Ah, Terry Stanhope! That name brings back a few memories. There was I, busy campaigning my AC Model 67 Acedes around the microcar show circuit in the early nineties when this chap sidled up to me at a show and whispered conspiratorially "Do you want another one of those?"
Well, does a fat dog pass wind? Does the Pope s**t in the woods? "Tell me more, my new best friend!" It turned out that Terry had befriended someone at the firm in Leeds which had the contract for repairing Model 70s. The word on the streets was that these marvellous machines were heading for the scrappy in line with Government (boo, hiss!) policy and, instead of following orders, the lads at the garage were selling the Model 70s to our friend. By the time I got to him, he had one left and this had clearly had a hard life with large lumps missing from the rear quarters. Not, however, as hard a life as the rest of his stock which had fallen into the hands of some local banger yobs!
Anyway, I left his yard in Arthington (where? precisely!) with the AC on my trailer and collected a Raleigh Wisp from a bus driver in Leeds on the way home, a swap for a Velosolex. I'm still trying to work out who got the better end of the deal. I still have the Wisp!
I remember seeing the Sulky there, looking like the rats had had a go at it. Perhaps this is what led me to concentrate (mainly) on fibreglass cars! I hope it went to a good home. I was recently offered the chance of a Sulky somewhere "oop North" but the recent purchase of a Ligier from France has just about filled my storage space. If I remember where the lead came from, I'll post it.
Nick D.
