1958 Rayford/Ratel Mk1 The Ex Peter Ray, Gord Henderson

The Ratel. This Sports racing car is a unique and fascinating survivor from the halcyon days of racing in Northwest America and Canada. Originally conceived by successful formula junior builder and racer Peter Ray, the car was taken over and developed further by Gord Henderson and raced well into the 1960s. Powered by a 2.6 litre Ford Straight 6 engine, breathing through triple SU carburettors on bespoke tubular manifolds and tuned by legendary engine builder Bud Child the car was immediately both competitive and plagued by reliability problems. The first season saw plenty of development work leading to much improved reliability and performance all to the detriment of clutch and brake linings. Henderson raced all over the region citing Westwood, Portland International and Riverside as those he remembered most fondly.  At the end of his seasons on the Can-Am circuits of the mid 60s after numerous hair raising exploits, Henderson went on to a successful career as an aerial photographer, flying helicopters all over Canada. The Ratel was taken over by his brother in law before being stored in 1969 for thirty years and this accounts for its remarkably original preserved state. The all alloy body hides a well designed and built multi tube spaceframe carrying torsion bar front suspension with live rear axle suspended by transverse leaf spring à la Cooper with telescopic shock absorbers all round, rack and pinion steering and front disc brakes. All suspension and transmission components being from the BMC or MG models of the period. Sitting low in the cockpit between side exhaust on your left and pannier style fuel tank on your right you certainly feel in the heart of the action and the car starts and sounds well.  The engine is now silenced for the road but still emits enough cacophony to remind you that you are in a car designed and built to go racing.  It is now correctly registered for road use and can be driven to vintage events quite happily but would probably prefer to be entered for those events for which it was designed. Once prepared it should be eligible for such popular series as the Griffith Haig, Stirling Moss Trophy and the Equipe Series not to mention Historic Hillclimbs series across the UK and Europe.   A test drive is recommended!  Offered with a small spares package including the original bottom end (a fresher engine has been fitted) and the original wide rear wheels banded especially for Henderson to provide extra grip and fitted with period Firestone Green Spots (sadly now rather smooth!). The history file comes with a current UK V5c logbook, a letter of authenticity from Peter Ray, the original builder from 1999, some correspondence from Gord Henderson, period images of the vehicle at race meetings, two race entry plaques from the 1960’s and various other documents relating to the importing and registering of the vehicle for road use here in the UK.

£55,000 ONO