The Henderson Napier Rolls-Royce

Sir,
I was very interested to see a photograph of one of my old cars in the November issue of Motor Sport, page 1148, “The Henderson Napier Rolls-Royce”.

I bought this Car, LX 4377, from Colonel Henderson on the condition that he should deliver it to me in Glasgow by road. He accomplished this run in one day on about 40 gallons of petrol. The car was a very easy starter as, during my ownership, I had a starting magneto attached to the running board and it was only necessary to turn the engine over once or twice and spin the magneto.

Unfortunately, motor tax was increased to £1 per horse-power soon after I purchased the car. This rather spoilt the effect and she lay in my mother’s garage at Skelmorlie. As far as I recollect I purchased the car about 1922/24 and eventually sold it to D. R. Miller, who was to enter it for the Bo’ness hill-climb. The chassis was a Napier, built for an attempt at the Double Twelve-Hour record. The radiator came from a Rolls-Royce armoured car and the mascot was a solid silver arrow. It was quite a reasonable car on the road and the engine ran smoothly at around 3/400 r.p.m.

At that time I had a 1910 Rolls-Royce doctor’s coupé as stable companion, which was more comfortable and convenient for everyday use.

H. W. Whyte.
West Kilbride, Ayrshire.