Olly Richmond-Jones 1958 Saloon 257 FKC

The history of the car is that Bob Brown’s Father, a Lt. Colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps
purchased FKC, new, when stationed in Ghana in 1956/57. The car was made in February 1957 and its unusual colour scheme seems to
have been peculiar to Ghana (the white to reflect the heat). Col. Brown then returned to the UK and
brought the car with him and it was registered in Liverpool in March 1960 as 257 FKC and in 1978
passed to Bob who used it regularly.

Ghana April 1957 within a few days of Bob Brown’s father having taken delivery of 257 FKC

Government Rest House at Winneba on the Ghana coast 1958

Bob Brown, Labadi beach, Accra 1958

Forest Green, Surrey 1970s

The car was serviced by Mr. Thames (a Borgward trained engineer) in London and in the late 80’s was
refurbished by Neweld with a complete new floor, and repaint. In all other respects FKC is original
even down to the instruction book (with pouch) inspection light, tyre pressure gauge (in its
immaculate blue box) and full took kit plus works manual.

Olly Richmond Jones bought FKC in March 2014

Bob and his late Father were both very conscious of the fate of big game in Africa by the illegal
poaching of ivory (elephants) and horn (Rhino) and FKC was given to Olly on condition that a
substantial donation was made at a figure agreed between Olly and Bob to an appropriate and
worthwhile charity, which has now been done. The Charity being “TUSK”, the patron of which is
Prince William, who has been made aware of the gift and its source. The gift was formerly
acknowledged in a letter to Bob by Prince Williams through his personal private secretary.

Bob and Ann Brown.

Members will recall that my own car (XRT 620 made in May 1957) has now been on the road for the
first time in 51 years and is running very well.

FKC and XRT are both TS “interim” models and were made 3 months apart during the 6 month total
production period between January and July 1957 – in fact no product details were made available to
Glasses Guide during that period. Surprisingly, however, there are a number of detailed differences
between the 2 cars, as follows:-

1. Engine Compartment

a) FKC has a vacuum distributor, XRT fully centrifugal
b) Heater blower: FKC positioned towards the fuse box, XRT near the Vin plate forward of
the auxiliary rad.
c) FKC, no handbrake pulleys as H/B is still position for LHD. XRT, H/B positioned
centrally
d) Air cleaner: 3 bolt fixing FKC, 4 bolt fixing XRT.
e) Only 1 fuse box FKC, 2 in XRT

2. Interior

a) Heater Controls: in FKC are as per original production, i.e. no slide controls but with
underdash levers for flaps and 2 pull knobs on dash for screen. XRT is the later slider
design.
b) Fan Knob for Heater fan: Below and to right of driver FKC, to left of ash tray in dash
XRT. Odd this because all TS’s I have seen are like FKC.

.KC and XRT are both TS “interim” models and were made 3 months apart during the 6 month total
production period between January and July 1957 – in fact no product details were made available to
Glasses Guide during that period. Surprisingly, however, there are a number of detailed differences
between the 2 cars, as follows:-

1. Engine Compartment

a) FKC has a vacuum distributor, XRT fully centrifugal
b) Heater blower: FKC positioned towards the fuse box, XRT near the Vin plate forward of
the auxiliary rad.
c) FKC, no handbrake pulleys as H/B is still position for LHD. XRT, H/B positioned
centrally
d) Air cleaner: 3 bolt fixing FKC, 4 bolt fixing XRT.
e) Only 1 fuse box FKC, 2 in XRT

2. Interior

a) Heater Controls: in FKC are as per original production, i.e. no slide controls but with
underdash levers for flaps and 2 pull knobs on dash for screen. XRT is the later slider
design.
b) Fan Knob for Heater fan: Below and to right of driver FKC, to left of ash tray in dash
XRT. Odd this because all TS’s I have seen are like FKC.

c) Handbrake: FKC – as per LHD, XRT centralised.
d) Seat/Upholstery: Green While vinyl XRT – cloth inserts FKC (with “Rhombus” pattern). I
suspect that Vinyl would have burnt your bum in Ghana! Also of note is the vinyl armrests
in FKC have the “Rhombus” pattern moulded into them and are dark blue, door card
blue/white.
e) Both cars have ivory dashes and ivory coloured round dials.
f) The sun visors and their fixings differ on FKC (thinner and with different brackets).

3. Body

a) Both cars identical but number plate light – old flat type on FKC, newer and bigger type on
XRT.

FKC is in superb condition considering she has lain unused for 27 years and hopefully it wont take me
nearly 7 years to get her up and running or else Olly will have a sense of humour failure !

 

Robert has now sorted out all the problems associated with the long storage time and so now Olly can enjoy driving 257 FKC.

Olly and Bonnie and “bump” and FKC taken at the “Classics on the Prom” Bournemouth in September. They are now the proud parents of a baby boy – Louis Albert who was born at 4.28 pm on the 9 October 2014 and weighed in at 6 lb 3 oz.

Ann and Bob Brown with Olly Richmond Jones at the UK International Borgward Meeting May 2015

Robert