Doyle/Dickie Fastback Anglia Corvette

[Rascal]

To the best of my knowledge it is the same car, think it may have started life as a Palmer & Doak conversion which is how I think that it was 1st raced prior to the Chev installation

Hi Carlo, All myths aside, there is no Palmer & Doak connection, sorry Mate.


Murray Elwood purchased the Dark green 105E Anglia , virtually brand new; from Gluyas Ford around 1961.
Murray had long since completed his mechanics Apprentiship at Gluyas Ford, & Had modified a Ford 1937 v8 coupe and later a very rapid mk2 zephyr with 3 carb R/Mays type Head, etc , work that had been inspired by Murrays association with Ernie Sprague.

Murray ran The Anglia , on the street, lightly modified from stock , but with a 1200-1340 cc & twin carb upgrade , widened rims etc ,all along Keeping the very modified mk 2 Zephyr road car.

By this stage Murray had left Gluyas Ford & was running the workshop at Tinwald [ SHELL] service station for the owne Geoff Gearing.

Being in my last high school years about this time, My father Was responsible servicing most of the BP & Shell co Fuel pump & oil installations in Mid Canterbury and I went to most Garages with him on school Holiday breaks and witnesses first hand much of the Anglia Corvettes building from the start.

But, Long before the " Corvette" part of the Anglia came into being, Neil doyle , who worked the Doyle family farm at Mayfeild, inland from Ashburton , befriended Murray & may have soon purchased The Anglia , in that stock - lightly modified form , from Murray Elwood.
Doyle certainly raced it in that non v8 form at some venues, including the Waimate 50, where, some old film footage & photos that still exist , show the car , driven by Doyle ,clipping the Gutter & hay bales [ just off the main straight-first RH corner] & grinding to a halt with a broken stub axle & wheel still attached to one another.

It was after this that the chev v8 idea was mooted, the Greater costs funded by Neil , But much of the labour input, Running around ; advice & untold hours & hours of time & effort given by Murray Elwood & no doubt the garage proprietor Geoff Gearing.

The "GT350" decal on the car in the photo shown was Neil Doyles later method of entering the car
in various events as a "GT350 Sports" , this being due to MANZ at that time changing the rules about allcomers saloon eligability in many events.

Long after Murrays Anglia -corvette days had passed with the car in Neil Doyles ownership , murray continued to be involved in Local motorsport & encouraging many young guys, , this writer included; to get involved & we did.
Murray bought the remains of the Begg chev , previously driven by Brent Hawes
Rebuilt it , fitting an Olds - Buick alloy v8 engine & Had Vern Rule build a new body
and that was entered in Sports car events as the Elmac Olds.

Murray Had a love for Jaguar & Mercededs road cars & later shifted to Greymouth and worked For Jim Kennedy [ grey Ford dealership]

Theres no doubt that Alex Dickie, who acquired the car From Neil Doyle, certainly transformed it into a much better Car, the extended wheelbase [ Floor chassis longer from the B pillar back] & smoother frontal mods highlighting those changes.
That fact that this car has survived at all, is great to see and what the new owner is doing to restore it back to that allcomer saloon status.
.

[Grant Sprague]

Hi Carlo, All myths aside, there is no Palmer & Doak connection, sorry Mate.


Murray Elwood purchased the Dark green 105E Anglia , virtually brand new; from Gluyas Ford around 1961.
Murray had long since completed his mechanics Apprentiship at Gluyas Ford, & Had modified a Ford 1937 v8 coupe and later a very rapid mk2 zephyr with 3 carb R/Mays type Head, etc , work that had been inspired by Murrays association with Ernie Sprague.

Murray ran The Anglia , on the street, lightly modified from stock , but with a 1200-1340 cc & twin carb upgrade , widened rims etc ,all along Keeping the very modified mk 2 Zephyr road car.

By this stage Murray had left Gluyas Ford & was running the workshop at Tinwald [ SHELL] service station for the owne Geoff Gearing.

Being in my last high school years about this time, My father Was responsible servicing most of the BP & Shell co Fuel pump & oil installations in Mid Canterbury and I went to most Garages with him on school Holiday breaks and witnesses first hand much of the Anglia Corvettes building from the start.

But, Long before the " Corvette" part of the Anglia came into being, Neil doyle , who worked the Doyle family farm at Mayfeild, inland from Ashburton , befriended Murray & may have soon purchased The Anglia , in that stock - lightly modified form , from Murray Elwood.
Doyle certainly raced it in that non v8 form at some venues, including the Waimate 50, where, some old film footage & photos that still exist , show the car , driven by Doyle ,clipping the Gutter & hay bales [ just off the main straight-first RH corner] & grinding to a halt with a broken stub axle & wheel still attached to one another.

It was after this that the chev v8 idea was mooted, the Greater costs funded by Neil , But much of the labour input, Running around ; advice & untold hours & hours of time & effort given by Murray Elwood & no doubt the garage proprietor Geoff Gearing.

The "GT350" decal on the car in the photo shown was Neil Doyles later method of entering the car
in various events as a "GT350 Sports" , this being due to MANZ at that time changing the rules about allcomers saloon eligability in many events.

Long after Murrays Anglia -corvette days had passed with the car in Neil Doyles ownership , murray continued to be involved in Local motorsport & encouraging many young guys, , this writer included; to get involved & we did.
Murray bought the remains of the Begg chev , previously driven by Brent Hawes
Rebuilt it , fitting an Olds - Buick alloy v8 engine & Had Vern Rule build a new body
and that was entered in Sports car events as the Elmac Olds.

Murray Had a love for Jaguar & Mercededs road cars & later shifted to Greymouth and worked For Jim Kennedy [ grey Ford dealership]

Theres no doubt that Alex Dickie, who acquired the car From Neil Doyle, certainly transformed it into a much better Car, the extended wheelbase [ Floor chassis longer from the B pillar back] & smoother frontal mods highlighting those changes.
That fact that this car has survived at all, is great to see and what the new owner is doing to restore it back to that allcomer saloon status.
.

With out a doubt , in my opinion this SI car was the best looking , meanest ... Anglia ever ......watched it race as a kid for many years , Neal Doyle drove it so well .. not sure how he stopped the thing , would have been a heavy old girl.... but seemed to pull up well as I remember .....

[Frosty5]

Hi Carlo, All myths aside, there is no Palmer & Doak connection, sorry Mate.


Murray Elwood purchased the Dark green 105E Anglia , virtually brand new; from Gluyas Ford around 1961.
Murray had long since completed his mechanics Apprentiship at Gluyas Ford, & Had modified a Ford 1937 v8 coupe and later a very rapid mk2 zephyr with 3 carb R/Mays type Head, etc , work that had been inspired by Murrays association with Ernie Sprague.

Murray ran The Anglia , on the street, lightly modified from stock , but with a 1200-1340 cc & twin carb upgrade , widened rims etc ,all along Keeping the very modified mk 2 Zephyr road car.

By this stage Murray had left Gluyas Ford & was running the workshop at Tinwald [ SHELL] service station for the owne Geoff Gearing.

Being in my last high school years about this time, My father Was responsible servicing most of the BP & Shell co Fuel pump & oil installations in Mid Canterbury and I went to most Garages with him on school Holiday breaks and witnesses first hand much of the Anglia Corvettes building from the start.

But, Long before the " Corvette" part of the Anglia came into being, Neil doyle , who worked the Doyle family farm at Mayfeild, inland from Ashburton , befriended Murray & may have soon purchased The Anglia , in that stock - lightly modified form , from Murray Elwood.
Doyle certainly raced it in that non v8 form at some venues, including the Waimate 50, where, some old film footage & photos that still exist , show the car , driven by Doyle ,clipping the Gutter & hay bales [ just off the main straight-first RH corner] & grinding to a halt with a broken stub axle & wheel still attached to one another.

It was after this that the chev v8 idea was mooted, the Greater costs funded by Neil , But much of the labour input, Running around ; advice & untold hours & hours of time & effort given by Murray Elwood & no doubt the garage proprietor Geoff Gearing.

The "GT350" decal on the car in the photo shown was Neil Doyles later method of entering the car
in various events as a "GT350 Sports" , this being due to MANZ at that time changing the rules about allcomers saloon eligability in many events.

Long after Murrays Anglia -corvette days had passed with the car in Neil Doyles ownership , murray continued to be involved in Local motorsport & encouraging many young guys, , this writer included; to get involved & we did.
Murray bought the remains of the Begg chev , previously driven by Brent Hawes
Rebuilt it , fitting an Olds - Buick alloy v8 engine & Had Vern Rule build a new body
and that was entered in Sports car events as the Elmac Olds.

Murray Had a love for Jaguar & Mercededs road cars & later shifted to Greymouth and worked For Jim Kennedy [ grey Ford dealership]

Theres no doubt that Alex Dickie, who acquired the car From Neil Doyle, certainly transformed it into a much better Car, the extended wheelbase [ Floor chassis longer from the B pillar back] & smoother frontal mods highlighting those changes.
That fact that this car has survived at all, is great to see and what the new owner is doing to restore it back to that allcomer saloon status.
.

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Johnny Riley fit an Oldsmobile V8 to an Anglia. I recall a story that he was coming south and took the Tip Top corner on the motorway around 138mph. Apparently only he and the laundry man knew how scared he was. Myth or fact.
Dave Graham

[Grant Sprague]

Hi Dave......I am not sure ......not heard of this probably a NI thing in the 60,s.... some one else might though some light on it .. cheers Grant