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©John E.F.Rawlins (New Davrian Register) 2023
Davrian Owners’ Stories
Date Compiled: 16/03/23
From Dave Barnett (19/04/20)
I bought my Davrian Mk1/2, registration number ERA 4H and chassis no LTO 94 in June 2012 from Adrianes De Teuling, whose father had purchased her in 1980 to do some sprints and hillclimbs in Holland. The car had been converted to LHD and half rebuilt but ended up unfinished (how unusual!) and was then left in a workshop loft for around 30 years. Prior to that, the previous owner was a Peter Leopold who originally bought the Davrian in 1977. I did manage to trace Peter and he confirmed that he had owned the car and promised me some photos and that he would write down anything he could remember. I did pester him again but have never heard back from him. It's been a few years now so I'm unsure whether to have another go. The old green log book only goes back to Peter so that’s where the history ends.
The car looks like it's an early example which has had a different roof bonded on at some later date and someone has cut into the body and then laminated the roof complete with rear deck, into the hole. I'm guessing that Adrian may have done this so as to transform it from a Mk1 to a Mk2.
While reading the 2017 NDR Newsletter, I found a brief article about Ben Graham who worked with Adrian at about that time and who built a car for himself, possibly with chassis no 011. Tim Duffee identified the roof design and body as being the same as 012 which he restored and altered for Mike Osborne, so I'm wondering if mine may be Ben’s car (see note)? At some stage, Adrianes’ father attempted to re-
I’m sorry to say that I haven't done very much to the car up until now: Three Davrians are two too many and I'm always busy restoring customers’ classics, but I would love to restore it to its 1968 specification (if I live long enough!).
Any info or thoughts you may have would be very welcome!.
Note from John Rawlins: When I met Ben some years back, he told me that the car he built went with him to Barbados. I have since tried communicating with him (and his son who lives in the UK) without success, but I now believe that he has sadly passed away.
To see your Davrian-