Description
This car (OD666) was bought new by Alice Twining (of Twining tea fame), and fitted with a coachbuilt Chauffeur drive landaulette body by W. Vincent of Reading (UK). First registed OR 3333 (now sadly transferred, but with UH 488 now used instead).
In around 1933 Miss Twining swapped it for a Humber Super Snipe and the Vauxhall made it's way into the Sword Collection in Irvine, Scotland.
Sold at the 1st Sword Collection auction in 1962 (Lot 21), the car went eventually to Holland and then Switzerland from the 1970s to 2015. Upon death of it's Swiss owner recently it went over the border to West Austria before being returned to the UK in 2019 by me.
A full engine rebuilt was completed in Austria between 2015 and 2018, and further work done myself to get the car to really useable order.
It starts readily on the handle or the electric starter (thanks partly to a rewound and rebuilt Bosch ZU4 magneto, Watford FO4 included as spare.) Engine photo below shows now removed coil conversion and decompressor). More photos available on request.
The interior is the original (but faded) Bedford Cord in the rear. The front having been re-upholstered in finest leather. The rear section of the body should fold back, but I have not been brave enough to try, knowing the original 98 year old leather covering showing signs of shrinkage, so I have used as a saloon with great success.
The Vauxhall was specified in 1924 with the lower rear axle ratio (for saloon coachwork) and artillery wheels (from new, although are still centre lock), but now fitted with rebuilt and original 880x120 wire wheels to the front and spare, and 600x21 at the rear, for added safety and handling. Artillery wheels are included with the car if desired (rear wheels in photo show 525x21 to rear, now changed to larger tyre size)
I have done many miles with the car and a wedding too. And I have enjoyed every minute. It will cruise at 50/ 55mph without issue . The brakes have been swapped over to allow rear drum brakes for the pedal and transmission on the handbrake lever so is very usable, even without front wheel brakes.
The Vauxhall owners group, 30-98, 23-60 and 14-40 (and 25-70 if I could find one) are such a great bunch and has made ownership a real pleasure. However I'm having a change around and something needs to give. However I would consider part-exchange with an Austin Seven, Trojan or something interesting (1920s)
Give me a call to discuss. Needs a preservationist owner.
