Len Terry [1924-2014] Terriers & Tetrahedrons | Colin Chapman Archive and Resource

Chapman Design peers series:

Len Terry [1924-2014] Terriers & Tetrahedrons

Len Terry made this observation about Colin Chapman for whom he worked:-

“He was inclined to trim designs down until they were too light and fragile but his conceptual thinking and genius was just unmatched”

Figure 1.Image from the net-the Terrier marque bonnet badge

Introduction to series

The A&R considers that Colin Chapman’s design career in FI embraced two periods:-

From the inception of Lotus cars to the late 1960’s early 1970’s
The mature period covering the wings/ ground effect and turbo era until his sad and early death in 1982

We don’t know what he might have achieved had he lived beyond this.

The FI designs of Colin Chapman were considerable not least because of his relatively low budget .He did not have the resources of a multinational to cross-subsidize his racing programme.

In order to evaluate Colin Chapman better the A&R is committing to a series of benchmarking exercises analyzing the design achievements of his peers through his career.

If the series is well received it might be possible to extend it in a continuum to the present day whilst also looking at the emerging design talent.

These design studies are a natural complement to our series on Design Heroes that gives priority to Industrial and Product Designers.

In the appendix below we state what we believe to be Chapman’s achievements and invite subscribers to benchmark him with selected peers using the criteria set out.

The Designers

We offer the list below and would be interested to hear from our subscribers if they would like to make other recommendation for inclusion and also if they have priority/ preference in our selection.

We appreciate that some of these designers were colleagues of Colin Chapman at Lotus at some point in their careers but went onto achieve success in their own right.

As a prompt subscribers might like to use the list to pencil in those cars they associate with the designers.

Designer Marque Model

Len	Bailey
Dave	Baldwin
Ralph	Ballamy
John	Barnard
Michel	Beaujos
Nigel	Bennett
Eric	Broadley
Gustav	Brunner
Rory	Bryne
Paul	Carillo
Colin	Chapman
Carlo	Chiti
John	Clark
Peter	Connew
Gordon	Coppuck
Andre	de Cortanze
Frank	Dernie
Richard	Divila
Gerrard	Ducarouge
Geoffrey	Ferns
Mauro	Forghieri
Derek	Gardner
John	Gentry
Chuck	Graemiger
Herve	Guilpin
Patrick	Head
Robin	Herd
Jean-Pierre	Jabouille
Ray	Jessop
Georges	Martin
Tico	Martini
Alan	McCall
Arturio	Merzario
Kenij	Mimura
Robert	Morin
Vic	Morris
Gordon	Murray
Morris	Nunn
Martin	Ogilivie
Masa	Ono
Enzo	Osella
Luciano	Pederzani
Maurice	Phillippe
Mike	Pilbeam
Harvey	Postlethwaite
Adrian	Reynard
Franco	Rochi
Ken	Sears
Tony	Southgate
Giorgio	Stirano
Ray	Stokoe
Nigel	Stroud
John	Surtees
Andy	Swallman
Ron	Tauranac
Len	Terry
Michel	Tetu
Antonio	Tomaini
Martin	Walter
Tim	Wardrop
Dave	Wass
Peter	Wright
Edy	Wyss

. The editors have been influenced by “The Art of the Formula 1 Car” but aesthetics alone will not influence inclusion.

Subscribers might like to see the directly relevant and integrated A&R pieces that complement and help structure this article:-

Lotus at Indianapolis & Can Am
Lotus Mk 3& 6 plus 750 Motor Club &1172 Formula
Lotus 17, Ford Lotus Cortina
Lotus Ford Twin cam engine

Len Terry special significance and context

A study of Len Terry is important because he was of a similar age and background to Chapman.Both had experience in the RAF, raced in the 750 Motor Club events, developed through the post war period.

Significantly Terry worked twice for Chapman with an interesting fission between them.

In this piece we will endeavour to explore some of the following:-

Employment at Lotus under Colin Chapman
Len Terry background and perspective
His design methodology and published book
Comparison with Costin & Phipps
The significance of Engineering Drawing
The facilitating roles of the 750 Motor Club [ 750 & 1172 Formula’s]
Commercial career
Patents

Len Terry: brief biography

Born in Hackney, London, February 1924 [ slightly older than Chapman], we believe his father might have been a train engine driver
Left school [a church school in South Tottenham in 1938] at 14, interested in cars from young age with an aptitude for drawing
Possibly worked at London theatre land and possibly drew poster ,programmes and advertising material
Volunteered for RAF during second world war –spanning 1943-1947 he was an instrument repairer but also engaged as draughtsman possibly involving aerial cameras.We suspect he might have undertaken some academic training in formal engineering drawing [see below] either whilst in the RAF or possibly immediately on leaving
Involved with 750 motor club built and drove in competition and raced until 1958
Bought car from John Teychenne [JVT] in 1954 nb Progress Chassis , Chapman/Lotus and Hornsey connection
Had considerable success with Brian Hart in club racing and 1172 Formula against Lotus competition
Worked briefly for Falcon Shells [Ford Specials]
See history and career in design from list including forming The Terrier Car & Engine Co, later Leda Cars for F5000
In later life produced a kit car on lines of Mercedes Benz SSK and vintage style vans
Terry possible held some patents but we have been unable to confirm these

Figure 2.Len Terry’s book with co-author Baker; A&R library

Anatomy of a Racing Car Designer

In his book Terry outlines the characteristics, inherited and acquired along with the functions and motivation of a racing car designer.

“A racing car designer is born rather than made, for beyond a certain point no man can train to become one. To achieve any success in this specialized field he must have a draughtsman background to which he must add his own ingredients of imagination and inventiveness controlled by common sense…………”

He lists the following skills and competencies:-

Competent draughtsman capable of perspectives drawing freehand

Common sense

Knowledge of history of racing cat technology

Appreciation of working contemporaries & peers

Understanding a part intuitive process

Application of coordinating features

Ability to communicate & delegate [realism of advantage/disadvantage

Discipline of cost

Application of practicality with simplicity

Objectivity on completion

The simplest design solution is often the lightest

Mathematical knowledge

Possession of competition driving experience

Avoiding tunnel vision

Forward vision- anticipate and identify

Strength And determination over imagination

Factoring in lead time for components

Practical workshop experience

Methodical

Student of value engineering

Focus

Self-assured& self-confident but also self-critical

Analytically minded

Opportunist [qualified]

Capable of thinking three dimensionally

Designer’s criteria & perspectives

Terry provides the following chapter titles as a guide to the design procedure for a racing car:-

In abbreviated form we catalogue these:-

A clean sheet of paper
Requirement priorities maximum acceleration, maximum cornering speed, maximum terminal velocity
Drawings, layouts and scales
Handling characteristics
Structural considerations
Suspension
Brakes, wheels and tyres
Aerodynamics
Cooling systems
Safety and comfort
Materials
Components
Design v development

Costin & Phipps Racing & Sports car Chassis Design

These two books are invaluable in assisting the comprehension of Chapman’s design appropriate in the 1950’s through 60’s.

Both are complementary.

Draughtsman

Terry refers frequently to draughtsmanship and we consider it too important to overlook.

The RAF was particularly technology orientated.

The Second World War was highly technical with boffins producing many innovations.

These had to be translated into reality and draughtsmanship was a primary skill.

The reference books we mention are academic and prepare student for higher level examination in period.

We believe Terry was educated formerly/informally to a standard as was probably Chapman in technical drawing.

They ought to be examined to appreciate the skill and disciplines required.

Writing in 1936 Parkinson noted:-

“In the course of his training in Engineering Drawing the student should gain and develop-

A clear conception and appreciation of form,proportion and purpose
Speed and aaccuracy in the use of pencil and drawing instruments
The ability to think in three dimension
The power of expressing his ideas in construction work quickly and clearly by freehand sketches
Competency in original design

…….Engineering drawing is a graphic language, a universal language, a language of use and ever increasing value…………”

Terry’s drawings skills practised and demonstrated:-

RAF draughtsman
Career in technical illustrations
Cutaway drawing for Autosport throughn1950’s
In his book : Mk.2 space frame, 3D suspension layouts, 3 piece wheel, perspective sketches of LT 23& 24, full engineering Drawing [assembly] uprights , and monocoque

Len Terry on Colin Chapman:-

“He was himself a very fine draughtsman and he had the artistic talent to sketch designs and ideas three dimensionally so that even someone with the most feeble grasp of how to read an engineering Drawing could still see clearly what he was driving at”……..continued………….

“he would usually work at home and draft out a one-fifth scale general arrangement drawing, plan ,side view, cross section if necessary to demonstrate what he wanted “

Len Terry car designs [taken from his book]

We summarize these and invite subscribers to make detail specific research.

Year/s	Type no/ marque
1957/58	Type 1
1958/59	Type 2
1960	Gilby A type
1960	Type 4 [Formula Junior]
1961	Gilby B type
1962	Type 6 & Type 8
1964/5	Kincraft
1965	Lotus 38
1965/66	AAR Eagle
1967	Shelby Can Am
1967	BRM P126
1967-68	Gulf Mirage BRM
1968	Honda F1 Replica
1968-69	Terriers type 15,16&17
1968-69	BMW F2
1968-69	Gulf Mirage Ford
1969-70	Leda F5000
1969-70	AAR Eagle Indianapolis
1970	Leda Mk.2
1970-71	LT 23 ,Indianapolis
1971	LT 24 [sports car]
1971	LT25/or Leda Nk.3
1971-72	LT26 & LT27 or Mc Rae Leda

Figure 3.Illustration above and below from A& library book

Figure 4.image from the net

Terry at Lotus

Len Terry worked twice for Chapman commencing in 1958.

It’s believed he was earning a pay £12 week.

This possibly increased dramatically on the second occasion.

Part of the significance is that of the reward in technical occupation. [Subscribers are directed to our relativity’s series on wages and prices.]

[A draughtsman was above a fitter and turner for example]

Designs and contribution:-

17,

19B

22 chassis

Lotus Cortina rear suspension

Lotus 33

Len Terry observed:-

“It was really a development of the 25 –it was stronger, stiffer, and lighter and it used the latest wider wheels and tyres…………

Oh yes it was going to be a lot quick too…………”

Figure 5.Editors sketch working drawing

Figure 6.editors sketch perspective of type 33

Figure 7.Editors sketch working drawing of type 38

Learning Opportunities

Our learning /educational opportunities are intended to be challenging thought provoking and requiring additional research and/or analysis.

These opportunities are particularly designed for a museum/education centre location where visitors would be able to enjoy access to all the structured resources available in conjunction with any concurrent exhibition.

In this instance we suggest the following might be appropriate:-

What other notable car designer participated in the 750 motor club?
Why has the 750 motor club been so influential in developing engineering talent?
Compare and contrast John Fraying and Ron Hickman with Len Terry
What occupation and training opportunities existed in the RAF in the 1950’s through 1960’s
Why was engineering Drawing a component of Engineers and management training in the Terry era?
Examine the Terry 3 D drawings and explain how good they are?
What were the additional skills possessed by Chapman not listed by Terry?
Why are the two reference books so important?
Discover if/what patents Terry held
Make a detailed comparative analysis of the LT F5000, and the Lotus 70

Exhibitions, Education, Economics and Entertainment

In the museum context the editors believe that commercial considerations are both necessary and complementary with its educational objectives.

For these reasons our suggested outline Business Plan includes provision for promoting products and services which share Chapman’s ideals of mechanical efficiency and sustainability. In addition we propose merchandising that explain and interprets the social and cultural context of Chapman’s designs in period. It’s suggested there will be catalogue for on line purchasing.

In this instance we suggest the following exhibition titles might be appropriate:-

A pack of Terriers
Terry Territory
Engineering Drawing
Len Terry: Leda of the Pack
Leda’s & Losers
Tenacious Terriers
Len Terry & the Terriers its all in the breed
Terriers and Tetrahedron
Len Terry-Pyramids & monumental structures
Geometry: the science of properties and relations of magnitude in space as lines, surfaces, solids
Chapman and Terry-a dog fight
Len’s lens

Conclusion

In bullet form we hope to prompt further consideration and analysis by subscribers:-

Len Terry like Chapman were from modest background, became educated during the war and made considerable contribution to the post war period
Draughtsmanship requires skill, thought and an ability to imagine and express an object so it can be made. Freehand sketching is also important
Len Terry enjoyed both success and disappointment in his career
He possibly held patents and the editors part deduct this from drawings and the commercial potential suggested in his book
Len Terry undertook a wide diversity of project, on the International stage , the Lotus 38 and Indianapolis possibly being the most significant
He worked for Chapman and their respective marques clashed on track and their relationship must have been challenging but with a mutual respect?
Len Terry committed to paper an important documentary relevant to understanding the era and of Chapman shared function, this work along with Costin & Phipps are essential reading to comprehend the Chapman design mantra and methodologies and materials of the era
Len Terry has left an important legacy through his cars, designs and writing, his cars still competing in historic race formulas

Len Terry said of him self:-

“I was proud by what my car had achieved … but I am not a very excitable, emotional man and basically it had done exactly what I’d designed it to do…….

Len Terry was characterized by frankness and modesty.

We invite subscribers to benchmark Terry with Chapman using the criteria set out below.

We believe it will be revealing and informative.

Appendix 1:

Colin Chapman’s Achievement

F1 Constructors & Drivers Championship

Indianapolis

Le Mans

British Club level

Single seat formula below F1

Iconic Road cars

Patents

Technical /engineering innovations

Development of human talent

Facilitation & sponsorship

Aesthetic appreciation

Product Design

Consultancy

Design Methodology

Legacy, continuity, heritage

Impact on popular culture

Contribution to British economy

Significant Awards

Documentation, books & articles etc.