A while ago we published about Vincents of Reading. Louise Vincent sent us some lovely pictures. One of them being a Benz. We got great response about the history of the company and also about the Benz. But the big question remained; where is it now?
Bernard Williamson former president of the VCC was kind enought to get us in touch with the very knowledgeable John Warburton and David Hales. Mr. Hales sent us an extensive letter about the Benz, which photo was taken during the 1927(!) London Brighton Run.
"Vincents of reading were not only coachbuilders and repairers, but also retained a number of early cars in the 1920s onwards. William Vincent entered three cars in the 1927 Brighton Run. No. 14, the 1899 Benz, said to be "in general use, and also used for cutting timber in the country". No. 16, a 1900 Darracq; and No. 31, a 1903 Renault.
In the 1928 run, 'The Autocar' doesn't seem to have printed an entry list, altough it did carry a report on the run. Photos were few and far between and somewhat muddy by today's standards, and for 1930, there were no entries by Vincents'. I am not sure whether any were entered beyond that date but I do have programmes from 1934 onwards.
I do also have an extract from what I think is a Brooks auction catalogue of 27th July 2000, pp. 148/9 (Beaulieu), in which a Benz Comfortable (the model sold in the UK as the Ideal No.2) was entered and which had formerly belonged to Vincents, along with correspondence indicating that the registration number was thought to have been 'DP 557' (probably a registration of c.1910). The Car No. of this Benz was 2877, and the chassis No. 2372 K (on the steering column). A plate on the car suggested that it was originally sold by the Speedwell Motor Car Co. of Reading, and the photos generally look rather similar to that taken in 1927 bar lamps and perhaps an extension to the front apron. Some time after being listed by Vincents', it had passed on to one W. Russel. I would therefore feel that it is safe to assume this is the same car as pictured in 1927 on PreWarCar.com.
It is certainly fascinating looking at the early L-BR reports, as some cars were given the wrong make (Benz really the Arnold, and Armstrong - Whitworth for what is the Wilson-Pitcher, to name but two), many with doubtful dates, and some seem to have completely disappeared. Registration numbers were not included in the RAC programmes until about 1970."