Original ABC Tricar owner calls in

A lovely message from John Byfield: "Hello Jeroen, I have just found Maximum Mini website and spotted my old car there. I owned BFD141J from new, 1971-1974. It was bronze yellow then as you can see. It had superb handling but a large frame tent forced its sale in '74. I did the ACU 24-hour road rally in it a couple of times, once with Trevor Powell, his car had a Clubman front and bigger engine."

"The ACU is the National body regulating motorcycle sport in this country and in the 1970s they ran a 24-hour road rally for motorcycles and three-wheelers. It was for 600 miles and competitors had to navigate between various checkpoints around the country. I managed to win the 3-wheeler class one year in the ABC. The rally still exists although in a different format. Thanks to your website I am now in touch with Trevor Powell, whose father built the Tricars and he is restoring the first car. Regards, John"

The last sign of life from John's old car car dates back to 2021, when it was spotted by reader Grant Cox in a garden (click here for more). Is it still there?

 

John Byfield's ABC Tricar, which he bought new in 1971 and used twice in the ACU Rally

Picture courtesy John Byfield

'BFD 131J' does survive - only just. It was seen in a garden a couple of years ago (click)

Picture courtesy John Byfield