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Davey 626


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#1 nicanary

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 12:11

I am aware that other TNF members are also followers of the Autopuzzles site, and a recently-solved poser has me scratching my head. The subject was a little sports-racer with hardtop captioned as a Davey 626 as raced by Basil van Rooyen in the 1964 South African sports car championship. The puzzle-setter admitted that he could find no other photo on the web, nor any further information about the car. It is believed that a further rear-engined Davey was built, but apart from that - nothing.

Is there anyone who can fill me in with a bit of info? Obviously a locally-built car, but it looks incredibly like a late50s/early 60s Lola or Lotus XI -in fact I incorrectly identified it as Dave McKay's Scuderia Veloce Lola fitted with hardtop. I'd be interested to know if, in fact, it was built around a crashed British car, hence the likeness. Also, the image showed a bonnet bulge in an unlikely position, on the nearside scuttle, and I wondered what it covered - a canted engine set well back, perhaps?

Please rest assured that I am not looking for an unfair advantage here - the puzzle has been solved and the point awarded. I'm just curious, and my curiosity needs to be sated.



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#2 Tim Murray

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 14:16

There's a photo on the Racing Sports Cars site:

http://www.racingspo.../Davey/626.html

#3 Tim Murray

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 14:27

... and the car was discussed briefly in an earlier thread:

Hieronymus, When I have a few minutes I will go through what I have, I know i have many shots of cars, but not too sure of driver's!. Do you or anyone else have any info on the Davey 626?
Jeff Weinbren

Thanks Jeff

I am pretty sure that I have a photo of the Davey at home. I'll have a good look tonight. Was Basil van Rooyen not driving this car in a race or two??

Hieronymus,
If memory serves me correctly I think you are right, Basil did drive the Davey once or twice, but I beleive the primary driver was Ron Pollock.
Jeff.



#4 nicanary

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 14:41

Thanks for the help so far - I promise I did use the "search" facility first!

#5 nicanary

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 14:41

Thanks for the help so far - I promise I did use the "search" facility first!

#6 proviz

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 14:51


A photo of Davey 626 did appear in Autosport at the time (yes, same car as you find in the Racing Sports Cars site) and I'm sure it was accompanied by some copy too. Takes some time to find it though.





#7 FritzK

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Posted 29 October 2013 - 10:20

Hi everyone. If there is still anyone interested in the Davey 626 car I am glad to inform you that I purchased the vehicle from Brian Davey a few months before his death in November 2012.  I'm currently busy with a complete restoration and planning to have the car on the track by the June 2014.  I have also approached the people from the Goodwood Revival (England)  in the hope to race the car there in 2015. This was a wish from Brian himself. Anyway,  I have the complete history (with photos) of the car as well as the process we are following for the restoration.    



#8 FritzK

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Posted 29 October 2013 - 10:20

Hi everyone. If there is still anyone interested in the Davey 626 car I am glad to inform you that I purchased the vehicle from Brian Davey a few months before his death in November 2012.  I'm currently busy with a complete restoration and planning to have the car on the track by the June 2014.  I have also approached the people from the Goodwood Revival (England)  in the hope to race the car there in 2015. This was a wish from Brian himself. Anyway,  I have the complete history (with photos) of the car as well as the process we are following for the restoration.    



#9 Jeff Weinbren

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 03:38

Fritz,

Be so kind as to post photos of the restoration, I remember the car well, would have loved to buy it but just wasn't in the cards. Ed Leach who helped Brian build the car lives here in Ladner B.C. Canada and i had lunch with him recently, he is planning on the Revival 2015 and hopes that you will be there!!

Jeff.