I was going through a box of old photos and found a couple of pics of a Tickford Metro that my friend once had so I thought you guys would like a look. He bought it for next to no money, but it was seriously rotten underneath so he broke it. It wasn’t worth anything back then (about 15 years ago). It once belonged to 70s singer Lynsey DePaul and was supposedly a Turbo with an Auto box from Tickford - however by the time he got his hands on it, it was normally aspirated - presumably because Tickford could never get it to work properly as this was made prior to the factory Turbo being released and the fact it was an Auto…
The roof had very strange roof bars on which looked like they were made from a heavily varnished hard wood (only just visible in the pic) and it had a horrid body kit on it. From what I remember he kept everything from the interior (still waiting for him to put it in a Mini), but sold the body kit. The wheels were stolen from his boss’s work unit. Don’t know if he kept anything from the engine bay or not, but the car was beyond saving. There was daylight visible in several places in the floor and the heelboard was non-existent. Shame really with hindsight, but at the time it was not financially viable and nobody wanted to buy it.
The spec was massive for a 1981 small hatchback - electric heated seats, thick Wilton carpet and mats, everything trimmed in leather and there were numerous little additions here and there which stood over and above the standard Metro such as the fully trimmed steering column, custom dashboard, electric sunroof, massive (old) speakers in the doors, electric windows and wood cappings everywhere. It was quite an odd thing really.
“When the Metro was launched as the Mini for the Eighties, it was almost inevitable that it would come in for similar treatment from Wood & Pickett…”
Those photos of a Metro that once belonged to singer Lynsey DePaul described as a Tickford Turbo with an Auto box…interior seems more upmarket than other Tickford Metros in links below and the dash has a hint of Wood & Pickett Mini dash about it…so was it actually a Wood & Pickett Metro perhaps?
“The Tickford name was owned by Aston Martin, whose engineers and stylists designed this car. The scope of the conversion echoed that of the later Tickford Capri…”
Found this on AROnline but sadly the link is broken (scroll down) :-
Modified Metros: Wood & Pickett Metros
“Another name from the Mini’s heyday – Wood and Pickett returned in 1981, offering some lavish Metro conversions, including the Ogle-styled Laser Metro… Wood and Pickett Laser Metro The Laser Metro was certainly treated as a bespoke car for discerning customers: price ranged from £11,000 to £17,000 and extras included Recaro seats, air conditioning and…”
I think these ebay brochures, roofbars and the bodykit shape and style confirms it was actually a W&P…would probably have been worth restoring today as a rare car.
I was going through a box of old photos and found a couple of pics of a Tickford Metro that my friend once had so I thought you guys would like a look. He bought it for next to no money, but it was seriously rotten underneath so he broke it. It wasn’t worth anything back then (about 15 years ago). It once belonged to 70s singer Lynsey DePaul and was supposedly a Turbo with an Auto box from Tickford - however by the time he got his hands on it, it was normally aspirated - presumably because Tickford could never get it to work properly as this was made prior to the factory Turbo being released and the fact it was an Auto…
The roof had very strange roof bars on which looked like they were made from a heavily varnished hard wood (only just visible in the pic) and it had a horrid body kit on it. From what I remember he kept everything from the interior (still waiting for him to put it in a Mini), but sold the body kit. The wheels were stolen from his boss’s work unit. Don’t know if he kept anything from the engine bay or not, but the car was beyond saving. There was daylight visible in several places in the floor and the heelboard was non-existent. Shame really with hindsight, but at the time it was not financially viable and nobody wanted to buy it.
The spec was massive for a 1981 small hatchback - electric heated seats, thick Wilton carpet and mats, everything trimmed in leather and there were numerous little additions here and there which stood over and above the standard Metro such as the fully trimmed steering column, custom dashboard, electric sunroof, massive (old) speakers in the doors, electric windows and wood cappings everywhere. It was quite an odd thing really.
Exterior shot
And lots of lovely leather & Wilton
I love these, thanks for posting the pics. Shame your mate didn’t have a crystal ball
I’ve got a press photo of a Tickford Metro somewhere. I’ll find it, scan it and post it here.
I think these ebay brochures, roofbars and the bodykit shape and style confirms it was actually a W&P…would probably have been worth restoring today as a rare car.
Wood & Pickett Ogle Metro Laser 1981 Brochure
Yes the car is a rare early Wood & Pickett with the Margrave type dash (very rare) only a very few was build with this dash, before W&P changed the design.
JC you’re dead right. I spoke to my friend the other day and he confirmed that it was a Wood and Pickett Metro, not a Tickford.
Shows that my memory is a bit rubbish…
It’s amazing what we threw away “back in the day”. This was an unusual and rare car with some history but nobody wanted it in those days. Same thing happened to my Mini 25 after I sold it. Someone bought it for Ministox. Being a limited edition, even a basket case 25 has value today.
