2018 Newby Hall Historic Vehicle Rally
The North of England's biggest and best classic car show, in the grounds of Newby Hall near Ripon in North Yorkshire, on one of the hottest and sunniest days of the year, so both I and my photos suffered. This event, with around 1500 cars on show, is too big to cover comprehensively in one day so this is a selection of what caught my eye.
This has a two-litre six-cylinder engine. Three engines were available including one by Bristol, which I think this one has (it's listed as having a 1971cc engine), making it the most desirable.
For once, it's the real thing and not a replica! This is a Mk 1 '289' (4736cc V8) – they were made in 1962 and 1963.
Tiller-steered dogcart powered by a horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder engine mounted beneath the seat with a capacity of 2,060cc. Drive was by a single chain and there were solid tyres and centralised lubrication operated by the driver while the vehicle was in motion. Scottish car, truck and bus maker Albion was founded in 1899 and produced vehicles in a factory originally on the first floor of a building in Finnieston Street, Glasgow. In 1903 the company moved to new premises in Scotstoun. They stopped making cars in 1915 and concentrated on commercial vehicles. Their motto, which inspired the famous logo, was 'Sure as the sunrise'. They were taken over by Leyland in 1951 and the sun set on the Albion brand, by then just badge engineering, in the 1970s.
1935 Alvis Crested Eagle Charlesworth Saloon
A less sporting version of the Silver Eagle, Speed 20 and Speed 25 sold from 1933 to 1939 with 6-cylinder engines from 2148cc to 3571cc. Available from 1933 the Crested Eagle replaced the Silver Eagle and gained independent front suspension and four speed synchromesh gears. The Crested Eagle was designed for comfort rather than speed and was often given limousine bodies.
The 12/50 was withdrawn between 1929 and 1930 when the company decided that the future lay with the front-wheel drive FD and FE models, but when these did not reach the hoped for volumes a final version of the 12/50 was announced for the 1931 model year as TJ. Fitted with the 1645 cc engine this continued in production until 1932.
1935 Armstrong Siddeley 17 Sports Foursome
Brightwells says: 'The 17hp Sports Foursome short chassis was launched in 1934 and produced until 1938. It had a six-cylinder in-line monobloc engine displacing 2,396cc with a four bearing crankshaft, balanced alloy pistons, overhead valves and downdraught Claudel-Hobson carburettor. Transmission was via a four-speed preselector gearbox with a Salisbury rear axle and semi-elliptic springs all round, underslung at rear. Steering was by worm and nut, with Enot’s ‘one shot’ central lubrication system and a permanently installed jacking system. The attractive bodywork was by Burlington of Coventry and featured a four seat, two door pillarless coupe with ingenious front side windows that both slid back and forth and wound up and down.' DVLA lists the engine as 2192cc for this one though...
The Austin London Taxicab used a modified Austin Heavy Twelve-Four chassis clothed with new bodies designed by London's largest taxicab retailer and dealer Mann & Overton, and made for them by London coachbuilders. From 1930 to 1934 this first Austin London taxicab was colloquially known as the High Lot or Upright Grand. On a new chassis and thereby much lowered its appearance was revised in 1934 and it was renamed by Austin the Low Loading taxi.
Mk III
Mk III
