In early 1965 Derek Pugh paid for £75 for an accident damaged Swallow Doretti from a car-breaker's yard, situated between Swindon and Cricklade. WTB 338 had damage to the right-hand side front wing and headlamp, the shroud, lower wishbone and a broken front SU carburettor. There were also some marks in the bonnet.
Derek had the carburettor aluminium welded, replaced the wishbone and remembers that the car started at the first touch of the button and drove very well. However this now left him with a body problem that he could not do himself. Derek then contacted Shapecraft in Surbiton and they sent someone down to Derek's home in Cheltenham (on a Sunday), to check it over and give a quote. which was £75 again, providing he removed the bodywork back up to the bulkhead. This would now allow him to have a one-piece, lift-up Jaguar E-Type type bonnet fabricated. It was decided that Triumph Herald bonnet catches would be used to secure the new front end. After cutting off the original aluminium Derek drove No.1152 to Surbiton a few days later and parked it alongside an E-Type being prepared for Le Mans so the car was in good company.
A fortnight later the work was finished and Derek drove No.1152 back home. Now all he had to do was the electrical work, which he found was easy. Austin A35 side lights were fitted inside the headlight space and then Perspex covers fitted over the headlights. These covers were moulded from templates suplied by Shapecraft. A finishing touch touch to the modifications was a handcrafted chrome-plated Doretti badge mounted on the bonnet.
Derek's final comment about Chassis No.1152,
" it is not a prototype but a DP Special and nothing more."
Previous UK owners of WTB 338 have been John Hill and Neil Wilkinson (who has also owned LDN 500, No.1127).
Prior to Christian Hartmann acquiring WTB 338 the car was apparently on display at the Initiative Motor Museum in Austria. The car has now been restored (as seen on the picture on left) and participated in a number of European rallies.
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