Alexis Mk14/15: the car which trained future racing champions 

Even the most ardent of classic car enthusiasts might struggle to recount the story of Alexis these days – but it was different during the 1960s when the marque was riding high as a leading name in Formula Ford. To discover where Alexis came from, it’s necessary to engage reverse gear and travel back to the early 1950s when Birmingham-based building contractor Alex Francis began creating competitive, Ford-engined trials cars for his own use.

In 1959 Francis made the acquaintance of an Australian speedway rider and race mechanic called Bill Harris, with whom he teamed up to build the first Alexis track car, a front-engined Formula Junior.

This was followed by a rear-engined model dubbed the FJ, which helped bring Alexis to prominence in 1961 after British cycling champion turned racing driver Peter Procter successfully campaigned it to victories at both Aintree and Rufforth on behalf of the ‘works’.By 1965 Harris had returned to Australia and, despite the marque having proved competitive, it still produced no more than three cars per year .

But that all changed in 1967 when local racing enthusiast Allan Taylor pushed Francis to capitalise on the growing interest in Formula Ford and brokered a deal with the now-celebrated Jim Russell Racing School to provide multiple examples of the Alexis Mk 14. During the next year, production of the Mk 14 and the improved Mk 15 ran to more than 60 cars and, although the Russell deal came to an end in late 1968, the fact that Alexis cars had won both the British (1967) and Scottish (1968) Formula Ford championships helped to ensure that a further 70 were built and shipped off around the world.

Few Motor Sport readers will need reminding of how influential Jim Russell’s original Norfolk-based race school was in terms of providing a grounding to many top drivers – Emerson Fittipaldi, Derek Bell and James Hunt to name but three – so the fact that the Alexis on offer with Adam Sykes was one of those supplied to Russell makes it all the more appealing. A transitional Mk 14/15 model, it was one of 25 cars sold to the school and features a rare ‘Downham Market’ chassis plate and Arc Motors chassis stamp.

Long after its days as a rookie’s racer with Jim Russell came to an end, the car was given a new lease of life as a hillclimber and was tuned and improved after helping its then-owner to a class championship victory in 2006 in Formula Ford specification.

It subsequently clinched the overall historic championship in both 2007 and 2010 in various states of tune before being returned to its current set-up, which is more or less to Formula Ford requirements save for its alloy wheels and electric fuel pump.

The standard items are, however, among an extensive spares package which includes the original exhaust system, fuel tank and Armstrong shock absorbers as well as a spare cockpit screen and an extra engine cover to accommodate twin Weber carburettors.

Up, running and ready to take to the hills as is – or even return to compete in Historic Formula Ford events after those few minor changes are made – it promises to be a lot of fun for the money.

And if it happens to get sold before you have a chance to call Sykes, don’t worry: he also has a 1969 Mk 15 for sale, albeit at the slightly higher price of £24,950.

1968 Alexis Mk 14/15

On sale with Adam Sykes & Co, High Legh, Cheshire. Asking £19,950. adamsykes.co.uk

Le Mans 1982 – the other Porsche

• While Porsche 956s caused collective jaws to drop with a Le Mans 1-2-3 in 1982, further down the field this Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, inset, was also a winner – of the IMSA GTO class (changing just one tyre in 24 hours). One of 17 GTRs made, it still has its original factory engine and gearbox and has been restored to its ’82 livery. It’s at William I’anson in Gloucester, £POA.
  
• From Porsche past to present – Porsche Centre Preston has agreed a sponsorship deal with upcoming Lancs lad Adam Smalley for the British GP’s Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup support race (July 7-9). “We’re pleased that we’ve been able to back a local driver,” said MD Tom Fox.
• Derbyshire-based dealer Tom Hartley celebrated the King’s Coronation by driving an Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake, – on sale at £500,000 – around London during the coronation weekend. ‘God Save The King’ and Union Jacks were applied to the bodywork. “I’ve always been a great royal follower,” Tom told us.
  
• MG historian John Baggett believes a 1964 MGB on sale at legends in Bicester to be the final genuine MG works car in existence. In period ‘BRX 854B’ raced in rallies around Europe but was garaged for 32 years after a mechanical failure. It’s back to its best; price £165,000.
• A driver delivering a car from a Tipton dealer was startled when he spotted a Corn Snake – a native of the US – dangling from the dashboard. Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary was called and the non- venomous reptile, after a struggle, was removed. LG