1953 Turner Formula 2 Monoposto

1953 Turner Formula 2 Monoposto
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no. FII 007
• The only Formula 2 Turner ever built
• Considerable in-period race history
• Known ownership history
• Present ownership since 2011
• Professionally restored in 1990 and again in 2011
• Well researched and documented
• Highly eligible for all the world's best events

Welsh engineer Jack Turner (1916 - 2011) started out by making a special for his own use and only became involved in motor manufacturing when he was asked to make others. Turners were built initially in Selsdon, Staffordshire and then at Pendeford Aerodrome, Wolverhampton. The first Turner road car was the Sports, seven examples of which were made as 'rolling chassis' kits during 1951/52, leaving customers to source their own engines and bodies. Like the contemporary Cooper and Tojeiro, the Turner used a ladder-type frame chassis with independent suspension all round by means of lower wishbones and transverse leaf springs. Unusually, Turner made his own alloy wheels, supplying them also to Tojeiro.

When the FIA decided in 1952 that Grand Prix races should be run to Formula 2 regulations, Jack Turner was approached by John Webb, a fellow director of Turner Sports Cars and an enthusiastic amateur racer, who wanted his own car for the series. Naturally enough, Turner's Formula 2 car used basically the same ladder-frame chassis and all-independent suspension as his successful sports cars. For the engine, Turner approached Lea Francis, whose chief designer Hugh Rose had been responsible for the later twin-cam Riley engine. The latter looked like a twin-overhead-camshaft design but its valves were operated by camshafts mounted in the cylinder block, and it was an improved version of this four-cylinder engine that was adopted by Lea Francis. The Lea Francis engine was enlarged to 1,960cc (Formula 2's upper capacity limit was 2 litres) and fitted with Turner's own aluminium twin-plug cylinder head and SU fuel injection, producing around 145bhp. Transmission arrangements consisted of an Armstrong pre-selector gearbox and ENV differential.
John Webb was scheduled to drive the Turner Formula 2 on its intended debut at Goodwood on 6th April 1953. Unfortunately, the car was not ready in time and its first competitive appearance was at the Silverstone International Trophy on 9th May 1953. Notwithstanding the fact that Webb was not a front-ranking driver, his 14th place in Heat 2 and 19th in the final were creditable results for a totally new car. Webb's results continued to disappoint, but the Turner faired better when driven by the more experienced – and considerably more talented – Jack Fairman. In his book Turner Sports Cars, Peter Tutthill says: "But Jack Fairman was soon to improve the outlook considerably. In heat 2 of the International Trophy at Silverstone on 15th May (1954) he started from 6th place on the grid, coming home in that position to qualify for the final. There were works entries from Ferrari, Maserati and Gordini, with top British drivers in Connaught, Cooper and Vanwall. Fairman drove a consistent race to finish 13th after 25 laps and with four cars behind him, a very respectable performance from car and driver. First five home were works Grand Prix entries."

Fairman continued to outshine Webb for the rest of the 1954 season, although even Jack's results were far from spectacular, highlights being a 4th place in heat 2 of the F1 race at Crystal Palace in June '54 and a 3rd place in heat 2 of the August Trophy at the South London circuit two months later. Returning to Crystal Palace on 18th September, Fairman secured an aggregate 5th place in the London Trophy event, one of the Turner's best results.

Webb continued to race the F2 Turner into 1955, and the car also had one (unsuccessful) outing with Ron Flockhart behind the wheel, at Goodwood's Lavant Cup race. At Crystal Palace on on Whit Monday the Turner locked a wheel at Ramp bend and flipped, pitching Webb onto the track, fortunately without serious injury. He raced on but with marriage on the horizon decided to retire later that year. The Turner F2 and its Bedford race transporter were put up for sale.

From the late 1950s onwards the Turner was owned by the Perkins family (John and Jean) before being inherited by our vendors in 2011. That same year the Turner was restored to race condition by IN Racing, including the addition of removable safety equipment. Bills for £22,000-plus relating to that rebuild are on file together with others relating to an earlier restoration by Rod Jolley, which had been commissioned by John 'Jack' Perkins in 1990 at a cost of over £46,000. Following the 1990s restoration, the Turner had spent many years on display in the Haynes Motor Museum.

As well as the aforementioned bills, the substantial history file also contains letters from Jack Turner; design documents; instruction manuals; and an FIA/MSA Historic Technical Passport (Class F2/1) valid until 31st December 2027. Also on file are documents relating to the following events attended: Castle Coombe Autumn Classic (2016); VSCC Silverstone (2017); and Goodwood Members' (2018). The original fuel tank is included in the sale.

Eligible for numerous Historic events and race series, including the Goodwood meetings and - potentially - Monaco Historique and HGPCA - this unique Turner Formula 2 car is worthy of the closest inspection.