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With the London to Brighton veteran car run still fresh in our minds, we naturally enjoy increasing our knowledge of pre-1905 cars so we can be better prepared next year - and the year after that.... and so on.
H and H Auctioneers have an interesting veteran in their sale at Chateau Impney on December 7th. It is a Phebus 21⁄4 HP Forecar dating back to 1899 and sporting a single cylinder De Dion engine at the back which gives ample performance with a single occupant but if a passenger is carried in the fold-down front seat we suspect it may struggle on hills.
This car is believed to be the only known example and with its excellent springing will offer a comfortable ride to Brighton, particularly as the sun will surely be shining with a 'Phebus' in the entry list.
We have expressed our opinion before about cars painted brown but we like the 1924 Dodge Roadster with RHD and 3½ litre sidevalve motor. Perfect for trialling or motoring amongst modern traffic as long as you remember it only has rear wheel brakes. The 1929 DeSoto Six Model K Tourer is painted white with brown upholstery and although it has a smoother six cylinder motor we still prefer the Dodge.
If you are going to buy a pre-war Rolls Royce you must like the look of the body and out of the four examples offered, we hovered over the 1933 20/25 Sports Saloon and the 20/25 Sedanca Coupe by Gurney Nutting also from 1933.
Both handsome looking cars, but the dummy pram irons of the Faux Cabriolet seduced us.
The restored '36 Alvis Crested Eagle TF Saloon is very nice, and very red and shiny, and will surely find a buyer - but the well-preserved 1938 Morris 14/6 Series III Saloon has a charm that's hard to resist. Think of the stories it can tell of the days it was an Air Ministry Staff Car at an RAF station. Shades of Sam Stewart, the WAAF driver for Detective Foyle in the TV series 'Foyle's War'. Yes, yes, we know their car was a Wolseley 18/85, but won't you permit us a little nostalgic licence?
Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy H and H Auctions.