A rare British V8.

roadmap · 4 Feb 2018, 12:26 (Ref:3798406)

Raymond Mays V8 sports cars were produced at Eastgate House , Bourne , Lincolnshire in the E.R.A workshops by " Shelsley Motors Ltd " a company set up to distribute them.

Five cars were designed in 1938 and finished in 1939 with only two surviving today.

They were planned to be E.R.A sports cars but with internal bickering within the board and E.R.A concerning trade mark ownership , financing and WW2 on the horizon , the venture stalled but not before four cars took part in the RAC rally in 1939 and then one car driven around Brooklands by A.F Rivers Fletcher at a tad under 110 m.ph.

After the end of the hostilities the market for large sports cars disappeared and Raymond Mays was so engrossed with the B.R.M project and the E.R.A concern was broken up and sold off.

The chassis , steering and running gear was supplied from John Black M.D of Standard cars and was suitably modified and altered by the race team at Bourne led by Peter Berthon with the handling in particular attracting glowing praise from the motoring press and with the speed attained at Brooklands the car was no slouch.

There was friction between Black and Lyons due to Standard producing parts that were common between particularly the SS Jaguars and supplying them to E.R.A for the Raymond Mays but this was soon forgotten about as all car production was stopped in the U.K and the factories were used to produce items for the struggle ahead.

**John Turner** · 20 Feb 2018, 09:11 (Ref:3802561)

Excellent and interesting post. I should get in here more often!

merak1974 · 15 Apr 2018, 18:01 (Ref:3815798)

I had no idea ERA had ever made road cars. Where they badged ERA?

roadmap · 15 Apr 2018, 18:50 (Ref:3815807)

Quote:

Originally Posted by merak1974

I had no idea ERA had ever made road cars. Where they badged ERA?

They were badged as Raymond Mays.

Click image for larger version

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roadmap · 15 Apr 2018, 18:53 (Ref:3815808)

Dashboard

merak1974 · 15 Apr 2018, 23:16 (Ref:3815873)

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadmap

They were badged as Raymond Mays.

Attachment 51155

Thanks.
Learned something today

roadmap · 7 Jan 2020, 16:32 (Ref:3950242)

Thoroughly enjoyed restoring the car over four years and its is now a stable companion of Romulus residing in the States.

Looking now for another interesting sports / racing car as need something to restore as enjoy the challenge and stop me going to seed.

SnoodyMcFlude · 7 Jan 2020, 18:42 (Ref:3950255)

My old man used to have an Austin 7 special with the license plate FLN.

roadmap · 15 Jan 2020, 06:36 (Ref:3951688)

An order for 500 V8 engines was given by Standard to Coventry Climax which were to be breathed upon in the Bourne workshops by Peter Berthon but due to various objections from William Lyons to Black and WW2 approaching the total production was discontinued.

The R.M is now in a wonderful stable in the U.S which includes amongst others Romulus.

roadmap · 29 May 2021, 14:41 (Ref:4053760)

Have acquired the 1939 Raymond Mays V8 Drophead foursome Coupe by Carlton and its on route now to the U.K. after several years of trying.

Chassis RM 5 was Lancelot Prideaux- Brune's own car and he was the major shareholder and M.D of Shelsley Motors Ltd. who by this time has sold his shareholding in Aston Martin. He drove the car up until 1951 then advertised it for sale.

He drove the car in the 1939 RAC rally and then the Welsh rally managing to win the Premier coachwork award but as WW2 was on the horizon the company was closed.

There were also the three tourers entered for the RAC rally but only one RM1 is known to be left.

The saloon car was sold to a buyer in NZ but the ship was torpedoed leaving just the two cars left today.

Would welcome any more photos or details

**John Turner** · 17 Jul 2021, 09:05 (Ref:4061365)

Sorry about delayed reaction, but great stuff, roadmap. Is it back here now and if so, in what state?

roadmap · 17 Jul 2021, 09:59 (Ref:4061383)

roadmap · 17 Jul 2021, 10:04 (Ref:4061384)

Hi John
Received this photo taken in 2017 at a car show in San Marino CA and since has been kept in the museum with a few outings , so hopefully will be out and about once it arrives as still on route due to worldwide freight issues. Ta Stewart

rbs · 12 Sep 2022, 17:40 (Ref:4125868)

FLN 388 was at Shelsley Wash Classic Nostalgia in July.

JasperClan · 12 Sep 2022, 22:49 (Ref:4125901)

FLN 388 was at the Maxey Car Show, near Peterborough, on 13th August where it picked up an award.

Pete Richards.

E.B · 14 Sep 2022, 02:35 (Ref:4126025)

FWIW FLN388 is currently taxed in the UK expiring 1st April 2023.
It is MOT Test exempt
Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 12 April 2022

Edit: Posted this and then read the rest of the thread realising this post is irrelevant. Apologies

daneferrari · 27 Apr 2023, 08:11 (Ref:4153144)

I saw a badge like this in one of the markets in Turin. Didn't know they were of any value...

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