Lea-Francis 12/40 P-Type Open Coupe with Dickey

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The build for this car commenced on 25th October 1929 and it was delivered on 28th November 1929, we believe to a Miss Preighton.

It was first registered in Denbighshire on 2nd December 1929 and by the 1950s had moved to a new home in Devizes, moving to Melksham in the 1960s. It then had one further local owner from 1972 until 2006 but was kept unused and in storage throughout his long ownership.

The next keeper bought the car in 2013 at which point it had spent well over 40 years in storage. Still in remarkably original condition throughout (as can be seen in the last three photos on our website), it retains its original Cross & Ellis coachwork and highly desirable Meadows 4ED engine. The owner immediately set about a sympathetic refurbishment, including a quality respray, which has resulted in the fine specimen you see today.

The engine was fully rebuilt including a re-bore, new pistons, piston rings, con rods etc. The interior was fully re-trimmed (including the dickey seat), a new windscreen made and fitted, and the windscreen surround re-chromed. The brakes were overhauled and six new Blockley tyres fitted, including both the side-mounted spares.

The car was then sold, through Brightwells, only last year, as some of you may remember. The new owner loved the car but encountered problems with the clutch and so handed it over to Brewster Mudie, Lea-Francis specialists, who carried out the rectification work at a cost of a whisker over £1,900.

Sad to say, the owner only got to ride in the car once before he passed away and the car is now offered for sale as part of his estate. Documentation includes a V5C, an earlier V5, old buff logbook, original handbook and instruction book, restoration invoices, and also the original purchase invoice when the car cost £225.