V-E-V Miscellany, February 1977, February 1977

V-E-V Miscellany.— We regret to learn of the death of Albert E. Boyer-Lowe, last November. He was a Motor Industry pioneer whom we interviewed in 1965 about the Phoenix car, for which he was responsible. We also have with deep regret to record the passing of Miss Barbara Marshall, who was a close companion of Betty Haig and who had an active motor sporting career, commencing with her Anzani-GN home-built special before the war. A circa-1920 Chevrolet, believed to have belonged to a previous Governor of the Isle of Kamaran, on the Red Sea, was still in existence at least up to ten years ago, labelled proudly as being the first car on the Island (see photo). We are pleased to report that Ken and Kitty Hutchison, who now reside abroad, but who were well known some years ago in this country, Hutchison as the driver of various cars in races and trials, from Bugatti and Frazer Nash to V12 Allard, are in good form and still keen motorists, their present 250SE Mercedes-Benz coupe having done nearly 250,000 km., with no troubles at all, apart from new pistons and clutch after 200,000 km.—the best car he has owned, says Hutchison, since his Rolls-Royce PIIContinentals. The recent enquiry in Motor Sport about a Hermon that may have been the one raced at Brooklands brought a response from the brother-in-law of the builder, confirming that two such cars were built, circa-1936, one of which was raced. The 750MC has beaten the VSCC to a Ladies’ Race (at Snetterton last year). What about it in 1977, Tony Bird?

The Wolseley Register thrives and its Newsletter has been making a stand against the ridiculously high prices asked for, in particular, post-war old cars. We have been taken to task by the RAC for suggesting that the 1902 Beaufort which the Editor drove in the last Brighton Run has been an unreliable veteran. Phil Drackett points out that he and “Chalky” White had little trouble with it on the 1974 Run and that it completed the route in 1973, handled by White and Clements, but he admits that in 1975 its Police service crew had to push it to the start and give it a push-off in Hyde Park and that it broke down and retired by the Houses of Parliament while being conducted by the experienced “Chalky” White. W.B. apologises to Sir Clive Bossom, Chairman of the RAC, for saying that it was he who broke the Beaufort’s gear-lever. A 1923 Bugatti, said to have belonged to Esson-Scott, was sold for an apparently high price in Kaiwaka. recently. Newspaper reports say the late owner’s father bought the car in London and that it is in generally original condition. It appears to be a Type 40 or Brescia and it is suggested that its long-tailed sports body may have been made by Hooper’s, of whom Esson-Scott is thought to have been a Director. Another report says that a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, chassis no. 1367, has just left Thailand for delivery to a UK dealer. It is said to be about the 10th oldest known Ghost, circa 1910, but has disc wheels, to fit which the spokes of the original wire wheels were cut off at the hubs, and a more modern touring body.

We apologise to Mr. Adorian for saying he took 17hr. 17 min. 42 sec. to drive a 1934 Dennis fire-engine from London to Paris ; the time was for the out and return journey and the RAC, we are informed, has confirmed the time as 16 hr. 48 min. The old cars, including a 1930s Family Morgan and a Rover Economy Nine, etc. in a field at Lyme Regis are for sale and we now have the location of these vehicles, which are in non-working, rough state we are told. Letters can be forwarded to the garage concerned, if a stamped envelope is provided, but the Morgan 3-wheeler Club has been informed. The Rolls-Royce EC has asked us to make it clear that the recently-concluded Exhibition of Silver Ghost cars at Beaulieu was a joint effort by the R-REC and the NMM and that the first day of the Windsor and Ascot Silver Jubilee Rally (May 7th) is being organised entirely by them, although Ghostowning non-members have been invited. A reader has sent us a copy of a page from Harrod’s 1929 catalogue, from which it is seen that those clockwork P2 Alfa Romeo’s were being sold for 25/-, not 35/- as we thought, unless by then they had been reduced in price. The writer first saw one of these models at Oakley Hall School, Cirencester, in 1928, and wonders whether they failed to reach the British market until long after the eclipse of the real P2s. So far no one has risen to our bait as to whether these tin-plate Alfas were originally modelled as 1922 Fiats. Reverting to that old catalogue, we note that Segrave (wrongly spelt, of course) gave his personal approval to the 151rubber-tyred clockwork model of the 200 m.p.h. Sunbeam, that rubber-driven toy aeroplanes sold for from 5/- to 21/-, and that Meccano sets ranged from 3/6 to £19. Happy days!—W.B.