A rather odd DB7 (help wanted)

A rather odd DB7 (help wanted)

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aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
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I have a Lea Francis DB7 which I hope you guys might be able to shine some light on I posted a thread in General Gassing as it’s not strictly AM and had little response. There is also a thread running on the AMOC site, which hasn’t got far either.

Story is She has been sitting under a tarp in an industrial estate for about 5 years. She looks like a plain old ordinary DB7 Drophead, until you open the bonnet and see a V12 Jag engine sitting there. The other give away is a Lea Francis Badge and an other which reads 2001/V12.

I know Lea Francis used to make pushbikes and car quite a few years ago and do have an owners club. I have been in touch with the guy who owns Lea Francis, a nice old boy. Unfortunately his memory isn’t the best, however he did tell me the following…………..

Chassis Number 5510
In reply to your recent e mail. The facts concerning the build of this car according to my memory that the DB7 Type body and chassis was an experimental unit which was never built up by Aston Marton, but came into the possession of QCR Motors who were sub contractors to Jaguar in addition to ourselves when we were experimenting with a new sports car of our own some ten years ago. The engine, I believe, was also an experimental jaguar unit. We do know that the DB7 was designed to take the V12 engine but this project never proceeded for this one car which QCR built up. For your information the engine type is XJR.XXO.6.7litre. The engine number is 8S.646025B. We recall that it was highly tuned by specialist TWR. It was last seen in our works in approximately six years ago for minor adjustments.

I’ve also been in touch with QCR, but he didn’t have fond memories of the car ‘cause he got stitched up when he sold it. So other than telling me about a ‘robbing bunch of bds’ wasn’t much help.

It’s help, but not who, where, when & why I was hoping for. Do you guys know anymore about it?


Vantagefan

643 posts

169 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
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Do you have photo's available?

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
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yeah, but I really don't know how to post them. If you PM me your email, you are more than welcome to.

Having said that there is not much to see, she looks like a normal DB7

f328nvl

507 posts

217 months

Thursday 11th March 2010
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http://www.astonmartins.com/db7/index.html

Try here or ask Tim Cottingham (usually on AMOC somewhere)

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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Yeah, did that. Knows nothing about it.

Vantagefan

643 posts

169 months

Friday 12th March 2010
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Message sent!

f328nvl

507 posts

217 months

Saturday 13th March 2010
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aussiebruce said:
Yeah, did that. Knows nothing about it.
You'll have made his day - a whole new mystery to investigate.

steve_amv8

1,886 posts

209 months

Saturday 13th March 2010
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This very car came up in a conversation today whilst I was at the Area Reps meeting ... there's a coincidence!

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Sunday 14th March 2010
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So it was a prototype 'Vantage' that never made it?

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Monday 15th March 2010
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steve_amv8 said:
This very car came up in a conversation today whilst I was at the Area Reps meeting ... there's a coincidence!
and????

Vantagefan

643 posts

169 months

Monday 15th March 2010
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I hope the info I sent helps.

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Monday 15th March 2010
quotequote all
In case there is anyone following this thread Tom mailed me this..............


Having asked several knowledgeable members of the factory the general consensus is that it is a prototype version of the V12 Vantage Volante. The dates would also fit as the V12 did not arrive on production until after the vehicle in question. The jag engine would have been to test the abilities of the DB7 bodyshell with the additional power as well as refining the interior componants (heating, cooling etc). It is certainly a standard DB7 body (V12 Vantage had additional cooling vents in the bonnet) though and is probably not safe to drive as most prototypes were later scrapped.

I hope this helps, even if only a little bit.



aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Monday 15th March 2010
quotequote all
And the reply was.............................

thanks for the theory, there are quite a few bouncing around. I initially though the same as you it being a prototype for the Vantage, but she was built in August 2000 and registered June 2001 well after the Vantage was released.

The guy from QCR? who built it up used her as a daily driver for over a year and she has had a SVA by Lea Francis, so I don't have any issues with safety.

What I have found out was that Tom Walkinshaw built a coupe for himself in 1998 with one of his touring car Jag V12's in. I'm not sure if this is a link but she does have a Tom Walkinshaw engine.

Thanks for your time.

So really none the wiser.

bomb

3,691 posts

283 months

Monday 15th March 2010
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I used to own a 1952 model Lea Francis. It was a 14HP sports special.

They stopped making them in about 1954, but the company was always remaining in the hands of Barrie Price.

He is the LF man, and has a huge knowledge. He wrote a book all about the history of the marque. The Lea Francis Story.

I sold my car, which I had for 22 years, and moved into TVR's.

The LeaF (as they were known) were represented at Brooklands in their hey day, and did quite well. The Hyper was the top end sports car of the day, and was a well engineered car.

Not many LF's about now, and most people have never heard of them

I was not aware they had dabbled with Astons. I was pleased to hear the news.

Some pics would be welcomed if you can post them up........

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Tuesday 16th March 2010
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Bomb, I have sent a couple of PH'ers pics hoping one will post them. If you PM me your address, I'll send you some.

Once again there is not much to see. She looks pretty much like a DB7

aussiebruce

Original Poster:

452 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
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If anyone is interested or still scratching there head on this one. There is a very interesting article coming out in print very soon.

She is just being prepped for a photo shoot.

V8VKK

354 posts

200 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
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Very interested Bruce please keep us up to date

Neil1300R

5,487 posts

177 months

Saturday 3rd March 2012
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Big Bump!
Think I saw this car today! Sat in a Aston specialist? Confused me with the Lea Francis badging.

Edited by Neil1300R on Saturday 3rd March 21:49

Rayg17

1 posts

80 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Gents,

QCR obtained two DB7 Volante's i6 in 1996 they were SDV vehicals they also obtained a coupe db7 which had been crashed on its way back to Newport Parnell. One was kept virtually standard the other had the V12 with a speascially made 6 speed gearbox manual finished in a metallic purple.

Regards

Ray