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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 27/12/2017 : 23:03:18
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Not quite Triple M material, but an interesting part of Morris Garages competition history...
I have recently acquired this great little car which was built in 1936 and then run in sprints, races, hill climbs, speed trials, and mud plugging trials by Ashley Cleave until 1974. I hope to use it on the road and in light competition once restored.
I would be very grateful to hear anything anyone may know about the car, to hear memories or see any photos.
Thanks! |
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colintf
United Kingdom
1473 Posts |
Posted - 28/12/2017 : 06:54:25
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I know nothing of its history but recall an interesting past from some recent adverts. Please keep us posted! Hi and welcome to.
Colin Murrell D0285 Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5) http://www.triple-mracing.com/ |
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Ray Masters
United Kingdom
563 Posts |
Posted - 28/12/2017 : 09:02:14
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Steven . Back in the 50s & 60s l had copies of the magazine called , l think , Motoring . If l remember correctly there was often mention of Ashley Cleeve & his exploits so if you can get hold of any copies it will give some history of the car etc for you. It was , l think , a Nuffield Group magazine & covered MG, Wolseley , Morris , Riley cars. Dad had a Morris 10 in those days . |
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3217 Posts |
Posted - 28/12/2017 : 09:22:39
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Hello Steven
Welcome to our Forum.
You have certainly acquired a very well known car! I am sure some of our members will be able to help you with information, there must be many pictures etc in some of the magazines such as Motor Sport and Autosport.
George Secretary |
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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 28/12/2017 : 10:14:40
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Thank you all for your very kind replies which are much appreciated.
Bill Boddy wrote an article about Ashley and his Morris in a 1973 edition of Motor Sport. There was also a similar write up in Autosport in 1969.
Pre war the car ran at Brooklands in September 1938 and at Poole Speed Trials and Backwell Hill Climb in 1939. There were also entries in the Lands End Trials from 1937-1939.
Post war Ashley ran at race and speed events at Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Trengwainton, Brunton, Castle Combe, Davidstow, Brighton. Plus Gloucester and Fedden Trials.
I am sure there are many other entries I have yet to discover.
I would love to find more early photos of the car outside what is already on the internet. |
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Peter Croft
New Zealand
52 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 08:04:49
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Hello Steve,
You have a great car with lots of history. Finding written reports should be quite easy if you simply read the motoring magazines of the time, if you haven't already, Attached (sideways)is something I copied, I think from Autosport , as the Mrs Osborn was at the time, thrashing my HRG.
Her husband also made it work for its keep.[
I suggest you try Ted Walker of Ferret Fotos and even the Revs Institute You will not be disappointed ( well maybe slightly )
Peter and J 3096 |
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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 09:35:04
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Hi Peter, many thanks for your reply. Yes, I will have to check through all the copies of Autosport and Motor Sport sometime. Unfortunately I do not have sets myself (and to build runs up these days costs many £££!). I will need to visit somewhere like our National Motor Museum library. Thanks also for your suggestion to speak to Ted Walker. I bought some nice photos from his stall at Beaulieu Autojumble last year and he is sure he has more. There are a couple of pics on the Revs site too. |
Edited by - Ashleycleave on 06/01/2018 09:39:14 |
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O.Thomas
United Kingdom
755 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 10:22:43
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Any chance of posting a photo so we know what we're looking for in case it turns up in any photos? |
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colintf
United Kingdom
1473 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 14:04:28
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quote: Originally posted by ollirichardson
Any chance of posting a photo so we know what we're looking for in case it turns up in any photos?
There's a couple of photos here
I forgot the car had a great Cornish registration number!
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23594/lot/495/
Colin Murrell D0285 Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5) http://www.triple-mracing.com/ |
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Brian Kelly
USA
526 Posts |
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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 20:24:40
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Colin, Thanks for the link which leads to some excellent photos.
Brian, Thanks also for this lead which I had seen. It is a very good one. It shows the car in its first pre-war form on a Lands End Trial. Although the front of the car always remained the same, c1951 the rear was changed to a sloping tail. Smaller diameter (13") wheels were also fitted when the Morris was used only for speed events rather than mud plugging trials. It now has 16" rims which I think is a good more usable size for the road.
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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 20:28:26
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This is a picture showing Ashley Cleave in the Morris in the early 1970s at Shelsley Walsh (courtesy of Morris Register Collection).
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colintf
United Kingdom
1473 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 20:48:51
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I'm really pleased this car has found a good new home and would love to see it competing again :)
Colin Murrell D0285 Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5) http://www.triple-mracing.com/ |
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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 21:14:36
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Thanks Colin, I appreciate it. It will take a while to screw it back together again but the aim is to use it on the road and in some speed events. |
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colintf
United Kingdom
1473 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 21:16:08
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quote: Originally posted by Ashleycleave
Thanks Colin, I appreciate it. It will take a while to screw it back together again but the aim is to use it on the road and in some speed events.
Please do keep us posted :)
Does it have a TA engine still?
Colin Murrell D0285 Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5) http://www.triple-mracing.com/ |
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Ashleycleave
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2018 : 21:48:20
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It first had a Centric supercharged side valve Morris engine of around 850cc. The supercharger then got swapped to a Morris Series E engine. In 1939 Ashley started building up an unsupercharged Morris 10 XPJM engine linered down to compete in the 1100cc classes. The XPJM was/is the same basic unit as the later XPAG, but with a slightly smaller capacity and more spindly crank and con rods. The rebuilt car will use the same type of engine with the beefier (safer!) internals, and with twin SU's like Ashley ran. |
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