Description
Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
Viewing: Tues 28th July from 1pm
Auction 29th July, 2026 12:00
Location: Pavilion Gardens St John's Rd, Buxton SK17 6BE
Registration No: RU 9723Chassis No: 989363MOT: Exempt
Entered from the estate of the late Peter Macey
A rare British-market car bodied as a two/ four-seat Roadster with dickey
A remarkable survivor believed to still retain its original paint
Potential for a very rewarding ‘oily rag’ restoration
A subdivision of the Hudson Motor Company of Detroit, Essex’s products were aimed at the average family and, in common with those of other American manufacturers, were initially four-door open cars with canvas tops. However, while Henry Ford is credited with making cars widely affordable, Essex had much to do with making Sedans available to the masses. By 1924, the company was moving away from four-cylinder powerplants to, firstly, a 2. 1-litre six-cylinder (the Six), and then a 2. 5-litre unit (the Super Six). This was used to power a range of models including a Speedster, Coupé, Coach and four-door, five-seat Sedan. The specification was typical of the day, with the engine mated to a three-speed manual gearbox and suspension by semi-elliptic leaf springs all-round. Braking was initially on just two wheels, with the option of a four-wheel system following in 1927, which became standard the following year. The car rode on artillery wheels. By 1932 the marque had metamorphosed from Essex to Essex-Terraplane and, finally, just Terraplane. A large number were supplied in right-hand drive for the British market through the Hudson-Essex assembly plant in Brentford, Middlesex.
Believed to be wearing its original paint, this British-market Roadster has history back to 1949, when it was Red and belonged to Messrs. W. J. Harris Ltd. of Boscombe, Dorset. This is interesting in itself as W. J. Harris was a motor vehicle dealership, about which little is known except that in 1958 it sold a rare Maico Mobil MB200 scooter! The Essex may have belonged to one of the directors, but it was not licensed for the road after 1957. Ownership later passed to one P. J. Candy of Verwood, near Bournemouth, before Mr. Macey took possession of it in 1986. A 1983 letter from the Department of Transport indicates that Mr. Candy had intended to restore the Essex to original condition, but evidently that never happened.
As can clearly be seen, Mr. Macey never got round to the restoration, either, so it should make for a very exciting project after almost seventy years off the road. The bodywork seems fundamentally sound, so it could be fully restored or carefully recommissioned as an ‘oily rag.’ It is supplied with the buff logbook, the Department of Transport letter, a V5 in Macey’s name, and a 1929 Super-Six Instruction Book in good condition.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Entry by catalogue and can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people)
