1976 Royale RP21 Single Seater

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

Royale racing cars owe their existence to Bob King and his Racing Preparations concern which specialised in Coventry Climax engine tuning and race preparation. Following the fall-off in Climax-engined racer business during the 1960s however, King tried his hand at manufacturing racing cars for the new popular Formulae.

The name Royale was used as it combined the founder's name with the Park Royal district of London, where the cars were made. The first racer was a single seater, the 1968 RP1 Formula Ford, a F3 followed in 1971, by when Royale had become the second largest racing car builders in the UK and had moved to Huntingdon near the largest manufacturer Lola. In 1974, the firm moved gain to Little Staughton, King retiring through ill health in 1976 when Alan Cornock took over the Royale wheel, the largely Ford powered FF1600, Ford 2000, F3, Atlantic and even F2 race cars being designed by Rory Byrne who has become a big name in F1.

The vendor informs us that the car has not been evented since a rebuild was completed in 1997 but he did make it ready for such an occasion in 2005 as he had it resprayed, fully serviced and four new tyres were fitted at a cost of some £1500 in September of that year. Sadly the owner has not had time to complete the process by using it in anger but hopes that the new keeper will fare better.

Historic Formula Ford racing is becoming an increasingly popular retro-race category and the 1976 Royale RP21 being auctioned here would make an attractive and affordable entry to the starting grid.