Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 2944 Location: Derby

According to the Allard Owners Club, The Sphinx had a standard Allard JR chassis but a 3.4 litre Armstrong Siddeley Saphire engine.

Rick · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:45 pm Post subject:

mikeC · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 9:38 am Post subject:

Ah! I didn't know about the Allard chassis - it was never referred to as Sphinx-Allard in the day, just Sphinx.

mikeC · Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 9:10 am Post subject:

Have you got a pot of gold to spare, Rick?

The Sphinx is being auctioned by Dragone on 4th June:

http://www.dragoneauctions.com/#!blank-4/h4q3g

Rick · Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 9:24 am Post subject:

Wow, good to see it, it's been out of sight for years. Hopefully it'll go to someone that will actually use it and drive it as intended. I wonder if that's the original colour?

RJ
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Rick (OCC Admin)
Various 1920s-1960s - Austin, Morris, Commer, Dodge etc.

Rick

Zenith/Stromberg carburettor 42DBVA/DBVA-42

I notice that the Commer has the above carb on it, rather than the original Solex (due to it now having an OHV rather than the SV engine it was originally fitted with). This appears to tally with the type fitted to contemporary Humber Super Snipe, Pullman, and Imperial models.

My manual only covers the SV models and the Solex. Does anyone have any service notes on the Zenith carb, as I'd like to strip mine and check that it's all nice and clean inside? I've been having a tinker with the old truck and would like to get it to run.

thanks RJ
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Rick (OCC Admin)
Various 1920s-1960s - Austin, Morris, Commer, Dodge etc.

Rick · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 12:47 pm Post subject:

News from Brian Croot's daughter is that the Sphinx did sell either at, or after, the auction that MikeC mentioned, and is back in the UK for the first time in many years. Its owner is doing the work required to put it back into race-worthy condition, and I'm hoping to hear from him at some point.

There was much excitement here today when the original purchase papers for the Commer, dated May 1963, turned up from the Croot household. They confirm the supplying dealer (Tice & Son), and a few other details including the date of purchase etc etc. Scans will be added to the main site soon.

RJ
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Rick (OCC Admin)
Various 1920s-1960s - Austin, Morris, Commer, Dodge etc.

Rick · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 7:08 pm Post subject:

Scans of the documents describing the purchase of the Commer in '63, have been added to the main site .. http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/commer-paperwork.htm.

RJ
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Rick (OCC Admin)
Various 1920s-1960s - Austin, Morris, Commer, Dodge etc.

petelang · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 233 Location: Nottingham

Interesting to see that the Tice building still exists, on Wimborne Road and is still in part a service garage although parts have been converted to shops.

Moderne Mansions
Moderne Mansions, 723 Wimborne Rd, Bournemouth BH9 2AY

https://goo.gl/maps/pggMGCnRv6t

Peter

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4014 Location: Lancashire

Hi Peter
did you notice the other deco building in the next block south?
Looks like it was probably a cinema originally and very nicely preserved.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Rick · Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:42 am Post subject:

I had a question sent to me about Commer Superpoises of the early 1950s. Does anyone know whether the bonnet-ed Superpoises have the chassis number stamped into the chassis itself somewhere, or is it just on the chassis plate under the bonnet? The plate's on mine, but I've never looked for the number on the chassis itself, so it'd be interesting to find out whether the number was only ever on the plate, and not on the frame anywhere.

thanks, RJ
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Rick (OCC Admin)
Various 1920s-1960s - Austin, Morris, Commer, Dodge etc.

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4014 Location: Lancashire

Hi Rick
Did you realise there is no separate entry for the Commer in the My Drives section of the main site.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Rick · Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2019 11:54 am Post subject:

Rick · Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 7:50 pm Post subject:

The sheeting used to cover up the Commer has been looking pretty ragged of late, and was becoming less and less effective. So with the inevitable deterioration in weather looming on the horizon, the fine conditions today were seized upon and the old sheeting was removed, the whole thing aired for a while, and fresh multi-layers of tarp re-installed over the entire vehicle. Never an ideal solution to storing a big old lump, but a) better than being out in the open and b) better than where it was stored when I first clapped eyes on it.

I'd still like to source a front valance for it, so if anyone has one please let me know. Also a better grille wouldn't go amiss either.

RJ
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Rick (OCC Admin)
Various 1920s-1960s - Austin, Morris, Commer, Dodge etc.

Rootes75 · Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 2559 Location: Somerset

We have just spent time putting new sheeting over our ERF chassis, the existing sheeting has split and torn mainly due to water build up weighing it down in certain places. We also had to take some shears to the brambles that are starting to encroach it!
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1937 Ford 7w
1946 ERF C.I.5
1947 Hillman Minx
1955 Hillman Minx Mk8
1950 Commer R541
1978 Karrier Bantam