much of a wreck was it that, as far as the bodywork went, it boasted only a scuttle and the nearside door. The chassis, engine, axle and wheels gave the wreck some respectability! And so, in 2003, Terry moved the wreck to his house in Blackurn in Lancashire.
Terry you understand, with a little help from evening classes, is a self taught meticulous all-round craftsman. Tirelessly, over the past 5 years, he has rebuilt the bodywork, using David Grace's Alpine as a reference and has restructured and rebuilt almost every part of the car, contracting out only the ash frame (but acting as the joiner's mate) and the body painting. The result is staggering. Compare the before and after photographs to see what I mean!
With the help of the Y&C Register (Bob Wilkinson), he has successfully retained the original registration number through DVLA (DY 7766 - a 1933 Hastings registration). On the Yorkshire tour, we hope to witness the Alpine with Terry and a very patient Dot, who made the seats - clever girl!
The Alpine, as purchased in 2003 in Keith Ardley's yard in Yorkshire.
The almost finished Alpine waiting for DVLA to issue the original registration
number. The finish throughout is of a very high standard. Well done Terry.
Item 6 entered 18/06/08 OLD FORD RALLY 2009
The Ford Y & C Model Register is planning to hold the OLD FORD RALLY on
25/26th. July 2009 at Gaydon Motor Heritage Centre in the heart
of England. All Fords manufactured up to 1982 will be eligible to attend.
(These dates to be confirmed).
Exhibitions of vehicles and club stands
Trade stands
Arena parades
Indoor club demonstrations & presentations.
Rides in old Fords for charity.....
......and more.
It is hoped that this will be the biggest OLD FORD RALLY on the annual calendar.Please
come along.
General enquiries to
bobwilkinson49@hotmail.co.uk and mark your message "Old Ford Rally".
Item 7
Yorkshire Tour . June 2008.
See Events page for report.