Mini electric car (Zeta) distributed by TADC

[Nick Challacombe]

Bristol or Tony Crook related.
I think that Tony Crook at one time took on the distributorship of a small micro electric car and marketed them for a brief time from the Knightsbridge Show room. I have seen one in an Isle of Man classic car collection and Roger Dudding has one in his 434 collection off the North Circular.
A great friend of mine took on the lease of the showroom when the last incumbent's left and used it, and still is as his show piece showroom for Indian Motorcycles. A couple of months ago he took on the UK distributorship for am electric mini car and had a press launch there.
I mentioned that Anthony Crook I thought had done the same thing in the 60's and said I would ask around the club for memories.
If anyone could point me in the right direction I would be very pleased, I have looked through my Bristol/TAD Crood library but so far no luck.

[Stefan]

This was the Zagato Zele. Tony Cook bought five in various colours during the oil crisis. They are based on fiat 500 running gear and Zagato made a chunky , typically Zagato, body for them. The minimalist interior, some might opine, might resemble Early Ferrari.
Three of them stayed for many a long year in the yard outside the Patchway factory. If I recall correctly, there was one running one which Toby Silverton may have used. This may well have been in the car park underneath the Kensington showroom.
My dear and characterful Friend Ian Sternfeldt bought two of them from Patchway in delapidated but unused condition and stored them.
I don’t know if he has moved them on yet.
I got an opinion from a racing car electric engineer. he said that you would need to change the controller for a modern one as 50 years has gone by. The Early ones had a one horsepower motor , the later a whole 2 hp. The Zele used a number of lead acid car batteries in a frame, and ran on 48?72 ? Volts.
They were not badged Bristol Zagato, sadly, or I could not resist one.

[Nick Challacombe]

Thank you, I was on the right track but wrong name! So I have seen Two of them. One still in London in Roger Duddings collection of almost 500 classic cars. For instance an over kill is 27 different Lagonda saloons.
Another Zele is in the Isle of Man collection. So with 2 your friend bought and Toby Silverton’s toy that must be all 5.
The Dudding one from memory is an orangey red.

Thank you.

[Sam410]

The ex-Bristol/Silverton Zele was on the FBHVC stand at the NEC show last year, or maybe the year before. I think it is owned by the last chairman of the FBHVC.

[Philip]

One of the two which were in the underground car park at Windlesham went through Historics at Mercedes Benz World a few years ago:

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/...pp=24&pn=1&g=1

[Nick Challacombe]

Thank you Stefan, Sam and Philip, for all your knowledge and photograph.
The colour is the same as the one in Rodger Dudding's collection called Studio 434 at Lonsto House, 276 Chase Road, London, N14 6HA
web site www.lockupgarages.co.uk. You would never guess he also owns over 20,000 lock up garages over the UK!.
His collection is housed in a purpose built building over 4 floors holding part of his collection, the rest is the south side of the North Circular nearby which was the London Trolley bus depot.

My friend who leases the old Bristol show room, as one of his outlets, has main dealerships or distributorships for Morgan, Caterham, Dodge Ram, more motorbike franchises than I could throw a stick at. Tony Crook would turn in his grave is he knew the name of his company was Krazy Horse. He is using the basement as a sales area for accessories and a café.

The mini he is distributor for the UK is called the Microlino , looks very much like a Heinkel . Thanks again.