1928 Lea-Francis 12/22 U-Type Drophead Coupe

Description

Extremely rare model, one of only around 300 made; interesting history; only 700 miles since major mechanical rebuild; Meadows 1.5 engine; a super example of this top quality Vintage tourer 

Initially best known for their high-quality bicycles, the Coventry firm of Lea-Francis went on to produce a bewildering variety of cars during the 1920s. They eventually settled on using overhead-valve Meadows engines, which proved a shrewd move as these were extremely well-engineered units with great tuning potential, leading to race-winning models such as the Hyper and the Ace of Spades.

Keen to capitalise on this success, various other models were produced for the wider market including the 1927 U-Type which was powered by the 1,496cc Meadows 4EC engine with a completely new chassis designed by Charles Van Eugen which was also used on the supercharged Hyper. One of the most spirited touring cars of the late Vintage period, most were 4-seaters by Avon with a few 2-seater and open coupe bodies by Cross & Ellis. Only around 300 were made before it was discontinued in 1930.

This Lea-Francis U-Type DHC was bought new from Kerridge of Alton by first owner Rear Admiral Edmund Purefoy Ellis Jervoise CBE in July 1928. Fascinating extracts from his diary recount how he looked at several cars before buying the LeaF, which hugely impressed him with how comfortable and roomy it was, being much easier to drive and much more lively than his Standard Tourer. He particularly admired the gear change which he found “extraordinarily easy”.

Jervoise kept the LeaF for 10 years, the diary recording many of the adventures he had in the car, including using it for hay-raking duties when his tractor broke down in August 1936: “She had to go in 2^nd gear all the time so got a bit hot”!

Clearly a man of considerable means, the Rear Admiral also had a big Sunbeam of some sort and an Armstrong Siddeley 17hp Limousine which he had bought from Kerridge for a hefty £585 but the LeaF was his daily run-about.

In September 1938, with war looming, Jervoise decided it was time to swap the LeaF for something cheaper and more economical, his diary noting that: “The engine was still perfect but it was looking rather disreputable and hardly fit for A [his wife] to go calling in. It was 12hp and rather extravagant on petrol, only 20 to 25 miles per gallon”.

So back to Kerridge he went and on 30^th September he chopped the LeaF in against a 1937 Standard 9 which cost him £90: “Kerridge allowed me £10 for the Lea-Francis and will also put a luggage carrier (£2 17s 6d) on the Standard for free. Owing to the fear of war, everyone seems to be getting small cars and Kerridge said this was the fourth he had sold today and he had no more”.

The Standard was clearly a poor substitute for the LeaF: “Everything is different... but it runs easily and comfortably and I shall soon get into it and be alright with a bit of practice”, wrote Jervoise, who lived through the war and died in January 1950, aged 89.

The story picks up again in 1959 by which time OT 9295 had moved 50 miles north to Beaconsfield. In 1961 it was bought by a Mr S Davis of Droitwich Spa who was to keep it for almost 40 years with various invoices for upkeep including a new hood and sidescreens in 1988 when it seems like the seats were also refurbished.

Some 16 old MOTs show that the car was in light, regular use from 1988 to 2005, clocking up some 3,700 miles over this 17-year period.

In c.2006 the LeaF was acquired by a Mr G Jones of Wellington in Somerset who treated it to what looks like a major mechanical overhaul including getting the Meadows engine fully rebuilt by Thomas Hamlin & Co of Bridgwater in December 2008 at a cost of over £2,600. The mileage at this point was c.52,300 and it has only done about 700 miles since.

He also fitted four new Lucas 475/500/19 tyres from Longstone in September 2018 and a new set of Mulberry carpets in 2019. As recommended by the club, the clutch was also modified by Barrie Price of Lea-Francis Cars Ltd (the original cone clutch is in the boot). The car flew through another MOT at this time (August 2019), various photos showing the LeaF out and about and looking very smart indeed. There is also a photo of the engine being rebuilt which is reproduced here.  

Our vendor acquired the car from Mr Jones in October 2021 to join his collection of Vintage machines. He has used it very little but reports that it runs and drives well. In fact, he was looking forward to driving it some 40 miles to the sale and was only prevented from doing so due to recurring knee problems – hence the reason for sale.

Supplied with a full set of weather gear (hood; sidescreens; tonneau cover) all in good condition, it also comes with an original instruction book, a booklet on the Meadows-engined Lea-Francis models, copies of period road tests, many LeaF Club magazines plus much technical literature relating to the model.

As you can see in the photos, this rare and well-historied LeaF looks utterly charming and now needs a new owner who can follow in the Rear Admiral's footsteps and add their own chapter to its interesting life to date. Maybe give the hay-raking a rest though - you can get away with it when you're young but when you're pushing 100...

It is worth noting that of the c.300 U-Types made, it is thought that only around 10 still survive today so you are unlikely to find another for sale any time soon.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com