A Chain Bridge Forge blacksmith is putting the finishing touches on what is set to be an iconic sculpture for a city.
Ryan Atkin has been commissioned to create a replica of the first motorcar made entirely in Britain.
It will go on display in a busy roundabout in the Clevedon area of the city of Bristol.
The replica of the 1897 Richard Stephens model is being created by Ryan who has been at Chain Bridge Forge for seven years.
It’s on behalf of the Celvedon Cars and Coffee Club which wanted a lasting memorial to Bristol’s claim of being the birthplace of cars in Britain.
“It will be a bit like the tank you see in Lincoln,” Ryan said. “It’s been interesting making an exact replica.
“Only around 130 of them were made and there’s only two surviving.
“I went to Bristol to measure up everything in detail and I’ve been building it up at my own forge in Lincoln.”
The Clevedon Cars and Coffee Club’s Mark Reber bought some of Ryan’s ‘dragon heads’ on Etsy and has requested other works.
Mark set up the group as a tribute to Clevedon Cars which produced some of the first cars in the country.
After a period of fundraising he asked Ryan to recreate the vintage motor.
“We’re in the last couple of weeks of work,” he said. “It’s been great.
“It’s definitely the most high profile thing I’ve done.”
