A piece of automobile history will be on view this weekend in the Lancaster factory where it was produced 70 years ago.
Earlier this year the remains of a very special car were uncovered in a corner of a Cumbrian scrap yard. What unfolded then was a story that might have put Lancaster on the map as a car manufacturing town in the years after the second world war.
The story starts with the attempt by British MP and entrepreneur Denis Kendall to develop a post war ‘People’s Car’ that would be a small family car, affordable for everyone. After an initial plan to set up a car factory in Grantham Lincolnshire failed, Kendall sold the idea and all the plans to the Hartnett Motor Company in Australia.
It was at this point that Luneside Engineering Company in Halton near Lancaster were contracted by the Australian firm to assemble the car in Britain. For reasons that still remain something of a mystery, the Luneside contract fell through.
While Hartnett went ahead and produced versions of the car themselves in Australia all trace of the car that was to have been produced in Lancaster seemed to have disappeared and faded from memory.
That was until earlier this year when Chris Coates, site manager at Halton Mill which has developed the old Luneside Engineering factory into a work and event space, received a surprise phone call.
“Out of the blue a worker at the Wicks recycling yard in Kendal rang,’’ said Chris.
‘’(He) said they had found a rather strange car chassis in the corner of the scrapyard they had just taken over, which they thought had been made in Halton.
‘’It seems that at least one car was assembled by Luneside Engineering and was removed to the scrapyard once the factory closed down.”
The discovery of what turned out to be possibly the last remaining parts of a model Kendall ‘People’s Car’ has sparked something of a flurry of excitement among motoring history enthusiasts in both the UK and Australia.
“We felt we had to bring this unique find back to Halton, and Heritage Open Day seemed the perfect opportunity.”
The aluminium chassis of the Kendall/Hartnett car will be on display at Halton Mill on Saturday 17th September, between 10am to 4pm, as part of Heritage Open Day.
There will also be the premiere of a film about Luneside Engineering at 2pm, plus an exhibition of the Luneside workers at play.
All are welcome, and entry free. See https://haltonmill.org.uk/ for details.
North Lancashire vs Lancaster, Preston and Ribble Valley: Battle over name for new council
LISTEN: Caring animal rescue charity set to move to new home in Morecambe
New healthy drinks shop opens in West End of Morecambe
LIVE UPDATES: Businesses closed and roads flooded as heavy rain hits Lancaster and Morecambe area
UPDATED: Crunch meeting called to vote on future of Morecambe club now cancelled
Morecambe-based reality show starring Tyson Fury up for National Television Award
Man and dog flee scene after attack on chihuahua in Lancaster
Mayor of Lancaster saddles up for charity race night
LISTEN: Personal trainers set for gruelling 100-mile three peaks charity challenge
Mum takes on a million steps to help school and toy appeal in memory of caring daughter
Student apartments plan revealed for derelict former Lancaster pub
PHOTOS: New images reveal plan for major renovations at Morecambe's iconic Midland Hotel
Stunning new drone images show 100 'Eric Morecambes' on beach to celebrate centenary
Rescue team's warning after motorist cut off by rising tide
Trapped person freed from vehicle after crash in Heysham
Firefighters tackle house fire in Lancaster
Firefighters called to wildfire in Lancaster
UPDATED: Police put 48 hour dispersal order in place after report of stabbing and arrests in Lancaster
Eden Project Morecambe Hub set to open as start of work on site draws closer
