app. 1 month
C. Teisen
C. Teisen
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1920 Bugatti kit of parts SOLD to UK (Oct 31, 2014)
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What is it? Quiz #382
A fine two seater cycle car roadster. It looks lie many of its contemporaries, but be careful! Most of those had just like this one a 1000 cc four cylinder engine; yet not in alloy like this one had. We understand the car came in various appearances, this being the most sporty body. Too bad they made so few and died off years before 1930.
Over to you. Tell us all about the exact car depicted, but limit yourself to the max of 100 words. We want the name and model designation of the car with any - trivial - extra information being valued highly. But before writing down your response, be sure to read the Rules under Read More and start looking, looking, looking. This may be your chance to win the coveted PreWarCar T-shirt. Results will be published next Saturday, November 8.
(source of photo to be disclosed next week Saturday, together with results)
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A Phoenix Green Neighbour Mystery
Rick Ford received this photo from an old Royal Air Force colleague: John Porter - son of a clockmakers dynasty - lives not too far from the VSCC fundaments - The Phoenix Green Inn :
“I have just uncovered the attached photo of my father - Basil Porter - probably about 1930. Actually I think the car actually belonged to my grandfather Alfred Porter and was used for the weekly journey on a Thursday to wind clocks in all the Historic Houses in the area, amongst which was Bramshill House (Lord Brocket), Elvetham Hall (Sir Fitzroy Calthorpe) and Stratfield Saye (Duke of Wellington).
Regarding the car the closest I can get is a 1927 Morris Flatnose Tourer?” Rick Ford adds: “I think not a Morris, it is earlier by far than 1927. Beaded edge wheels, scuttle side lamps are early. Although the agricultural boot (hindquarters) suggests a cheap near cyclecar… the domed wings (mudguards) were probably 'Franconia'. An early option normally fitted by quality coachbuilders. Bonnet louvres again suggest quality. High-set bonnet fasteners very distinctive. Almost a Cabriolet rather than pure tourer, careful study shows the passenger door open and perhaps a rear side screen to that side. Valences hide all springing and chassis details.”
Well we can't add a lot to the dialogue of the two old friends, so we leave the problem on your desk.
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The new concept of "Barn Find"
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A French Special Mystery
Paul Kuster found this rather special Special a few months ago in France and since than has been researching the identity and history of the car with the help of Yves Rebet. So far he has found a lot already. The car was constructed in 1948 by Guy Henault who was 19 years old back then. Correct, Guy is now 85... The car was made making use of solely pre-war parts. Paul Kuster identified a Mathis frontaxle, but is not yet sure about the chassis. He learned the car had a Mathis or Citroen engine, which was lost at some point after which the car made use of a post-war Simca unit. The car had at least 6 owners over the years but most probably several more. The question is if the car is known by one or more of our french readers? Paul would like to know which exact chassis was involved. And also if contemporary photos are known showing the car parked, on the road, or possibly on a circuit.
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Across the Channel with Clément-Bayard
On Saturday 8 November an auction will be held in Lyons at the sumptuous Hôtel des Ventes des Brotteaux by Aguttes Auction House. The opening lots starting at 2.30pm consist of automobilia with a very nice collection of Dinky Toys, a good book collection of Ferrari interest, badges, pins,mascots, prints and posters and ending with an exceptional collection of childrens’ pedal cars. But before the cars start at 16.30pm, look at the 2-wheel offers. A wonderful Peugeot V-Twin Paris-Nice motorcycle from C 1913 is offered complete with sidecar all in ‘barn-find’ condition and retaining much original paint. Acquired by the grandfather of the current owner on the eve of the first world war, this bike has always been kept in the family property in Touraine. It is belt-driven via a 3-speed English Armstrong hub gear and will reward its next owner with race-bred provenance and pre-WWl authenticity.
Amongst the cars is a 1932 Delage D8 Landaulet Coupe Chauffeur Carrosserie Binder (Binder being the coachbuilder Henri Binder who also built the coachwork gracing the extraordinary Bugatti Royale Type 41 in the Schlumpf Collection) A contemporary motoring magazine tells us Delage means ”Hard work, diligence, constant search for perfection”. Not so much an example of engineering as a principle. Beneath the bonnet of this unique model is the 4 litre straight eight engine designed by chief engineer Maurice Gaultier and its low revving growl echoes seductively around the Connolly hide hood and roof.
Adolphe Clément-Bayard was a French entrepreneur. An orphan who became a blacksmith and a Compagnon du Tour de France, he went on to race and manufacture bicycles, pneumatic tyres, motorcycles, automobiles, aeroplanes and airships. This auction offers three of his cars, the earliest being a 1904 AC2 Double Phaeton which came from the Clément-Bayard family and still enjoys its glorious patina in original condition. This exceptional car participated in the inauguration of Eurotunnel rally in May 1994, selected to represent the year 1904 by the Automobile Club de France and the Royal Automobile Club in London, and you can guess who built the first airship to cross the channel! (In 1910).
The 1911 Clément Bayard CB 11 has been in the hands of the Clément-Bayard family from new and was used around the estate as a farm hack and to run local errands. It will need some work to get it running, but such a vehicle deserves to be preserved and used. The 1913 Clément Bayard 4M Cabriolet is smaller and lighter than its predecessors with a 1359cc engine cooled by water running through the radiator positioned behind the engine for protection, like the Renault AX and EK which found the Clément-Bayard serious competition for their market.
MG enthusiasts will be excited by the opportunity to acquire a 1934 supercharged J2 which comes with a full history folder of work done. Phoenix crank and Cosworth pistons verify the description ‘full race’ given to the 747cc engine and the marque specialist who completed the ground-up restoration will include a spare Volumex supercharger kit. Stiff competition for the MG J2 in the day was the Singer ‘Le Mans’ and this 1939 example has been beautifully restored after importation from Uruguay in 1995. Its 4-speed close ratio gearbox, hydraulic brakes and wire wheels hint at a very capable competition car.
(Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Aguttes Auction House)
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One day all this will be yours
You may remember Tim Green's Aero Minx project? Due to the project he was a magnet for all Aero Minx material as you can imagine. Tim writes: "This photo was sent to me by Mel Bray. It is of his late Father with his beloved Aero Minx Streamlined Saloon early in WWII. Mr Bray compiled a page in his photo album entitled 'I leave all this' before going off to war. The page included snaps of his Mum and Dad, his sister, his dog Soot and his car! Mel says that his dad must have been very fortunate or gone to some lengths to acquire the car as he was very young and the dashing little motor would probably have been somewhat beyond his purse. Even more remarkable was that on his death only a few years ago he was found to be carrying this picture in his wallet still!"
(Tim Green, Aero Minx Register)
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Wooed in a W.O.
If you were a young lady in 1957 England you would expect her choice of interesting young gentlemen to be driving old Austin Sevens or Bullnose Morris cars rather than a new Austin A 35 or Hillman Minx but Sylvia was attracted to a different class of boyfriend – one who drove a 1929 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer with “4 seater sports coachwork” as ordered by Bentley when the car was delivered new to Vanden Plas as a bare chassis at GBP 1035.
Sylvia learned drive in this car in 1957 and in October of that year was married to the owner at Alveston Manor in picturesque Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire. Every year the adventurous young couple would tour Europe in their trusty Bentley. With a GB sticker on the rear wing, luggage strapped to the spare wheel on the back, they would drive to Lydd Airport in Kent and load the car onto a Bristol freighter operated by Silver City Airways.
Once in Calais, they would head south …. “always camping and roughing it next to the car”. Sylvia always kept the car looking spick and span and it’s testament to how well she and her husband looked after the Bentley so subsequent owners could also maintain the habit and present it in the fabulous original condition we see it today.
Robert Glover invited Sylvia down to his showroom at Bicester Heritage to re-acquaint her with the old Bentley and the sprightly 83 year old grinned from ear to ear as she was taken for a high speed run around their test track where she was reminded of the superb performance and, in her words, “wonderful exhaust note”. She returned home with her head full of happy memories of proper motoring and I hope whoever is the next owner of this car will be as lucky as the girl who was wooed in a W.O.
(Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Robert Glover and Simon Clay photos)
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About Quiz #382: No winner: 1924/25 Rhemag 1 Litre
 We never know what will happen with our weekly quiz, but certainly the Rhemag made by the Renania Motoren Fabrik A.G. (Weikonsee, Berlin) seems to have been too hard, even to our more experienced readers... because we haven´t received one single response! Not one reader dared trying to guess for marque or model. To us there were two distinctive clues about the car´s origins: The Continetal whitewall tyres and the headlights, both very common in many German cars of the 1920s. Anyway, the information about this ephemeral car builder is hard to find in books or internet. As you can see in this page, Rhemag was launched at the 1924 Berlin Motor Salon and lasted only till 1925. Previously the company had produced 11 cylinder rotary aero engines under Siemens-Halske license. We found the photos accompanying this article in the old french magazine "La Vie Automobile" dated 10-2-1925, being the article signed by Henry Petit. The car is described as a 1 Litre four cylinder (62by86 mm) with the engine block made of aluminium. In the article the car was claimed to run really well, reaching the speed of 100 km/h in 400-500 metres from standstill. Undoubtely an interesting machine, but as far as we know none of these has survived. Or? Next week a new chance. Or right now at PostWarClassic! |
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An Austro Daimler Mystery?
Peter Skofic sends this lovely Sunday out portrait. To the well educated observer there's not only a big happy family but also a large & low, attractive motorcar in the picture. "Could anybody of your readers recognize this car? The photo was taken in early 30's in Maribor, Slovenia. I know some of the kids showing in front of the car but the car itself is a mystery for me. Can anybody help me with resolving this puzzle?" Peter presumes it could be an Austra Daimler. If so possibly a 1930 ADR-8 similar to the chassis depicted here?
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What became of 'MG1932'?
Graham Rankin sent this family photo: "I recently came across this period photo of my father Kenneth Rankin in his J2 MG taken in 1932 after qualifying as a chartered accountant. The number plate was MG 1932! Does anyone know if the car still exists?"
To help us on the way Bas 'MG' de Voogd adds: "The MG and UMG plates were often assigned to new cars by University Motors. This specific one came with an MG J2, chassi # J2210, which left the works on 24 September 1932 and received its registration on 7 October 1932."
Well that's clear language, now all we need to do is find back the car, or at least retrace its history, where it ended or continues.
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Moviestar in the Sunset Song
Ian Murray reports about his Locke bodied 1914 ED:
"The Reno has been on tour. It's just had its 100th Birthday and was used in the filming of "Sunset Song" - a story written by the Scottish Author, Lewis Grassic Gibbon. So far this has been the longest trip I've made with it, and across the highest main road in Scotland, the A93 to Spittal of Glenshee. There was a little steam at times, but she made it over the heights. The journey took me right up to Caithness and Sutherland and in total I think we covered just over 400 miles."
editor: Well, that's the way to keep a hundred years motorcar alive. Make it a moviestar and give it a 400 mile work-out.
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Speechless at Stowe School
Stowe School sits in beautiful Buckinghamshire parkland near Silverstone race track. Every year on Speech Day, the school likes to offer parents and pupils something extra and I was invited to bring a suitable car as part of a display of a classics. The rain did not dampen spirits and 70+ automobiles were assembled on the front lawn with strict instructions to bring a drip tray to catch any wayward oil. I borrowed the ex- Sir Malcolm Campbell 1938 Ford V8 Woodie and arrived dry.
‘ROBIN!’ I hear bellowing across the hallowed turf, and there stands Robert Simpson with the lovely Mrs Dixon climbing out of their pretty 1926 Fiat Spyder 509A. We hurry to the drivers’ marquee to find The Automobile’s entire editorial staff already deep in conversation with the most senior ‘Old Stoic’ present – Steady Barker. Wine flowed, coffee flowed, Barker jokes flowed. All too soon, the heavenly sound of the carillon bells rang out calling us to lunch and what a fine meal they gave us. When you see pine kernals in the salad, you know you are in good company.
Just as we finished the second helpings of pavlova Mrs Dixon relayed the news there was a Hurricane coming. By now the sun was shining so I doubted her meteorological accuracy, but I followed the rush for the door in case we needed to take shelter and was greeted by the unmistakable sound of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine blasting over the buildings at very low altitude. Pine kernals AND a Hurricane flypast – we were in very good company! Out on the lawn the pupils were escaping from parents and inspecting the cars. The Duke of Rutland was drinking champagne in his 1908 Renault tourer (in his family from new), a 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile rubbed shoulders with a 2014 McLaren P1. There was something for everybody – including the famous 1923 Aston Martin ‘Razor Blade’ and a gleaming 1932 Bugatti Type 51 whose Dunlop racing tyre Mrs Dixon found perfectly comfortable.
(Text and photos by Robin Batchelor)
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What is it? Quiz #371
Correct, it's not a Bentley. And not even remotely acquainted. It is a fine example of a make that started prior to 1900 and lived up to WWII. Not too many have survived though and we understand of this specific type not a single one. This photo was found in the family album of one of our readers and he added a great story, that we will share with you together with the quiz results one week from now. Just a few small hints to help on the way. This manufaturer built cars with two, four, six and eight cylinders (including a monstruous four cylinder, 11 litre / 120 HP). The sports tourer depicted here most probably had a 2,5 litre four cylinder. Over to you. Give in your response Make, Year and Type and any relevant information to this particular car.
In order to have a good chance of winning the infamous PreWarCar T-shirt, please first read The Rules under Read More. Results published next Saturday, June 7.
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French life in rural Gloucestershire
 La Vie en Bleu; the French inspired motoring weekend is held at the end of May at Prescott Speed Hill Climb. Nestled within the rolling hills of Gloucestershire - UK; the event was started a few years ago to help promote this historic motorsport venue to the masses, and it is now firmly planted in the classic motoring calendar as an event to go to. The latest edition held over the weekend of the 24th and 25th of May provided a mixture of delights to enthusiasts for French cars, and the recipe was wonderful. Entries from Amilcar, Bugatti, Citroen, Delage, Delahaye, De Dion, Hotchkiss, through to D’Ysan, Le Zebre, Panhard all took to the hill in one form or another with Peugeot represented by the wonderful long stroke Edwardian Lion Peugeot & BeBe; through to present day racers. A lottery was held on both days of the meeting to win a ride in a post-modern Bugatti Veyron. This was won each day by very excited boys who certainly had a story to tell their school friends on the Monday morning. They need to start saving hard. The Automobile Magazine had a wonderful display of the 1923 Gerin prototype. For many, as with the Goodwood Revival, the Citroen HY van was in abundance, one producing excellent crepes and coffee with a constant supply of ready takers. Book sellers, clothing dealers, artists and auto jumblers seemed to be doing well; many with period vans and stalls. Breton shirts, moustaches and cyclists with strings of onions capped off a fabulous weekend of vintage French life in rural Gloucestershire. |
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New School restoration of Amsterdam Taxi
 In January 2011 this 1933 Austin Seven 'long wheel base' RP Saloon was unearthened from a Dutch barn. The car was in extremely poor condition, which is a sad thing, especially as it had been in service as an Amsterdam taxi until the early sixties. A new owner had the restoration commisioned from Oldtimerservice Kranz. It was decided to give the car fully overhauled mechanics and electricity, but leave the bodypanels, paintwork and upholstery 'as found'. Hubert Kranz explains that in fact a full restoration had been easier yet that the new owner insisted to leave the current 'cosmetics' untouched. Last week the car was ready for its first test yards... The gearbox was a bit stiff which has been handled in the meantime. We're truly looking forward to see the friendly little taxi back in service in Amsterdam. We'll keep you posted. |
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Lean forward to your screen and you may detect the smell of leather, Castrol R and adrenaline...
One of the lessons I learned as a boy was…. ‘ Look after your shoes and your shoes will look after you.’ It has served me well. I have always loved anything made of good quality leather. The smell of it. The feel of it. The timeless craftsmanship that goes back centuries. I came across one such craftsman recently whose website is clear … “Handmade, bespoke leather items made to a very high standard by using the best quality materials available.”
Szilvia was awarded the Worshipful Company of Saddlers trophy for excellence in saddlery which indicates the bulk of her work, but she has completed an increasing number of orders from our own peculiar world of vintage cars and motorcycles. Anything from bonnet straps, spare wheel bridles, tool bags - you name it. A vintage TT motorcycle racer even took his precious bike in for attention to the original leather seat pad. (check how it was before..!) If you lean toward your screen, you may just be able to detect the smell of leather mixed with Castrol 'R' mixed with adrenaline?
Her workshop is in Borehamwood near Junction 23 of the M25, so I know where to take my old leather suitcase with a broken handle.
(Text Robin Batchelor)
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Instead of a 'Special'? (UPDATE: what the basis was...)
Registering a Special is becoming more difficult every year. At least on the continent of Europe. Legislators tend only to register cars with original chassis, suspension and engine. Changes of body are not seen as a problem. Cars with dramatic chassis and/or engine changes are seen as 'new' cars with all the impossible issues involved with that. So it may not be unthinkable that the market will demand for another kind os special. Cars with a fulyl original basis to start with. Dave Boxall and Tobias Ballard recently started building a small series of roadworthy 'racing cars' based on the supersturdy design of the Model A Ford.
The first prototype has been finished ten days ago. Tobias: "We didn't want this to be the typical Ford A speedster that looked like it had been built from a stock A body. We wanted this to be a proper racing car with racing car looks. I took on the responsibility of all mechanical parts of the build while Dave took on the body side. The rear of the car is built from aviation timber and the front is all aluminium. The engine was a standard Ford A engine of 3280cc. However now the same engine has been rebuilt and tuned by Toby Ballard. The block was bored out .125" to 4" giving the engine 3500cc. It was then completely white metalled and line bored back to tolerance. Then the crankshaft, flywheel, pistons and conrods were all fully balanced. New valves, guides and cam followers were fitted along with a new High Lift camshaft. The resulting car is light, smooth running and very powerful. It produces 60 bhp and 110 lbs of torque. At a first speedtest is did 85 mph. With a differential change and overdrive it will go over a 100 mph. That's fast enough." (more info in their advert; click here)
The car will be first presented during the Vianen Oldtimer event in Holland on the 19-22 June. We understand the second car is well on the way to being finished and the third has just been started. A full alloy bodied version and a twin carburettor conversion - producing another 10 bhp will come available as well.
UPDATE by Toby Ballard: "This is what we started with (click). Not a lovely saloon that was ferrous to build the car. All the chassis that we use are bought as rolling chassis from America. As for the brakes. They work a lot better than my American LaFrance. As for the wings. In England we are not required by law to have them. We also are not required by law to have lights or indicators. "
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The Weingarten Mystery (Update: 1908 De Dion Bouton Phaeton)
We found this photo some time ago and the only information that came with it is - in soft pensil at the back - 'summer of 1909 Weingarten'. The name is of course not the make of the car but the small town in the very south of Germany. The building in the background - we hesitate - looks quite similar to the one which is charactistic for the center of Weingarten. Yet off all of that doesn't help a lot for identifying the fine motrocar. Is the right hand headlight covering the name Bignan? Very unlikely as Bignan started only in 1918.
So what other name starts with B and ends with N? Bardon? (they stopped production in 1903..) Barton? (they only lived in 1903...) Bastin? (according to Georgano a small car with round radiator...). Following a number of makes which are too new. Then Bjering? Borbein? Boston? Bowen? Braun? (austrian make living from 1899-1910, could be?) Brennan? Briton? Brown...? Probably easier to concentrate on the nice radiator shape. Looks more like a 1908 Packard, but not quite. Hope you'll help us out of this winery...
(photo collection PreWarCar)
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Finding the right Bug for Sally
I bumped into Sally at Chris McPheat’s stand at La Vie en Bleu. She needed a picture of a Bugatti Veyron to allay her young son’s disappointment at being unable to come to Prescott so I offered to help. Once in the paddock I could tell this lady had taste. Her eyes immediately fell upon Roland Duce’s Bugatti 57 with exotic bodywork designed by Gangloff in the early 1930s. Behind the Bugatti stood the unique 1923 Gérin Aerodyne whereupon the owner Reg Winstone graciously offered a seat for a photograph – but no, it HAD to be a Veyron.
Luckily Ian Patton ( Bugatti Owners’ Club’s General Manager) was at hand and he personally lifted the elegant blue rope which protected the cars from we mere mortals. Admiring her stylish jacket, he ushered Sally into the inner sanctum which housed not one but TWO Bugatti Veyrons. By now our Panhard Princess was beginning to acquire a taste for the Bugatti marque, and across the way was Tim Dutton generously offering a glass of champagne and the chance to linger over two more exquisite cars - ex Earl Howe 1937 Type 57S Atalante and the stylish Bugatti Type 51A / 38A A (I think) whose history escapes me. But I wasn’t going to rest until I got a picture of Sally sitting in a Bugatti, and sure enough Gilly Howard-Orchard came to my rescue and helped my subject into her Brescia which did the trick. Sally came alive and my camera did its work.
(Text and photos by Robin Batchelor)
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