1951 Mezzolitre Sports Racing Car

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: ML02
Mot Expiry: N/A

One of only two such single-seaters, the 1951-built Mezzolitre was created by Gordon Bashford, later a senior designer at Rover and Olaf Poppe who later became the Rover Production Director. Unusually, the Mezzolitre was front-wheel drive and the BSA motorcycle parallel twin engine was methanol-fueled and there was chain-drive between four-speed motorcycle gearbox and the front-mounted differential. Front suspension is by swing-axle with beam axle to the rear and coil springs, telescopic shockers and hydraulic brakes completing the specification. The car including the lightweight bodywork is in need of total restoration. A quantity of spares include a road wheel, engine sprockets, a pair of Amal carburettors on a manifold, 2 exhaust pipes, a rocker box, a rev counter and several tanks.
Primarily intended as circuit racers, they made their debut at the 1951 September SUNBAC meeting at Silverstone, this car driven by Rupert Instone and it also competed twice at Shelsley Walsh and ten times at Prescott. Marcus Pye has confirmed that an FIA Historic Technical Passport should be available.
H&H Classic Auctions have arranged that the buyer will receive free an entry to a Shelsey Walsh event and a square yard of the track, number 500, which would normally cost £125.
H&H Classic Auctions are charging no fees whatsoever on the sale of this vehicle.
PLEASE NOTE: We have not had this vehicle running.