Lea Francis sportsracer, any memories?

I have a car rebodied by Joe Gertler Sr. of Raceway Garage in the Bronx(later Long Island). It was based on a Lea Francis car or possibly a 'speedway' Lea Francis alky engine. We have as built pics showing the 1953 NY tags but have no idea how to search that tme period's registration records. It was built for a Dr. Ryan. Ryan is listed has having driven in the senior cl*** at ***berland in the early 50's in a xk-120

We acquired the car in northern NJ around 1970 after it was hacked and altered to become the C/A drag car 'Rumplestilskin' (mechanic is listed as Big Tom

The as built pics were sent to by Jody Gertler(Joe Jr).

Any memories? I'd love to find some track pics!!

 

Do you know what the ch***is looked like?

 

Other then 96" wheelbase its all speculation based on Gertler's other work. Lea Francis sports cars of the period were 99". Gertler may have altered OR scratch built , we just dont know.

My current plan is a full tube ch***is close to a c-jag with specific Lea Francis forms such as cross bracing with drilled and flair holes and such. LeaF changed to front torsion bars during this period and I have a front suspension already. Rear for this will be Salisbury with LS and disk brakes (already sourced)

Ch***is will be setup to fit the LeaF engine, a period jag engine(3.4) and a 331 caddy. Other known Gertler cars started life with various engines only to have 331's installed (the D&D Ford B Special had one by 49', plus 4 wheel disk brakes from aero use). I have the jag engine here already and am trying to source a caddy even if its a core for sizing.

Of couse I have to ***ume as soon as any of this work is completed new information will arise showing me something different!

Story is the ch***is with an alloy block v-8 was s****ped in NJ/LI about the time we bought the body. It is hearsay , but its all we know. Knowing Gertlers work it could have been anything car/aero, or boat sourced!

 

I can't tell you anything about the car as a drag racer

I think I could as a sports car if you had old ch***is shots with the LeaF
engine configuration. Do you have any photos of the frame when it had the body in the old photos or before? If not I'm not going to be able to help you.

 

Chances are Gertler (the son) as construction photos, but he has hundreds of photos from his dads shop in boxes.

I doubt it will be found any time soon unless I can make a trip to him and help sort.