H&H are holding their next collector’s car auction on 15 April in The Imperial War Museum at Duxford and as we perused the catalogue our eyes opened at lot 18, a 1929 MG 14/40 Mark IV Tourer. One of only eleven Super Sports 4-seaters known to have survived, it boasts a tuned 1802cc four-cylinder engine, Marles Weller steering box, improved four-wheel drum brakes and uprated suspension complete with Andre Hartford shock absorbers. The fitting of an SU carburetter, coil conversion and indicators tells me this car has enjoyed regular sporting road use and previous owner, the late Robin Barraclough, would want it no other way. From the same stable comes a 1931 MG M-Type with half the estimate and half the engine capacity of the 14/40, but this popular little car enjoyed much sporting success winning gold medals in the 1929 Land’s End Trial as well as Team Prize and class wins in the 1930 24hr "Double Twelve" race at Brooklands. It is described as …”an amazing car to drive.”
There are no less than three Sunbeams on offer, the earliest being a 1920 Sunbeam 16HP Tourer with 3 litre 4 cylinder side-valve engine and handsome royal blue coachwork. The 1925 Sunbeam 20/60 Tourer boasts a 3.2 litre 6 cylinder engine with overhead valves and black coachwork and maroon upholstery. “A decidedly handsome and imposing Vintage Tourer, this `Supreme Sunbeam' is worthy of close inspection.” The third Sunbeam is a 25hp Saloon from 1934 painted in maroon and black with a robust 3.4 litre ohv engine and estimated at half that of the 1929 Lagonda High Chassis 2 litre CCS Saloon. One of only two close-coupled Weymann Saloons to have survived, it has been maintained to a high standard by its engineer owner and used extensively around the UK including trips as far afield as the Orkneys and Shetlands – “A wonderful, extremely rare Vintage Lagonda offering comfortable and capable touring with vital protection from the British weather!”
Vinot-Deguingand started building cars in 1901 and ceased production in 1926. This make was invariably known as plain Vinot once firmly established and were sold in England under the name La Silencieuse. The 1914 AM4 Tourer offered is a 12/14hp powered by a four-cylinder 1692cc monobloc engine allied to four-speed manual transmission. The former featured pressure lubrication; while the latter employed a vertical change mechanism (3rd and 4th being sited under 1st and 2nd within its cylindrical casing). It was bought by Douglas Dixon in 1954 “in complete and original condition, only in need of a repaint” and he has “done many thousands of miles both on rallies and long runs for my own pleasure”. It entered the current family ownership upon the death of Mr. Dixon. Another car from 1914 is the Ford Model T Surrey described as “extremely rare, possibly unique”. It is a 6-seater with Surrey top and is said to have been traded by the original owner in the late 1920s for a Model A, remaining with the same dealer until 2000 when it was shipped to UK vendor who undertook a painstaking restoration and improved its performance by adding high compression alloy head and pistons. If nothing above takes your fancy, then will you be tempted by an Austin? Either a 1934 Austin 7 Opel 2-seater tourer or its big brother, a 1928 Austin 12/4 Heavy saloon.
(Text Robin Batchelor, picture courtesy H&H)