1954/56 Tojeiro-Butterworth AJB Sports-Racer

Lot details
Registration No: XNK 900
Chassis No: TAD/3/54

A keen amateur who had reputedly competed at Brooklands on both two- and four-wheels, Major Ronald Clare Clifford Palmer decided to commission his own 'cutting edge' sports racer during the mid-1950s. The result was this unique Tojeiro-AJB. Although, mainly remembered for the AC Ace, John Tojeiro was a prolific designer whose lightweight chassis frames were famed for their strength and balance. Priced at £285-0s-0d including axles and suspension, the one he supplied to Palmer played host to a somewhat unconventional powerplant. A bona fide eccentric who abandoned University College London for the Army's Special Forces, Archie J. Butterworth (AJB) came closer than most to achieving that 'Holy Grail' of contemporary engine builders: 100bhp per litre. Heavily influenced by Steyr practice, the 1.5 litre B4 Star unit he sold to Palmer featured a flat-four configuration, air-cooling and poppet valves. Assisted by his friend Roger Hans Everett and determined to keep weight down, the Major commissioned Micron to fabricate a streamlined fibreglass body. Finished off with various proprietary components including Girling hydraulic brakes, J.A. Pearce alloy wheels and a MG T-series four-speed gearbox, the Tojeiro-AJB was first registered for road use as 'XNK 900' on May 28th 1956.

Caught in a 'Catch 22' position whereby the more he complained that their GP carburettors would not run fully downdraught, the more AMAL protested they would (something also promised by the company's literature) Palmer grew increasingly frustrated. A no-show at the one period event it is thought to have entered, the Tojeiro-AJB was subsequently laid-up until appearing at a Sotheby's auction in December 1994. Entering the current ownership directly from Palmer's estate, 'XNK 900' was entrusted to Michael Williams of Beaufort Restorations. Brought back to life with the assistance of Archie Butterworth, the two-seater was treated to some crankcase re-engineering (to facilitate the fitting of modern bearings), new conrods, fresh pistons and a replacement starter motor. Found to have done little work, its gearbox and back axle were nevertheless inspected and flushed (while, other fettling included the installation of a less nervous steering rack). Running on Solex carburettors (a la Porsche 356), the Tojeiro-AJB has been sparingly used over the last twelve years or so. Though, its last outing at the HGPCA Silverstone test day this April included a good number of laps. An intriguing footnote in post-WW2 British sports racing history, 'XNK 900' is offered for sale with its original buff logbook, V5 registration document, period photographs, chassis bill of sale, first tax disc and a wealth of correspondence between Roger Everett, Ronald Palmer, John Tojeiro and Archie Butterworth.

PLEASE NOTE: HTP papers for this vehicle have been applied for, which are currently awaiting apporoval on Alan Putt's desk. We have not been informed of any reason why they should not be approved.