[Mick O'Malley]

Having suffered something of an enthusiasm bypass, the grey windy outlook, and spurred on by Dpaz's encouragement, I decided to delve into the memories box and post some more retro drivel .

These four relate to my first Phaeton. A neighbour just down the lane kindly lent me the use of his garage for the first two weeks of the build, during which I managed to clap on the suspension and steering, and drop in the petrol tank. It was then towed the 100 yards uphill to the village hall car park, handily opposite my gate, where I completed it over the next two and a half years at the end of a wander lead, mainly after dark. The multi-coloured bodywork was what Tim Dutton referred to as "Multi-coloured, suitable for spraying", this option resulting in the princely saving of 25 quid which paid for the 'B-Type bonnet and front wings' (i.e. Lotus Seven style) option.

Next is my dash layout which I hope to replicate on my current build. The DOC badge was designed by my good friend who was a close neighbour in those days, and something of a mentor as he was (is) DOC member no.9.

The third was taken at the Caen ferryport on arrival for the '88 Le Mans. Seems only one of us spurned sidescreens...

The last was on the way back from Le Mans in '91, the Phaeton now sporting Lotus themed colours and scrapyard front wheels, bought as I couldn't afford new rubber for the 5.5Js, having just had a third storey built on my cottages.



The four below are of the frame of an engineless B-Type I bought for a hundred quid in maybe '92? I'd already dismantled it when a Rover V8 engined project became available which I snapped up, passing on the B-Type (for what it had cost me) to the above mentioned friend. We motored over to Kent one Sunday in his Mk II Escort Ghia (which he later kindly loaned to me for a year when I was separated and penniless) where he bought a Lotus 2.2 litre slant four to put in the Dutton. 30+ years on they are both still lurking untouched in his shed. The B-Type's frame hasn't fallen apart because the joints are brazed rather than welded.



If only I had a scanner...

Regards, Mick