Austin1

Thanks guys, I have now finished my quest for more information on Robert (Bob) Beckett, unless there are any family members who would like to contact the forum with more information.

I am still looking for any family still living in the Sheffield area related to Robert Beckett, who owned a Precision Engineering Company at 72 Sidney Street, Sheffield circa 1960's - 1990's. I now own the car he owned then, a 1955 Austin Healey 100 M. I have tracked down all of the previous owners and should like to ask any of his remaining relatives if they know anything about his ownership of it from 1955 - 1961. Many thanks for your time.

I can only guess his age and would reckon he was born around 1926 making him about 37 years old in 1961. I only say this because the chap he sold it to (Dr Tyson), his friend, was also about that age in 1961. Not sure when he died!

The Austin Healey Club UK of which I am a member do have records, but I have found them very hard to approach for information. The club has only been running since 1961 (50th Anniversary this year) so Robert Beckett's from 1955 - 1961 would not have been able to be a member then!

Thanks folks for the info, I have already had dealings with Hillsboro, when he helped me track down the owner from 1961 onwards Dr V Tyson who is a very nice chap. PJKAY you can see if the cars you owned are still registered in UK by going onto the DVLC web site - & puting in the registration numbers. Sorry Duffems only have the name Robert Beckett and no other details only that he lived in Sheffield in the 1960's and had the Engineering Company, whether his wife is still alive I do not know, or even if he had a family. I just hope someone out their was very close to him and knows about the car. I also chased The 4th Earl of Wharncliffs history earlier, thinking he may have been the past owner of my A-H 100 M, but saw his car in The National Motor Museum too. I checked on his cars registration in the Sheffield Archives when I was looking for my car's details and his details all tied up!

I did use the Star sometime back to get to where I am now, but it might be worth trying again with my latest quest, good idea thanks Duffems

Hi pacman123 & cuttsie, Not sure about any of Roberts family, I just have his name from the guy who bought the Austin Healey 100 from him. It's nice to know he was into working on car engines (cylinder heads), I am not sure if he used the car (now my car) for any form of Motorsport as it was fitted with a Le Mans kit at that time. Thanks for your interest both.

I am looking for any relatives of Mr Robert Beckett (deceased) who owned an Engineering Company in Sheffield in and around 1961. He was the original owner of my Austin Healey 100 'M' from 1955 to 1961. I would like to contact his family who may be able to help me in tracing information on his ownership of my car. When he owned it, it had a cherished number plate ET 5. I look forward to hearing from anyone with information on his existing family. I know of the present owner of ET 5 and it is not still with his family.

Thanks for the reply - sounds like you had a crush on Dr Victor Tyson

Since my last thread I have found out who owned registration No. ET 5 from 1955 - 1961. It was owned by a Mr Robert Beckett who owned an Engineering firm in Sheffield, he sold the Austin Healey and kept the ET 5 registration, the Austin Healey 100 M's registration was then changed to 4709 WA and sold to his friend Dr VCH Tyson in 1961. Unfortunately Robert Beckett is now deceased and I have no way of continuing the search. Strangely Dr Tyson later bought the registration ET 5 from Hullamshire Motors of West Bar, Sheffield when he bought a Fiat 500, he has retained ET5 which is now on a Peugeot 206. Thanks for any help you have given me.

No Duffems, I live in Dorset on the south coast, also my wife had a stroke some 8 years back and I am her 24/7 carer - it cramps my style quite a bit. I can only get to a few shows!

I guess the Dr has a reason to have a shakey hand at 87 years! He did seem a little confused but still had his memory. Being a Dr he must know the secret of life! One thing I was not sure of was that he said he never had Registration ET 5 on the Healey, but bought ET 5 sometime later after he had sold the Healey. The records show that before he bought the Healey it was registered as ET5 and when he bought it the ET 5 was transfered to a Triumph and he got 4709 WA on the Healey in 1961. What a coincidence that he later bought that ET5 number, which he still has on a Peugeot 206. Was he confused or is it me!!! He also said he bought it from a friend Robert Beckett who had an Engineering firm in Sheffield, he is now deceased. So I guess it was Robert who had the Registration ET5 then transferred it to a Triumph in 1961. With Robert's death I believe the hunt has finished. I believe he was the first owner in 1955.

Hi Kay1 I contacted the Dr and he replied back to me on two occasions each on headed paper and in a shakey hand. He is now well into his 80's, I believe, but still remembers several details regarding the car and who he bought it from. It is nice to know he still had it in 1963 because it had a new owner again in 1964. Your daughter must be 50 now which makes you about my age I guess! (69). Thanks for your reply and keep remembering the 'old times'

Hi Hillsbro, I have contacted Dr Tyson through your information and he did indeed own my car previously he also was able to give me the original owners name, now deceased, who originally had ET 5 now 4709 WA. Thanks for your interest

I am looking for the original 1955 owner of my Austin Healey 100 M car which then had a cherished registration number ET 5 (Rotherham). The number changed in 1961 to 4709 WA (Sheffield) and was owned by Dr Victor Tyson, who lived in Sheffield. The ET 5 registration is still being used on a Peugeot 206 today and I should also like to know if this person is related or has information about the cars owner in 1955 -1961. Many thanks

I am looking for the original 1955 owner of my Austin Healey 100 M car which then had a cherished registration number ET 5 (Rotherham). The number changed in 1961 to 4709 WA (Sheffield) and was owned by Dr Victor Tyson, who lived in Sheffield. The ET 5 registration is still being used on a Peugeot 206 today and I should also like to know if this person is related or has information about the cars owner in 1955 -1961. Many thanks

Many thanks hillsbro I will send him a Letter etc.

Thanks for that dongle, also thanks for the askMID site very informative. I wonder if the owner of ET 5 knows what that number is worth? In the £10,000 + bracket I reckon, probably worth a lot more than the car. I am still trying to find out who had the ET 5 number in 1955 - 1961 when it was on my Austin Healey 100 M. If you or anyone out there sees the Peugeot 206 and can stop it ask the owner if the number has been in the family since 1955. Thanks again for your interest.

Thanks for the reply Steve84, It's nice to know someone is out there! Perhaps you can keep your eyes out for ET 5 in the Rotheram area for me. Also if anyone is from the Sheffield area, it could be near you.

Seeing you live/d in Sheffield, have you seen ET 5, no it is not the 5th film about an alien, it's a car with that registration. Or did you ever see Dr Tyson driving an Austin Healey 4709 WA - probably not! Thanks for your help (not).

So you don't only spend all your time on the PC sending out rubbish - you watch loads of TV as well.

Hi All, I am looking for a Dr who lived at the above address in 1961. His name was Dr V C H Tyson. I have, through the internet, found that another Dr lived there in 1968 he /she was Dr E J Clegg. The reason for my interest is that Dr Tyson was a past owner of my Austin Healey 100 M car and I am tracing its history. I have to date found 5 past owners. If you know this person I would be very pleased to know. The registration from new in 1955 - 1961 was a cherished number ET 5. from 1961 when Dr Tyson had it until now it was / is 4709 WA. Hope you can help.

I recently posted a thread regarding the 4th Earl of Wharncliffe's Austin Healey 100 M. I have now photographs of the Registration Documents in Sheffield Archives which prove the car in the Beaulieu Motor Museum was indeed his. I have also found out from the records that my A-H 100 M had a 1961 Sheffield Registration 4709 WA. From new, in 1955 until 1961 it had a cherished number , this being ET 5. Is there anyone that knows about this Registration number - ET 5 in the years 1955 - 1961 or knows who has it now?

I have just replied to Captain Chaos and the info there applies to you to, what ever you can find out would be much appreciated. I have been looking into the 4th Earl so much, that I reckon I almost knew him too! Keep up the good work. I am still uneasy about the 1955 car having the 1961 4709 WA registration - STRANGE.

Many thanks 'mine' Captain, the question is did he have a new Ice Blue Austin Healey 100/4 in 1995 followed by a Red one in 1956 (Now situated in the Motor Museum). Any help would be much appreciated.