Back to back: Ashley or Lotus?

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When a French auctioneer comes over to Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry to sell of a big number of classic cars, you expect them to bring over Panhards, Peugeots, Citroens and Renaults. A Salmson perhaps, or even a Jide or BHS. Not so for Aguttes auctioneers who have teamed up with the French circuit for this Sunday the 24th of September. There’s one or two Traction Avants and a Renault 5 Turbo, but all of the rest in their sale is non-French. See their full sales list here.

We pick out two British beauties from small manufacturers. First of them is this lovely Ford based Ashley. The car is said to have underwent a complete restoration three years ago, after its current owner bought it in 2010 as a non runner. The previous keeper supposedly owned it since the 1950s, so it could well be a two-owner car. The 1172 Ford engine is equipped with Aquaplane head and according to Aguttes runs beautifully. Adding ‘a credible alternative to the sports racing cars produced by Elva, Lotus and Ginetta in the same period, and more affordable too.’. That’s a fact, although the current 20- to 30,000 euros estimate isn’t particularly low. We really wonder what this one will do in the end.

Now, on the other side of the low volume sports car scale is a gorgeos Lotus Eleven. One of 270 built between 1956 and 1958. The car on offer is a later Mk2 version, which was originally sold to Shelby Daytona Coupe-ace Peter Brock in the US. It came with, and still comes with, Coventry Climax engine. The car ended up in the UK in 2000, was restored and came to France a decade later. It made it to Le Mans Classic twice but was modified for racing use and now comes with 1500 rather than 1100cc capacity. It’s a lot more expensive as the Ashley, estimated at 110- to 160,000 euros, but we are watching it with the same interest. See it here.

(Words editor, pictures courtesy Aguttes)

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