1954 Turner 1.5-Litre Sports Racing Car
Turner Sports Cars chassis 006 is among only seven automobiles produced by the Wolverhampton firm between 1950 and 1954, making it an exceptionally rare example of Jack Turner's early engineering work. Built in 1952 and first registered in 1953, it raced extensively at British circuits throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s, passing through several notable owners. The car retains its original aluminium body following a period of rebodying and a subsequent restoration to original specification carried out in the late 1960s. It carries FIA/HTP Appendix K papers and is powered by a 1.5-litre Lea-Francis twin-cam engine.
Ownership
- 2024-02-23Auction saleEstimate £80,000 – £100,000
- 2024-02-23Auction saleEstimate £80,000 – £100,000
- 2024-02-24Auction saleEstimate £80,000 – £100,000
- 1953 → 1956Acquisition unknownWilfred McDougallpartial documentation
McDougall, based in Wolverhampton, campaigned the car at numerous British circuits and hill climbs during the mid-1950s before advertising it for sale in Autosport Magazine in January 1956.
- → 1964Acquisition unknownGerhard Krassnerpartial documentation
Krassner had the car rebodied with Rejo coachwork around 1960 and continued to race it, on occasion entering it as a Rejo, until selling it in 1964 when he replaced it with an HWM-Jaguar.
- 1964 → 2003Private salePeter Hillpartial documentation
Hill owned the car for nearly four decades, undertaking a restoration to original specification around 1968 by recovering the original body from Brydson in exchange for pre-war Norton Model 30 International parts.
- 2003 →Private saleIvan Duttonpartial documentation
Dutton, a well-regarded Bugatti restorer and specialist, acquired the car from Hill; ownership subsequently passed to a private individual in Ireland.
- 2015 →AuctionCurrent private collectorpartial documentation
Purchased via Iconic Auctioneers in 2015; the car has reportedly remained unused in a private collection since acquisition.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSid Diggorypartial documentation
One of several subsequent competitors who raced the car after McDougall's ownership; precise tenure dates are unrecorded.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDr. Malcolm Brydsonpartial documentation
Brydson, a well-known VSCC competitor, acquired the original body from Krassner intending to fit it to a Riley Kestrel Sprite chassis but ultimately changed his plans in favour of racing an Alvis, at which point he exchanged the body with Peter Hill.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownIrish private ownerpartial documentation
Used the car in a number of displays and historic events in Ireland before the car was sold through Iconic Auctioneers in 2015.
Competition
- 1953-08-01Charterhall InternationalDriver: Wilfred McDougall
One of several British circuit and hill-climb appearances documented in the car's history file from its early racing years.
- 1954-04-01Castle CombeDriver: Wilfred McDougall
Documented by a race programme in the car's history file.
- 1954-08-01Brands Hatch InternationalDriver: Wilfred McDougall
Documented by a race programme in the history file.
- 1954-08-01SilverstoneDriver: Wilfred McDougall
Documented by a race programme in the history file.
- 1955-05-01BRSCCBrands Hatch BRSCCDriver: Wilfred McDougall
Documented by a race programme in the history file.
- 1962-07-14Oulton ParkDriver: Gerhard Krassner
The car was entered under the Rejo name at this event, reflecting its rebodied configuration at the time.
- 2015-06-01Silverstone
The sole race meeting completed following the 2015 race preparation work; the car was described as race-ready at the time.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1960Bodywork
Original aluminium body removed and replaced with proprietary Rejo coachwork at the direction of owner Gerhard Krassner.
The original body was sold separately and later acquired by Dr. Malcolm Brydson.
- 1968Restoration
Car returned to original specification by Peter Hill; original aluminium body recovered from Dr. Malcolm Brydson in exchange for pre-war Norton motorcycle components, and the Rejo body was sold on, reportedly to a Lotus XI.
Restoration was undertaken approximately four years after Hill's acquisition of the car in 1964.
- 2015MechanicalINRacing
Extensive race preparation carried out ahead of the 2015 season, encompassing the engine, gearbox, braking system, and general running gear.
Work resulted in the car being described as race-ready; FIA/HTP Appendix K papers and VSCC buff form were also obtained at this time.
- 2015ModificationAndy Robinson Race Cars
Roll cage designed and fitted to the car at the start of 2015.
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