Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Vulgalour]

The purpose of this thread is to educate. My partner and I are looking to acquire a pre-war project once we've settled after the house move, ideally something from the 1920s or 1930s, perhaps just creeping into the 1940s. I know very little about this era of motoring but I have seen vehicles of interest over the years I'd like to learn more than a Wikipedia article about and would very much appreciate your input, stories, and experiences on any of the vehicles I post here. Some won't be in the pre-war category, but they'll all be of significant age


I'll start with some shots from Croft Nostalgia Festival 2017, and this colourful little Fiat Topolino. It's smaller than we're after, ideally, but it has plenty of charm even with its very modern looking paint.
20170806-052 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

20170806-053 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

At the other end of the size scale is the fabulously styled Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane. I've never seen an Armstrong Siddeley I didn't like the look of, they're quite striking cars. I know nothing else about them though, I can count the number of them I've seen over the last few decades on one hand. Not a pretty car, but certainly a handsome one.
20170806-074 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

20170806-075 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

[Vulgalour]

The Austin Six is probably closer to what we'll end up purchasing. A little conventional for my usual tastes, but it should be easier to get bits and bobs for and just use as a car.
20170806-081 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

I don't know what this one is, but again, it's got that same safe appeal to it (visually at least) as the Austin above.
20170806-082 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

Standards are another favourite of mine, though I prefer the round 40s Vanguards, especially the 'beetleback' shape. I gather they can be rather underpowered but quite comfortable to drive and they seem fairly resistant to rot compared to their contemporaries, something that's balanced out by a difficulty acquiring panels for them. This Standard is much earlier, being a 9, and very stylish it is too. Is this a Flying model?
20170806-083 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

20170806-084 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

I find the venerable Ford Popular/Anglia to be rather too cramped to enjoy and while the colour on this one is nice, those bright silver wheels do jar somewhat. I know these are fairly cheap to maintain and repair and still fairly numerous considering their age, probably helped by quite a long production run. Incidentally, these were one of my late gran's favourite cars and also one of the cars she hated for being too small, she was rather more fond of the Austin Sheerline my late grandfather owned for a time.
20170806-085 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

[Vulgalour]

I can't afford a Delage. I did wonder on the pronunciation, I've always said Deh-large, but at the show plenty of people were pronouncing it Deh-lah-jay, even though there's no accent on the e. The magnifying glass sidelights-turned-indicators were particularly pleasing to look at.
20170806-086 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

20170806-087 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

20170806-088 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

[Vulgalour]

Much too small but utterly charming and a surprisingly unobtrusive indicator solution.
20170806-096 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

This Lanchester, however, was far more the sort of thing we're interested in. Lanchesters always seem much cheaper than they look like they ought to be and I wasn't sure why this would be? They seem well made and nicely detailed and certainly the ones I've seen on the move don't seem to struggle from being underpowered so perhaps its just their relative obscurity keeping the value down. This one was my ideal colour combination though perhaps a little smarter than I'd be comfortable owning. I'm not sure which model this is either, nor what engine it sports.
20170806-105 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

20170806-106 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

Finally for this instalment, a Frazer-Nash. This is a car I'd never heard of before and can find very little at all about. I would love to know more, even though it's not the body style we're looking to acquire.
20170806-131 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr

[mikeC]

Wow! Lots of questions and topics there!

First of all, you mention the difficulty of panel supply in relation to the Standard Vanguard - you can apply that to practically any vehicle of the period! Similarly, you suggest that spares for the Austin Six (it's probably a Twenty) may be relatively easy to find - don't be misled by the popularity of the smaller Austins; the larger cars like this were only ever produced in penny numbers, and parts are probably no easier to find than for an Armstrong Siddeley or a Daimler!

The only cars you have shown so far with a good spares support are the Ford Popular and the Austin Seven!

The Lanchester Ten you show is, in my opinion, desperately under-valued; for considerably less than, for example, a contemporary Austin or Morris, you will get a car of real quality with the technically sophisticated fluid flywheel and pre-selector gearbox ... and this is why they are cheap! Not because there are any fundamental problems with the mechanics, but they are complicated and need specialist attention if they go wrong, and people are frightened off!

I don't want to put you off, but all these cars (with the exception of the Frazer Nash!) are desperately slow and under-powered compared with modern cars. Have you driven, or ridden in, a pre-War car? If not, try and make contact with owners of the sort of car you are interested in, and get to experience them before committing yourself - I love driving under-powered cars, but am well aware it's not for everyone!

Incidentally, you are correct: Delage is pronounced Del-arge (or Deh-large) with a soft G. Your unidentified blue saloon is another Standard, slightly earlier than the 'Flying' series.

I note you have your location as Middlesborough and Kent; if you find yourself passing Nottinghamshire with time on your hands, you are welcome to call in and experience my 'gutless wonders'!
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[peter scott]

Clearly what you need is an SS Jaguar.

Sexy lines with performance.



Although not pre-war there is a couple with the same lines available right now
here. Don't go for second best...

Contact https://davenportcars.co.uk/category/showroom/
Peter

_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Ashley]

Ronald (Steady) Barker one time editor of the Autocar and lifetime VSCC member who owned a succession of fascinating cars, most with huge engines, always said that for what they cost it was impossible to better the fun you could have with a Model A Ford.

All parts, every single one of them are readily available and cheap, they’re a joy to work on and they’ll cruise easily at 45/50. They’re very reliable too because America was way ahead then.

Fraser Nashes are hundreds of thousands and any of the good sporting Brit cars, Peter’s Jag included aren’t far behind and normal pre war cars are dog sloooooww. Even R-Rs aren’t any faster than a Ford 10.

[peter scott]

[Vulgalour]

Parts availability doesn't scare me off too much, I'm stupid/brave enough to daily an Austin Princess, a car for which the easiest way to get most spares is to buy another car and while it does have some parts binnery under the bonnet, things like the suspension is unique to the car with no back-up other than other used parts. So I'm no stranger to that side of ownership. See also the Renault 6TL I owned for a time, an issue compounded by the rarity of right hand drive specific parts and a back-to-front engine and gearbox set up.

Speed also is not a concern. I prefer momentum and torque to horsepower. I've ridden in some older cars, admittedly only as far back as the late 40s, and while acceleration could be considered a little on the glacial side, they never felt particularly dangerous or frustrating. My feelings may be different as a driver, of course.

Complexities are also not a concern. I've owned hydropnuematic Citroens and wasn't scared by them. Worried at potential expenses if a difficult to acquire or make pipe broke, perhaps, but never scared.

mikeC: Your information is very useful! Particularly the information about panel supply, my knowledge on this, sparse though it is, comes from folks that have owned cars of this sort of era and they have led me to believe certain manufacturers are easier to get bits for but that the larger cars from them are harder to get things for because, as you mention, penny production numbers. The Lanchester info is particularly interesting, that makes them sound a much more appealing option for myself (we'll have to see with the other half, he's not so sold on the styling of Lanchesters). I'm far more interested in well made and nice to drive (comparatively) than I am in outright speed or high value. This isn't a car that's going to be an investment, it's a car to enjoy and drive about to show people elderly cars can still be used outside of shows.

[Penman]

Hi
I wonder if a LeaF might be of interest.
This sort-- http://www.lfoc.org/vehicles/

NOT this sort-- https://www.nissan.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/leaf.html
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Ashley]

I don’t suppose the fastest of pre war cars would be able to keep pace with an Aygo, so I’d argue that if you buy an average one, you may find, you’re much too vulnerable in modern traffic.

[Vulgalour]

A Lea Francis would be a car I'd like to own, aren't they a little large though? I've only encountered one that I can remember back before I was driving and it seemed massive. Great big swoopy late 40s thing, I can't recall exactly which model, it was rather a long time ago.

If a pre-war car can do 30mph, it's fast enough for the sort of use it will be put to. Of course, I'd rather it could reach the heady heights of 50mph, but really do you want to go that fast in what is basically a motorised armoire?

[mikeC]

Any 1930s car is well able to run at 30mph! I run my Austin Seven at 40-45mph with power in hand ...until I come to a hill! From your comments so far I think you should be looking for something like a 10hp car which should be comfortable running at 45-50mph.

I have sent you a pm with some suggestions.
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Penman]

Hi
LeaF 12 or14
Austin 16 postwar
Daimler Conquest

At the most, your talking 7" longer than your Rover 414. but around 2" narrower and bear in mind mirrors don't count on moderns for width.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Vulgalour]

The Austin 16 keeps coming up as a strong contender. Other half not sold on Leafs and Lanchesters, sadly.

As for the Jaguar SS, well... not really my bag. Much too flash. We'd both far rather have something sedate, comfortable and middle class, if you follow my meaning, than a cad-mobile. Pretty cars, all the same, just not what we're after.

Budget is something we're realistic about this since we're after something that looks 80+ years old, rather than something that's just been made, so worn leather, a bit of rust and pitted chrome aren't issues, it's more important that it's solid, it runs and it stops. Usable oily rag is preferable to trailer queen show car. Certainly we're not expecting to pick anything up under £2k, but by the same token I can't see us spending over £6k for the sort of thing we're after. Time is on our side so we can wait for the right car to find us. It's a lot like picking up a rescue dog, really, and that's very much how we're approaching it. Something old and a bit knocked about that we can cherish and give a loving home to. Sentimental perhaps, but with these sorts of vehicles I think you have to be a little bit.