In the last few weeks I found out about a forthcoming TV documentary following the restoration of an A type Connaught - chassis number A5. It was sold to Bill Holt and has spent most of its life in New Zealand. It's now back in the UK and is to be the star of this film produced by a well respected production company. It should be well received in the UK as there is a current craze for renovation shows and programmes about "home" improvements against the clock.
There is one slight discrepancy though, who was the original owner? The TV company are quite keen to interview the driver concerned.
Eric Thompson believes he was the first driver when he raced the works car in the 1952 British GP. He asked me to check details with Leslie Marr who claims to have driven this car from new later that year. Leslie Marr rang me earlier this evening and is sure he was the original owner as he remembers buying the car unpainted after testing it at MIRA. Eric and Leslie are now corresponding over this and are both curious to know which of them drove A5 first!
The TV company appear to have a detective story into the bargain as well, but are keen to find the facts. My reference books seem to contradict themselves and my biggest clue is the Paul Sheldon volume which seems to change Eric's car to A6 while Leslie's appears later as A5.
I am hoping that you erudite posters out there may be able to help me with this conundrum.
Either way it should be a cracking programme.
Thanks in advance.
David
Connaught A5 - TV Restoration project
Started by
David Holland
, Jun 06 2002 20:50
10 replies to this topic
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#2
David McKinney
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Posted 06 June 2002 - 21:24
My records (independent of Sheldon's) have A5 being sold new to Marr. Thomspon drove A1 and A6 during 1952, though without further delving (independent of Sheldon) I can't say which his British GP mount was. Marr last ran his car in early 1955 before selling it to Holt, who in turn sold it to NZ in 1957.
Do we know who owns it now, or is that a secret?
Do we know who owns it now, or is that a secret?
#3
David Holland
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Posted 06 June 2002 - 22:07
No, sorry I don't know who owns it now, maybe the TV company have a financial stake in it. Apparently the photos show the car in quite a poor state wiith a lot of paint missing and a different shade to the dark green that Leslie Marr applied.
I only became aware of this project a few weeks back when I met Eric Thompson for the first time. He told me about the TV company, who had approached him, and wanted to trace Leslie Marr so I liaised between the two.
It's great that these cars see the light of day and those gentlemen drivers of that era get to meet up again. That's nostalgia at its best!
Thanks for your thoughts David
I only became aware of this project a few weeks back when I met Eric Thompson for the first time. He told me about the TV company, who had approached him, and wanted to trace Leslie Marr so I liaised between the two.
It's great that these cars see the light of day and those gentlemen drivers of that era get to meet up again. That's nostalgia at its best!
Thanks for your thoughts David
#4
Northernsouth
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Posted 24 July 2002 - 16:52
Dear Sir.
I have just finished reading about the Connaught A5 and A6 and how a movie was being made about A5 and its restoration here in the UK.
The car has been in New Zealand since arriving there in 1957,
Its last outing which I know of was at the Dunedin street race 1962, where it was run as a sports car, unfortunitaly it was involved in a accident during practice.(driven by Jim Fenton)
I was very interested due to the fact that in early June this year 2002 I purchased A5 from the Fenton Family in Auckland New Zealand. The car is now in the South Island of New Zealand.
I look forward to any correspondence
Regards Grant Clearwater
Tel; 07720560365
Fax; 01604647107
E-mail; Northernsouth@larva.co.uk
I have just finished reading about the Connaught A5 and A6 and how a movie was being made about A5 and its restoration here in the UK.
The car has been in New Zealand since arriving there in 1957,
Its last outing which I know of was at the Dunedin street race 1962, where it was run as a sports car, unfortunitaly it was involved in a accident during practice.(driven by Jim Fenton)
I was very interested due to the fact that in early June this year 2002 I purchased A5 from the Fenton Family in Auckland New Zealand. The car is now in the South Island of New Zealand.
I look forward to any correspondence
Regards Grant Clearwater
Tel; 07720560365
Fax; 01604647107
E-mail; Northernsouth@larva.co.uk
#5
ry6
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Posted 24 July 2002 - 17:59
It appears to be a much travelled car.
Bill Holt drove A5 in the South African International series in 1956.
He was disqualified for leaving his engine running during a refuel pitstop in the Rand GP at Palmietfontein aerodrome.
It appears that Holt won the 12th International Coronation 100 at Roy Hesketh Circuit on "scratch" at 70.1 mph from the Vanguard engined Special of Clive Mitchell and Syd van der Vyver's 499 cc BRM-Norton cyclecar.
Bill Holt drove A5 in the South African International series in 1956.
He was disqualified for leaving his engine running during a refuel pitstop in the Rand GP at Palmietfontein aerodrome.
It appears that Holt won the 12th International Coronation 100 at Roy Hesketh Circuit on "scratch" at 70.1 mph from the Vanguard engined Special of Clive Mitchell and Syd van der Vyver's 499 cc BRM-Norton cyclecar.
#6
David McKinney
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Posted 24 July 2002 - 19:10
Welcome to TNF, Grant
I'm not sure if I'm reading your post correctly. Are you saying that you have A5 sitting in NZ, so it can't be the subject of a UK TV programme?
I tried to buy the Connaught from Jim Fenton about 30 years ago, and again about ten years ago, and I know I wasn't the only one to discover it was definitely not for sale!
I'm not sure if I'm reading your post correctly. Are you saying that you have A5 sitting in NZ, so it can't be the subject of a UK TV programme?
I tried to buy the Connaught from Jim Fenton about 30 years ago, and again about ten years ago, and I know I wasn't the only one to discover it was definitely not for sale!
#7
Don Capps
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Posted 24 July 2002 - 19:19
Whoa, Nellie..... 
....so if A5 is in NZ, which one is going to be on TV? 
That is, assuming it gets on TV.... 
....so if A5 is in NZ, which one is going to be on TV? That is, assuming it gets on TV....
#8
VAR1016
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Posted 24 July 2002 - 19:22
Originally posted by Don Capps
Whoa, Nellie.....
This is one thread that I must follow!
VAR1016
#9
Northernsouth
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Posted 25 July 2002 - 12:45
Originally posted by David McKinney
Welcome to TNF, Grant
I'm not sure if I'm reading your post correctly. Are you saying that you have A5 sitting in NZ, so it can't be the subject of a UK TV programme?
I tried to buy the Connaught from Jim Fenton about 30 years ago, and again about ten years ago, and I know I wasn't the only one to discover it was definitely not for sale!
David.
You are reading my e-mail correct. I have owned the car (A5) since june this year. The car is very original as you can imagine after its 40 years of storage. Even the body work is in extremley good condition.
I have met with Eric Thompson who was the first driver of this car at the 52 British GP.
I'm very interested to know who is making the movie regarding the Connaughts. Maybe you could help me with this.
Regards Grant
#10
Ray Bell
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Posted 25 July 2002 - 13:09
I suspect several around here are watching with bated breath!
#11
David Holland
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Posted 27 August 2002 - 21:59
I received a letter from Leslie Marr today which seems to resolve this Connaught mystery.
It appears the NZ A5 Connaught was about to be sold and return to England for this programme but the owners decided not to sell it.
I would therefore guess they had second thoughts and Grant was lucky enough to get this rare opportunity to buy this historic racer.
It was chassis A5 that Leslie purchased new and sold to Bill Holt at the end of '54 (his words) and at some point it had been converted to a 2 seater.
So unfortunately it will not be a TV star now, but in this age of restoration projects there must be another racer that could be the subject of such a programme. Any TV producers out there?
It also appears that between Eric Thompson and Leslie Marr's letters and phonecalls they have established that Eric drove A6 at the 1952 GB GP and A5 was definitely Leslie's mount. Eric was finally convinced that he didn't drive A5 when, at Leslie's suggestion, he wrote to Mike Oliver who put the records straight.
It appears that many historians have mixed up the chassis numbers over the years.
I hope this answers a few questions.
It appears the NZ A5 Connaught was about to be sold and return to England for this programme but the owners decided not to sell it.
I would therefore guess they had second thoughts and Grant was lucky enough to get this rare opportunity to buy this historic racer.
It was chassis A5 that Leslie purchased new and sold to Bill Holt at the end of '54 (his words) and at some point it had been converted to a 2 seater.
So unfortunately it will not be a TV star now, but in this age of restoration projects there must be another racer that could be the subject of such a programme. Any TV producers out there?
It also appears that between Eric Thompson and Leslie Marr's letters and phonecalls they have established that Eric drove A6 at the 1952 GB GP and A5 was definitely Leslie's mount. Eric was finally convinced that he didn't drive A5 when, at Leslie's suggestion, he wrote to Mike Oliver who put the records straight.
It appears that many historians have mixed up the chassis numbers over the years.
I hope this answers a few questions.
