Description
This 1909 Little Briton is unique and powered by a twin-cylinder 8 horsepower, Briton Engine It has a three speed gearbox and a reverse gear.
This car is one of one and though there at 3 other BritonCars in the UK this is the oldest VCC dated in 1960.
Ive owned this car for nearly 9 years and have had many travels and fun and one of the recent most memorable ones was over the the Isle of Man last year where we travelled around 50miles a day.
Remember before reading further this is technically an antique, and though starts, runs and drives will need ongoing maintenance, attention and of course an occasional polish! I will also include the trailer which was made for it so should you wish to venture further afield you can at ease.
I'm selling as I’ve enjoyed my time as custodian and it time for a change!
Happy to consider px or even swop for something different older or newer, needing work or not.
Price drop me a message, like most very old cars price is in the eye of the beholder, let’s have a chat, come and see it go out for a run. This beautiful little car has enjoyed many a trips out and rally over the last 9 years of my ownership and turn many heads.
The Briton Motor Company was formed in 1909 after the Star Engineering Company took over the Star Cycle Company and manufacture of the 'Starling' and 'Stuart' cars was ended. They were replaced by Briton cars produced by the Briton Car Company.
This is the earliest of the four remaining Briton Cars and the only with the Victoria body (resembles the 1904-8 car produced by Star) it has its optional hood and windscreen, which are based on the for that extra weather protection.
This car has an amazing and interesting good history that goes back to the production in Wolverhampton, where she was exported its first owner in county Leitrim in Ireland and she of course still carries her original registration.
The car stayed in Ireland throughout the first world war into the 40s and 50s and the Hinds family completed a number of rallies, including the Gordon Bennet Run, a test in itself and the Mosley Run. We have photos of these events and even features in an Irish history book.
During the late 1950s, Charles Weight Jr, son of Charles Weight who owned the Briton company spent time tracking down the car and finally agree a price and brought back to its home Wolverhampton.
He used the car to promote his business, the ‘Wolverhampton Tractor Company’ and made a number of films in this area, including trips to Ludlow Castle and Alton Towers before it was a tourist attraction. He was clearly well connected. We have copies of the films which are a piece of social history in them selves and included a visit by an American who flew into the local airport! Charles Weight Jr also had a few postcards made for his friends and family, a wade plate and even a cheese board which is of the era which we also have examples of and will go with the car along with the correspondence.
In 1973, the factory changed tact and he sold the car to the Willis family, who owned the Wessex Machinery Museum, and was used the car at events and shows, again we have a programme of one of these. At the end of 1975/ 6 the museum went into administration this car and two other being owned by the family personal were then put into dry storage until 2015 when she was discovered when we understand a family member passed away.
The car was checked over and sympathetically recommissioned by a respected restorer whom I bought it. I completed the remaining work by running in the engine and repurposing the oil system. For reliability I have replaced the carburettor for a more modern (well 20s!) version ( I have the origional) had a more powerful magneto rewound and had a new made to measure fuel tank made. During its light restoration it was found that the hood was in poor repair as were the tyres (which is what you would expect) and these were replaced. The front side lights and the rear lights are still working from parrifin. The headlights are connected to its acetelyn generator, though this is of the period, for safety I have simply run some thin wires through to the headlights and have added LED bulbs and hidden battery, though I have the internals so you could switch back very quickly if you wanted to produce lights by gas.
We have with the the the original hood, carburettor and fuel tank in storage and of course come with the car, which keeps it original and complete.
The interior is quite amazing, with its embossed blue leather which has a remarkable patina without tearing or cracking which is amazing 116years old, it’s also very comfortable!
Fortunately she is an easy Edwardian car to start and drive the controls being familiar to most of us. Simply turn on the fuel tap, you wait until a minute for the fuel to make its way through to the carburettor, flick the magneto switch, crank the handle half a turn and the 1800cc two-cylinder rumbles into life. After leaving to warm up for a few minutes, she easily slips into the first gear and away you go, she has 3 gears forward and 1 reverse and cruise along nicely. We live in a very hilly area in the UK, I can say that she manages every hill that we have thrown at her up and down with ease, the controls are light and the suspension is predictable.
In short, a great car with a great history and of course V5, it’s usable, fun and always attracts attention.
I'm selling as I’ve enjoyed my time as custodian and it time for a change!
