Registration: IOM-Reg
Chassis: JNAEW3AC102269
Odometer: 10,088
Transmission: Manual

• Built at an estimated cost of over £80,000
• 9 year build completed in 2006
• Very rare alloy bodywork, only a handful ever built, Indeed, the last produced
• “…the closest interpretation of a typical racing car of the 1940-1950's for use on the road.” Ronart Cars Ltd

This spectacular V12 alloy-bodied special is being offered from a deceased estate and comes to us from the Isle of Man currently registered as ’53 VMN’. This stunning Ronart Cars Limited-built W152 is believed to be the last of the rarer alloy-bodied examples built!

Ronart Cars was a British sports car manufacturer of unique and bespoke sports cars. The company was founded in 1984 by Rona and Arthur Wolstenholme, based in Peterborough. The company designs and manufactures sports and racing cars for both road legal and track day use with unique designs from open wheel racing cars to modern day sports cars. The W152 was the first to be designed and produced by Ronart Cars. Wolstenholme initially had the idea in 1981 but the design and build of a prototype began in 1984 and it launched at the 1985 International Classic Car Show. Production started in early 1987. It will come as no surprise that Wolstenholme went on to manufacture three new Vanwall designs in 2004, licensed by Vanwall, over a period of 10 years.

The W152's style is based on that of the front-engined Formula 1 cars of the 1940s and 1950s. The external twin exhaust system and ‘hump-style’ rear with head rest, are key design features from that era. The W152 design, however, is not a copy but an original design with a reflection of many styles from that era. The MkI chassis was originally designed by Spyder Engineering, who had made chassis for Lotus. Body panels were more rarely made from aluminium, however, the majority were carbon fibre or typically fibreglass (GRP). Mechanicals were sourced from the Jaguar XJS and there were three different engine options; the Jaguar XK6, AJ6 or the mighty 5.3 litre V12.

“…the closest interpretation of a typical racing car of the 1940-1950s for use on the road. The Ronart is not a copy, or replica of any car but is a reflection of the most exciting era of racing cars. The late fifties saw the tide turning towards small 1.6-litre rear/mid engined cars like Cooper, Lotus which somehow lost the attractive body styling lines of the great cars like the Maserati 250F, Mercedes W196 and the Vanwall. The Ronart has been designed to recreate the flowing lines of the last of the big front engined racing cars. Cars may be supplied in standard kit form, complete kit form including all components or built in our well-equipped workshop.” Ronart Cars Ltd.

What we have here is hand crafted aluminium in all its glory, many hours of work have produced bodywork that is almost aeronautical in appearance. On the left of the turned alloy dashboard it even wears an altimeter from a Vulcan Bomber - and as the sadly parted owner once said, “because it can!”.

Offered with a large amount of invoices, paperwork and correspondence, including those from Rob Beere Racing Services, invoices for a lightened flywheel et al, and receipts from John Gordon Jaguar Spares. Also on file are a quantity of notes and invoices from Arthur Wolstenholme of Ronart Cars Ltd, including an invoice for the aluminium bodywork at a cost of £4,200 and ‘Part 2’ of the build to the tune of £16,450. An earlier invoice represents further expenditure of £16,614, as part of the build process, equating to some £33,064.

Sadly we don’t get the opportunity to drive our consignments very far, if we could, there would have been a queue for this beast. The sound and vision as it was moved around our car park was epic to say the least, one could almost picture it spitting fire!

Having spoken to Arthur Wolstenholme he considers our estimate as very reasonable having recently sold a V12 engined car, himself, for in excess of £50,000.