oldspa Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 Dear All, I am knew to Triumph ownership having just swapped my Hillman Imp racer for what is believed to be the last surviving Le Mans bodied Spitfire that was built in house by Lenham see below: https://www.google.com/search?q=Lenham+spitfire&oq=lenham+&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0i512j46i175i199i512j46i512j46i175i199i512j69i60l2.11014j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#vhid=ncOH14GkIDe6hM&vssid=l Stories vary as to the precise number built in house by Lenham, estimates are somewhere between one and six. We know the car raced at Goodwood and in the HRDC series during the noughties and that it was subsequently used for sprints and hillclimbs. However prior to its emergence in around 2000 nobody seems to know anything. I tried CCK who bought the rights to the Lenham name but it seems they acquired none of the related archive so know nothing about it. It is my intention to go racing with it next year but I would really appreciate it if anybody could shine a little light on its history. Best wishes, Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 (edited) Keith, Suggest you ask Mark Field? Not only is he a mine of Triumph information, but his firm Jigsaw marketed later Le Mans Spitfire parts, arising from his own ADU1B, that is a far closer replica of the original Le Mans Spitfire than a Lenham! He's on Facebook. John Edited September 12, 2023 by JohnD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share Posted September 12, 2023 Thanks John. I know of Mark but understood he wound things down due to ill health. The car is running a jigsaw road going engine at the moment. I've had a look on facebook but cannot find anyone that fits his profile, any idea what I should search on? I have seen his Le Mans replica on the internet and it looks very nice. I don't think lenham set out to create a precise replica of a le mans car but just to use a loosely similar kind of streamlined bodywork for the purposes of the enthusiast drivers and club racers. So yes the car could be viewed as just a Lenham it's certainly not a works car or even a replica of one. But maybe one with some period history, who knows. Hopefully time will tell!! Many thanks Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 This be he: https://www.facebook.com/mark.field.336 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share Posted September 12, 2023 Many thanks DVD!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 (edited) Another time, Keith, on FB page, top left, "Search Facebook". What series do you intend to race in? I can recommend CSCC, Swinging '60s! John Edited September 12, 2023 by JohnD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 12, 2023 Author Share Posted September 12, 2023 Thanks John, planning on hrdc which is the series I did with the imp.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 13, 2023 Author Share Posted September 13, 2023 Thanks John, planning on hrdc which is the series I did with the imp.. Also I did an fb search but there seemed to be a lot of Mark Fields! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Bancroft Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 Oldspa, Be great to see some pics of the car, including engine bay, interior etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve AKA vitessesteve Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 Mark Field has a glass fibre T6 Lemans replica body for sale on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285457277584?hash=item4276946290:g:dtcAAOSwYqRk8xNu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 14 hours ago, oldspa said: Also I did an fb search but there seemed to be a lot of Mark Fields! Yes there are! Probably as many who share my name, possibly yours! He's the first one: https://www.facebook.com/mark.field.336 John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 20, 2023 Author Share Posted September 20, 2023 https://photos.google.com/u/1/photo/AF1QipPFzubBWacMCmuFZdfe56TWhb7PYCX5x4jDTwNr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 20, 2023 Author Share Posted September 20, 2023 https://photos.google.com/u/1/photo/AF1QipMmyMrj29xsRAN1eOVdSQvUSZSPTPdBITz1z8F7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 20, 2023 Author Share Posted September 20, 2023 Engine is a road going stage 2 Jigsaw 1500,. Previous owner found the 1320 a bit too fierce... https://photos.google.com/u/1/photo/AF1QipN4GqPdrHb6y3DmTyvTmk6BUHBraEcwffRsiiFi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteStupps Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 9 hours ago, oldspa said: Engine is a road going stage 2 Jigsaw 1500,. Previous owner found the 1320 a bit too fierce... https://photos.google.com/u/1/photo/AF1QipN4GqPdrHb6y3DmTyvTmk6BUHBraEcwffRsiiFi Keen to see photos but those links aren't working for me; anyone else? Either way would be great to see the thing racing - I daydream about building or buying a racer but can't afford the time or money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Bancroft Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 Yep, links don't work. Shame as very much looking forward to seeing her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Wade Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 Error 404 showing when I click the link too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cook1e Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 links don't work, suggest you upload the photos directly to this thread, it's pretty easy to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cook1e Posted September 20, 2023 Share Posted September 20, 2023 (edited) I purchased my GT6 from the Lenham Motor Company back in 1988. Their main business then was selling MGs and also doing a Lenham conversion to MG Roadsters to make them four seaters. At the time they were based in Harrietsham in Kent. I believe that the business as it was was wound down although the Lenham motor company name was taken over in 2008 and is now used by another company called CCK who also took over some of the Lenham moulds. As a bit of history I've enclosed the original Lenham motor company advert from Classic Cars magazine that listed my GT6 in 1988, a couple of photos from when I went to view it/test drive it and also a picture from 2017 when I dropped by to the old premises in Harrietsham in my GT6. Part of the building was then in use by another company Lenham Sportscars and another part was up for sale but had been recently used by The Vintage Sportscar Garage. Edited September 20, 2023 by cook1e 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 25, 2023 Author Share Posted September 25, 2023 Nice period pictures of LMC! I've posted some pics in the gallery under Spitfire.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldspa Posted September 25, 2023 Author Share Posted September 25, 2023 I contacted cck but they did not acquire the Lenham archive so appear to know very little of the old days. I wonder if any of their ex employees are still on the scene?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martins Stag Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Andy interesting, back in 1983 i brought a Lenham hardtop from them and had them install an "alley bars" roll bar to my Spitfire 1500... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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