just read in the magazine that there were only 24 originally. and saw a chat from Juy '20 saying only 7 left?
it would be good article for the magazine to track down the remaining cars.
my ex bought one that had been re-sprayed black, presumably because the dealer in Mayfair couldn’t shift the green and orange? I think the reg was J820 KCK . be great to know who has it now. I feel guilty that it was re-sprayed, seems a bit of a crime now in hindsight.
MX5 Restorer has a black Le Mans they are restoring, couple of blogs on their web page about it.
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The Le Mans were all originally red cars, repainted in the Renown colours by the Mazda importer. When you opened the bonnet, you can see the overspray apparently.
Doug Passell on the forum had amassed a fair amount of info on the cars. Apparently, 2 of them were repainted black. Doug had one of the black cars.
There was an article on the model in the November 2009 issue of the Club magaine:
Including the blue Le Mans
There were lots of photos on the forum, but these were lost when we changed forum software. Doug doesn’t seem to post anymore.
J820 KCK does not come up on the DVLA website now.
Back in “them days”, there were a few LM groups shots like this.
I know of at least one in a collector’s garage in France which was sold out of the UK a few years back.
It’s pristine, and does come out in the sun I believe now and again. I think a long time back another went to Italy. There may be more than 7 alive…in the LM livery if not resprayed.
I’d have thought some sort of register may have been created…seems not?
Reg J42KFP 's UK MOT expired in 2010 as 1 example but that does not mean it’s been wrecked.
That was flogged off by a dealer in the early 2008 for circa 4k but it’s been “dead” for 11 years now…apparently…unless it’s abroad as well.
MIL7428 in the photo…well that reg now adorns a 7 years old Pug.
I think tracing the survivors would be pretty difficult.
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Former Club Chairman Roger Mead keeps the Club’s register of LMs (and contact with owners) as he has one himself. We amassed quite a few together at the 2019 Anniversary Rally at Gaydon and the previous Gaydon Rally, so as far as I’m aware we are pretty clued up on where quite a few of them are now. Mazda UK have had a couple in their heritage collection, one of which is now back in private hands.
2014 rally,
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nice, what seats are those?
Hi, do your wheels have polished rims? could you post a pic please? Many thanks, Pete.
I hand polished the spokes centre cap and rims on the kitchen table, zoom in on the pic already posted you can easily see the finish.
They are not lacquered just bare alloy.
Original specifications would have been all painted silver with diamond cut rim that was lacquered.
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Previous Le Mans owner here (The black one mentioned in this thread and J16 LEM) and I wish I’d never sold ! I think they’re fantastic.
I’ve been looking for one for sale all year… so if any of the current owners would be interested in a really good offer, please do message me and let me know ! The LM and I have unfinished business !!!
I was wondering what the original spec was, thanks for that. Mine are all silver so I may get the rims done, can you even get the rims re diamond cut?
There are plenty of places round the UK that can do that.
I need a set doing for a Citroen AXGT and I’m sending those to we restore alloys in sterling.
That’s good to know, Sterling though, lovely as it is, is a tad too far for me living in Brighton! I will shop around and see what I can find round here. Many thanks. Pete.
Stirling is also too far for me but they are the only company that I have found that can mount 3 stud wheels.
It’s a bit annoying as there are two really good companies close to me in Telford and cannock.