Veteran-Edwardian-Vintage, April 1959
A Section Devoted to Old-Car Matters
Museum parade
At Silverstone on May 2nd a parade of historic racing cars will be organised by the Montagu Motor Museum. The famous ex-Malcolm Campbell V12 350-h.p. Sunbeam (photo feature) is to be driven by Donald Campbell on this occasion. Modern-size tyres somewhat spoil the sleek lines of the old Sunbeam.
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An old-car rally in Spain
The interest in old motor cars is now well established about the world and in Spain the first Barcelona-Sitges for early automobiles took place on February 7th.
We learn from a correspondent that an entry of 23 was obtained, surprisingly small for a country where many old cars are in daily service. No doubt enthusiasm will spread fast and ensure a bigger rally in future. The cars ranged from a 1900 Renault, the date, however, open to doubt, to post-World War I examples of Bugatti, Fiat, La Licorne and Rolls-Royce, together with six model-T Fords of 1916-1919 vintage. A 1900 La Cuadra, designed by Marc Birkigt and forerunner of the Castro and Hispano-Suiza, was a non-starter. A very well-preserved and magnificent 1908 Berliet attracted favourable comment and the three Hispano-Suizas were all Barcelona-built. One was a well-maintained 1907 four-cylinder and two were o.h.c. four-cylinder models of about 1918 vintage. A Rolls-Royce Twenty, circa 1923, and a 1907 Napier were present, the rest of the entry being made up of a 1904 Delahaye, a 1906 Delaunay-Belleville, a 1912 Delahaye, a 1907 Panhard-Levassor, a 1905 Peugeot and a Georges-Richard claimed to be of 1904 manufacture.
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Important Vintage dates
Two important fixtures this month are the opening of the new buildings of the Montagu Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire,on Sunday, April 5th, when an enormous rally of historic cars and motor-cycles is expected to attend, and the first 1959 V.S.C.C. Race Meeting at. Silverstone on Saturday, April 11th. The latter commences with a One Hour High-Speed Trial at 12.15 p.m. and the racing (which includes the 10-lap G.P. Data Trophy Race for vintage racing cars, an All-Corners’ Scratch Race, a 5-lap Edwardian Handicap, various 5-lap handicap and scratch races for vintage, p.v.t. and historic racing cars, and a qualifying race for the 1959 Motor Sport Clubs Trophy Contest) starts after lunch. Admission is by ticket only, obtainable free of charge on receipt of a stamped envelope, to T. W. Carson, 3, Kingsclere House Stables, Kingsclere, Newbury, Berks. The compulsory car park fee is 5s. This is good value indeed, so roll up in your thousands, in vintage cars if possible.
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A reader has kindly sent us some of the set of a dozen coloured beer-tankard mats depicting ancient cars — from an 1894 Panhhard Levassor to a 1926 Austin Seven and including 30/98 Vauxhall and 1924 Bentley — issued by Mac’s, the brewers. You, too, may care to collect these.
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News of forlorn old cars, probably procurable for the proverbial song, still comes in. For instance, we hear of a 1928 fabric-bodied Austin Twelve in Essex and a 3-litre Bentley saloon in Birmingham. Letters can be forwarded.
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A 1904 Pope-Tribune was shown at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, advertising Agrecon concrete garages.
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An early 14/45 Roesch Talbot tourer is well preserved in Bondi, N.S.W.
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An early Fiat, of about 1925 vintage and without a body, is reported to be in a breaker’s yard in Essex.
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A parade of historic racing cars will be organised by the Montagu Motor Museum at Silverstone on the occasion of the B.R.D.C. Race Meeting on May 2nd. One of the attractions will be Donald Campbell at the wheel of Lord Montagu’s ex-Malcolm Campbell 350-h.p. V12 single-seater Sunbeam.
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The Montagu Motor Museum is entering two cars for the V.S.C.C. Race Meeting at Silverstone on April 11th, these being their recently-acquired Coupe de l’Auto Sunbeam, to be driven by Anthony Heal, and Lord Montagu’s Prince Henry Vauxhall to be driven by Ronald Barker.
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A Catalogue of the exhibits in the Montagu Motor Museum, which is illustrated and has a coloured Gordon Crosby illustration of the 350-h.p. V12 Sunbeam on the cover, is now available at 2s. 6d., or post free from the Museum for 2s. 9d.
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The Owners of a 1925 Star living at Ilford wish to contact other Star owners and to obtain a handbook of the four-cylinder model. Letters can be forwarded.
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Lying rotting in a farmyard in Essex there is a Black Label Bentley fabric saloon which would seem to be in need of an appreciative home. Letters can be forwarded to our informer.
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Amongst vintage commercial vehicles we hear of two Morris-Commercials, of about 1925-1927 vintage, one more complete than the other, standing on a golf course near Holinton, while a vintage Albion 30-cwt. truck, taxed and insured, was advertised recently in Nottingham. In a field near Warrington there is another Morris-Commercial.
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We are informed that there is a Willys Overland Whippet on a caravan site near Portishead and a quantity of model-T Ford spares at a garage near Shaftesbury.
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Essex seems to abound in old cars. We hear that at a farm in that county there is a circa-1927 front-wheel-drive Alvis which may be available to an enthusiast keen on restoring it.
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A scrap yard in Worksop is said to contain a p.v.t. Roesch Talbot, which should be restorable.
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We have a request from Mr. D. H. Sayer for information on a straight-eight Nash “400 Series” saloon which he bought in a sentimental moment at local breaker’s yard. This car, which the Americans might or might not call “Classic,” has 16 sparking plugs and a single updraught Marvel carburetter. If any reader can assist with any information we will forward letters to Mr. Sayer.
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The Salmson Register has been revived and issues a monthly newsletter. Owners of vintage Salmsons and p.v.t. French-built cars of this make are invited to send details, and 5s., for Register membership, to John Dancer, 8, Oaklands Road, Petersfield, Hampshire. The Register already has 17 Salmsons on its books, consisting of six Grand Sport, four San Sebastian, two eight-push-rod, two four-push-rod, and one each of 10/20 h.p., Special and G.S.S. and p.v.t. models.
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Museum rallies
Those who wish to visit the Montagu Museum when a one-make a rally is in progress there should note these dates April 12th, Volkswagen O.C; April 19th, S.T.D. Register; April 26th, Austin Twelve Register; June 21st, Fire-engine Rally; July 11th, Mercedes-Benz Club; July 26th, Rolls-Royce Rally.
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Traction-engine lovers should note that the Finkley Manor Farm, Andover, rally takes place on May 9th, gates open at noon. Veteran and vintage cars are welcome. Details from G. Howell, 5, The Crescent, Andover, Hants.
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Regulations for the S.T.D. Inter-Register Contest (S.T.D., Alvis 12/50, Fiat, Humber, and Bull-Nose Morris) at Beaulieu on April 19th, entry fee 10s., are now available from Mrs. W. Boddy, Carmel, Fleet.. Hampshire.
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The V.M.C.C. Banbury Run
Regulations and entry forms are now available for the Vintage Motor-Cycle Club’s premier annual fixture, the Banbury Run, which takes place this year on June 28th. The start will be from Honeybourne Aerodrome, near Evesham. at 10.30 a.m. Vintage-car owners wishing to spectate are welcome and admission and parking are free. Last year over 300 vintage and veteran motor-cycles were entered but there was but one three-wheeler, a two-speed Aero Morgan. This year the V.M.C.C. would like more tricars and if anyone harbours an early Morgan. T.D., d’Yrsan, Omerga, New Hudson, Castle Three, Coventry Victor, Coventry Premier, L.S.D., Crouch Carette or similar vehicle, they are requested to compete! And don’t forget that Bollées are eligible. Incidentally, the Club issues an excellent monthly printed journal to which some vintage car owners may care to subscribe. Details of the run from: Phil Smith, The Tythe Cottage, Bakers Lane, Heronfield Knowle, Solihull, Warwickshire.