Highlights

• Subject to highly extensive concours style restoration
• Reportedly over £62,000 spent on refurbishment work
• Extremely well presented example
• Possibly the finest surviving Torquay
• Rare and collectible model from the latter end of Crossley car manufacturing 

The Appeal

 
Hailing from the golden era of British motor manufacturing, Crossley motors was quite the industrial giant. Manchester based, the marque produced everything from cars to buses to vans and made quite a name for themselves throughout the early part of the 20th century. Introduced in the early 1930s as part of the brands move towards smaller cars, the Crossley Torquay was a saloon car introduced as part of the marques 10hp series.

Stylish and well appointed, the Torquay hailed from the latter end of “Ten” manufacturing but was arguably one of the best of the series, proving to be one of the best sellers amongst buyers at the time.
 
The Torquay Saloon we have here today must surely be one of the finest surviving examples of the breed, having been subject to a restoration of the highest standards bringing it to a near concours factory fresh condition. A very complete 1933 model, it is reported that over £62,000 has been spent on bringing the car to its current form, and thus it stands today as an outstanding and thoroughly rare little car.
 

 

The History and Paperwork

• First registered 05/05/1933
• Hailing from the latter end of Crossley Ten production
• Cars were numbered on the chassis from 10/101 - 10/1681, this is car 10/980
• The car was subject to a highly extensive restoration performed to concours style standards from 2012-2014 at a reported cost of over £62,000
• The bulk of restoration work was undertaken by Gloria Coachworks
• Accompanied by a selection of invoices for parts bought and servicing work undertaken dating back well into the 20th century
• Invoices and work summaries for aforementioned restoration present
• Crossley guarantee and original instruction handbook are to hand
• Early MOT certificates and a classic registration book are also to be found in the car’s history file
• Current V5 registration booklet is with the vehicle
• Both tax and MOT exempt due to the vehicle’s age and historic status

 

The Condition

• Exceptionally well presented and likely the finest example of a Crossley Torquay out there
• Restored between 2012 and 2014 to a concours factory fresh style condition
• Finished in a charming beige brown and black two tone colour scheme
• Leather finish roof panel also finished in black
• The paint and bodywork are in excellent form, highlighting very little, if anything in terms of wear, blemishes or marking
• 18” spoked wheels at all four corners finished in black with chrome centre caps
• Rear mounted full size spare wheel
• External trim are chromework are in exceptionally fine form throughout with extensive rechroming work having taken place
• Glass work, lights and badging are of a similarly high quality
• The interior of the Crossley mirrors the excellent well presented finish of the exterior having been subject to thorough refinishing and reupholstering
• Simply beautiful deep brown leather used throughout on seating front and rear and the quality rear hinged door panels
• Complementing plush brown carpeting used throughout
• High quality wood finish trim, almost all of which has been re varnished or refinished as part of the restoration
• Internal gauges, switches and surrounding switchgear are in fine fettle and present very well with a charming honest and original patina to the gauges and surrounds
• Impeccable four spoke gloss black rimmed steering wheel
• Quality beige headlining which houses the trademark Torquay sunroof panel

 

The Mechanics

• Fitted with the classic 1122 cc four cylinder engine understood to be the Coventry Climax unit fitted as standard to the model
• This car has also been fitted with the optional preselector manual gearbox
• Engine and surrounding engine bay in this car naturally look to be in great shape having been removed from the car and extensively rebuilt and refurbished
• The ash frame of the car has also been repaired where required as stated in the restoration summary
• The body was also removed from the chassis to allow for shot blasting and repairs where needed
• The Crossley now fires into life with ease, idles well and though extensive mileage hasn't been covered by the current keeper, seems to drive well, with respectable performance for the era and good changes from the pre selector box

BEFORE YOU BUY