1950 Lea Francis 2.5 ltr Sports

‘KVF 978’ is not your ordinary Lea-Francis 2.5 Litre Sports – if a car as rare and exotic as a Lea-Francis can ever be described as “ordinary”.

A Sports Special built in 1985 on a shortened chassis, this one sports a Morgan’s front wings and rear section, a swap the similarities in construction methods would presumably have facilitated.

The engine was upgraded with a reconditioned 120bhp version, and this in turn sends its power to the rear axle via a four-speed Ford gearbox that has been fitted with a Laycock overdrive for more relaxed high-speed touring.

The seller bought the Lea-Francis a year ago as a poorly-running project. He’s enjoyed putting Daisy, for that is the car’s name, back on the road but feels it would be best served in the hands of an enthusiast who has the time on their hands to enable it to fulfil its considerable potential.

One of the issues of buying a handbuilt car from such a limited production run is that if you need replacement panels then they will have to be handmade too – and bespoke alloy metalwork is not cheap.

This makes the use of Morgan front wings and the rear body something of a masterstroke; while you won’t find them on the shelf at your local Halfords, finding new ones is going to be a helluva lot easier and cheaper than commissioning someone to beat a set out by hand.

They also fit so well that we suspect only an afficionado would know they aren’t the genuine items.

The Light Ivory and Beige finish (paint code RAL 1015 and RAL 1001 respectively) suits the car’s lines with the slightly darker finish of the doors, rear wings, and the sides of the bonnet emphasising the flowing lines of the four wings, which flow into elegant running boards.

It’s an utterly charming combination that’s further enhanced by extensive chromework that includes the radiator shell, the four lamp shells, and the front and rear bumpers as well as miscellaneous smaller items like the mirrors, door handles, and bonnet vents.

The headlamps are genuine Lucas items too, as are the driving lamps and the rear lights. All are in good shape with no chips, cracks, or other damage.

The coachwork, like the wire wheels, appears to have been hand-painted and while the paint finish isn’t terrible – and a professional paint correction would help – it is thin in places, which would limit how much they could improve it.

While we’re on the subject of jobs to do, all of the tyres, including the boot-mounted spare, are old and have cracked sidewalls so will need to be replaced.

However, the fabric roof fits well, and the three plastic windows give good rearward visibility. It rises and falls easily on its frame too, and the combination of the roof and the separate side screens and quarterlights make for a snug cabin, even in adverse weather.

The roof fabric is free of rips, tears, and even loose seams; in fact, its condition is so good that we suspect it’s fairly recent – and the contrasting binding also makes us think it wouldn’t have been cheap, either.

Sometimes buying a classic involves a bit of detective work, reading between the lines and interpreting clues and we like to think we’ve got a bit of experience in this area, although we have to admit that the writing on the (decent) inner headlining has left us scratching our heads.

Talking of scratches, the Perspex side screens and quarterlights are both scratched, and the windscreen has a noticeable repair at the top of the driver’s side.

As for other flaws, there is a scratch on the rear bumper as well as a couple of paint runs under the headlamps, and the door mirrors do not match.

The hand-painted theme continues inside with recoloured bucket seats, which grip the driver and passenger firmly yet are still very comfortable, proving that support and comfort need not be mutually exclusive.

Seatbelts are also fitted, which is good to see, as is the presence of a fire extinguisher within easy reach on the transmission tunnel.

The vast four-spoke steering wheel provides a suitably vintage feel, while the comprehensive instrumentation reinforces the aesthetic while also providing all the information even the keenest driver could ask for.

They’re a nicely balanced mix too, with Jaeger instruments covering distance and speed plus coolant temperature and oil pressure. Smiths chips in with a fuel gauge while an unnamed supplier covers battery charge.

Wooden door caps are joined by a wooden armrest/cubby plus another useful storage box astride the transmission tunnel under the dashboard. A full-width storage compartment with an attractive wooden lid lies behind the seats, with another, this this time with a lockable lid, fitted to the rear bulkhead.

The carpets are neatly fitted, clean, and free of damage. The dashboard is covered in a caramel vinyl, with the door cards, footwells, and transmission tunnel being covered in a complementary vinyl, all of which is in good order.

As you can see, the engine starts well and quickly builds 40psi of oil pressure. Revving it develops a good charge to the battery too as well as a fruity exhaust note from the stainless-steel system.

However, our test drive revealed such poor brakes that they will need to be repaired before it can be driven on the road, so you’ll need a trailer or similar to collect it.

The underbonnet area is decently clean but further improvements could be made, especially if you’re as impressed as we are with some of the engineering flourishes that abound, which include beautifully labelled filler caps for the engine oil and engraved brass instruction and patent plates.

Additions include pancake air filters for the twin SU carburettors and a wrapped exhaust manifold. A grease gun is also fitted behind the recent-looking battery, and a few spare parts are included: Please see the photos for details.

While you’re fiddling about under there you could investigate a neater solution than cable ties, and perhaps tidy up and protect some of the wiring.

The underside has a few loose wires too but is otherwise very presentable with a good coating of underseal across all areas.

The Lea-Francis has retained its original ‘buff’ logbook as well as a good selection of expired MoT certificates, a reproduction Instruction Book, a copy of The Lea-Francis Story by Barrie Price, and a box of magazines from the Lea-Francis Owners’ Club.

The history file also includes a handwritten diagram of the gear position plus notes on how to start it, details on what fluids to use, paint codes for the two-tone coachwork, a reminder that the car is positively earthed, and much more.

Too much, really, to photograph but of you fancy popping along to take a look we’ll be happy to supply the coffee.

The Lea Francis does not have an MoT certificate.

The recent Vehicle History Check shows the car as having been written off in April 2001. However, the registration number is shown as ‘J812 OBU’, which could only be fitted to a much younger vehicle, and the seller is adamant that the Lea-Francis still wears its original registration number, so simply cannot be the car referred to with the J-registration.

The report also shows a change of colour from black to white in 1986, which is correct and further evidence this is a SNAFU as the car’s history is known from that point onwards as that as the period it was converted to the specification it’s in today.

Finally, the history file includes an email from the chap who converted it explaining that the reconditioned engine had been destined for a different car entirely – until that car was written-off in a garage fire.

It is perfectly possible that they’d jumped the gun and informed the DVLA that the engine transplant had already taken place, even though the engine had never been near the scene.

The upgrades this Lea-Francis Sports Special benefits from have created a car that is both easier to maintain and better to drive than a factory-spec example, making it ideal for the enthusiast who’s looking for one to drive rather than to show.

Of course, we’ve identified a few jobs to do before that can happen but we imagine a set of new tyres and fettling the brakes could be done fairly quickly, certainly in time for its lucky new owner to be able to enjoy the last of the summer in it.

As for our estimate, we suspect the bidding will end somewhere between £13,000 and £18,000, which feels like astonishing value, especially as you’ll be adding value with every job you tick off the short list of things to do.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.