Alpha Sports Productions
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | early 1960s in Adelaide, Australia |
| Founder | Ray Lewis, Rory Thompson |
| Defunct | 1974 (original company) |
| Fate | Dissolved; later re-established as Alpha Sports Productions by Rory Thompson |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
| Products | Kit cars, racing cars (sports and open-wheel) |
Alpha Street Productions, which was later known as Alpha Sports Productions (ASP), operated in Australia as manufacturers of kit and racing cars, focusing on sports and open-wheel vehicles. While their initial inspiration came from the Lotus Seven, ASP soon developed their own unique designs.
History
Established in Adelaide during the early 1960s by Ray Lewis and Rory Thompson, ASP combined Lewis’s commercial acumen with Thompson’s mechanical engineering background from the South Australian Institute of Technology. Their inaugural complete vehicle, the Bacchus, was designed to improve upon perceived shortcomings of the Lotus Seven chassis and was offered either as a bare chassis or equipped with a variety of drivetrain options.
After Lewis returned from overseas, the Bacchus Mk4 Clubman underwent a series of rebrandings, eventually becoming the ASP 320A—recognized as the company’s first road-legal model—which was sold to Paul Hannon of the Savings Bank of South Australia. The ASP 320B represented a transition toward competition-oriented vehicles, with four units produced mainly for racing purposes but frequently later adapted for street use. A short-wheelbase model called the 340A initiated a line of racing Clubmans powered by engines such as the Galant unit.
By 1971, ASP had diversified into producing open-wheel formula cars with the launch of the ASP 330. Four units were built for Formula 2 and Formula 3 competitions before the company shifted its focus back to Clubman-style sports cars. In 1972, new designs emerged with two 340B models and six 340C cars manufactured through 1973. These vehicles complied with Clubman Formula specifications—characterized by front-engine, two-seat configurations equipped with single-camshaft engines up to 1.3 liters—typically using Toyota Corolla 3K or Datsun A12 powerplants paired with Morris differentials. They provided cost-effective performance capable of challenging more powerful sports and formula cars.
Financial setbacks forced Ray Lewis to dissolve the original company in 1974. Subsequently, Rory Thompson established Alpha Sports Productions to carry on manufacturing ASP 320 variants. These cars were assembled under Thompson’s guidance by their owners at his Salisbury workshop, promoting hands-on skill development alongside vehicle construction. The last models, known as ASP 320G, frequently featured Toyota 4AGE engines, with some later conversions adopting Mazda power units.
Ray Lewis passed away in November 2005; despite experiencing health issues in his later years, he contributed key design innovations like the Targa-style rollbar to ASP’s lineup. Rory Thompson died in 2020, bringing an end to ASP sports car production under its original founders.
Bacchus
The Bacchus represented Alpha Street’s first proprietary automobile. Drawing inspiration from the Lotus Seven Clubman, six examples were completed using various engine options.
ASP 320
Developed from the Bacchus lineage, the ASP 320 began life as the Bacchus Mk4 before being renamed Shrike and ultimately ASP 320A. Production persisted until the company’s closure, culminating in a G-spec version that incorporated modern mechanical components within traditional ASP 320 bodywork.
ASP 330
Signaling a move into open-wheel formula racing, the ASP 330 debuted in October 1972. Four chassis were constructed: three for Formula 3 and one for Formula 2 competition, campaigned by drivers Bob Wilkin, Doug Trengove, Chris Milton (supported by the factory), and J. Harvey.
340A
The 340A, often referred to as the Potts lightweight, represented a shortened and lighter adaptation of the 320B racing chassis. Originally piloted by Doug Potts during its competition tenure, it was subsequently modified for street use by ASP staff member Colin Reilly.
340B
Launched in 1972, the 340B introduced a purpose-built race chassis that differed from previous versions. Two examples were manufactured in 1973:
- #23 J Doig: Toyota Celica 1600
- #24 D Wallace: Ford 1500
Chassis number 23 continues to be actively campaigned by Jim Doig, having participated in over a thousand races. Meanwhile, chassis number 24 has been converted for road driving.
340C
Developed as an evolution of the 340B, the 340C was a lightweight race chassis tailored to comply with Clubman sports 1300 regulations, accommodating 1300cc engines. Six units were constructed, with original owners and engine types as follows:
- #29 Alby Middleton: Datsun A12
- #30 David Mc Bean: Toyota 3K
- #31 David Walsh: Toyota 3K
- #32 Ken Durward: Datsun A12
- #33 John Blanden: Datsun A12
- #34 Jim Bidstrup: Toyota 3K
These vehicles were built using nickel bronze-welded square steel tubing measuring 19x1.2 mm to ensure lightness. They featured short wheelbases, front suspension with unequal length non-parallel wishbones paired with external coilover shocks, and rear Morris live axles located by an A-frame and two short upper arms. Some models were later enhanced with longer wheelbases and upgraded rear suspension setups incorporating four extended arms and a Panhard rod for superior axle positioning.
ASP 350
The ASP 350 was Rory Thompson’s initiative to create a new sports car design utilizing commonly available components, powered by a Holden Commodore engine and drivetrain.
Known ASP racing Chassis Histories
The table below documents known racing chassis numbers for Alpha Sports Productions (ASP) vehicles, detailing original owners, engine specifications, and subsequent ownership where information is accessible. This compilation is based on data from long-standing ASP collectors and enthusiasts who have access to historical records and surviving cars.
| Chassis No. | Model | Original Owner | Original Engine | Later Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 320B | G. Lewis / R. Butcher | Toyota 3K | |
| 10 | 320B | D. Hosking | Toyota 3K | |
| 11 | 320B | F. Giles | Toyota 3K | |
| 15 | 320B | A. Middleton | Toyota 3K | |
| 22 | 340A | Doug Potts | Galant 1400 | |
| 23 | 340B | Jim Doig | Celica 1600 | |
| 24 | 340B | D. Wallace | Ford 1500 | |
| 25 | 330 | R. Wilkins | Ford 1300 | R. Butcher, now John Scotcher |
| 26 | 330 | D. Trengove | Ford 1500 | Possibly raced as a bike-engined hillclimb car |
| 27 | 330 | R. Butcher | Ford 1300 | J. Rout, F. Marshall, now Matt Campbell |
| 28 | 330 | J. Harvey | Toyota 1300 | D. Hahn, D. Robins, Rory & Jamie Thompson |
| 29 | 340C | Alby Middleton | Datsun A12 (1298cc) | |
| 30 | 340C | David McBean | Toyota 3K | |
| 31 | 340C | David Walsh | Toyota 3K | Bob Collinson |
| 32 | 340C | Ken Durward | Datsun 1200 | Jeremy Durward |
| 33 | 340C | John Blanden | Datsun A12 (1298cc) | |
| 34 | 340C | Jim Bidstrup | Toyota 3K |