Veteran - Edwardian - vintage: a section devoted to old-car matters, April 1963
The 1963 Inter-Register Contests between the S.T.D., 12/50 Alvis, Fiat, Bullnose Morris, Humber and model-T Ford Registers are provisionally as follows:-
April 20th – V.S.C.C. Race
May 5th: Touring Assembly, Beaulieu
May 19th: Touring Assembly
June 9th: Wiltshire Rally
July 21st: Driving Tests, Melton Mowbray
August 11th: Touring Assembly, Beaulieu
October 19th: Night Navigation Rally
The Inter-Register Club is no longer a “pirate” organisation, as it is now registered with the R.A.C. It has a total membership of 1,475, its President is Mrs. Winifred Boddy, its Secretary John Tarring. The present holder of the Challenge Shield is the Fiat Register which, in last year’s contest, beat the 12/50 Alvis Register by two points.
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A sure sign that spring is here.—The first V.S.C.C. Silverstone Race Meeting takes place on April 20th. These meetings are extremely popular on account of their informal atmosphere, the great variety amongst the competing cars, the enthusiasm of their drivers and the sights, sounds and smells that only the older racing cars provide!
The meeting starts at 12.15 p.m. with a One Hour High Speed Trial. The racing, over the 1.68-mile Club circuit, includes the 10-lap G.P. Itala Trophy Race for Vintage Racing Cars, the 10-lap Spero and Voiturette Trophies Race for small vintage cars, a 10-lap All-Corners Scratch Race, the 10-lap Merrydown Trophy Race for vintage sports cars and several 5-lap handicaps for vintage, p.v.t. and historic racing cars. Intending competitors should note that entries close on April 3rd.
The public is welcome to spectate but everyone must have an admission ticket for insurance reasons; these are obtainable free from V.S.C.C. members or from T. W. Carson, Kingsclere House Stables, Kingsclere, Newbury, Bucks on mentioning Motor Sport (s.a.e. requested), and stating how many tickets are required. The car-park fee is 10s., transfer to Paddock 5s.
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The Morgan Three-Wheeler Club has 1,026 Morgan 3-wheelers on its books, of which 134 are the early two-speeder models, make-up of one pre-1920 model, a 1922 water-cooled J.A.P., two 1925 models, 12 dated 1927, 24 of 1928 vintage, 27 of 1929, 28 of 1930, 21 of 1931 and nine of 1932 vintage. The Aero model is commonest, followed by the Super Aero. So ancient Morgans are by no means defunct. Incidentally, the price set on such models, suitable for rebuilding, is refreshingly low, something under £20. The oldest known Morgan appears to be the 1912 model in the S. Kensington Science Museum unless a 1911 Morgan rumoured to be in the Midlands comes to light.
This year the Club plans an Opening Run on April 6th, a sprint meeting on May 19th and a Silverstone outing on June 29th. Secretary: R. Richmond, 117, Park Road, London, N.W.8.
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The Belgian V.C.C. held its 4th Annual Winter Rally, in conditions of ice and bitter sleet, from Spa to Monschan, near the Nurburgring, a run of 50 miles, culminating in a hill-climb. Heinz Matheisen, who sends a report, says about 20 cars took part, including a 1906 Ford, 1909 Renault, 1910 Zebrea, 1913 Adler, two Fords and a Minerva limousine. The ex-Ribbentrop Type 540K Mercedes-Benz cabriolet also took part, and the sole British entry was a Singer which, from its photograph, appears to have been a rare model, either a push-rod o.h.v. Ten or a Senior.
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A Proposed Minerva Register.—E. A. Price, whose 1930 30/32 h.p. Minerva was featured in Motor Sport last May, is hoping to form a Register for these cars. Will owners please contact him at 2, Dene Court, Valley Road, Shortlands, Kent. At present he knows of about fifteen Minervas in this country and he holds a good stock of spares.
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Miscellaneous Items.—We hear that a 1930 Hillman saloon, 1930 Humber saloon and 1937 Lanchester are in need of new owners in Cornwall, and a Humber Vogue saloon lies in an Essex public house car park. Near Manchester a one-armed driver is using successfully an early Trojan, its controls slightly modified. A member of the Wolseley Hornet Special Club is compiling a competition history of these cars and wishes to contact F. S. Hutchens, S. E. N. Whitelock, B. M. Wickens, E. V. Erith and D. L. Brianlt—letters can be forwarded. A 1929 Morgan 3-wheeler was converted into a portable ski-lift last winter, alas, but another 3-wheeler of this age, make not yet ascertained, has come to light near London. The Editor is anxious to hear of any very large or very small, vintage cars or old commercial vehicles, even bare chassis, and as these will be used on private ground they need not necessarily be of M.O.T. Test standards. He also craves old aeroplane engines—surely the sheds of our aerodromes must conceal forgotten examples?
Which is the oldest car to go in for the I.A.M. test? The driver of a 1926 A.C. 2-seater passed recently. A 1909 Minerva is being restored in Doncaster. In New York a 1932 Rolls-Royce is serving as a mobile ice-cream ‘fridge. The Secretary of the Fiat Register, which also caters for O.M.s, is G. Liston-Young, Dickinson & Morris Ltd., Melton Mowbray, Leics., who will be glad to hear from owners of such cars, vintage and modern. A 1920/21 model-T Ford, concealed in a shed since 1933, is being restored in Scotland and the ex-Cyril Paul/Bob Gerard 1935/36 Riley T.T. Sprite “works” car is in good hands in Cheshire, its owner running a rebuilt 1938 Riley 15/6 Kestrel specially built for the actor, Bransby Williams, and having the prototype Riley Stelvio tourer awaiting restoration. A pair of 2-litre Aston Martin wire wheels are going begging in Coventry. A 1927 Austin 20/4 limousine stands out, in an Oxfordshire front garden, but is apparently not for sale. The Edinburgh Evening News is restoring a 1926 Chrysler van formerly employed on delivery of this paper.
The grand-daughter of the founder of the Minerva Company in England has purchased a car for her sons—a Minerva. It is said to be a 1919 model, in excellent condition although it had stood idle in the open since 1943, and the coupé body is being restored. A 1929 Austin 16/6 Burnham saloon in good order with original tools but requiring new upholstery, was looking for a new home, as its owner is leaving Cumberland for Japan. It was supplied new to a Judge on the Irish circuit and has had only two subsequent owners. A Delage, circa 1922, is reported to be languishing in a yard in Kent. There is an air-cooled V-twin Beardmore Precision engine, said to have been used in a car, in pieces in Berkshire, for sale for about £5.
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The National Traction Engine Club announces the following rallies, for 1963, which steam enthusiasts may care to enter in their diaries:—May 11th, Andover, Hampshire; June 2nd and 3rd, Beaulieu, Hampshire; June 3rd, Woodton Old Hall, Norfolk; June 15th, Huntingdonshire County Show, St. Ives; June 22nd, St. Ival, Cornwall; June 29th, Chartridge, Bucks; July 6th and 7th, Rempstone, Loughborough; July 6th, West of England, near Redruth; July 20th, Appleford, Berks; August 3rd-5th, Bedford; August 17th, Lymington, Hampshire.
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The Vintage S.C.C. 1963 fixtures are—
April 6th – Buxton Rally
April 20th – Silverstone Race Meeting†
May 4th – Irish Rally
May 26th – Beaulieu Driving Tests†
June 9th – Light Car Rally
June 22nd – Oulton Park Race Meeting†
July 27th – Silverstone Race Meeting†
August 18th – Prescott Speed Hill-Climb†
September 8th Madresfield Rally
October 5th/6th – Welsh Rally
October 25th – Irish Rally
November 10th – Eastern Rally
November 23rd – Northern Trial
December 7th – Driving Tests
† Non-members admitted.
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It is rumoured that an open 8-litre Bentley, thought to be “Old No. 1,” is for sale in London, for £3,250! It has an open body, apparently, whereas our information is that “Old No. 1,” after running at Le Mans in 4.5-litre and 6.5-litre form, became a Brooklands 8-litre with modified chassis, and eventually acquired coupé bodywork. It is doubtful whether this car is the original “Old No. 1” except for the front axle beam, bulk head, gear box casing and nosepiece.
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The Historic Commercial Vehicle Club’s London-Brighton Run will start from the British Transport Museum, Clapham Common, at 9 a.m.. on May 5th, the arrival at Brighton being timed for 12 noon, with contests on the Madeira Drive between 2 and 4 p.m. Other H.C.V.C. rallies include one at Measham on June 9th and at East Ham on Sept. 14th.
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The Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Birmingham Science Museum Annual Tour of Birmingham is scheduled for July 14th. This year mobile and static exhibits of every kind of historic and p.v.t. vehicle, including. steamers, are welcome. Details from Phil Smith, The Science Museum, Newhall Street, Birmingham.
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This year’s Veteran C.C. Main Fixtures comprise the International Touring Assembly in conjunction with the V.S.C.C. on May 9th-11th, Cheddar Gorge Rally on May 25-26th, Moynes Park Meeting in Suffolk on June 29th, a Kent/Surrey rally on July 13th, the Hull/Scarborough Run on Sept. 1st and the Buxton Meeting on Sept. 14-15th. In addition, five minor events are announced. The new Secretary is Brig. I. H. Good, 14, Fitzhardinge Street, London, W.1.
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Entry forms for Bransgore Carnival, with classes for veteran, vintage and p.v.t. cars, are obtainable from A. Stroud, Peverell Cottage, Bransgore. Entries are limited to 50.
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Discoveries reported recently embrace a Morris and model-T Ford in a workshop in Kent, and some old lorry parts, all of which have been there since 1933, an ancient Buick with wooden wheels in Ferring, some old carburetters and remains of a Hudson Terraplane chassis in Yorkshire, while a 5-stud Morris Commercial wheel is going free in Evesham.
Many early cars rotting away in Norfolk include a 1927 Essex, 1924 Rolls-Royce truck and 1926 Rolls-Royce 20, 1927 Singer Junior, 1922 Ford model-T van and a Reo lorry. Parts of a model-T Ford lorry lie in Bucks, while in Scotland vintage Leyland and Crossley commercials are in need of immediate rescue, likewise a 1936 Packard Eight, Reo lorry and an early American saloon, probably an Essex. In Surrey we hear of two Vulcan lorries and a pre-war Fordson lorry, while in Burghfield an early Dodge landaulette is in danger of being scrapped. From Yorkshire come reports of a Rolls-Royce Phantom radiator, six 880 x 120 tyres and a complete M-type M.G. with cut-off tail, also a Mercedes-Benz saloon; a Swift engine converted for marine use was for sale in Middlesex, and transmission parts of a Calcott in Suffolk. London yields a dynamo and starter for a 1921 Vauxhall, Spalding two artillery wheels, one with a Clincher 920 x 120 tyre. A 1908 “Car Register” with entries concerning running a 10/12 Coventry-Humber will be given free to the first applicant. Letters can be forwarded.
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The new Bugatti register
Hugh Conway has painstakingly compiled a new Bugatti Register and Data Book, and this has been issued by the Bugatti O.C. It is primarily for members, at a cost of 32s., but nonmembers can obtain copies at 37s. each inclusive of postage and packing, if they apply to the Bugatti O.C., Office of the Registrar, 10, Clarendon Mews, London, W.2, mentioning Motor Sport.
This Register will provide Bugatti enthusiasts with hours of entertainment, especially as identification is by chassis number, so that finding a particular Bugatti takes quite a search if this number isn’t known. It lists 1,050 known Bugattis under types, from 8-Valve to Type 101, with details of chassis numbers, engine numbers, registration numbers, date of registration, bodywork, owner if known and details of history and modifications. It is pleasing to find that nine 8-valve cars exist and that 87 16-valve Brescias and derivatives are still about the World— the two ex-Raymond Mays’ sprint cars owned by H. B. Taylor do not appear to be included. It was sad to learn that only one model electric G.P. Bugatti remains in this country until one realised that Conway has forgotten Major Lambton’s and probably at least one other. Ten pre-1914 Bebe Peugeots are appendixed, and I thought there might be more—Kent Karslake’s, for instance?
The book includes technical and servicing data from Types 13 to 59, with a good picture of each leading type, and Conway deserves hearty congratulations on a very valuable work of reference, which also makes enjoyable reading. The production is high-class, too.—W. B.