Cars In Books, January 1986

Having read about Osbert Sitwell ‘s motoring in this feature, a reader in Seaford has drawn my attention to “Great Morning” (Macmillan and the Book Society, 1948) in which there is a description of a car owned by Osbert’s father. Sir George Sitwell Used in Florence in the 1920s, it was known as “The Ark” and was said to have a 1914 lorry engine in it. Sir George had bought the car, which was then worth about £70. for £1.800. which was further increased when he ordered a new body for it, so that he always maintained that he knew as a matter of certainty that it was impossible to buy a motor for less than £4 000.

The body was unique in having a front compartment arranged so that Sir George could lie at full-length beside the chauffeur, to rest his back, which meant that the rear-seat passengers were left with very little room. The Italian peasant hired to drive this curious car was even more ignorant of it than its owner, so that breakdowns were frequent One would dearly like to know more of this unusual vehicle