So, a bit of digging based on the hill-special.co.uk link above, viz -
“For a short while in the late 1980s Jack, in partnership with Eddy McGourley, produced Hill Specials at Pedal Sport in Sunderland alongside the Ottadini brand.”
I think the 501 sticker is 1989 or after Based on H Lloyd.
Follow Ottadini and a site called Retrobike has some detail:
Ottadini link
Which has info that Martin Evans of Martrac cycles was a skilled builder in the NE who made frames for Ottadini. And also made a lovely fillet brazed MTB posted by
@Heavy with some great insight from Ken Stubbs (
@stubbsken) who owned the shop who sold it BITD:
Martrac
So, could these be unused Martin Evans built prototypes to try and resurrect the Hill Special brand in the late 80’s?
The chainsets are ‘Tracer’ (??? BMX brand?) The frames have sweet wrap around stays, interesting long lugs and what looks like fillet brazed forks.
Super interesting rarities that are too small for me! Still tempted though.