Sponsored by
Tributes to much-loved motoring enthusiast
Dealership owner has died at age of 90
A much-loved figure in the retail car and caravan industries has died at the age of 90.
Ian Mantle, who ran new and used vehicle retailer Mantles in Biggleswade, served on the National Caravan Council for more than 40 years.
Mr Mantle, who took over the family motor business, based in London Road, in 1945, was also a motor sport enthusiast.
After developing and publicising the Berkeley sports car in Biggleswade in the 1950s he went on to captain the England team in the Ken Wharton Memorial Five Nations Championship which was televised on the BBC's Grandstand programme during the 1960s.
His son John, who now runs Mantles and is one of three children who survive Mr Mantle, said his father enjoyed prolonged success in motor racing and autotesting, having also won the British Trial Drivers Association Flather Star Autotest Championship in 1955.
He said: "He won many trophies in the Berkeley, a diminutive fibreglass sports car, powered by an air-cooled motorcycle engine.
"At one point he was leading the International Tulip Rally in Holland, before, sadly, the engine expired!"
For the full story see the Biggleswade Chronicle of Friday, August 20.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Biggleswade
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
