LMB Components Limited was an engineering company in Guildford, Surry. It was founded by Leslie Ballamy in the 1950’s, and became famous for its own unique independent front suspension design. Other motoring ventures included specialist tuning for the popular Ford sidevalve range, which were often used as the basis for kit-cars at the time.

LMB’s suspension, engine and transmission conversions became a passport to success on race tracks, hill-climbs and trials venues and even proved popular with some of Britain’s top sportsmen. These conversions also found their way into road cars to enhance their performance.

For 1959, Ballamy developed two new ladder chassis. Each one used a semi-swing axle front suspension featuring Citroën 2CV-style leading arms. At the rear was a transverse double cantilever layout. The ‘A’ model chassis suited the Ford side valve engines while the ‘B’ model was for the new Ford overhead valve and BMC B-series engines.

Shortly after developing these chassis Leslie Ballamy came to an agreement with Edwards Brothers (EB) of Stoke to retail their newly released Debonair glass fibre body shell.

Mated to his chassis and sporting a Ford Engine, Leslie Ballamy sold this stylish coupe as the LMB Debonair GT. In April 1962, Leslie Ballamy retired from the automotive industry, and the chassis of the LMB Debonair later went on to form the basis for the Reliant Sabre, although mated to a modified Ashley 1172 body shell.

50 examples of the LMB Debonair were produced before it lapsed into history in 1962.

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