THE A - D TYPE VAUXHALL REGISTER
LATEST NEWS
SOLD! C10 Prince Henry Evocation
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A well known car to the Register, as it was built up by our president Alisdaire Lockhart! Recently acquired by Richard Whittemore (see C27 below).
Alisdaire's notes: Made up car to C.10 specification: engine number A.11.425; gearbox number G529 (restored by Trevor Hulks); rear axle number not available. Gearbox early type with eccentric mounted lay-shaft. Chassis original Vauxhall A.12 chassis narrowed and shortened to C.10 specification: 28ins front; 32ins rear. Rear axle: ratio, 3.65:1; 12 ins brakes, 880x120 tyres. All this is exactly to early C.10 specification, and the car has a four seater narrow touring body of 1912 period. The car’s first appearance was at the Prince Henry Centenary Celebration at Shelsley Walsh on 17th/18th July and over the past year James Gunn and I drove it extensively to run it in and find all the gremlins in the car. The car's real test came when it went to Sweden in May 2012 to celebrate the centenary of the Great Winter Reliability Trial of the Royal Automobile Club of Sweden (right), when it covered over 700 miles in total with no mechanical problems. DK: July '24 |
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SOLD! Prince Henry C27
C27: 30-98 Register event Hampton Court 2023
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Restoration in progress by Kenneth Ball
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C27, formerly owned by Tim Watson, has been acquired by Richard Whittemore from Sussex. This car was restored by Kenneth Ball in the 1960's.
John Ellis
As President of the Veteran & Vintage Vauxhall Register it is with great sadness that I report the death of John Ellis last week, peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in St. Peters, Adelaide, in South Australia. John was by profession an environmentalist and conservationist, but by inclination he was an aviator and connoisseur of fine motorcars, especially Ferrari, Sunbeam and Vauxhall. He had very good examples of all three marques, especially a very fine OE 30-98 and, closest to his heart, an early Prince Henry Vauxhall. In addition, John was very adept at collecting parts from early Vauxhalls, which he stored either at his home in St Peters or at his farm outside the city. Through his endeavours, many valuable parts of early Vauxhalls were saved from the scrap heap, although it was sometimes difficult to persuade him to part with any of his treasures: but to my delight, he promised me a 3 litre A Type Vauxhall engine, and this was shipped back to the UK and it now propels my Prince Henry. John was always good at provoking discussion, whether it was on the status of a particular Vauxhall or some historic discrepancy, John would always be in the centre of the debate, with his own individual slant on the controversy. As a mutual friend once said to me, you can guarantee that John will have a different viewpoint than everyone else in any debate. To Marj and their two sons, we offer our deepest condolences at this difficult time – he will be missed by so many vintages around the world – good-bye, dear friend.
Alisdaire Lockhart.
May '23
As President of the Veteran & Vintage Vauxhall Register it is with great sadness that I report the death of John Ellis last week, peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in St. Peters, Adelaide, in South Australia. John was by profession an environmentalist and conservationist, but by inclination he was an aviator and connoisseur of fine motorcars, especially Ferrari, Sunbeam and Vauxhall. He had very good examples of all three marques, especially a very fine OE 30-98 and, closest to his heart, an early Prince Henry Vauxhall. In addition, John was very adept at collecting parts from early Vauxhalls, which he stored either at his home in St Peters or at his farm outside the city. Through his endeavours, many valuable parts of early Vauxhalls were saved from the scrap heap, although it was sometimes difficult to persuade him to part with any of his treasures: but to my delight, he promised me a 3 litre A Type Vauxhall engine, and this was shipped back to the UK and it now propels my Prince Henry. John was always good at provoking discussion, whether it was on the status of a particular Vauxhall or some historic discrepancy, John would always be in the centre of the debate, with his own individual slant on the controversy. As a mutual friend once said to me, you can guarantee that John will have a different viewpoint than everyone else in any debate. To Marj and their two sons, we offer our deepest condolences at this difficult time – he will be missed by so many vintages around the world – good-bye, dear friend.
Alisdaire Lockhart.
May '23
History revealed - OD853
In the UK it has proved difficult to discover the ownership history of many of the cars in the Register. However, just recently a random post on a Vintage social media page has led to discovering more of OD853's history: it transpires that Colin Wells owned this Malvern bodied 23-60 from 1959 until 1964. Colin takes up the story:
I joined the VSCC in 1958(?) when I bought a Riley 9 Monaco, moving on to a Riley Gamecock. But my true love was a Vauxhall 23-60, Registration TC 7583, that I bought in 1959 for £70. She had been laid up in 1939, and the engine had not been run or even turned over for 20 years!
The original fuel tank and its 'pressurised tank' fuel feed had been removed because the tank had corroded through where it butted up against the chassis, and an unsightly cylindrical tank fitted together with an unreliable Autovac. I removed the original tank and the local blacksmith (in Boulmer, Northumberland - in those days such people still existed) cut out the corroded section and replaced it by unbelievably skilled welding.
The Autovac was replaced by robbing a perfect one from a vehicle in an Army surplus dump near Cambridge. The original Watford magneto had been damaged by unskilled dismantling and later had to be replaced in a hurry. But though private cars had long since stopped using magnetos, we discovered a supplier who kept one in stock for his regular fairground generator customers. It was expensive but very robust and is probably still sparking strongly as I write. My major contribution to the history of our car was to remove the reticulated paintwork and repaint it by brush, using multiple coats and finishing with coach varnish. The result was wonderful. The colours were graphite grey for the body and black for the wings and chassis.
Early in 1964 I was posted from RAF Benson to HQ RAF Germany at Rheindahlen (at that time I was a Flight Lieutenant Engineer, Electrical). I had arranged for Tessie (our family nickname = TC or Tessie [O'Shea], who was renowned for her large dimensions), to be housed in a garage in Ewelme until we returned to the UK. TC was then in a home and dry out-house....... until the owner decided to sell the store and so she was sold (for about £200 I think) to an enterprise in Norfolk whose business was to build grain-carrying bodies on heavy vehicles. My stepfather and I drove her on Trade Plates from Ewelme to Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen in Norfolk. It says much for the sturdiness of the car that, with a can of petrol and jump leads, we collected her and drove her, with only one incident, non-stop for what was probably three hours over pre-motorway roads. The incident was in deep East Anglia. We came across a very low bridge where there was a sign saying that tall vehicles should use the speaker to ask for the gates of an alternative level crossing could be opened. We had the hood up so did just that. We looked towards the crossing keeper's signal box, from which an irate figure emerged making expletive gestures telling us to go under the bridge (I think that there was a height gauge that he could see). Since he was on no account to open the crossing gates, I gingerly drove under the bridge - there could not have been much clearance!
I have been preoccupied with family concerns since my delighted discovery that TC is now in better hands than mine could afford. My most eye-watering expense was a set of 880x120 beaded edged tyres. But inflated to today's values of our currency, I must have been out of my mind! I just hope that the set of tyres are still in use.
Colin kindly sent the photos below of OD853 taken during his ownership, which he clearly enjoyed immensely.
I joined the VSCC in 1958(?) when I bought a Riley 9 Monaco, moving on to a Riley Gamecock. But my true love was a Vauxhall 23-60, Registration TC 7583, that I bought in 1959 for £70. She had been laid up in 1939, and the engine had not been run or even turned over for 20 years!
The original fuel tank and its 'pressurised tank' fuel feed had been removed because the tank had corroded through where it butted up against the chassis, and an unsightly cylindrical tank fitted together with an unreliable Autovac. I removed the original tank and the local blacksmith (in Boulmer, Northumberland - in those days such people still existed) cut out the corroded section and replaced it by unbelievably skilled welding.
The Autovac was replaced by robbing a perfect one from a vehicle in an Army surplus dump near Cambridge. The original Watford magneto had been damaged by unskilled dismantling and later had to be replaced in a hurry. But though private cars had long since stopped using magnetos, we discovered a supplier who kept one in stock for his regular fairground generator customers. It was expensive but very robust and is probably still sparking strongly as I write. My major contribution to the history of our car was to remove the reticulated paintwork and repaint it by brush, using multiple coats and finishing with coach varnish. The result was wonderful. The colours were graphite grey for the body and black for the wings and chassis.
Early in 1964 I was posted from RAF Benson to HQ RAF Germany at Rheindahlen (at that time I was a Flight Lieutenant Engineer, Electrical). I had arranged for Tessie (our family nickname = TC or Tessie [O'Shea], who was renowned for her large dimensions), to be housed in a garage in Ewelme until we returned to the UK. TC was then in a home and dry out-house....... until the owner decided to sell the store and so she was sold (for about £200 I think) to an enterprise in Norfolk whose business was to build grain-carrying bodies on heavy vehicles. My stepfather and I drove her on Trade Plates from Ewelme to Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen in Norfolk. It says much for the sturdiness of the car that, with a can of petrol and jump leads, we collected her and drove her, with only one incident, non-stop for what was probably three hours over pre-motorway roads. The incident was in deep East Anglia. We came across a very low bridge where there was a sign saying that tall vehicles should use the speaker to ask for the gates of an alternative level crossing could be opened. We had the hood up so did just that. We looked towards the crossing keeper's signal box, from which an irate figure emerged making expletive gestures telling us to go under the bridge (I think that there was a height gauge that he could see). Since he was on no account to open the crossing gates, I gingerly drove under the bridge - there could not have been much clearance!
I have been preoccupied with family concerns since my delighted discovery that TC is now in better hands than mine could afford. My most eye-watering expense was a set of 880x120 beaded edged tyres. But inflated to today's values of our currency, I must have been out of my mind! I just hope that the set of tyres are still in use.
Colin kindly sent the photos below of OD853 taken during his ownership, which he clearly enjoyed immensely.
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The new owner in 1964 was Margaret Bunkall and her husband. They were enthusiastic about completing the restoration that Colin had begun, but it seems that never happened & they left the car exactly as it was. In September 2002 OD853 was sold in a poor state at Cheffins auction.
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Alec Stevenson purchased and restored the car in Warwickshire, following which it was then sold again in 2009 to the present owner in Worcestershire .
Photos below from September 2022. Dave Kirke, Feb '23 |
2009 H&H auction details:
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New custodian - OD720
A rare Malvern bodied 23-60, OD720, recently found a new home via the Bonhams Beaulieu auction. Originally supplied to Australia, this car was returned to UK in 1997 via the late Anthony Booth of Orchid cars. Since then, 3 different owners have enjoyed this car.
The new owner Charles Clegg commented: 'It is actually the 2nd vintage Vauxhall I have owned as I used to have a 14-40 Trials car, which I competed in with the VSCC. I sadly sold it back in c.2016/17 to help fund another project and have always regretted it. I had a thoroughly enjoyable day at VSCC Prescott Long Course in the 23-60 and indeed have done a considerable amount of mileage in the car already'.
Charles kindly sent the above photos of the September event at Prescott. Great to see another 23-60 being used so enthusiastically!
Dave Kirke, October '22
The new owner Charles Clegg commented: 'It is actually the 2nd vintage Vauxhall I have owned as I used to have a 14-40 Trials car, which I competed in with the VSCC. I sadly sold it back in c.2016/17 to help fund another project and have always regretted it. I had a thoroughly enjoyable day at VSCC Prescott Long Course in the 23-60 and indeed have done a considerable amount of mileage in the car already'.
Charles kindly sent the above photos of the September event at Prescott. Great to see another 23-60 being used so enthusiastically!
Dave Kirke, October '22
Another find - D2889!
When we complied the last Register in 2014, we thought we had located (almost) all the surviving cars. Well, yes almost, but not all! Recently yet another car emerged which we didn't know existed. D2889 is in Spain. Raúl Aranda sent the pictures below. The car appears to have been a Kington, and Raúl reports that the first owner was the British Vice-Consul in Gijon, a medium size city in northern Spain. A rare early survivor, which the Register has dated to 1919.
Restoration has commenced.
DK, October 2022
When we complied the last Register in 2014, we thought we had located (almost) all the surviving cars. Well, yes almost, but not all! Recently yet another car emerged which we didn't know existed. D2889 is in Spain. Raúl Aranda sent the pictures below. The car appears to have been a Kington, and Raúl reports that the first owner was the British Vice-Consul in Gijon, a medium size city in northern Spain. A rare early survivor, which the Register has dated to 1919.
Restoration has commenced.
DK, October 2022
Longstone 'Long Car' races - VSCC Donington June 5th 2022
It was very, very wet, cold and slippery, but brilliant to see 5 30-98s, a 23-60 and a D type out on the track for the first ever Longstone 'Long Car' race. Tom Duffin bravely entered OD1116, and he takes up the story:
'Race preparation started at the end of May, having not used the 23-60 since going to Prescott with all the camping gear last year, first job was some new rubber courtesy of Longstone tyres, we were pushing our luck and down to the canvas on the original Dunlop tyres and with a pair of Longstone chevrons on the front the steering was transformed, then a thorough service and adjust the brakes, where I discovered a bad thread on one of the half shaft nuts, only three days to go at this point and John still hadn’t driven the car! Thankfully, I managed to find 1" BSF tap and die set in the workshop and make a new nut. The day before the race we managed to get John out of the kitchen and behind the wheel, gear change was a big worry as John is a chains and dogs man, but after a few laps of our Wood Lane "circuit" he was just about master of it, and even managed to overtake, two vintage tractors!
After a night with a total lack of sleep, questioning my judgement in entering such a lovely original touring car in a race! We all awoke to torrential rain, I left the farm and picked John up on route, fortunately we are only a little over half an hour from Donnington, we don’t have a car trailer, so always drive to events. The rain was never going to be enough to dampen spirits, when you meet old friends and the fantastic and welcoming VSCC crew working hard to make it all happen. Unable to find a valid excuse not to, we entered the race.
Between the two of us, John really pulled it out of the bag and achieved the fastest lap time in practice, pressing on in top gear all the way, in his second ever drive in a Vauxhall and first ever race!
Having achieved a respectable position mid-way up the grid, I drove first. What fun, driving hard, in the wet and on beads with a grid of entirely unsuitable cars. The 23-60 was fantastic, thundering along and almost holding its own against the faster 30-98's. After a heroic clutch rebuild and starting from the back, Jones and Rogers obviously couldn’t bring themselves to slow down for the chicane, in their effort to get "back up front" where they belonged. During the stop in proceedings I managed to make a nuisance of myself following Tom Hardman to the start line rather than going into the pits, and then setting off racing when it was a green flag lap. I thank the other competitors for being polite as I pulled over to reset the positions. Racing continued and I thought I had better come in and let my brother have a drive, not realising that they had added time to the race. John drove well, and watching was almost as entertaining as the racing.
The day ended perfectly with a generous helping of Champagne from Dougal and the Longstone team and the camaraderie of the other "long car" racers.
My thanks go out to all of the marshals and to Longstone Tyres!
Tom
It was very, very wet, cold and slippery, but brilliant to see 5 30-98s, a 23-60 and a D type out on the track for the first ever Longstone 'Long Car' race. Tom Duffin bravely entered OD1116, and he takes up the story:
'Race preparation started at the end of May, having not used the 23-60 since going to Prescott with all the camping gear last year, first job was some new rubber courtesy of Longstone tyres, we were pushing our luck and down to the canvas on the original Dunlop tyres and with a pair of Longstone chevrons on the front the steering was transformed, then a thorough service and adjust the brakes, where I discovered a bad thread on one of the half shaft nuts, only three days to go at this point and John still hadn’t driven the car! Thankfully, I managed to find 1" BSF tap and die set in the workshop and make a new nut. The day before the race we managed to get John out of the kitchen and behind the wheel, gear change was a big worry as John is a chains and dogs man, but after a few laps of our Wood Lane "circuit" he was just about master of it, and even managed to overtake, two vintage tractors!
After a night with a total lack of sleep, questioning my judgement in entering such a lovely original touring car in a race! We all awoke to torrential rain, I left the farm and picked John up on route, fortunately we are only a little over half an hour from Donnington, we don’t have a car trailer, so always drive to events. The rain was never going to be enough to dampen spirits, when you meet old friends and the fantastic and welcoming VSCC crew working hard to make it all happen. Unable to find a valid excuse not to, we entered the race.
Between the two of us, John really pulled it out of the bag and achieved the fastest lap time in practice, pressing on in top gear all the way, in his second ever drive in a Vauxhall and first ever race!
Having achieved a respectable position mid-way up the grid, I drove first. What fun, driving hard, in the wet and on beads with a grid of entirely unsuitable cars. The 23-60 was fantastic, thundering along and almost holding its own against the faster 30-98's. After a heroic clutch rebuild and starting from the back, Jones and Rogers obviously couldn’t bring themselves to slow down for the chicane, in their effort to get "back up front" where they belonged. During the stop in proceedings I managed to make a nuisance of myself following Tom Hardman to the start line rather than going into the pits, and then setting off racing when it was a green flag lap. I thank the other competitors for being polite as I pulled over to reset the positions. Racing continued and I thought I had better come in and let my brother have a drive, not realising that they had added time to the race. John drove well, and watching was almost as entertaining as the racing.
The day ended perfectly with a generous helping of Champagne from Dougal and the Longstone team and the camaraderie of the other "long car" racers.
My thanks go out to all of the marshals and to Longstone Tyres!
Tom
OD1116 at VSCC Donington
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OD1116 at VSCC Donington
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Register update - OD611
The 2014 Register records OD617 as a survivor in Australia. In fact we now know that the car is chassis number OD611, engine number OD617. In the Australian vintage world, it is not uncommon to find the engine number quoted first. This car returned to UK last year, and is now in South Wales. It is in a partly dismantled state: the restoration was started many years ago but stalled. Hopefully yet another 23-60 will be returned to the road soon. |
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Little and large - OD378
New owner Zander Cook has sent this fabulous photo from Scotland, showing OD378 with the steam engine the car shares a shed with, a 1905 Fowler Showmans engine ‘ Sir John Fowler’. They do look great together, almost identical maroon paintwork!
New custodian - OD387
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OD387 is a rare survivor of a 23-60 originally supplied and registered for the UK market.
Restored by George Webb between 2011/4, it was sold by Brightwells in 2017, and has now found another new custodian, this time in Gloucestershire. More details to come! October 2022 |
The life and times of D type D3604
With many thanks to Dave Lane (USA) who recently sent some of these images from his late grandfather William H Lane's files.
Probably D3604, Caption: 'Tom Legget, Jubilee Parade 1946'
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D3604 for auction: Sword Collection sale c.1962
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Restored by W.H Lane, Indian River, Michigan, 1970s
D3604 with OE288, Stuart, Florida USA, 1980s
D3604 (Switzerland)
Dave Kirke Dec '21
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D3604 today, in Switzerland (click for more)
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A selection of Vauxhall advertising
Period Photographs (9)
Part 9 of the series of period images.
OD378 (1980s)
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OD378 (1980s)
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Rose Lindsay's 23-60 (Oz)
Barlow Motors, Melbourne
Prince Henry, Adelaide (SLSA Searcy Collection)
OD109 As found in UK
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OD1008
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D2965 Dick Messenger (Auck war mem museum archive)
Rowing Crew, Trinity College Oz (Hubert Reynolds Smith/Trinity College Archives)
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Change of ownership: Oz
D3190
Dave Kirke Sept '21
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D3190 has found a very suitable new custodian in Australia. Murray McDonogh is a life long vintage Vauxhall enthusiast, having owned a number of very desirable 30-98s over the years, including E329 & OE265.
The car was in New Zealand prior to 1980, when it was imported to Oz, followed by a full restoration by Peter Kennedy - photos below. |
Another survivor!
OD515 Harare hillclimb 1960
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Another surviving 23-60 has emerged - in Zimbabwe! OD515 is not in the 2014 Register.
Believed to have been imported originally via the Vauxhall agent in South Africa, Paddy Adair, OD515 was campaigned enthusiastically in motor sport events in the 1960s. The restoration was started by the owner some years ago, but sadly he recently passed away with the job unfinished. The family is planning to arrange to complete the work, as tribute. More to come! |
Dave Kirke Sept '21
Period Photographs (8)
With thanks to the usual contributors, particularly John Kent.
DK Sept '21
DK Sept '21
A types (Oz)
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A11.596 (Castlecrag July '64)
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OD410 (Film: Daughters of Darkness 1948)
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C117 (1954)
OD1008 (S Africa 1970s)
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D type saloon (Rumpler in foreground)
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Change of ownership
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From Ireland to Scotland, and back home
Please welcome a new 23-60 owner, Zander Cook. With a rare, original UK registration number (SP7953), OD378 hails from Fife, and had now returned to Scotland after many years in England and Ireland. July '21
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Period Photographs (7)
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Runout stock sale......1919
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Alan Fillingham. Shelsley Walsh winner July 1913
D type 25hp, with the Prince of Wales & Lord Plumer, Governor of Malta, in Valetta, Nov 1921
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D type Army Staff car
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16-20 Ambulance. Circa 1913
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Ooops! A 23-60 arrives in Canada (N Portway collection)
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DK June '21
UPDATE! Captain Richard Zimbler's 23-60
The article below appeared in an edition of the Vauxhall Bedford News magazine dated July-August1952. It describes the recent acquisition of a 23-60 by Captain Richard Zimbler. This is an early, two wheel braked car with a distinctive hood frame, and mountings for an Auster rear screen. Unfortunately, the registration number isn't visible, and it does not appear to match any surviving car. Does anyone know what happened to it? A 1952 ADVERT IN MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE SHOWS THIS CAR FOR SALE BY SPRINGBOK MOTORS. IT IS IDENTIFIED AS OD410, NOW IN SPAIN.
DK June '21
DK June '21
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Period Photographs (6)
A few more gems below...........with no apologies for the pre A type (X type) photos.
Mar '21
Mar '21
Percy Kidner's D type
12-16hp X type c.1907
Period Photographs (5)
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With thanks to D. Hudd, Orlando Hayward, Frazer Sloan, Ian Parsons, Nic Portway and others, here is another fine selection of period images. Including D3771, looking very different to today!
D3771
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Fred Carter's A type
With thanks to the family albums of Ebeth Murdoch
The magnificent A type pictured above belonged to Fred Carter. The photos were taken in Harpenden around 1911/2. Ian Parsons found the 3rd picture below, & Alex Hayward added the following details:
'Photos included in Vauxhall's 1911 catalogue show an identical car, more than likely THIS car before the windscreen was fitted. The radiator has the plain rectangular VAUXHALL badge which dates the car to 1908-10. The body style is one of Vauxhall's own Luton built '2 Seat Semi Racers'. This particular model is described as the 'Cheshire with Aston dash'.
The magnificent A type pictured above belonged to Fred Carter. The photos were taken in Harpenden around 1911/2. Ian Parsons found the 3rd picture below, & Alex Hayward added the following details:
'Photos included in Vauxhall's 1911 catalogue show an identical car, more than likely THIS car before the windscreen was fitted. The radiator has the plain rectangular VAUXHALL badge which dates the car to 1908-10. The body style is one of Vauxhall's own Luton built '2 Seat Semi Racers'. This particular model is described as the 'Cheshire with Aston dash'.
Period Photographs (4)
Yes there are more, with grateful thanks to all the contributors. Please keep them coming!
Prince Henry M5637, new to R.B. Thorburn on 16/10/1913
Henry Charles Victor Bicknell, chauffeur to Mrs Burroughs (wife of Laurence Horace James Burroughs)
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OD243
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New Custodians
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Two cars from our Register have new custodians in UK: OD949 (left) is now with Mike Farrell, and D3373 (right) is with Russell Mills. Both of whom by coincidence live in Cambridgeshire! Welcome to the Register.
Period Photographs - South Africa
The four period phots below are from South Africa, where Paddy Adair was the Vauxhall distributor in J'burg. The first two phots show OD1008, which survives in UK. The second two are unidentified 23-60s: can anyone help?
(November 2020)
(November 2020)
Period Photographs (3)
Another selection of period photos below. With grateful thanks to all contributors.
(November 2020)
(November 2020)
New Custodians
Unfortunately the European Data Protection regulation (GDPR) makes it very difficult to publish ownership information without individual permissions. In any case, given the lack of funding, the 2014 hard copy Register may be the last. Nevertheless, the Register actively endeavours to keep track of our cars' ownership changes. And there have been few lately:
(updated July 2020)
(updated July 2020)
OD1008
Originally sold by Paddy Adair, Vauxhall's dealer in Johannesburg South Africa, this late model 23-60 has resided in Leicester (UK) for many years. Recently the car has found a new custodian, Tim Reynolds, and has moved down the road to Hertfordshire.
Originally sold by Paddy Adair, Vauxhall's dealer in Johannesburg South Africa, this late model 23-60 has resided in Leicester (UK) for many years. Recently the car has found a new custodian, Tim Reynolds, and has moved down the road to Hertfordshire.
OD1001
From Australia to Essex via several other English counties, OD1001 has recently found a new keeper, Mark Evans. Whilst we were still able to drive our cars, Mark has already been out and about in the company of 2 other vintage Vauxhalls that live close by.
From Australia to Essex via several other English counties, OD1001 has recently found a new keeper, Mark Evans. Whilst we were still able to drive our cars, Mark has already been out and about in the company of 2 other vintage Vauxhalls that live close by.
OD803
This Australian 23-60 was restored many years ago with a smart replica Wensum body. Owned for a number of years by an enthusiast in South Australia, it was recently sold to........another enthusiast in South Australia, Graeme Pinkney.
This Australian 23-60 was restored many years ago with a smart replica Wensum body. Owned for a number of years by an enthusiast in South Australia, it was recently sold to........another enthusiast in South Australia, Graeme Pinkney.
Period Photographs (2)
The November 2019 gallery of period photos proved to be very popular, so here are a few more. I have included a couple of early Vauxhalls which are (technically) outside our remit, but I don't make any apologies as I think they are important reminders of the heritage of Vauxhall and the speed at which product development progressed in the early years of the company.
Dave Kirke
February 2020
Dave Kirke
February 2020
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AR903 (above left) was a 1905 3 cylinder 12hp Vauxhall registered in Harpenden Hertfordshire, on 18.8.1905 to Benjamin Edward Todhunter, who was Managing Director of the West Hydraulic Engineering Company in Luton. In 1905 they joined forces with their neighbour the Vauxhall Ironworks Co, to form Vauxhall and West Hydraulic Co Ltd. The advertisement (above right) is dated September 1905.
Then, in 1907 Vauxhall Motors Limited was formed separately from the Vauxhall and West Hydraulic Engineering Co to develop the motor vehicle department. The new company took over a large part of the 10 acre premises of the old company at Luton, as the extra space was needed to increase car production volumes.
Then, in 1907 Vauxhall Motors Limited was formed separately from the Vauxhall and West Hydraulic Engineering Co to develop the motor vehicle department. The new company took over a large part of the 10 acre premises of the old company at Luton, as the extra space was needed to increase car production volumes.
12-16hp 1908. Vauxhall test registration plate A6V.
With many thanks to John and Leith Newell in New Zealand, we have the following definitive identification for the above photo:
"I have looked at this image with my mother Leith tonight. It is definitely a 12-16 X Type Vauxhall. As confirmed by our own collection of images and by the February '08 Automotor Journal write up which Ian Parsons kindly sent me late last night. Leith also has a copy of the same article. Looking on a larger screen tonight, the firewall and its brass beading, the light bracket, firewall mounting bolt holes and the steering wheel are the same as Y2. Not surprising as many of its prototype parts came from the X Type. The chassis'on these cars are parallel sided thus the steering lock is not that great. They are also 3 & 1/2 inches high section, unlike the A Type and beyond which are all 5 & 1/2 inches high, except the competition cars; e.g. Coupe de le Auto, and '22 TT cars."
"I have looked at this image with my mother Leith tonight. It is definitely a 12-16 X Type Vauxhall. As confirmed by our own collection of images and by the February '08 Automotor Journal write up which Ian Parsons kindly sent me late last night. Leith also has a copy of the same article. Looking on a larger screen tonight, the firewall and its brass beading, the light bracket, firewall mounting bolt holes and the steering wheel are the same as Y2. Not surprising as many of its prototype parts came from the X Type. The chassis'on these cars are parallel sided thus the steering lock is not that great. They are also 3 & 1/2 inches high section, unlike the A Type and beyond which are all 5 & 1/2 inches high, except the competition cars; e.g. Coupe de le Auto, and '22 TT cars."
OD1126: RAAF officer 1950s
(QLD, AUS)
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A type 16-20hp. Royal Flying Corps,
Royal Aircraft Factory Farnborough Winter 1917/18
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OD506 in 1961 (NZ)
A11.596 in 1964 (AUS)
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D type Staff Car. From the 2014 WW1 film 'Apocalypse'.
D3353 in 1996 (AUS)
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A rare find
Just occasionally I receive an interesting phone call. And so it was a few weeks ago, when I heard from John Thorley who recently acquired a 23-60 from New Zealand and shipped it back to UK. Not so strange? True, but the car is not on the Register! OD775/OD186 is a 'find'.
I sent the photos to the Vauxhall experts in NZ & Australia, who quickly identified the car. Dave Stuart takes up the story:
"This 23-60 was built up for Ian McKnee of Victoria by Max Houston of The Vintage Garage at Central Mangrove north of Sydney. It was the intention by McKnee to use the car in the Paris to Peking rally however this never eventuated.
It has a new body built along the same lines as my old 23-60 OD233 which was Max Houston's car before it also went to Ian McKee prior to Houston's divorce settlement. It has an upgraded engine, Alvis brakes grafted onto the original unbraked 23-60 axle and the footbrake operating the four wheels with the handbrake on the transmission brake.
The car sold to a guy in NZ, who lived on a farm. He wanted the car to have more patina so he left it out in the paddock to endure the elements and it suffered a lot of surface rust. I don't think he used the car much."
Well, this car has been rescued and will hopefully be returned to how it looked when owned by McKnee prior to it selling to NZ. Vauxhall Heritage have supplied a dating certificate, and the UK registration process is underway.
Dave Kirke
November 2019
(With thanks to Phil Virgona, Terry Mansbridge and John Thorley for the pictures)
Just occasionally I receive an interesting phone call. And so it was a few weeks ago, when I heard from John Thorley who recently acquired a 23-60 from New Zealand and shipped it back to UK. Not so strange? True, but the car is not on the Register! OD775/OD186 is a 'find'.
I sent the photos to the Vauxhall experts in NZ & Australia, who quickly identified the car. Dave Stuart takes up the story:
"This 23-60 was built up for Ian McKnee of Victoria by Max Houston of The Vintage Garage at Central Mangrove north of Sydney. It was the intention by McKnee to use the car in the Paris to Peking rally however this never eventuated.
It has a new body built along the same lines as my old 23-60 OD233 which was Max Houston's car before it also went to Ian McKee prior to Houston's divorce settlement. It has an upgraded engine, Alvis brakes grafted onto the original unbraked 23-60 axle and the footbrake operating the four wheels with the handbrake on the transmission brake.
The car sold to a guy in NZ, who lived on a farm. He wanted the car to have more patina so he left it out in the paddock to endure the elements and it suffered a lot of surface rust. I don't think he used the car much."
Well, this car has been rescued and will hopefully be returned to how it looked when owned by McKnee prior to it selling to NZ. Vauxhall Heritage have supplied a dating certificate, and the UK registration process is underway.
Dave Kirke
November 2019
(With thanks to Phil Virgona, Terry Mansbridge and John Thorley for the pictures)
Anorak fact. This engine OD186, which is not original to the chassis, is one of the youngest OD (OHV) survivors (i.e. the highest engine number) without the holes for the spark plug leads in the rocker cover. On the early engines the HT leads ran through the block alongside the spark and carb controls, where they no doubt got very hot and very oily! (see also OD243).
Period Photographs
It's amazing how many period photographs of our cars are still emerging. Recently I have received quite a number from various sources in UK and Australia. Rather than adding them immediately to appropriate place on the Period Photos page where they may go unnoticed, I've added them below. With thanks to the many sources who have sent them, especially Frazer Sloan, Dave Stuart and Phil Virgona.
Enjoy & please keep sending them in!
Dave Kirke
Nov 2019
Enjoy & please keep sending them in!
Dave Kirke
Nov 2019
Possibly OD378, early 1960s (UK)
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Unknown early D type (UK)
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D2965 (NZ Beaded Wheels Magazine, Aug 1975)
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D type Staff Car. Sgt(?) Burberry driving.
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Early D type landaulette (UK)
OD781 (when owned by Barry Purdue of Lismore NSW)
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25hp D types: Palermo Park Buenos Aires
Probably military D type, rebodied. (Paris?)
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Probably early OD type, converted to pickup. Early '60s. (Scotland)
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Early OD type. Possibly Malvern 7 seater
Possibly OD489 (UK)
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A210. Penrith Speedway 1925. Driver R.McKellar
The Allsop Vauxhalls
A11.455 (probably late 1950s). Now in Spain
D and OD at The Mission in Hunter Liggett, California
The Mozart- Travis Antique Car Tour - California May 2019
Tour is actually a misnomer to describe the 200 mile per day back roads exercise for cars non younger than 1925. This excellent three-day annual event, conceived by John Mozart and John Travis, began twenty years ago in Napa, California, moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and this year celebrated fifteen years being run out of Paso Robles, Central California.
The event commenced on Monday May 20, with approximately 35 cars converging on small-town Paso Robles, in the heart of Central California wine country, from various parts of the USA, notably California and New York/New Jersey.
While the theoretical vehicle cut-off was 1923 – coinciding with the widespread implementation of front-wheel brakes, a number of cars from 1934/5 slunk in – notably a couple of Bentleys and a 1926 Vauxhall OD owned by Martin and Sandra Button. The entries included Mercer, Pope, Stutz, Hispano Suiza , Locomobile, Bentleys, with a preponderance of Rolls Royce and Pierce Arrows.
The age demographics of the group pointed to older people with a few sons riding with their dads. This was a pretty hardcore set of knowledgeable gearheads – definitely not your dilettante hedge fund crowd. Dress code was strictly functional.
There are three D and OD-Type Vauxhall we know of in the USA and two were represented – the Buttons OD1207 and our D3392. One had hoped to get all three together but the Chicago based owner of D3353 brought his Pierce Arrow instead.
Paso Robles is notable for it’s wines and restaurants. After the cars gathered on Monday the entrants and riders – in excess of 50 people – attended a drinks session preceding an excellent meal, a formula practiced each evening at a different restaurant.
On the first evening the route maps were distributed. I have to admit that, having brought D3392 to the USA only a year ago, I was concerned at it’s ability to complete a long run and the thought of a 200 mile day on narrow backroads made me nervous. We’re having an unusually wet spring here in Calif, and the first day dawned with light rain. In the event the car ran excellently, although we took seven hours to complete the round trip, with intermittent rain. I think I was worse for wear than D3392.
Owing to medical issues my wife declined the Tour on Day 2 and Day 3 - a half-day drive, but I can testify that this is a truly splendid, non-ostentatious event for serious old-car aficionados.
Roger Higgins
Santa Ynez, May 27 2019
Register Awards 2018
The Register’s annual awards for 2018 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded to John Ellis of St Peters, South Australia for his outstanding contribution to the history and heritage of the pre-GM Vauxhalls, particularly through his collection of early Vauxhalls from across Australia and their restoration and return to the road.
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to Robert Lovell of East Lismore, New South Wales for his restoration and return to the road of OD 1115, his 23-60 Vauxhall: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8VMYiB6yBE&t=112s)
The awards were the unanimous decision of the management committee of the Register and warmest congratulations to both winners – Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman
The Register’s annual awards for 2018 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded to John Ellis of St Peters, South Australia for his outstanding contribution to the history and heritage of the pre-GM Vauxhalls, particularly through his collection of early Vauxhalls from across Australia and their restoration and return to the road.
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to Robert Lovell of East Lismore, New South Wales for his restoration and return to the road of OD 1115, his 23-60 Vauxhall: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8VMYiB6yBE&t=112s)
The awards were the unanimous decision of the management committee of the Register and warmest congratulations to both winners – Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman
OD1076 has a new home!
Another 23-60 has found a new home..........in North Wales. OD1076 joins 3 other similar cars, making this area the most densely populated 23-60 location in the world!
OD1076 is already well traveled. After a life of enthusiastic campaigning in Australia with Harry Thomsett, this car moved to Jersey, Ireland and then recently to England.
More details to follow!
More pictures here: www.flickr.com/photos/davidkirke/albums
Dave Kirke
January 2019
OD110 (current picture)
News about OD110
John Kent recently contacted me from Australia with news about OD110:
"I met a chap today who is the son of a now deceased vintage enthusiast from Melbourne, one Jim Martin from Preston (Vic). I remember visiting Jim sometime in either the late 70's or very early 1980's and he showed me images of a 23/60 seven passenger saloon which he used to own. He told me at the time that he had sold it to someone from the UK. Well, his son says that it was a Grosvenor saloon and confirmed the above details plus that it had a 'V' windscreen. The buyer was ex pat Aussie Murray Rainey who is now also deceased. The other bit of information was that Rainey allegedly hacked off the roof of the saloon so it would fit in the container and the son also claims that his recollection is that the car had engine number OD110. I have checked the register and cannot find an engine OD110 in the UK though there is a car listed with that chassis number in Bristol?"
John Kent recently contacted me from Australia with news about OD110:
"I met a chap today who is the son of a now deceased vintage enthusiast from Melbourne, one Jim Martin from Preston (Vic). I remember visiting Jim sometime in either the late 70's or very early 1980's and he showed me images of a 23/60 seven passenger saloon which he used to own. He told me at the time that he had sold it to someone from the UK. Well, his son says that it was a Grosvenor saloon and confirmed the above details plus that it had a 'V' windscreen. The buyer was ex pat Aussie Murray Rainey who is now also deceased. The other bit of information was that Rainey allegedly hacked off the roof of the saloon so it would fit in the container and the son also claims that his recollection is that the car had engine number OD110. I have checked the register and cannot find an engine OD110 in the UK though there is a car listed with that chassis number in Bristol?"
OD110, as acquired by Don Shapland (late '70s)
Well, it turns out that there is an error in the Register: the engine and chassis numbers are transposed and chassis number OD109 has engine number OD110. The current owner, Don Shapland, takes up the story:
"My Vauxhall was 'discovered' some 40 years ago by a friend of mine. It was outside a farmhouse near Bristol being renovated, under a tarpaulin minus its roof but with unattached doors. The cylinder head had been removed and the engine was seized. The then owner told us he was going to restore it but some months later he contacted my friend asking if he wanted to buy the car. Because he worked abroad and was restoring a Delage at that time and anxious for the Vauxhall to be better preserved he contacted me. I at that time was building a house and was restoring a Sunbeam, but I had secure dry storage. Thus the car came into my ownership. Because of other commitments I was unable to do anything to the Vauxhall until 10 years ago. It was in a ruinous condition and all the woodwork was rotten, much of it missing. I had over the intervening years found missing parts for it including instruments, magneto etc. and had managed to free the engine. Mechanically the car was completely worn out and from the state of the engine, which was also full up with sludge deposits, it had been neglected previously until it refused to run anymore. I therefore set about a full restoration including a new body. A new limousine/saloon body was for many reasons a non starter. I did not want a replica 5 or 7 seat 23/60 body, for which in any case there were no drawings ( I already have a 21 Hp. Lanchester 5 seat tourer) or a 30/98 copy so through a friend I used drawings and a bodybuilder in Wooton Bassett of a similar body which had been fitted to a Crossley 19.6. The chassis dimensions were almost the same, and he still had the patterns. Thus you see it much as it is today back on BE edge wheels. There is still work to do mainly upholstering and painting but mechanically it is complete and usable. The Engine is clearly stamped OD 110 and during restoration the chassis number came to light from under the grime on the inside of the bonnet and beneath the remains of the running boards as 109." More pictures here.
Now here's the question: John Kent has found a photo of an early 23-60 with Grosvenor saloon body, taken in Melbourne in the 1950s. Is this OD110 (click here)?
Dave Kirke
October 2018
"My Vauxhall was 'discovered' some 40 years ago by a friend of mine. It was outside a farmhouse near Bristol being renovated, under a tarpaulin minus its roof but with unattached doors. The cylinder head had been removed and the engine was seized. The then owner told us he was going to restore it but some months later he contacted my friend asking if he wanted to buy the car. Because he worked abroad and was restoring a Delage at that time and anxious for the Vauxhall to be better preserved he contacted me. I at that time was building a house and was restoring a Sunbeam, but I had secure dry storage. Thus the car came into my ownership. Because of other commitments I was unable to do anything to the Vauxhall until 10 years ago. It was in a ruinous condition and all the woodwork was rotten, much of it missing. I had over the intervening years found missing parts for it including instruments, magneto etc. and had managed to free the engine. Mechanically the car was completely worn out and from the state of the engine, which was also full up with sludge deposits, it had been neglected previously until it refused to run anymore. I therefore set about a full restoration including a new body. A new limousine/saloon body was for many reasons a non starter. I did not want a replica 5 or 7 seat 23/60 body, for which in any case there were no drawings ( I already have a 21 Hp. Lanchester 5 seat tourer) or a 30/98 copy so through a friend I used drawings and a bodybuilder in Wooton Bassett of a similar body which had been fitted to a Crossley 19.6. The chassis dimensions were almost the same, and he still had the patterns. Thus you see it much as it is today back on BE edge wheels. There is still work to do mainly upholstering and painting but mechanically it is complete and usable. The Engine is clearly stamped OD 110 and during restoration the chassis number came to light from under the grime on the inside of the bonnet and beneath the remains of the running boards as 109." More pictures here.
Now here's the question: John Kent has found a photo of an early 23-60 with Grosvenor saloon body, taken in Melbourne in the 1950s. Is this OD110 (click here)?
Dave Kirke
October 2018
OD854 (c.1962)
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!
Don't have much history about you car? Then you must start researching it. Today!
I acquired OD854 in 1997 from its first UK owner - the car was imported from Australia in 1993. The only document with it was the auction catalogue from the Rainsford Collection auction in Melbourne. Family life and career intervened, and I only got around to doing any serious research on the car's history earlier this year, prompted by the planned trip to Australia.
With help from several Vauxhall enthusiasts in Australia, I now have details of the car's owners back to 1952, several period photos (click here), and best of all we met a previous owner and his wife on our recent trip. Kevin & Rona Field, enthusiastic VSCC members in Adelaide, who owned OD854 from 1962-6. We also met Garry Rainsford, Eric's son, who remembers travelling in the car in the late 60s as a teenager before it was restored. I'm sure there's still more out there, so I haven't given up digging yet!
Over time, the trail simply gets colder..........so start researching today!
By Dave Kirke
June 2018
Don't have much history about you car? Then you must start researching it. Today!
I acquired OD854 in 1997 from its first UK owner - the car was imported from Australia in 1993. The only document with it was the auction catalogue from the Rainsford Collection auction in Melbourne. Family life and career intervened, and I only got around to doing any serious research on the car's history earlier this year, prompted by the planned trip to Australia.
With help from several Vauxhall enthusiasts in Australia, I now have details of the car's owners back to 1952, several period photos (click here), and best of all we met a previous owner and his wife on our recent trip. Kevin & Rona Field, enthusiastic VSCC members in Adelaide, who owned OD854 from 1962-6. We also met Garry Rainsford, Eric's son, who remembers travelling in the car in the late 60s as a teenager before it was restored. I'm sure there's still more out there, so I haven't given up digging yet!
Over time, the trail simply gets colder..........so start researching today!
By Dave Kirke
June 2018
The late Aubrey Marshall in OD1207 in the 1960s
California Dreaming 2: Update
Another survivor accounted for!
OD1207 is owned by Martin and Sandra Button in California. Martin emailed me: 'We have owned the car twice now. I bought it from a Canadian owner, sold it in Santa Barbara, got sellers remorse and bought it back and have now owned it for about 20 years in total. It lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea and is owned by my wife Sandra and me. We have toured it in California quite extensively and have also done the Argentinean Millas Sport twice in it'.
The Wensum styled body was built for Aubrey Marshall by an aircraft firm in Toronto, Canada in the 1960s. Bill Young, a jeweller from Toronto, then owned the car, and from there it moved to Vancouver and David Birchall. David owned the car from 1991-2001 & improved a number of features, including an engine rebuild to 30-98 spec. The photos below represent some of the car's life stages over the last 50 years.
Dave Kirke
May 2018
Another survivor accounted for!
OD1207 is owned by Martin and Sandra Button in California. Martin emailed me: 'We have owned the car twice now. I bought it from a Canadian owner, sold it in Santa Barbara, got sellers remorse and bought it back and have now owned it for about 20 years in total. It lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea and is owned by my wife Sandra and me. We have toured it in California quite extensively and have also done the Argentinean Millas Sport twice in it'.
The Wensum styled body was built for Aubrey Marshall by an aircraft firm in Toronto, Canada in the 1960s. Bill Young, a jeweller from Toronto, then owned the car, and from there it moved to Vancouver and David Birchall. David owned the car from 1991-2001 & improved a number of features, including an engine rebuild to 30-98 spec. The photos below represent some of the car's life stages over the last 50 years.
Dave Kirke
May 2018
Top: Bill Young
Rally in Toronto, 1960s
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With David Birchall in Vancouver
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OD1207 now in California with Martin and Sandra Button
California Dreaming 1: Update
D3392 is without doubt a well travelled car! From Luton to Australia where it was bodied (by Jackson, Jones and Collins of Sydney) around 1921, to Ireland, then Scotland, England and now it is in California with a new owner, who has sent me the picture below.
The car looks magnificent. I have learned that there is an annual rally there for cars with rear brakes only: a D type certainly qualifies! Hopefully the new owner will send us 'first impressions' soon.
D3392 is without doubt a well travelled car! From Luton to Australia where it was bodied (by Jackson, Jones and Collins of Sydney) around 1921, to Ireland, then Scotland, England and now it is in California with a new owner, who has sent me the picture below.
The car looks magnificent. I have learned that there is an annual rally there for cars with rear brakes only: a D type certainly qualifies! Hopefully the new owner will send us 'first impressions' soon.
California Dreaming 1
The Australian bodied D type recently advertised for sale in UK (http://www.vintagerollsroycecars.com/sales/1295/1920-vauxhall-d-type-tourer-by-jackson-jones-colins/) is heading to California! The car, D3392, is pictured left.
I have heard from the new owner, who will be shipping the car to a much warmer climate shortly. By coincidence there is another Australian bodied D type in USA: D3353 has been in Chicago for several years with Bob Lederer. I have put the two owners in touch with each other to compare notes!
The Australian bodied D type recently advertised for sale in UK (http://www.vintagerollsroycecars.com/sales/1295/1920-vauxhall-d-type-tourer-by-jackson-jones-colins/) is heading to California! The car, D3392, is pictured left.
I have heard from the new owner, who will be shipping the car to a much warmer climate shortly. By coincidence there is another Australian bodied D type in USA: D3353 has been in Chicago for several years with Bob Lederer. I have put the two owners in touch with each other to compare notes!
California Dreaming 2
They say that all 'missing cars' break cover eventually. I've been searching for OD1207 for several years, and finally a recent sighting has been reported in........California!
Now we just need the name and contact details of the current owner (please!).
They say that all 'missing cars' break cover eventually. I've been searching for OD1207 for several years, and finally a recent sighting has been reported in........California!
Now we just need the name and contact details of the current owner (please!).
Register Awards 2017
The Register’s annual awards for 2017 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded to Nic Portway for his outstanding contribution to the history and heritage of the pre-GM Vauxhalls, particularly through his authoritative publications on these cars, especially his 2-volume history of the Edwardian Vauxhalls.
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to John Burgess for his restoration and return to the road of his 1914 Prince Henry Vauxhall, D522C.
The awards were the unanimous decision of the management committee of the Register and warmest congratulations to both winners.
Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman.
The Register’s annual awards for 2017 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded to Nic Portway for his outstanding contribution to the history and heritage of the pre-GM Vauxhalls, particularly through his authoritative publications on these cars, especially his 2-volume history of the Edwardian Vauxhalls.
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to John Burgess for his restoration and return to the road of his 1914 Prince Henry Vauxhall, D522C.
The awards were the unanimous decision of the management committee of the Register and warmest congratulations to both winners.
Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman.
Another Vauxhall Variant
Colin Bolton has sent pictures of his 23-60 'Vauxhall Variant', registration BF7317 with engine OD1235. Body is a copy of the 1922 Vauxhall 'TT' .
Colin commented: 'The chassis was shortened to 30-98 dimensions by Julian Ghosh. Rear axle is 3.6:1 from a 23-60 so should make a good hillclimber!'
Colin Bolton has sent pictures of his 23-60 'Vauxhall Variant', registration BF7317 with engine OD1235. Body is a copy of the 1922 Vauxhall 'TT' .
Colin commented: 'The chassis was shortened to 30-98 dimensions by Julian Ghosh. Rear axle is 3.6:1 from a 23-60 so should make a good hillclimber!'
VV (engine OD1235)
VSCC Prescott 2017
By Dave Kirke - Aug '17
As usual, there was a very good turnout of vintage Vauxhalls at Prescott. One we hadn't seen before was Mike Holt's recently rebuilt 23-60, OD62, which was entered in the hillclimb.
Mike imported the car from Canada a couple of years ago, and it has since been comprehensively rebuild. The car was originally assembled in Australia by David Lipsham and sits on a 30-98 wheelbase. The engine has some very early features, such as a rocker cover without the holes for the HT leads, which therefore pass over the top of the engine.
Mike said: "My 23/60 performed OK at it’s introduction to the VSCC at Prescott, but I drove it slowly as it was still very tight. The (first) photo shows little and large, that is the John Rowley special next to it. I spent last weekend running it in, it is now registered VX3433. No problems in 646 miles, excepting a new switch to kill the mag and the modern flasher unit. Oh and the original leather drive belt for the speedo fell off."
By Dave Kirke - Aug '17
As usual, there was a very good turnout of vintage Vauxhalls at Prescott. One we hadn't seen before was Mike Holt's recently rebuilt 23-60, OD62, which was entered in the hillclimb.
Mike imported the car from Canada a couple of years ago, and it has since been comprehensively rebuild. The car was originally assembled in Australia by David Lipsham and sits on a 30-98 wheelbase. The engine has some very early features, such as a rocker cover without the holes for the HT leads, which therefore pass over the top of the engine.
Mike said: "My 23/60 performed OK at it’s introduction to the VSCC at Prescott, but I drove it slowly as it was still very tight. The (first) photo shows little and large, that is the John Rowley special next to it. I spent last weekend running it in, it is now registered VX3433. No problems in 646 miles, excepting a new switch to kill the mag and the modern flasher unit. Oh and the original leather drive belt for the speedo fell off."
The Weldon Special: 'Vauxhall Variant' VV8
The car pictured below (at Prescott 2017) started out life in 1923 as a 23-60 tourer and was exported to Canada. It was involved in a fire shortly afterwards, and the remains were purchased by a well known local racing driver Percy Weldon. He shortened and altered the chassis to 30-98 specification and raced the car (first & second picture). It subsequently fell into decay and parts were robbed. It was then shipped back to England about fifteen years ago. Subsequent owners have gradually transformed the remains of the car to a very potent 30-98 special, with a two seater body modelled on the period Grosvenor style. The engine number is OD122, modified to 30-98 spec.
Kelvin New, who completed the heroic rebuild, has subsequently driven the car over 14000 miles across Europe and North Africa. Perhaps it is true that old Vauxhalls never die. They simply get rebuilt as 30-98s!
The car pictured below (at Prescott 2017) started out life in 1923 as a 23-60 tourer and was exported to Canada. It was involved in a fire shortly afterwards, and the remains were purchased by a well known local racing driver Percy Weldon. He shortened and altered the chassis to 30-98 specification and raced the car (first & second picture). It subsequently fell into decay and parts were robbed. It was then shipped back to England about fifteen years ago. Subsequent owners have gradually transformed the remains of the car to a very potent 30-98 special, with a two seater body modelled on the period Grosvenor style. The engine number is OD122, modified to 30-98 spec.
Kelvin New, who completed the heroic rebuild, has subsequently driven the car over 14000 miles across Europe and North Africa. Perhaps it is true that old Vauxhalls never die. They simply get rebuilt as 30-98s!
VSCC Shelsley Walsh 2017
By Dave Kirke
Since C129 changed hands earlier this year, the new owner John Burgess has been extremely active driving the car and attending to one or two teething problems. At VSCC Shelsley we had the opportunity to look at the car in detail, and a fine car it is. Well proven by Tudor Roberts in competition some years back, it looks superb, and performs even better! Some photos below.
By Dave Kirke
Since C129 changed hands earlier this year, the new owner John Burgess has been extremely active driving the car and attending to one or two teething problems. At VSCC Shelsley we had the opportunity to look at the car in detail, and a fine car it is. Well proven by Tudor Roberts in competition some years back, it looks superb, and performs even better! Some photos below.
D3009 en route
MONTLHERY PERSPECTIVE 2017
By Peter Russell May 2017
Some things are predestined, and so it appears to be with D3009 acquiring me as its new keeper. My knowledge of Vauxhalls is less than ‘slim’, but the car possessed a presence that appealed, so he came back home with me.
Known as ‘Dr Beattie’ after its first owner, he spent nearly 30 years unused and apparently the engine has never been dismantled. I am used to cars with limited braking, but employing the handbrake as the primary source of retardation was new to me and took some concentration.
A few local trips increased confidence, and Vintage Montlhery presented the perfect opportunity for a longer trip. This excellent, bi-annual event, carries on a tradition started by Jaques Protherat of prewar machinery meeting at the historic banked circuit, south of Paris.
Probably 20 vintage cars took the Newhaven ferry on our crossing, leaving a sunny UK to arrive at a very grey Dieppe. The roads south from Dieppe are a delight and passing via Gisors and Magny, some 5hrs later we were enjoying aperitifs at our destination ,with a couple of ‘Nashes and a GN for company. The car definitely appreciates a warm up, and feels relaxed after 20 /30 mins motoring. Oil pressure drops off to 15/18psi at about 50mph, maintained by a light throttle opening that returned an mpg better than I was expecting …bonus!
The weather had by this time deteriorated , and locals were heard to mention ‘temps Anglais’, but the enthusiasm was undiminished and a fine variety of prewar machines gathered in the paddock and took to the banked circuit. French Cyclecars are always a joy with some fabulously original examples of BNC, Lombard and Amilcar on show. The sad abscence of any Leyats was compensated for by a record 3 Bedelias…and plans for 5 at the next event! A Prince Henry and A-D Vauxhall were also spotted in the paddock.
The return journey was equally enjoyable, deviating via Benoists grave to pay our respects to this finest of Frenchmen, and rolling into Dieppe with enough time before the ferry to savour a final bar.
The whole event is run with the lightest of touch by Vincent Chamon and friends, while the marshals ,with their waves and thumbs up, could run a charm school.
The next event will be in 2019, and I couldn’t recommend it more.
By Peter Russell May 2017
Some things are predestined, and so it appears to be with D3009 acquiring me as its new keeper. My knowledge of Vauxhalls is less than ‘slim’, but the car possessed a presence that appealed, so he came back home with me.
Known as ‘Dr Beattie’ after its first owner, he spent nearly 30 years unused and apparently the engine has never been dismantled. I am used to cars with limited braking, but employing the handbrake as the primary source of retardation was new to me and took some concentration.
A few local trips increased confidence, and Vintage Montlhery presented the perfect opportunity for a longer trip. This excellent, bi-annual event, carries on a tradition started by Jaques Protherat of prewar machinery meeting at the historic banked circuit, south of Paris.
Probably 20 vintage cars took the Newhaven ferry on our crossing, leaving a sunny UK to arrive at a very grey Dieppe. The roads south from Dieppe are a delight and passing via Gisors and Magny, some 5hrs later we were enjoying aperitifs at our destination ,with a couple of ‘Nashes and a GN for company. The car definitely appreciates a warm up, and feels relaxed after 20 /30 mins motoring. Oil pressure drops off to 15/18psi at about 50mph, maintained by a light throttle opening that returned an mpg better than I was expecting …bonus!
The weather had by this time deteriorated , and locals were heard to mention ‘temps Anglais’, but the enthusiasm was undiminished and a fine variety of prewar machines gathered in the paddock and took to the banked circuit. French Cyclecars are always a joy with some fabulously original examples of BNC, Lombard and Amilcar on show. The sad abscence of any Leyats was compensated for by a record 3 Bedelias…and plans for 5 at the next event! A Prince Henry and A-D Vauxhall were also spotted in the paddock.
The return journey was equally enjoyable, deviating via Benoists grave to pay our respects to this finest of Frenchmen, and rolling into Dieppe with enough time before the ferry to savour a final bar.
The whole event is run with the lightest of touch by Vincent Chamon and friends, while the marshals ,with their waves and thumbs up, could run a charm school.
The next event will be in 2019, and I couldn’t recommend it more.
D3009 en France
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D3009 at Benoist grave
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Montlhéry 2017
Vauxhall was very well represented at the recent Montlhéry Vintage Revival. Alisdaire Lockhart took his A-D type, John Burgess drove over (and back!) in his Prince Henry, and Peter Russell ventured abroad for the first time in his D type. Below is Alisdaire's report, together with a few photos. By all accounts, this is an event to put in the calendar for next time - May 11/12th 2019 (yes, it's every 2 years!).
Alisdaire's report follows:
If I was to be granted only one regret over my near life-long romance with vintage motor-sport, it would be that I missed the first and second Vintage Revival Montlhery and only discovered this gem in the international vintage motor-sport calendar in 2015.
The event is, of course, organised by Vincent Chamon and Jean-Frederic (Freddie) Frot, together with Frank Seeger for the German interest, in memory of the great Jacques Protherat, long-standing Member of the Club, not least through his friendship with Colvin Gunn and his family.
The event takes place in early May once every two years, and ever increasing numbers of Club Members participate, all enjoying four sessions (two each day) of non-competitive drives around the historic circuit, catering for both cars and bikes, but VRM also includes an extensive auto-jumble (all so over-priced that no-one buys), various commercial offerings and excellent catering facilities.
This year, Members of the Club must have been at least a quarter of the participants but others came from the US, Australia and Continental Europe – mainly the French, Germans and Italians, who, with the Brits were all in happy friendship – something our EU politicians would not comprehend.
I was delighted to be invited back in 2017, as two years earlier the feed pipe from the
oil pump on my Vauxhall split, depositing half a sump full of hot old engine oil on the track which took the marshals half an hour to clean up and caused the next motor-bike session to be cancelled. How to make friends in one easy step!
Memories of last weekend include: the raid by over fifty members and cars from the Fraser-Nash Club; no blue skies throughout the weekend; Ivan Dutton in his 1913 Peugeot GP car, which, as Ivan said “is nearly finished in manufacture and built to drive to Sainsbury’s each week”; Dougal’s heroics around the top of the banking coupled with his total disregard for the chicanes; Julian’s Type 35B on full song all weekend and driven with his customary determination and verve; John Burgess in his recently acquired ex-Tudor Roberts Prince Henry, arriving with a boiling radiator and a nearly cooked clutch, having worked with Jeremy Brewster to fit a new crown wheel & pinion finishing just 24 hrs before sailing to Le Havre; Rebecca Smith driving her mother round the circuit in my Vauxhall and beating Biggins into the bargain; Robin Batchelor; scrutineering that we would dream of in the UK; Andrew Howe-Davis’s pyrotechnics with his vintage bike; an event for both bikes and cars, an achievement seemingly beyond the motor-sport organisers in the UK; the wonderful array of French voiturettes, including my sister’s early Amilcar, some were immaculate while others were “fresh” from their farmyard resting place; three 1927 GP Delage, well two actually, plus the ERA Delage created by Richard Seaman, driven by Ray Potter a long time ago and then followed by a long association with the Spollon family before its departure for the US but tinkering with it to make it “go” kept my brother-in-law happy and fully occupied all weekend; the Australian couple from outside Melbourne but who keep their MG C Type in the UK for their vintage motor-sport and are both Members of the VSCC, particularly for the Club’s Newsletter and the Bulletin which keeps them informed and up to date with the latest gossip; a single ERA representing the best of English racing automobiles; my last drive, with my sister as passenger and who now wants to drive the car in the Pom 2018.
The whole event is organised with the a firm but very light touch by Freddie and Vincent, and it works like clockwork: no long delays between sessions and a very friendly and flexible approach to all the competitors. The biggest challenge we faced was the drive to and from the circuit from our hotel – easy to get into the circuit but we never found the short-cut out and ended up driving down the motorway to a roundabout and back to the hotel each time.
On our journey home we found a delightful restaurant in the port area of a strangely deserted Le Havre, surprising for a bank holiday, where we dined on huitres, moules ou lapin, avec vin rose de Provence - so vive La France, vive Freddie and Vincent and vive le Vintage Revival Montlhery – thank you both for a wonderful weekend and hopefully many more to come in the future. It was the best “VSCC” event outside the United Kingdom!
Alisdaire Lockhart – Wednesday, 10th May 2017
Vauxhall was very well represented at the recent Montlhéry Vintage Revival. Alisdaire Lockhart took his A-D type, John Burgess drove over (and back!) in his Prince Henry, and Peter Russell ventured abroad for the first time in his D type. Below is Alisdaire's report, together with a few photos. By all accounts, this is an event to put in the calendar for next time - May 11/12th 2019 (yes, it's every 2 years!).
Alisdaire's report follows:
If I was to be granted only one regret over my near life-long romance with vintage motor-sport, it would be that I missed the first and second Vintage Revival Montlhery and only discovered this gem in the international vintage motor-sport calendar in 2015.
The event is, of course, organised by Vincent Chamon and Jean-Frederic (Freddie) Frot, together with Frank Seeger for the German interest, in memory of the great Jacques Protherat, long-standing Member of the Club, not least through his friendship with Colvin Gunn and his family.
The event takes place in early May once every two years, and ever increasing numbers of Club Members participate, all enjoying four sessions (two each day) of non-competitive drives around the historic circuit, catering for both cars and bikes, but VRM also includes an extensive auto-jumble (all so over-priced that no-one buys), various commercial offerings and excellent catering facilities.
This year, Members of the Club must have been at least a quarter of the participants but others came from the US, Australia and Continental Europe – mainly the French, Germans and Italians, who, with the Brits were all in happy friendship – something our EU politicians would not comprehend.
I was delighted to be invited back in 2017, as two years earlier the feed pipe from the
oil pump on my Vauxhall split, depositing half a sump full of hot old engine oil on the track which took the marshals half an hour to clean up and caused the next motor-bike session to be cancelled. How to make friends in one easy step!
Memories of last weekend include: the raid by over fifty members and cars from the Fraser-Nash Club; no blue skies throughout the weekend; Ivan Dutton in his 1913 Peugeot GP car, which, as Ivan said “is nearly finished in manufacture and built to drive to Sainsbury’s each week”; Dougal’s heroics around the top of the banking coupled with his total disregard for the chicanes; Julian’s Type 35B on full song all weekend and driven with his customary determination and verve; John Burgess in his recently acquired ex-Tudor Roberts Prince Henry, arriving with a boiling radiator and a nearly cooked clutch, having worked with Jeremy Brewster to fit a new crown wheel & pinion finishing just 24 hrs before sailing to Le Havre; Rebecca Smith driving her mother round the circuit in my Vauxhall and beating Biggins into the bargain; Robin Batchelor; scrutineering that we would dream of in the UK; Andrew Howe-Davis’s pyrotechnics with his vintage bike; an event for both bikes and cars, an achievement seemingly beyond the motor-sport organisers in the UK; the wonderful array of French voiturettes, including my sister’s early Amilcar, some were immaculate while others were “fresh” from their farmyard resting place; three 1927 GP Delage, well two actually, plus the ERA Delage created by Richard Seaman, driven by Ray Potter a long time ago and then followed by a long association with the Spollon family before its departure for the US but tinkering with it to make it “go” kept my brother-in-law happy and fully occupied all weekend; the Australian couple from outside Melbourne but who keep their MG C Type in the UK for their vintage motor-sport and are both Members of the VSCC, particularly for the Club’s Newsletter and the Bulletin which keeps them informed and up to date with the latest gossip; a single ERA representing the best of English racing automobiles; my last drive, with my sister as passenger and who now wants to drive the car in the Pom 2018.
The whole event is organised with the a firm but very light touch by Freddie and Vincent, and it works like clockwork: no long delays between sessions and a very friendly and flexible approach to all the competitors. The biggest challenge we faced was the drive to and from the circuit from our hotel – easy to get into the circuit but we never found the short-cut out and ended up driving down the motorway to a roundabout and back to the hotel each time.
On our journey home we found a delightful restaurant in the port area of a strangely deserted Le Havre, surprising for a bank holiday, where we dined on huitres, moules ou lapin, avec vin rose de Provence - so vive La France, vive Freddie and Vincent and vive le Vintage Revival Montlhery – thank you both for a wonderful weekend and hopefully many more to come in the future. It was the best “VSCC” event outside the United Kingdom!
Alisdaire Lockhart – Wednesday, 10th May 2017
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C129 en banking
D3120 is now with Peter Weir
MORE NEW OWNERS! (UPDATE MAY 2017)
It is becoming a challenge to keep track of all the recent changes of ownership!
News from Australia (via Dave Stuart) is that D3120 has been acquired by Peter Weir. A little work is needed, and Peter intends to have it completed in time for the 2018 National Vauxhall Rally in Merimbula.
I have also heard from Julian Grundy who lives Surrey. He was the fortunate purchaser of OD387 in the recent Brightwells auction (see the For Sale page). Julian says "After a 3 minute crash course in Vauxhalls after the Auction, I drove the car back to our home in Surrey without a hitch. A very enjoyable drive". There are photos of the car here: https://www.flickr.com.
Finally, I have received some photos (via John Kent) of the ex Ron Roycroft 23-60 which is now with Chris Field (see below). Here's a link: https://www.flickr.com. Looks like a very handy tool!
More updates to come!
Dave Kirke
May 2017
It is becoming a challenge to keep track of all the recent changes of ownership!
News from Australia (via Dave Stuart) is that D3120 has been acquired by Peter Weir. A little work is needed, and Peter intends to have it completed in time for the 2018 National Vauxhall Rally in Merimbula.
I have also heard from Julian Grundy who lives Surrey. He was the fortunate purchaser of OD387 in the recent Brightwells auction (see the For Sale page). Julian says "After a 3 minute crash course in Vauxhalls after the Auction, I drove the car back to our home in Surrey without a hitch. A very enjoyable drive". There are photos of the car here: https://www.flickr.com.
Finally, I have received some photos (via John Kent) of the ex Ron Roycroft 23-60 which is now with Chris Field (see below). Here's a link: https://www.flickr.com. Looks like a very handy tool!
More updates to come!
Dave Kirke
May 2017
A11.487 is now owned by Neil Heilbrunn in NSW
NEW OWNERS (UPDATE JAN 2017)
Further to the Register update below, there have been several more recent changes of ownership.
Prince Henry C129 is still in UK and is now owned by John Burgess in Bristol.
I have heard from Dave Stuart in Australia that A11.487/A11.471 (left) has moved on: Jim Weir has sold the car to Neil Heilbrunn, a long time Vauxhall owner, already in the register with OD742.
In New Zealand, the 23-60 which was raced by Ron Roycrofts in the 1970s, (OD1089/OD1090) and previously in David Wright's care, has moved to the North Island with Chris Field. For pictures click here!
Further to the Register update below, there have been several more recent changes of ownership.
Prince Henry C129 is still in UK and is now owned by John Burgess in Bristol.
I have heard from Dave Stuart in Australia that A11.487/A11.471 (left) has moved on: Jim Weir has sold the car to Neil Heilbrunn, a long time Vauxhall owner, already in the register with OD742.
In New Zealand, the 23-60 which was raced by Ron Roycrofts in the 1970s, (OD1089/OD1090) and previously in David Wright's care, has moved to the North Island with Chris Field. For pictures click here!
In Canada I have finally tracked down Norm Mort who has sold D3860. The previous owner, the late Roy Farrant restored the car, a barn find in Canada in the 1950s (left).
I am awaiting details of the new owner, who I believe is in Belgium.
Recent pictures here: www.flickr.com/photos/D3860.
Finally, D type D3009 is now in the enthusiastic hands of Peter Russell in Sussex.
Dave Kirke
edited 15-01-2017
I am awaiting details of the new owner, who I believe is in Belgium.
Recent pictures here: www.flickr.com/photos/D3860.
Finally, D type D3009 is now in the enthusiastic hands of Peter Russell in Sussex.
Dave Kirke
edited 15-01-2017
Mark & the previous owner of OD481 Kay Lorenzato
REGISTER AWARDS 2016
The Register’s annual awards for 2016 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded jointly in 2016 to David Kirke and Dave Stuart for the outstanding contribution in creating the Register’s website and loading it with as many of the archive photographs of early Vauxhalls in the UK and Australia/New Zealand as a major contribution to the history of the marque.
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to Sophie and Mark Walker for their splendid restoration (or in this case, conservation) of their 1923 Vauxhall 23-60 OD 481 and then campaigning it to events and for social driving.
The awards were the unanimous decision of the management committee of the Register and warmest congratulations to all four winners.
Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman.
1-1-2017
The Register’s annual awards for 2016 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded jointly in 2016 to David Kirke and Dave Stuart for the outstanding contribution in creating the Register’s website and loading it with as many of the archive photographs of early Vauxhalls in the UK and Australia/New Zealand as a major contribution to the history of the marque.
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to Sophie and Mark Walker for their splendid restoration (or in this case, conservation) of their 1923 Vauxhall 23-60 OD 481 and then campaigning it to events and for social driving.
The awards were the unanimous decision of the management committee of the Register and warmest congratulations to all four winners.
Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman.
1-1-2017
PRINCE HENRY FOR SALE - UPDATE DECEMBER 4TH 2016
So now we know the answer: the car sold today for £516,700 including premium! The good news is that the car will stay in the UK, having been purchased by 'a collector in the north of England'. Pictures taken by Ian Parson and myself at Bonhams in London on Friday are on the Register Flickr site here.
So now we know the answer: the car sold today for £516,700 including premium! The good news is that the car will stay in the UK, having been purchased by 'a collector in the north of England'. Pictures taken by Ian Parson and myself at Bonhams in London on Friday are on the Register Flickr site here.
PRINCE HENRY FOR SALE
The ex Laurence Pomeroy Jr Prince Henry is coming to auction in December. Chassis number C97, most recently owned by the late Reg Long who sadly passed away in the summer, will be auctioned by Bonhams in London.
The price estimate by Bonhams appears to reflect the impeccable provenance of this car rather than its present condition. So if you have a spare £500-600k sitting around it might be a good investment in these inflationary times!
The ex Laurence Pomeroy Jr Prince Henry is coming to auction in December. Chassis number C97, most recently owned by the late Reg Long who sadly passed away in the summer, will be auctioned by Bonhams in London.
The price estimate by Bonhams appears to reflect the impeccable provenance of this car rather than its present condition. So if you have a spare £500-600k sitting around it might be a good investment in these inflationary times!
C97 photographed recently at Mallory Park
C129 has a new owner
NEW OWNERS
Since the publication of the 2014 edition of the Register, a number of surviving cars have found new owners. The details are as follows:
C129 has a new owner & we are awaiting details. Hopefully it is still in UK....
D3009 is with Steven White in Derbyshire
D3172 is owned by Michael Power in Sussex (since 2007)
D3392, previously owned by Alex Hayward in Scotland, is now owned by Martin Lightfoot in East Anglia
OD62 (an ex Australia car), has moved from Vancouver to UK and is now with Mike Holt
OD720, a rare Malvern 7 seater, has been purchased by Peter Arney
OD949 was imported from Australia by Tim Brown and is currently being restored
OD1001 has moved within the county of Essex, to Clacton and Bob Welton
OD1076 is still in Ireland, but now in Cork with Derek Wilson
OD1096 has moved up the road to Phil Cordery in Anglesey
And Finally, in Australia, Alex Hayward is now the custodian of OD1303.
Further updates appreciated!!
Dave Kirke (October 2016)
Since the publication of the 2014 edition of the Register, a number of surviving cars have found new owners. The details are as follows:
C129 has a new owner & we are awaiting details. Hopefully it is still in UK....
D3009 is with Steven White in Derbyshire
D3172 is owned by Michael Power in Sussex (since 2007)
D3392, previously owned by Alex Hayward in Scotland, is now owned by Martin Lightfoot in East Anglia
OD62 (an ex Australia car), has moved from Vancouver to UK and is now with Mike Holt
OD720, a rare Malvern 7 seater, has been purchased by Peter Arney
OD949 was imported from Australia by Tim Brown and is currently being restored
OD1001 has moved within the county of Essex, to Clacton and Bob Welton
OD1076 is still in Ireland, but now in Cork with Derek Wilson
OD1096 has moved up the road to Phil Cordery in Anglesey
And Finally, in Australia, Alex Hayward is now the custodian of OD1303.
Further updates appreciated!!
Dave Kirke (October 2016)
UPDATE: Peking - Paris 2016: VAUXHALL BEATS THE W O BENTLEYS!
Penny, Max and Julie reached Paris yesterday afternoon after covering 14000km in 36 days in their 1923 Vauxhall 23-60. They receive a gold medal for completing the full course, and were first in Class 2: Vintage Cars 1920-1928.
Max said 'As a results of the our effort we managed to take first in our class ahead of all the W O Bentleys and 12th in the pre 1941 Vintageant section which was won by Bruce and Harry Washington in a Chrysler 75'.
Read the stories here:
http://www.adventuresofpenny.com
http://juliestephenson.cmail19.com
Dave Kirke
July 18th 2016
Penny, Max and Julie reached Paris yesterday afternoon after covering 14000km in 36 days in their 1923 Vauxhall 23-60. They receive a gold medal for completing the full course, and were first in Class 2: Vintage Cars 1920-1928.
Max said 'As a results of the our effort we managed to take first in our class ahead of all the W O Bentleys and 12th in the pre 1941 Vintageant section which was won by Bruce and Harry Washington in a Chrysler 75'.
Read the stories here:
http://www.adventuresofpenny.com
http://juliestephenson.cmail19.com
Dave Kirke
July 18th 2016
2016 PEKING- PARIS
THE ADVENTURES OF PENNY
Penny, Julie and Max are still going strong!
Follow this link for more information:
http://www.adventuresofpenny.com
THE ADVENTURES OF PENNY
Penny, Julie and Max are still going strong!
Follow this link for more information:
http://www.adventuresofpenny.com
ANNUAL GATHERING 2016
A-D Type Vauxhall Register: the annual gathering in the UK of the A-D Type Vauxhall Register will take place at VSCC Shelsley Walsh, WR6 6RP on Sunday, 3rd July 2016. The event will take the usual format of a display of cars in a reserved area of the public car park, with the possibility of a run up the hill if there is sufficient time on the day. David Kirke, Ian Parsons and Alisdaire Lockhart will be dining on the previous evening at the Lion Inn at Clifton on Teme, WR6 6DH – around 7.30 pm, and all Members of the Register are invited to join them for dinner on the Saturday evening.
Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman
May 10th 2016
A-D Type Vauxhall Register: the annual gathering in the UK of the A-D Type Vauxhall Register will take place at VSCC Shelsley Walsh, WR6 6RP on Sunday, 3rd July 2016. The event will take the usual format of a display of cars in a reserved area of the public car park, with the possibility of a run up the hill if there is sufficient time on the day. David Kirke, Ian Parsons and Alisdaire Lockhart will be dining on the previous evening at the Lion Inn at Clifton on Teme, WR6 6DH – around 7.30 pm, and all Members of the Register are invited to join them for dinner on the Saturday evening.
Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman
May 10th 2016
VAUXHALL HERITAGE CENTRE OPEN DAY 2016
A 1923 Vauxhall 23-60, affectionately known as 'Alice', has returned to Luton 52 years after the last visit, to be reunited with previous owner Kay Lorenzato and 3 generations of her family. The car has been sympathetically conserved by the new owned Mark Walker over the past 18 months, retaining the car's 'barn find' appearance and even saving the original 93 year old leather trim.
Kay's late husband Raymond owned the car in the 1950's and travelled extensively all over Europe - there is a Grimsel Pass sticker in the windscreen and 3 cinema tickets from Lucerne were discovered under the rear seat. After competing in a number of Vintage Sports Car Club events in the late 1950's, the car was pressed into service again as daily transport during the harsh winter of 1962/3, after Raymond's other car, a 1953 Sunbeam Talbot drophead, was being repaired after an accident. This car is still in the Lorenzato family.
Alice was last seen in Luton in 1964 at a Vauxhall 30-98 Register meeting and was on the road until 1967, after which she was laid up in the family garage with a cracked block.
Mark has completed a full mechanical restoration, rebuilding the engine with a repaired block & new high compression pistons: 7:1 in place of 4:1! The rest of the car's appearance is fully in keeping with 90+ years of age! It is almost certainly the most original of the 90 plus survivors from approximate 1300 Vauxhall 23-60 models produced in Luton from 1922 -1926.
The car is pictured with Mark, Kay and the family at a Vauxhall Bedford Owners' Association meeting at the Vauxhall Heritage Centre in Luton. None of the family except Kay had ever seen the car running before: it had simply been the 'pile of junk in the garage' until Mark acquired the car and returned it to full running order. Both Mark and Kay are delighted with the final result. Mark commented: '60 mph @ 2000rpm is a comfortable & smooth cruising speed and the car keeps up well with modern traffic. Higher speeds are certainly possible, but with only rear wheel brakes probably not advisable. I intend to use the car as family transport and would love to recreate the trip over the Grimsel Pass to Italy via Lucerne one day'.
David Kirke
April 2016
Link to Vauxhall Press Release:
https://media.gm.com
A 1923 Vauxhall 23-60, affectionately known as 'Alice', has returned to Luton 52 years after the last visit, to be reunited with previous owner Kay Lorenzato and 3 generations of her family. The car has been sympathetically conserved by the new owned Mark Walker over the past 18 months, retaining the car's 'barn find' appearance and even saving the original 93 year old leather trim.
Kay's late husband Raymond owned the car in the 1950's and travelled extensively all over Europe - there is a Grimsel Pass sticker in the windscreen and 3 cinema tickets from Lucerne were discovered under the rear seat. After competing in a number of Vintage Sports Car Club events in the late 1950's, the car was pressed into service again as daily transport during the harsh winter of 1962/3, after Raymond's other car, a 1953 Sunbeam Talbot drophead, was being repaired after an accident. This car is still in the Lorenzato family.
Alice was last seen in Luton in 1964 at a Vauxhall 30-98 Register meeting and was on the road until 1967, after which she was laid up in the family garage with a cracked block.
Mark has completed a full mechanical restoration, rebuilding the engine with a repaired block & new high compression pistons: 7:1 in place of 4:1! The rest of the car's appearance is fully in keeping with 90+ years of age! It is almost certainly the most original of the 90 plus survivors from approximate 1300 Vauxhall 23-60 models produced in Luton from 1922 -1926.
The car is pictured with Mark, Kay and the family at a Vauxhall Bedford Owners' Association meeting at the Vauxhall Heritage Centre in Luton. None of the family except Kay had ever seen the car running before: it had simply been the 'pile of junk in the garage' until Mark acquired the car and returned it to full running order. Both Mark and Kay are delighted with the final result. Mark commented: '60 mph @ 2000rpm is a comfortable & smooth cruising speed and the car keeps up well with modern traffic. Higher speeds are certainly possible, but with only rear wheel brakes probably not advisable. I intend to use the car as family transport and would love to recreate the trip over the Grimsel Pass to Italy via Lucerne one day'.
David Kirke
April 2016
Link to Vauxhall Press Release:
https://media.gm.com
REGISTER AWARDS 2015
The Register’s annual awards for 2015 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded to Max and Julie Stephenson (OD 568) for their expedition in their 23-60 Penny across SE Asia to Bhutan. Copies of their report on the expedition are available from the authors on email [email protected].
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to Peter Weir (A09.1) for his development of 3D printing technology for the manufacture of monoblocs for A Type Vauxhalls.
Congratulations to all three winners – Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman.
The Register’s annual awards for 2015 are as follows:
The Laurence Pomeroy Trophy is awarded to Max and Julie Stephenson (OD 568) for their expedition in their 23-60 Penny across SE Asia to Bhutan. Copies of their report on the expedition are available from the authors on email [email protected].
The Ral Rainsford Tankard for excellence in restoration is awarded to Peter Weir (A09.1) for his development of 3D printing technology for the manufacture of monoblocs for A Type Vauxhalls.
Congratulations to all three winners – Alisdaire Lockhart – Chairman.
