1955 Turner 803

This Turner 803 is owned by Bill and Cheryl Baldwin of Rochester, New York. Bill's father began racing the car in 1959 and continued to do so for the next 20 years. In 1993, Bill treated the car to a sympathetic restoration, retaining as much originally as possible. The faded red top is the genuine item, fitted at the factory over 50 years ago.

The Baldwin car's most interesting feature is its steel body. This car is thought to be a prototype for the 803 series because production Turners were built with a fiberglass body. Even more interesting, while the Baldwin car's serial number indicates the car was built between 1954-1955, there are fiberglass-bodied cars with lower numbers.

Founded by John 'Jack' Tuner, his company's first true production car was the 803, so named for the capacity of its Austin A30 engine. Although the Baldwin's car is definitely one of the earliest 803s, the real possibility of never being able to verify its provenance as a prototype is probably a moot point.

As a footnote, on the return trip to New York and nearly home, the little Austin engine dropped a valve. Úndaunted, Bill continued at a slower pace, thinking the accompanying sound of a farm tractor was merely the Turner's English heritage leaking out.

Source - The Baldwins