Lot 246 - 1975 12871 Type 35 by TEAL

At the Pack Horse Inn, Affetside, Alan Hunter showed his two friends Ian Foster and Tony Rogers a brochure of a Volkswagen, rear engined  fibreglass replica of a Bugatti Type 35 he had picked up on a business trip to America. Ian Foster, once a chassis designer for Daimler, demonstrated on the back of a cigarette packet, how a strong chassis could be produced using the American body moulds to end up with a front engined version. In short the Worsley Bugatti was born. However, Ian remembered from his days at Daimler, Worsley was the nickname for a Friday car - a duff one - so a search was made for a new name. In the end Trafford Engineering Automotive Limited (TEAL) was decided upon. In 1986, Bob Jones purchased TEAL Cars from Ian Foster. Bob developed (with chassis builder Peter Farrell) the early T35 to accept a more authentic aluminium coachwork. On the 5th October 1986 the first all aluminium Teal was born. Public reaction was highly positive with the company selling 16 cars in the first six months. The TEAL was further developed with the Types 43, 44, 52 and 59 versions also being manufactured. TEAL Cars finally ceased production in 1998. Today, there is a thriving club to cater for all types of the TEAL.

Presented today is Ian Foster's own car, originally GRP, built in January 1984. It was retained by him when the company was sold and re-bodied in aluminium by Bob Jones in 1988. Sadly, Ian Foster passed away in 2005 and the car was sold. It was bought by marque specialist Keith Lidgerwood in 2009 by which time it had acquired a windscreen instead of the Brooklands aero screens and larger 18-inch wheels in place of the original 15 inch wheels. Power is supplied by a 1798cc MGB engine mated to a four speed all synchromesh gearbox and MGB rear axle. Fuel is delivered by a twin choke Weber carburettor. Braking is provided by discs at the front and drums at the rear with an external handbrake lever by the driver. Modern headlights sit within period brass rimmed light units giving an authentic look whilst also providing brighter lights for those late evening trips. The driver is presented with an aluminium engine turned dashboard, a Mota-Lita steering wheel and an array of gauges. A full/half tonneau cover protects the cockpit either when parked or with just the driver aboard and stowage is available for soft luggage behind the seat. The TEAL benefits from a set of five Brockley tyres and a UK registration document that records the car correctly as a TEAL Kit 35. It further benefits from an MoT test certificate valid until 3rd February 2015.

The Bob Jones aluminium TEALs are fast becoming recognised in their own right and, as this is believed to be the earliest surviving TEAL, it is an important part of the TEAL history; an opportunity indeed.