The history of this car is complex to say the least in that a former owner with two Speedwells swapped their identities. Then more recently the car subsequently having number 7140 RO was dismantled and following the death of its owner parts were sold off in different directions. Sven Eckhardt has been busy bringing these back together in order to rebuild the car in its former glory. Despite the long delay due to Covid 19 he was finally able to make a trip over to the UK from Germany to collect various items last week. When rebuilt he plans to take the car to the European Healey Meeting in Norway in 2022, and tells me:
“I got the aluminium front, top and one door as well as the original fibreglass back from Bill McDonough. I got the body tub with various suspension bits partially restored with a new fibreglass front and back with new aluminium doors and a 1098 engine plus an original Weston Speedwell rev-counter from Tony Shirtcliffe. This lot was inspected by Alistair Ross who verified that they bore the signs of a Speedwell modified chassis as well as suspension. The rain channel shows marks of two different tops being fitted. I got the original sidescreen frames from (a former owner of the car) Bill Graham who I paid a visit back in March. I took photographs of all the period shots he had in his albums – what a nice guy he is. I am going to fit an aluminium back to the tub as well, so collected an aluminium rear shroud and wings from A HEAD4 Healeys on my trip last week”.
I look forward to seeing the restored car before very longf. Sven doesn’t usually waste any time.
