Miscellany, May 1999

The latest category recognised by the VSCC is for ‘Aero Cars’, which means those with aero-engines in early chassis. But the term also implies a hybrid that was both car and aeroplane. There were a number built, one with a Ford V8, but the attempt to make a road and flying car ended in disaster…

A Japanese enthusiast is hoping to make a replica of the racing A7 ‘Mrs Jo Jo’ which was so successful at Brooklands. This must be one of the few racing A7s not so far copied, another being the 1924 200-Mile racer with inclined radiator, fuel and oil tanks above the engine, which latter would preclude it from modem races.

The Citroen CC has had its 50th Anniversary this year, which it has marked with a 192-page edition of its monthly Citroenian instead of this magazine’s normal 92 pages.

Another aero-engined car is being built in New Zealand. Wallace McNair is at work on a Sunbeam Special, with a Sunbeam Coatalen Maori engine in a 20/60 Sunbeam chassis.

The A7 Clubs Association has its always interesting magazine, and almost every one-make club has one of some kind or another. The Amilcar Register has a newsletter, the Morgan Three-Wheeler Club a monthly Bulletin, the STD Register a newsletter and the Vintage Austin Magazine great colour pictures of cars that were even more ‘English’ in their day than the Bullnose Morris. Smaller organisations such as the Crossley Register, A10 DC, Trojan OC and the Gwynne 8 Register have their own publications too. Reading them all keeps me very busy…

The owner of an MG Special once run by Tom Dargue and built by the Hasendoncks, so well known in the trials world, would like to know what became of these brothers.

David Haywood is working on his Leyland Eight, using a correct back axle, cross member and small parts, and is using a Rolls-Royce gearbox with ratios similar to those Parry Thomas used for the L8 and an Dab, front axle with correct Rudge hubs. He needs other parts if anyone can assist please call him on 01732 742425.

Anyone wanting information about the Rolls and Bentley Silver Spirit to Azure models of 1980-98 without buying expensive books should take note of Volume 4 in MRP’s Collectors Guides. By Graham Robson, here is a remarkable amount of data and high-quality black and white and colour pictures, for only £14.99. ISBN 1 899870 30X.

For those who want to know about Jeeps, MRP of Croydon has James Taylor’s Jeep CJ to Grand Cherokee in its “Collectors Guide” series, keenly priced at £14.99 (ISBN 1 899870 33 4).