date of first production coupled brakes?

[Malcolm Parker]

Yes, JonE.  I could not come up with a satisfactory way of routing the brake cables when I tried to fit the dropped sports axle onto the standard uncoupled brake chassis.  I did not want to change the standard brake cross-shaft which for all its faults is very simple and light.
I toyed with fitting Bowdenex front brakes but in the end I used a standard touring front axle and spring with one leaf removed.  This, in conjunction with the Ulster spec rear springs, has resulted in a good set-up for the bumpy North Yorkshire roads I use the car on.