Aluminium & Tweed: Derek Lee and the AC 12/40 Sports

Derek wears: 1940s Soviet flying helmet and WWII RAF Mk.IIIA flying goggles.

Aboard this 1920s polished aluminium road rocket is Mr Derek Lee, a student of architecture and a young man of refined tastes. His suits are personally tailored in Hong Kong and his ability in finding original pre and directly post-war clothing is not in doubt. In this photoshoot, that was done in conjunction with the world’s greatest old car magazine (The Automobile), we find ourselves in the Surrey Hills and not so far from the original home of AC in Thames Ditton. Like with much in Men’s File, this story was put together as much by instinct as planning. We were aware of Derek’s interest in classic designs and his adherence to interwar styles. The car itself was based at restorer and purveyor of rare automobiles Walter Heale’s and our participant was free for the day. All we did was introduce man to car – and what a car.

The bare metal body glints in the spring sunshine and the 1500cc Anzani engine was originally certified by Brooklands as powering this (actual) machine to over 70mph on the hallowed circuit. The boat-tail gives a nod to early aerodynamics and yet the substantial steering wheel harks back to the veteran epoch. Nevertheless, the combination is attractive and suggestive of rakish intent. It’s said that this example is one of only two in existence, so piles of hen’s teeth and rocking horse droppings might have been perceived by passers-by in this idyllic rural Surrey setting.

To see more cars of this calibre, go to Walter Heale’s historicmotorcarworkshops.com

 
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Art FileNick Clements1966 Lambretta Special 125cc, Supertune Avanti racing colours, Ron Moss, David Hardy, Painter, Cotswolds, Wales, South Wales, Ruralist, 2017 Husqvarna 701 Endura