The car was sold in 1983 to Tony Mantle who removed the Coventry Climax engine for another project, and then to Graham Capel who wanted the front suspension for one of his projects. The remains of the car were bought by Alvin and Alaster Smith in October 1985 with the intention of rebuilding it for a then 17 year old Alaster to use. However, apart from Alvin’s research on the history, the project was never really started. So in Easter 2000 I bought the car in bits after looking at the chassis in a garage and then the nose and boot in a cellar; not quite a barn but nearly! Looking at the history that Alvin had unearthed clinched the deal and with my brother Nic, I set about restoring the car. We had some help and lots of advice from Lotus and Specials expert Tony Weale.
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Mock up of the car made by Alvin and Al Smith post purchase.
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Nic with Alvin, Al and the Smith Family with the car freshly rebuilt.