1971 Alexis MK18b

£ 16 995
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  • One of only six Alexis Mk18Bs believed to have been manufactured
  • Near-zero hours Paul Fisher engine
  •  Highly eligible for both Historic and Classic Formula Ford series – as well as the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy


Alex Francis began building trials cars in 1953 and, in 1959, teamed up with Australian speedway rider and mechanic Bill Harris to produce customer racing cars under the Alexis name. Their first creation was a front-engined Formula Junior, followed by rear-engined designs such as the FJ, which brought Alexis to prominence in 1961 when British cycling champion turned racing driver Peter Procter drove it to victories at both Aintree and Rufforth.



Throughout the early 1960s, Alexis produced increasingly sophisticated Formula Junior models, with the Mk5 proving particularly competitive – one even being sold to DAF for their Variomatic Formula 3 programme. When Harris returned to Australia in 1965, Lotus 7 racer Allan Taylor joined Francis, steering Alexis towards becoming a serious constructor across multiple formulae. Notable successes included Paul Hawkins winning the 1965 Formula 2 Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring.



In 1967, Taylor encouraged Francis to capitalise on the booming Formula Ford category, securing a deal with the Jim Russell Racing School for multiple Mk14 cars, followed by the improved Mk15. This period saw Alexis produce over 60 cars in a year, compared to their earlier output of just a few annually. They won both the British and Scottish Formula Ford championships in 1967 and 1968 respectively and continued production into the early 1970s before gradually fading as other marques rose to prominence.



The final developments from Alexis included the Mk18 and Mk18B, built in the early 1970s as refined Formula Ford racers with improved suspension geometry and chassis stiffness over earlier models. Today, these rare cars remain highly sought after for their agility, competitive performance, and importance in historic Formula Ford racing.



On offer today at Klasiko is an Alexis Mk18B Historic FF1600. Being a 1971 car, it is eligible not only for the Historic Formula Ford 1600 series but also the Classic Formula Ford series, the Super Classic D class within the Super Classic Formula Ford Championship, and of course the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy.



According to its Arch Motors number 101, this Alexis was purchased in December 1971 by Xavier Kingsland from Hadwick Motors of Banbury. It was reportedly driven by Colin Andrews and Dick Barker, although there is a note suggesting it was the Geoff Lees works car. Little is known of its life since, but in more recent years it has been restored, and following an engine overhaul by Paul Fisher, it was purchased in 2023 by the current owner. 



As part of the sale, a number of fettling works were undertaken by Neil Fowler Motorsport, including fitting new belts and extinguisher, reducing the fuel tank size, shortening the dampers, modifying the steering rack and gear selector, stripping and repairing the left rear hub, and replacing both the starter motor and battery. Having completed these works, the owner tested the car but, due to a change in direction, never raced it.



Now offered for sale, this presents a fabulous opportunity to enter the world of Historic and Classic Formula Ford racing at a bargain price.