Robin Lackford Engineering

Robn LacKtrd Engineenng

WHAT’S YOUR HISTORY?

I started the business in the mid-1980s, but I’d been in motor sport since the 1970s, racing in Special Saloons with an Anglia, Escort and a Fiat 850 Sport with a BDA engine. Then I thought, I’m spending a lot of time helping others so why don’t I make it a business? Now I have built up to seven employees.

WHAT’S YOUR RANGE OF SKILLS?

We can tackle anything from changing a light bulb to a complete engine and body rebuild. We have a full mechanical, fabrication and race preparation shop, paint booth, assembly area and a trimmer, and ash frames for bodywork are handled by a joinery shop on the same site. Also we offer a transport service across Europe.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIALISATION?

Race-prepping MGs, especially Midgets and A-H Sprites, and Formula Juniors. We’re the leading MG Owners Club repairer in Sussex, although we handle Healeys, Astons, Jaguars and many classic road cars. We’re also doing a lot more classic rally preparation nowadays. We sponsor the MDOC Sprite/Midget championship this year, too.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKSHOP NOW?

Two S-type Jaguars and a Mk2, a couple of racing Sprites, Daimler 420, MG PA four-seater Volvo P1800, DB-Panhard sports-racer. And my racers an Elva 100 FJ, a Sprite and an MGB.

WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU PROUD OF?

All of them! I mean that you’re only as good as the last car out of the shop. But we were pleased with the Autosud Formula Junior and the F3 Tecno we prepared. And an Imp van which was a Rootes works vehicle: we restored it to just how it was in the factory, even replicating the Rootes stickers on it. GC was talking to Robin Lackford www.robinlackford.co.uk