Owen Wyn Owen

Owen Wyn Owen (1925 – 13 March 2012) was a Welsh automobile restorer and mechanic. He lived in Capel Curig, Snowdonia. His working life was spent as a lecturer in engineering at Caernarfonshire Technical College in Bangor, but he is known for his outside achievements. He died in March 2012.

Owen Wyn Owen
Born1925
Died13 March 2012[1]
NationalityWelsh
OccupationLecturer in mechanics, car restorer
Known forRestoration of antique cars, most notably Babs

Restoration of Babs
Babs, in 2005

His most famous restoration project, which received worldwide attention, was to excavate and restore Babs, after 40 years buried on a tidal beach.[2] "Babs" was the car that in 1927, driven by J. G. Parry-Thomas, whilst attempting the land speed record at the time (180 mph or 290 km/h), crashed and killed the driver.[3] The car was buried where the accident occurred on Pendine Sands.

In 1967 Wyn Owen decided to excavate and restore Babs. The car was first successfully tested on The Helyg straight in the early 1970s and was later successfully demonstrated in front of the world press and television on an air field near RAF Valley, Anglesey.

The restoration work took place in Owen's garage in Capel Curig, and "Babs" is now displayed in the Pendine Museum of Speed during the summer months.

In 1999, Owen was awarded the Tom Pryce trophy,[4] engraved with the words Atgyfodwr Babs (English: Resurrector of Babs).

gollark: I follow helloboi I guess.
gollark: You said there was one nearby.
gollark: #1 and kill it with swords.
gollark: We should go to the GM
gollark: I say the word "BEES" repeatedly to try and draw a GM#1 toward us.

References
  1. "Owen wyn Owen : Death". Daily Post. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  2. "Parry Thomas and Babs at Pendine Sands".
  3. Wales: Old girl with a racy past, Telegraph Media Group, 12 August 2000, retrieved 2 March 2013
  4. About us Amdanom Ni, Welsh Group of Motoring Writers, retrieved 2 March 2013
  • "A ride on the roller Coast". Coast. 24 June 2007. BBC2 Wales. "a cartoon of a car" with all pistons burning, is let loose on Pendine Sands once again for the Coast series
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