Veteran-Edwardian-Vintage, March 1958

Last year representatives of the V.C.C. and V.S.C.C. met the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., to discuss tyres for their members’ vehicles. As a result, Dunlop have issued the following statement:—

1. They would continue to deal with all matters affecting veteran and vintage tyres as sympathetically as circumstances permit.
2. Because demands are irregular and special craftsmen and techniques are needed, manufacture of these tyres is uneconomic. Tyres will, therefore, be manufactured in batches, occasionally as and when they can be made most economically and without dislocation of normal production.
3. It may be necessary in the future to increase the prices relative to normal production tyres but no increase is contemplated immediately.
4. It will not be practicable to give firm delivery promises or sizes which are not of stock.
5. Most of the size, given below will be withdrawn from the normal price list but there will he no change in the method of distribution—i.e., through local suppliers. In cases of difficulty information may be obtained from the Manager, Conversion Equipment Department, Fort Dunlop, Erdington, Birmingham 24.
6. The range will be:—
7. The above notes on policy represent the company’s present intentions only and must not be taken to a promise to keep any size in production indefinitely

To which may be added the advice that orders should be placed six months before such tyres are required, and that American members should contact the Dunlop manager in Buffalo.

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In a barn in the Midlands another Enfield-Allday has been dicovered, quite by chance. This one is absolutely complete, of circa 1920 vintage, with aluminium body. The car was involved in a slight accident some years ago, resulting in a battered off-side front mudguard, the off-side bark spring has collapsed and the engine is solid. A new engine is believed to exist for it. In the same barn are three belt-drive motor-cycles, an early shaft-drive motor-cycle, another early motor-cycle, a solid-tyred bicycle and a penny-farthing bicycle. Our informant doesn’t give the location of the barn—when his National Service is over he hopes to obtain and restore these machines.

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An Austro-Daimler Register has been formed as a branch of the Mercedes-Benz Club. Anyone interested should contact B. Dearden-Briggs. Coldsprings, Manchester Road, Buxton.

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The Delage O.C., which is presumably separate from the proposed Deluge Register, are holding a meeting, to which all owners of these cars are welcome, at the Highley Manor Hotel, Balcombe, Sussex, on March 16th. Admission will be by ticket, obtainable front S. L. Fulker, 6, Hilbrow Road, Withdean, Brighton, not later than March 8th.

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Down in Somerset a bull-nose Morris-Cowley chassis, not for sale. has been seen in a farmer’s barn.

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In France, at two separate breaker’s yards, there are some veteran and Edwardian vehicles awaiting new owners but, as they have been there for at least two years, we presume prices are prohibitive. One of these cars appears to be a Peugeot vis-a-vis, circa 1899, sharing an exposed position with two unidentifiable small veterans and a tiller-steered three-wheeler with acetylene headlamp, not unlike a Phanmobile. The other yard contains three big Edwardian Panhard-Levassors, two landaulettes and a coupe-de-ville, of which two possess big brass Bleriot headlamps and the oldest is reputed to date back to 1908. There is also a large Edwardian Minerva closed carriage and a circa 1908 single-cylinder Darracq with later brass radiator, all these cars having been found abandoned in a French castle somewhere around 1948. For display purposes this scrap-dealer has a small 1924 Charron chassis with what appears to he a generating plant mounted over the back axle.

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Another yard, not far front those mentioned above, displays a selection of early horse-drawn carriages.

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Due to the generosity of John Lindop, who owns the ex-Lones’ Brooklands Morgan three-wheeler, the Editor has been able to add the half-steering-wheel from this exciting Track car to his private museum.

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The Vintage Motor-Cycle Club has been investigating, via the A.C.U., the prospects of vintage and earlier motor-cycles if the Government’s compulsory vehicle examinations come into being. It seems these may not operate before next year and that they may apply first of all to cars only. It is reassuring to be reminded that the Minister of Transport has stated: “One thing I do want to make clear. This is not an attempt to drive the older car off the road or to interfere with the well-kept veteran car, which is a remarkable vehicle, a great credit to the motor-car industry of the past, and generally a good deal better kept than many more modern cars. The owners of veteran cars need not be alarmed, nor need owners of older cars.” Good for the Minister. Do not let him forget these sensible views.

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An attempt is being made to compile a Lea-Francis Register and to form a Delage Register. We believe both were attempted some time ago, but perhaps owners of appropriate cars really will get cracking this time! Apply to A. G. Woodland, 42, Bath Street Sheffield 10, in respect of the former, and to H. Hall, Eynsford House, Eynsford, near Dartford, Kent, regarding the latter. enclosing s.a.e.

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If you intend to compete in the vintage section of this year’s M.C.C. Land’s End Trial you should write at once to T. W. Carson, Brook Cottage, Bishop’s Green, Berks (or, if a V.M.C.C. member, to J. Griffith, 91, Warden Avenue, Rayners Lane, Harrow, Middlesex), for entry forms. Pre-1931 vehicles only are eligible and the hills will be those used in the 1928 Trial.

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Without taking sides in this column in the discussion on the ethics of exporting historic cars from this country to America, we note that Leonard Potter, who has gone to the U.S. on behalf of Halfway Garages Ltd. for this purpose, has the support of journalist Ken W. Purdy, who, in an American contemporary, writes of the delectable cars which Potter has shipped over. These include a Montlhéry M.G. Midget, a T.T. Replica “Chain Gang” Frazer-Nash, a 1937 P. III Rolls-Royce, a 1938 4¼-litre Bentley, a Silver Ghost Rolls-Royce and the ex-Hampton Type 39A/40/55 Bugatti coupé. These cars are valued at some 15,000 dollars, or approximately £5,000. Not bad for a single shipment!

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“The Observer” devoted a photograph recently to the 1928 Cadillac armoured saloon said to have been bought by Al Capone for £4,000—it was auctioned in Manchester for £178 10s.

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An enterprising attempt to organise a pageant of Game Transport from the beginning of the century to the present day is being made by the Country Landowners’ Association in conjunction with their two-day Game Fair at Newmarket on July 25/26th. They hope to have present a 1909 Commer shooting-brake, a 1912 Delahaye shooting brake and a similarly bodied model-T Ford, and would like to hear from owners of other suitable vehicles. Contact: N. Gray, Game Research Station, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

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The day before the Sebring 12-Hour Race on March 22nd, the course will be reserved for an Historic Automobile Cavalcade, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Savannah Grand Prix. Some of the actual 1908 and 1911 Savannah G.P. cars are almost certain to appear, and after the cavalcade a Concours d’Elegance and driving tests for the old vehicles are to be held. There is a prize for the vintage car coming the greatest distance and Canadian entrants hope to knock up a mere 2,640 miles! If anyone would like to start from England and beat this, entries go to R. S. Smith, P.O. Box 442, Riverside Station, Miami 35, Florida, U.S.A.

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Racing cars of the past fifty years are to be displayed on the second floor of the entrance building on the occasion of the Geneva Show (March 13th-23rd)—shame on our S.M.M.T. that we cannot do likewise at Earls Court. It is expected that racing-car exhibits from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland will be seen at Geneva.

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This year the Andover and District Model Engineering Society’s popular traction-engine rally takes place at Finkley Farm on May 10th. Apart from some 30 steam traction engines it is hoped that many vintage and veteran cars will attend, there being a class for V.C.C. members. Entry forms from G. Howell, 5, The Crescent, Andover, Hampshire.

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A cutting from The Herald of Melbourne informs us that a 1922 Hispano-Suiza tourer, found overgrown in creeper and grass, has been restored by a young solicitor and passed the police inspection, apart from requiring a larger rear-lamp. Originally bought by a friend of the present owner’s grandmother, and always chauffeur-driven, this Hispano-Suiza cost £30 but has had £400 spent on it, including genuine French spares. Its mileometer shows only 47,000 miles, it is said to do over 100 m.p.h. and 12 m.p.g., giving a range of 312 miles.

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During a gathering of the Beefeater Club Peter Cadbury was driven in Jack Barclay’s 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to present his cheque of £100 to the National Fund for Poliomyelitis Research.

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This year’s Bournemouth Road Safety Parade on May 31st will have as its theme “Transport Through the Ages.” Last year good support was obtained from owners of historic cars and with this new theme the organisers hope for a big response from vintage and veteran car enthusiasts. Details from E. H. Magee, Room 34, Fairlight Glen, Avenue Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire.

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The V.S.C.C. Pomeroy Memorial Trophy Contest will be held on March 22nd/23rd and will include the usual speed tests and one-hour high-speed trial at Silverstone on the Saturday. Entries close on March 10th.