Tag Archives: Kirk

Passing NBA Influence – Auto Speciali Veleno

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Auto Speciali, from Bromsgrove Worcestershire, is one of the more difficult self build car manufacturers to find information about. The driving force behind the company, Keith Kirk, appears to have passed away around 2007 and he was known for his engineering, rather than his record keeping, skills.

Auto Speciali Veleno, Classics At The Castle, Sherborne Castle

So far as I know, and I stand to be corrected, the origins of the design of today’s featured Auto Speciali Veleno lie in the discomfort 7’1″ NBA star Wilt Chamberlain got fed up with when sitting on the floor of his Lamborghini Countach because the both the cockpit and seat were too small.

Auto Speciali Veleno, Classics At The Castle, Sherborne Castle

To rid himself of the discomfort Wilt had Peter Bohann design a bespoke mid engined sports car called the Chamberlain Searcher 1 that cost some $750,000 to build. The Veleno has some elements of the Searcher 1 design, including the rear flying butresses, incorporated into it.

Auto Speciali Veleno, Classics At The Castle, Sherborne Castle

The Veleno is built around a custom space frame designed to accept the running gear from a Toyota MR2, the licence plate on this vehicle suggests the doner car may have been built in 1993 and that the kit was completed in 2008.

Anyone wanting to build there own Veleno may be able to get hold of a kit from Vindicator Cars the manufacturing agents for Auto Speciali who’s contact details can be found on this linked page.

Thanks for joining me on this “Passing NBA Influence” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the last of February’s series of special Bentleys. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Aim Sure The Prequel – MG PA Supercharged Sports #P 0522

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A couple of months ago Suzanne posted a response to last years “Aim Sure” blog about an MG PA that belonged to renowned combat Pilot Len Miller for 59 years from 1943 until his death in 2002.

MG PA, Purfleet, Essex

It turns out that Suzanne her Dad, her brother Paul and Trevor all new Mr Miller through Trevor’s TJK Repairs where he had the car restored after it was damaged in England’s great storm on the night of October 1987.

MG PA, Purfleet, Essex

Suzanne’s Father and brother Paul had carried out a restoration of Mr Miller’s PA prior to that.

MG PA, Essex

After that first restoration Mr Miller lent Paul the MG PA for Paul’s wedding in 1985.

MG PA, TJK Repairs, Purfleet, Essex

On the 15 of October 1987 Mr Miller had his MG booked in at TJK Repairs for some minor paint repairs, but got delayed at his factory and ended up keeping his pride and joy in the in his warehouse overnight.

MG PA, TJK Repairs, Purfleet, Essex

On the morning of the 16th of October Mr Miller returned to his factory to find a warehouse roof beam had collapsed overnight on to his MG PA.

MG PA, Race Retro

TJK Repairs under took a second restoration of Len’s car which included replacing the cracked engine block, to which later Len had a side mounted Arnott supercharger fitted. Lens restored car seen above at Auction in 2012 and can be seen in my “Aim Sure” – MG PA blog linked here.

My Thanks to Suzanne Fogg, Paul Lockyer and Trevor Kirk of T.J.K. REPAIRS for sharing their photo’s and prequel story for today’s blog. Suzanne informs me TJK Repairs no longer does body repairs but continues to offer customers car and light commercial servicing alongside MOT testing services. TJK Repairs can be contacted at UNIT 3A, TANK HILL ROAD, PURFLEET, ESSEX, RM19 1SX or by phone on 01708 861810.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘AIM Sure The Prequel’ edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

PS Congratulations to Johnny Martinez who won a trophy for his ’29 Ford Pick Up at the Grand National Roadster Show on Monday, John would also like to thank every one who has voted for him in the Cool Rides Online ® pole at goldeagle.com.

The vote is still incredibly close, YOU CAN VOTE “John’s 1929 Ford Model A” ONCE A DAY ON THIS LINK until poling closes 31st January, please keep your daily votes coming in, thank you.

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