RUMCars Forum

General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: richard on February 15, 2015, 09:00:11 PM

Title: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 15, 2015, 09:00:11 PM
yep we have been here before and this is all I have - who can find out more ? We know the first prototype still exists but where is the second , I bet its in a shed somewhere and probably the most valuable old micro that still has to surface . this article was in mid 1970's Motorcycle News .
Jock Hitchcock had a son Don where is he ?
 "........... Don Hitchcock is/was the son of Jock. Together they ran Jock Hitchcock Motorcycles in Folkestone during the '50s(?) and '60s. They were both big supporters of the ISDT where Jock was widely known for his generosity with the teapot"
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Stuart Cyphus on February 15, 2015, 10:08:58 PM
 Don Hitchcock?  Not Farring Don Hitchcock? So that's the Mr Hitchcock mentioned in the book!  And there was me thinking the trail led to Sussex and the chapel....
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 16, 2015, 08:51:58 AM
Can you explain any of that Stuart , thanks :)
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Bob Purton on February 16, 2015, 09:33:07 AM
Interesting article. I've always love the look of the ladybird.
Just one question Richard, are you sure its not a Breutch built under license? ;)
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 16, 2015, 09:56:59 AM
Because British built Bruetschs already have a name T********  ;D - keep em coming
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: milnes on February 16, 2015, 10:10:59 AM
Nice article Richard. Where did you drum that cutting from?
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Big Al on February 16, 2015, 10:14:06 AM
Hitchcock's still have connection with bikes, via Royal Enfield specialist Alan Hitchcock.

Was there a fake in pink, one called a Breutch Birdylad? Stuart thought it said fag, but I am not so sure. Something odd about the unexpectedly floppy gear change apparently.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 16, 2015, 10:20:53 AM
Can't date the article as I only kept the clipping but as I said Motorcycle News 1976 I think
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: AndyL on February 16, 2015, 05:05:18 PM
Great article. That's the only time I've seen the fabled second ladybird. Not as different from the first prototype as I was led to believe.

I saw the sole (to date) survivor at the National many years back, and thought it was a very pretty design but also looked fun to drive as it looked like it had a low centre of gravity and a good layout.

Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Bob Purton on February 16, 2015, 05:09:22 PM
Yeh, thats when I saw it. Wasnt it in the ownership of Mike Webster than?
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: AndyL on February 16, 2015, 05:16:56 PM
I'm not sure who owned it, I remember seeing it for sale a year or two later in a classic car mag. Whoever owned it was giving it some stick in the driving competition.

Laurence House purchased it didn't he, I assume he still owns it?
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Bob Purton on February 16, 2015, 05:41:44 PM
yes, as far as I know.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker) on February 16, 2015, 10:30:52 PM
That's a great clipping Richard. Thanks for posting.

There are two more pics of the second prototype in Tony Marshall's book and this footage of the Laurence House car from the Classic British Cars programme they made for Channel 4 in the early 90s.

http://youtu.be/4Rysma9VxnI (http://youtu.be/4Rysma9VxnI)
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 17, 2015, 08:39:31 AM
And thank you Malcolm . I had forgotten the programme but I do have the whole thing on - wait for it - VIDEO  :) a beautiful car and I would dearly love to own it - or the other ! Where is it ???? ( by the way on most cars I am not averse to a badge preferably on a bar or grill , but doesn't that one just ruin that lovely curved profile " like a carbuncle on the face of an old friend "  :)
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: DaveMiller on February 17, 2015, 09:00:22 AM
Yea!  Thanks for that clip, Malcolm.  For me, a pleasant surprise just at the end, as it includes my Bond Mk A, driven by previous owner (and restorer) Rex Grogan.   :)
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 17, 2015, 09:10:04 AM
Surely you will have the recording Dave ? If not you are free to borrow it with Rex's interview ?
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: DaveMiller on February 17, 2015, 10:27:01 AM
Surely you will have the recording Dave ? If not you are free to borrow it with Rex's interview ?

I've seen the 3 parts of the John Peel "Classic British Cars" on YouTube, but not a Rex interview (or were you thinking a Colonel Gray interview?).  If you have more on the A and on Rex, then yes, I'd love a copy!
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 17, 2015, 10:36:51 AM
I am awfully sorry I think you must be right
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 18, 2015, 07:25:19 PM
Here is probably the best photograph of the missing second prototype , this time from Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry an excellent book which I would recommend  to anyone interested !
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 18, 2015, 08:01:33 PM
I am sorry to deviate a little but to put a bit of perspective on things here are two other BSA/Triumph prototypes from the same period that were also not pursued  ;) and yes thats Bob Currie editor of MCN that wrote the article that started this topic
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: milnes on February 18, 2015, 08:17:54 PM
Great video clip, the ladybird looks better on screen, lovely looking car.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Big Al on February 19, 2015, 07:54:45 AM
And could have been the British answer to the Fiat Jolly following interest, and physical presence, never backed up from at least one Carabbian Hotel Island/resort. It was not pursued after testing, but I think there were overheating problems with the otherwise rather good 250cc engines in the warmer climate. The same issue was not unknown in the scooters, after all. A shame as the 250 unit would have graced a bubblecar well, if sorted out. But to late on the scene to make any difference, it had nothing to be fitted too other than an ill mannered scooter out of its depth against Lambretta.
Maybe the Jolly was a better package for the deal on offer to the Hotel, as that is what was used in the end. Its amazing where stuff ends up, though.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Bob Purton on February 19, 2015, 08:36:34 AM
For a hotel run about surely the Fiat Jolly would have won hands down if only on the basis that it was a four seater.

My first job straight from school was as a barristers clerk and one of the barristers in my chambers was a young and up coming Alexander Irving later to become the Lord Chancellor [he of the £59,000 hand printed wallpaper scandel fame!] . I would sometimes have to carry his books and robes over to the High Court with him and I remember him going on about how great his old Triumph Tigress scooter was, he said that they were very fast and had great memories of tearing around Scotland on his as a student. As a Lawyer and polatician who pupiled Tony Blair and Cherie Booth, it must be true! ;D
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Big Al on February 19, 2015, 09:00:11 AM
Oh, they were fast. But the handling was not to clever.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 19, 2015, 09:05:09 AM
Don't anyone get mixed up on this , Bob and Al are talking of the 250 4 stroke engine shown above and used in the ladybird . The other photos used the Triumph Tina engine which was ok once sorted but was awful upon launch by Triumph too early in development
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Bob Purton on February 19, 2015, 11:46:50 AM
I had a Tina for a while, it wasnt a great scooter but the belt and cone transmission worked well so considering all the modern scooters adopted the principal it was ahead of its time in that sense.
By no means the first though. The idea goes way back.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: Big Al on February 19, 2015, 12:50:18 PM
Yep, the Tina was a bit of a crib of another machine, I forget. Garelli Capri? It had a go at Automatic cone drive. The design improved into the T10. Which some say found a home in Peels more firmly than others. Mike Dann had a pick up version of the Triumph for some time. I seem to recall it attending a few rallies. I had a Garelli Burki and they had similarities, but were not the same.
Title: Re: The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then
Post by: richard on February 19, 2015, 08:03:49 PM
is it just me ? or have the headlamps shrunk over the years ? perhaps the MKI's were smaller still a beautiful car , the Mark I

these youtube clips dont add a lot but its nice to see it out and about in 2006 , and in the company of several members of this forum ......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF_hfvp3OlE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYZdFRtuqp4