LMC News Sheets - old photos - Stabilimenti Farina Aprilia

[ColinMarr]

I had to look back into my old copies of LMC News Sheets from the 1980s to check up on some dates. I hadn’t looked at the old News Sheets for some time and I was agreeably surprised to find how good they were as companion publications to the quarterly Journals. In the late 1980s the editor was Ted Gibbs.

I scanned two examples of front covers that caught my eye – see attached. The one from April 1986 includes this photo, which is attributed to John Maltby, but without any explanation about what and where the gathering was. Another, from September 1985 includes an Eddie Gee sketch inspired by the Flavia Sport!

Colin

[rogerelias]

I have travelled in NGP 50 Aprilia special, all I can remember was it was noisy in the back, but I was only a youngster,there is a good chance that my fathers car may be in the picture if it was taken in the UK Aprilia EGH 387

[rogerelias]

Brillo factory somewhere

[fay66]

I had to look back into my old copies of LMC News Sheets from the 1980s to check up on some dates. I hadn’t looked at the old News Sheets for some time and I was agreeably surprised to find how good they were as companion publications to the quarterly Journals. In the late 1980s the editor was Ted Gibbs.

I scanned two examples of front covers that caught my eye – see attached. The one from April 1986 includes this photo, which is attributed to John Maltby, but without any explanation about what and where the gathering was. Another, from September 1985 includes an Eddie Gee sketch inspired by the Flavia Sport!

Colin

I think the car on the end is a Cisitalia.

Brian
8227

[neil-yaj396]

I had to look back into my old copies of LMC News Sheets from the 1980s to check up on some dates. I hadn’t looked at the old News Sheets for some time and I was agreeably surprised to find how good they were as companion publications to the quarterly Journals. In the late 1980s the editor was Ted Gibbs.

I scanned two examples of front covers that caught my eye – see attached. The one from April 1986 includes this photo, which is attributed to John Maltby, but without any explanation about what and where the gathering was. Another, from September 1985 includes an Eddie Gee sketch inspired by the Flavia Sport!

Colin

I think the car on the end is a Cisitalia.

Brian
8227

Roger is saying it's an Aprilia special. Since he's ridden in it I assume he's right. I agree though, presumably it was 'inspired' by the Cisitalia, or even designed by the same design house?

[JohnMillham]

That's my all time favourite Aprilia. I drove it a lot in the 1950s and 60s, when I worked for John Maltby. He eventually sold it to Roger Perry.  It had a fabulously fast steering column gear change and a live rear axle. It would easily do 100 mph, probably due to its shape, even when fitted with a first series motor. Maltby had a grille from an Appia fitted, as the original one didn't appeal to him!
Regards, John

[fay66]

That's my all time favourite Aprilia. I drove it a lot in the 1950s and 60s, when I worked for John Maltby. He eventually sold it to Roger Perry.  It had a fabulously fast steering column gear change and a live rear axle. It would easily do 100 mph, probably due to its shape, even when fitted with a first series motor. Maltby had a grille from an Appia fitted, as the original one didn't appeal to him!
Regards, John

I stand corrected

brian
8227

[lancialulu]

Grill reminds me of a Ford 100e 

[ColinMarr]

This car has been written about before. The story was that it was built in 1950/51 with body by Stabilimenti Farina for the Mille Miglia of that year, but never raced – perhaps because it was too heavy to be fully competitive. The style is very much like Cisitalia of the same period. Others have seen it almost as a prototype for the Aurelia B20.

I assume John Maltby owned it at the time the photograph was taken, when it still had its original front end. I am surprised to hear that John changed the front because he preferred the Appia – I had assumed the front was damaged in a crash and it was easier to change it, rather than put it back to original. Photos attached show it in profile with signs of front end damage – the other as it was in 1968 when Roger Perry enjoyed it, complete with modified front end. Wherever the car is now, I would expect it’s been put back to its original form.

The *RILLO factory sign is interesting. I doubt it is “Brillo”, which is a trade name for a product - I doubt it would have merited such a big and bold sign. The other Aprilias in the photo also have UK plates, so presumably it’s in the UK, but I don’t know where.

Colin

[Richard Fridd]

Wonderful, particularly in profile.

[rogerelias]

Hi all, re Brillo, if you look above the 5th Aprilia in the photo you will see the name Brillo.  I have a reverse image of the side on photo with damage, on my wall where I am typing, it looks like mine was taken at the same time,not sure where it was taken, some say in the lake district, but I think if anyone would know it would be John

[ColinMarr]

Thanks Roger, I hadn't noticed that smaller Brillo sign. I have now looked it up and indeed there was a such a a factory - the Brillo Manufacturing Company Of Great Britain (they were bought out by Johnsons in 1986 who now make the product in Sussex). So, it looks like the photo was taken at Maidenhead.

Also, two more photos of NGP: One of the 'other side', probably taken at the same time as the first profile, which shows no sign of the front damage, so maybe I was wrong about a crash leading to the change of front . The other of a rear view for comparison with a B20.

Colin

[frankxhv773t]

A592 on the north bank of Ullswater looking towards Martindale?

[neil-yaj396]

Does this interesting car still exist, and if so is it in the UK?

[JohnMillham]

Does this interesting car still exist, and if so is it in the UK?

I expect it still exists, but Roger Perry sold it to someone in Italy many years ago, where it presumably still is. All very interesting!
Regards, John