From there he built the first Tojeiro which was based loosely on Charles and John Cooper’s MG owned by Brian Lister. The self-taught welder produced his first frame, but it was squint before anything was even attached to it. Back to the drawing board, again.
Things did improve, though, and with input into the AC Ace that made its (very popular) debut at the 1953 Motor Show the scene was set. Fast-forward to 1956 and the arrival of John Ogier, an Essex farmer. Ogier wanted to pay for a lightweight Jaguar-engined car and the result was 7 GNO. However, despite its pretty looks the aerodynamics needed attention. To solve the aerodynamic problems Cavendish Morton, an enthusiast who painted (yes, really), was brought in. From 1957 he’d style the Tojeiros by producing a painting of it which was then treated as a blueprint (yes, really).
Among the Tojeiros were the four Jaguar-powered cars, but none really achieved much in the way of great success. Tojeiro himself told Motor Sport back in 1985 that “the Lister was clearly the best of the Jaguar-engined specials, but I like to think my cars were the best of the rest, just ahead of the HWM and Cooper”. Two had Ecurie Ecosse history after the third car, built in 1958, was loaned to the Scottish team recently celebrated at the Revival. The fourth was built for Ecosse in 1959, which the likes of Jim Clark and Masten Gregory drove.
During the 1959 Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, though, it met with rather an abrupt end at Woodcote. Masten Gregory crashed the car, but it was perhaps even more of a surprise for Olivier Gendebien who was aboard his Ferrari TR59. Gendebien was talking to Graham Gould after the race and said: “I was braking for Woodcote and out of the corner of my eye I saw a blue car come alongside me and couldn’t believe that anyone would overtake me on the outside at that spot. I glanced over and could not believe my eyes because Masten was clearly struggling to stand up on the seat.” Gregory’s efforts to stand up whilst heading towards the banking at unabated speed probably saved his life – he was thrown from the car and broke only his collarbone.