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Vintage and Classic Tyres
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I formed this company shortly after meeting Derek Freathy because I needed tyres to fit a Grand Prix (26M) Maserati that was in the process of restoration, and this was the only way of obtaining the highest quality period looking tyres for the job. A genuine high speed road tyre that is also suitable for competition purposes. For many years I had made approaches to Dunlop to produce such a tyre, both directly and through people dealing closely with them but to no avail - apart from establishing that they no longer had any of the drawings or old moulds to look at. I suspect they were not interested because they could not envisage the tyre I had in mind increasing the volume of their sales i.e. they would only be sold at the expense of either their road tyre, or their race tyre. My own view is that their road tyres, with the pseudo 1950's tread pattern (although no worse than many other makes), are not authentic looking enough. Also many people do not want to use their race tyre because of the large cross section and recommended rim widths, which are out of character with the cars themselves. Initially I wanted to produce the highest quality tyre suitable for pre war cars - with authentic appearance and handling characteristics. These are the first tyres produced for pre war (and early post war) cars that are not only suitable for road and competition use but are manufactured to the highest standards of the industry as demonstrated by the high speed rating. Blockley tyres have set the new benchmark, which other manufacturers have now tried to emulate, which is why we ask customers to |
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BEWARE OF IMITATIONS In the short time that The Blockley Tyre Company has been formed our products have been acclaimed the world over and we are pleased to have been given the first Historic Motor Sports Company Of The Year Award. Our pre-war sizes are also FIA eligible. In addition to our ever increasing range of tyres for pre-war cars, we have also embarked on superior quality road/race tyres suitable for post-war cars, initially in 16 inch sizes. It is our company policy to provide products designed and built to the very highest quality. |
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Background
to Mr. Derek Freathy - the designer of Blockley Tyres
Mr. Freathy runs the company Concours Tyre and Rubber Products Ltd. who produce by far the best quality inner tubes (both road and race varieties) and rim bands that I have ever seen marketed under the name "Classico". This company also produced the popular 400x19 Classico vintage tyre, which Blockley subsequently took over. Derek joined Dunlop in 1967 and was made manager of car racing in 1973 at Fort Dunlop. In 1981 he was promoted to manager of cars and rally and subsequently motorcycle, the first person responsible for all three under the title Manager - Motor Sport. He left in 1987 to start Concours Tyres. I feel most fortunate to have access to Derek's forty years experience both in the tyre and latterly inner tube business, without whom the Blockley marque could never have been produced.
Although designed primarily as a road tyre, the following competition achievements in our maiden year (since launching in April 2002) demonstrate the all round suitability of Blockley tyres not only for Circuits and Hill climbs but Trialing as well! So much so that many people have been under the misapprehension that ours is a race tyre and ask if they are suitable for road use!
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