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428 Frua Forum / Keith Moon's Two 428s and Other Tales !
« on: April 02, 2013, 02:26:32 »
Hi Paul,
Tale No. 2 appears to be 'based' (note the inverted comas here) on an anecdote almost certainly published in Dougal Butler's book "Full Moon" long since out of print. Butler was Moon's personal assistant and second chauffeur, as Moon never held a driving licence.
However, the book has just been republished, and an interview with Butler in a current Scooter magazine appears to be part of the book's press re-launch. Here's the incident as reported by Butler:
Journalist: "What about the AC 428 Frua?"
Butler: "Yes, that was a seven litre V8 automatic. That went like sh*t off a shovel. We were coming back from a club in Staines one night, he'd had a drink but he wasn't drunk and he wanted to drive.
He could drive a bit, he certainly wasn't great but I passed him the keys and told him to take it steady. We were coming along Chertsey Road, which is quite straight, but there were roadworks being carried out at the time as they were building the M25.
He's there doing 100mph and I'm telling him to slow down! He looks at me and says: "Well dear boy, let's see what this thing can do" and he downshifts to first! The back wheels lock and we skid into the kerb, we fly through the new motorway fence, we fly through a wire fence and by this time the car is on its roof, sliding along and stops about four feet away from a reservoir!
We were both killing ourselves laughing when we spot a light coming towards us and it's George, our local copper, on night duty. He said: "Hello you two, what you doing now?" I said: "He was driving again George, but just put it down as me".
The interview includes a colour photo of the 428 Frua fastback from Butler's personal collection before the accident.
Another online reference to this incident increases the car's speed to 140 mph, so a lot of creative writing and embellishment, surrounds the truth.
Tale No. 3 regarding the denise of the Ferrari Dino is also included in the magazine interview. Butler had a half share with Moon in the Dino. I have discovered an image of the wreck of the Ferrari after it was returned to Moon's house dated 17/10/1972.
I also have additional images of Moon's 428 Frua scanned from a motoring magazine article from 1972. The Frua is photographed with other cars and the hovercraft from Moon's fleet of vehicles. Please email me and I'll happily send these on to you for your website register and archive.
Tales from the Dark side of the Moon!
Tale No. 2 appears to be 'based' (note the inverted comas here) on an anecdote almost certainly published in Dougal Butler's book "Full Moon" long since out of print. Butler was Moon's personal assistant and second chauffeur, as Moon never held a driving licence.
However, the book has just been republished, and an interview with Butler in a current Scooter magazine appears to be part of the book's press re-launch. Here's the incident as reported by Butler:
Journalist: "What about the AC 428 Frua?"
Butler: "Yes, that was a seven litre V8 automatic. That went like sh*t off a shovel. We were coming back from a club in Staines one night, he'd had a drink but he wasn't drunk and he wanted to drive.
He could drive a bit, he certainly wasn't great but I passed him the keys and told him to take it steady. We were coming along Chertsey Road, which is quite straight, but there were roadworks being carried out at the time as they were building the M25.
He's there doing 100mph and I'm telling him to slow down! He looks at me and says: "Well dear boy, let's see what this thing can do" and he downshifts to first! The back wheels lock and we skid into the kerb, we fly through the new motorway fence, we fly through a wire fence and by this time the car is on its roof, sliding along and stops about four feet away from a reservoir!
We were both killing ourselves laughing when we spot a light coming towards us and it's George, our local copper, on night duty. He said: "Hello you two, what you doing now?" I said: "He was driving again George, but just put it down as me".
The interview includes a colour photo of the 428 Frua fastback from Butler's personal collection before the accident.
Another online reference to this incident increases the car's speed to 140 mph, so a lot of creative writing and embellishment, surrounds the truth.
Tale No. 3 regarding the denise of the Ferrari Dino is also included in the magazine interview. Butler had a half share with Moon in the Dino. I have discovered an image of the wreck of the Ferrari after it was returned to Moon's house dated 17/10/1972.
I also have additional images of Moon's 428 Frua scanned from a motoring magazine article from 1972. The Frua is photographed with other cars and the hovercraft from Moon's fleet of vehicles. Please email me and I'll happily send these on to you for your website register and archive.
