Beschreibung
Based on a 1934 Graham-Paige supercharged straight eight saloon, this Special was built by a Mr. R. C. Brookes in the late forties.
It is featured in the Talking of Sports Cars series and The Enthusiasts Guide to Vintage Specials by John Bateman, this well known car has been in the same family since 1988.
The Brookes Special was first registered on 17th March 1949, the buff log book in the file confirms this, but had started life as a 1934 Graham-Paige supercharged, 34hp straight-eight saloon. Mr. Brookes detailed the build in The Autocar magazine of 31st August 1951 which makes interesting reading and he confirms that the entire project cost him just £60. 00! He had to saw off the damaged rear section of the original chassis frame, which he combined with the rear frame of a large Austin and the back axle from an eight-cylinder Chrysler to arrive at a wheelbase of 9'. The bespoke body was said to be inspired by the 4½-Litre Bentley, Vauxhall 30-98, and Railton Light Sports; the bonnet was taken from a Delage. The windscreen came from a 1922 Cluely and the steering wheel from a 1925 Bean, while the dashboard was fashioned from a piece of mahogany over 100 years old. Weighing half a ton less than the Graham-Paige saloon and with considerably reduced frontal area, the Brookes Special was said to possess a decent turn of speed. The project took Brookes five years to complete.
The last owner, a classic car restorer, purchased the car on 7th October 1988 and during his ownership it was again refurbished.
Whilst running and driving, the Brookes now requires re-commissioning after a period of inactivity.
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