Ashley (automobile)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Founder | Peter Pellandine, Keith Waddington |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Loughton, later Harlow and Bishops Stortford , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Body shells, chassis, hardtops, bonnets, automotive components |
| Website | www |
Ashley specialized in producing body shells and chassis for special vehicles between 1955 and 1962. Their offerings extended beyond bodywork to include components such as radiators, header tanks, lighting assemblies, steel tubing, sheet aluminium, suspension elements, water pumps, tires, inner tubes, and wheels. The company also crafted bonnets and hardtops compatible with popular sports cars of the era, including the Austin-Healey Sprite and Jaguar E-Type.
History
Ashley Laminates was established in 1955 by Peter Pellandine and Keith Waddington. The business took its name from Pellandine’s residence located in Woodford Green. Their inaugural vehicle featured a fiberglass (GRP) body shell. Initial manufacturing took place in a garage next to the Robin Hood Inn at Loughton, Essex, a site now occupied by a pub parking lot.
Towards the end of 1956, Pellandine departed to launch Falcon Shells, taking with him the rights and tooling for the short-wheelbase Ashley 750 and Sports Racer body shells. These were subsequently marketed as the Falcon Mark 1 and Mark 2 models.
In 1958, Ashley Laminates expanded operations to the Potteries region in Upshire, maintaining their original Loughton facility as a showroom. During this period, they introduced the 1172 body shell along with the Regent chassis. The Sportiva model followed in 1960.
The company moved to Bush Fair, Harlow in 1961 but halted body shell production by 1962 due to a downturn in the specials market influenced by changes in Sales Tax regulations. Nevertheless, they continued manufacturing GRP hardtops and bonnets designed for sports cars.
From 1963 onward, advertisements indicate the firm was rebranded as Ashley Auto Improvements and relocated to Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. Despite the passing of Keith Waddington during the mid-1960s, the company remained active until 1972.
In 2010, Moto-Build Racing of Sutton, Surrey revived the Ashley body parts lineup. Initially concentrating on MG Midget and Austin Healey Sprite models, they have since begun producing moulds for Triumph Spitfire Mk1–3 variants, with further details available at www.ashleygt.co.uk.
Ashley 750
This model was designed around the short-wheelbase (6-foot 3 inch) chassis of the Austin Seven, equipped with its original 747 cc engine—hence its name. A long-wheelbase version (6-foot 9 inch) was later introduced at an identical price point: £78 for the body shell and £25 for the hardtop. Early versions of the hardtop featured distinctive gull-wing doors; none are known to have survived. Following Pellandine’s exit from Ashley, he retained production rights for the short-wheelbase variant while Ashley continued manufacturing only the long-wheelbase model.
Ashley Sports Racer
Released shortly after the Ashley 750 at a price of £90, this model supported wheelbases ranging from to . Primarily intended for racing applications, its body shell was compatible with an Elva chassis and was utilized by several contemporary race cars.
Ashley 1172
Introduced in August 1958, the Ashley 1172 was a roadster featuring a removable hardtop. It was designed to fit Ford 8 and 10 hp chassis with a wheelbase of , powered by Ford's Sidevalve engine displacing 1172 cc. An alternative Regent chassis was also offered. In early 1959, a fixed-head coupe version became available, and from January 1960 onward, the 1172 could be mounted on the Prefect ladder frame. Prices were set at £105 for roadster shells and £160 for coupes. The rights to this body design were eventually acquired by Yitzhak Shubinsky of Israeli firm Autocars Co., who developed it into the Autocar Sabra; through collaboration with Reliant, this lineage led to the creation of the Reliant Sabre.
Ashley Sportiva
Launched in November 1960, the Sportiva was developed as an evolution of the 1172 model, featuring updated front-end design. It was available either as a bodyshell or mounted on an Ashley chassis, offered in both drophead and fixed-head coupe configurations with seating for two or four occupants. Subsequent versions incorporated an extended eight-foot wheelbase to accommodate the Mark 6 chassis, alongside a redesigned rear section equipped with a boot lid. The fixed-head coupe bodyshell was priced at £182.
Ashley Sportiva Morgan +4 Coupe
Presented at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show, this Morgan +4 fitted with an Ashley Sportiva body did not proceed to production.
See also
External links
- The Ashley Story – Information on bodies, hardtops, advertisements, and additional material
- Morgan +4 Ashley Sportiva Coupe Story
- Ashley Bodyshell Models and related narratives
- Fairthorpe Sports Car Club – Contains the Ashley Register
- Ashley Laminates Ltd – Hosts the Ashley Vehicle Registry and Historical Archive
- Kit car manufacturers
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1955
- Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1972
- 1955 establishments in England
- 1972 disestablishments in England
- Companies based in Essex
- Companies based in East Hertfordshire District
- British companies disestablished in 1972
- British companies established in 1955
- Vehicle manufacturers operating in Essex