Picking which vehicle to start with from over 30 I photographed in this area was not easy, but this 1920’s Vauxhall was an obvious choice. Old Pete made a reference to the early Vauxhalls having a good reputation, and this survivor is a good example of that.
Unlike many cars, there wasn’t any identification as to exactly what model it was, so from what I have been able to find it is either a 1924-25 23-60 (the first number is RAC taxable horsepower, the second is actual power output) with a 110” wheelbase and 4-litre 4-cylinder overhead valve engine, with the cylinders and head cast as one, separate from the crankcase.
The other possibility is a 30-98 OE from 1924-27 which had a 4.2L engine with a detachable head, on a 118” chassis. The early date for both cars can be determined from the front brakes fitted. This is an interesting setup where a rod labelled A in the photo from Wikipedia above, pushes an arm to turn the central shaft (B) which pulls the cables to each drum from within the alloy housing (C). The central rod can move (inclination) so that the cables are equally tensioned – an important thing for control of the car by making sure the braking effort across the front wheels is even! The 30-98 was a highly impressive car for the day, but I am not the right person to do justice in telling its story.
Instead I will share the images of this amazing car – just look at this windscreen in what was clearly an unusual body. Each upper pane of the vee-shaped screen opens.
The interior betrays the mechanical attention that the car has received, while carefully preserving the original condition. Note the clean and shiny instruments, and also the parcel shelf for want of a better term – perhaps cup holder?!?
Here is the radiator badge for Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Luton England. Either side of the badge are the characteristic Vauxhall flutes and above is a temperature gauge. General Motors took over Vauxhall in November 1925.
The first car I photographed in the area behind the control tower was this 1920’s Crossley – different spelling to the US micro-car manufacturer, this one came from Manchester in England and only built cars from 1904 until 1938, then trucks, military vehicles and buses.
Here is the 6-cylinder engine, and have a close look at the large generator that further drives the distributor and cable tachometer via the little red belt.
The interior is full of interesting details, reflecting a restoration that appears to have been aimed at getting the car on the road rather than being concours-perfect. There is a wide range of instrumentation, a cup-holder and an interesting relief in the floor. Note the right-hand location of the gear lever in front of the hand brake and also the lack of a door on the driver’s side – typical of cars from this era.
The next car I shot was a magnificent Auburn which has an enormous hood, dramatic two-tone paintwork, swept-back windscreen, tightly cut roof and boat-tail. Note the extra windscreen for the Crossley’s rear seat passengers in the background.
Here is that boat tail. I can only imagine the time and resources lavished on this car, a lot of care has been taken on so many details. Just look at the work that went into the bumpers!
I think it is suffice to say that the interior matches the exterior. I wonder how many days were spent on the turned dashboard?
Next door was another boat-tail car, and an unusual one. This 1928 Austin 20 has a story too complex to relay briefly; an indication is that this car is in a cross-over period where it might have a 3.6L four or a 3.4L six-cylinder engine, the latter no doubt introduced to counter criticisms of the roughness of the four. This car looks like it has the base 120” chassis; longer 130” and 136” versions could be had too – this is no Austin 7!
Here is the rear of the car – I must confess I am not sure why you would hide the special bodywork with the spare tyres!
Next door is a later Austin 16 sedan, which looks like a 30’s car but was actually built from 1945-49 when getting something into production took a higher priority than being the most advanced. It has an ohv 2.2L 4-cyl and is 171” long, and looks to have decent interior space so long as you aren’t too tall. There are some interesting features that were connected to its use as a London Taxi, like a dual ratio steering box and an onboard hydraulic jacking system.
Then we have a Rugby with what I would term a ‘light delivery’ body, and a Ford Model A roadster utility. A lot of cars were cut-down into utes later in life, but the shape of the windscreen posts suggests to me that it was just as likely to have been delivered as a bare chassis from the cowl back, and had a ‘rough and ready’ (or shall we say cheaper) body fitted originally. Just a guess.
Note that the Ford’s body sides are one-piece. Looking back, my cut-off for ‘common’ vehicles was much higher in this area – the blue Austin A90 Atlantic didn’t make the cut, nor did the Citroen DS or Traction Avant beyond that.
Here is a different A90 from the lunchtime parade laps instead! With an MG TC behind.
I didn’t take a photo this time of this Citroen DS ute that I’ve seen a few times before, but couldn’t resist including it here! It is just spectacular.
Behind that was one of the nicest Peugeot 504s you are ever likely to see. It looks too good not to have been restored surely, but I was not sure. Note the quad headlights that were a feature of Australian 504s, after it was found the original trapezoidal lights were more easily broken and definitely more expensive to replace on unsealed roads – where a couple of my relatives’ 504s spent a fair bit of time.
The interior is similarly excellent, and do you think that the flawless plastic pieces are more likely to be well-kept originals or very well restored?
The rear seat shows some signs of its roughly 45 year age, which is why I’m thinking not restored given how flawless other parts of the car are.
Next we have a real treasure, a 1951-55 Vauxhall Vagabond tourer. This was unique to the Australian market as the UK had not done convertible versions of the Velox.
The interior is a modest jukebox. I think I read that it was the last non-sportscar to not have winding side windows, could this be true?
The rear quarter panels have a great moulded shape with a pointy tail light that is masked by the stretched boot (trunk). As one of the last convertibles in the market segment, keeping some practicality would have been key to its survival.
A 1911 Vauxhall “Prince Henry” C10.9 is something you don’t see often, anywhere. This car has an interesting history, having taken part in a military despatch race from Adelaide to Sydney in 1912. This race was between a team of cyclists, motorcyclists and what were called “carists”. It says something for the non-existent roads of the time that the cyclists won!
The Prince Henry name came from their participation in the Prinz-Heinrich-Fahrt or Prince Henry Tour, named after Prince Albert Wilhelm Heinrich of Prussia, which was a 1200 mile event in Germany. With its 60 hp 3-L engine the car has been described as the first sports car.
The next car is a 1951 Humber Super Snipe Mark II that has been rather heavily accessorised. Again a car ‘holding the fort’ in the immediate postwar era.
Another 504 – marking the 50th anniversary of the car’s launch. The bull bar here is representative of the car’s popularity in long-distance rallies (as in thousands of miles) where speed was not so much a factor as crew ability and the 504’s combination of ruggedness and comfort was very handy.
This next car is a bit of a unicorn, being a 1974 Volvo 164TE, which featured fuel injection and some special colours (gold, green or blue) and normally in Australia automatic transmission only. A few manual cars from the UK market snuck in somehow and this is one of them.
Here is the Volvo interior in all its ergonomic goodness. Ergonomic perhaps, but not for the eyeballs with a clash of square speedometer and round tachometer.
Skipping a hot rod takes us to this Studebaker Lark VIII convertible. Left hand drive shows it wasn’t sold here new, although Studebaker was unusual in still selling large-ish 2-door sedans in the 1960s. They sold quite a few to police for that reason.
And here is a slightly fuzzy top-down shot of it from the parade. This really shows the shortened aspect of the design. I can see the appeal of a compact American cruiser like this though, as many people would find it difficult to house a full-size car from the era.
More to come next week!
Further Reading from the Winton Historics:
Car Show Classics: 2018 Historic Winton – Car Park Part Two
Car Show Classics: 2018 Historic Winton Car Park, Part One
Car Show Classics: The Oval At 2018 Historic Winton, Part Three
Car Show Classics: The Oval At 2018 Historic Winton, Part Two
Car Show Classics: The Oval At 2018 Historic Winton, Part One
CC Capsule: 1985 Honda Accord Hatch
What a great show! So many fascinating vehicles. Australia got a very interesting mix.
I can’t imagine what it must have cost to buy and ship that Boat-tail Packard down under, but whatever it cost, it was worth it. Oh, and I want those leather seats from the Volvo for my den….
Note that it’s RHD, so has probably been here since new. There have always been some people with enough money to buy cars like these.
Looking at the rear of that Vauxhall Vagabond, the taillights look like something from a ’52 Olds 98, and the license plate light assembly reminds me of a ’47 Studebaker. In total, this car looks like a shrunken American car of the early ’50s, which come to think of it is what a Vauxhall and an Opel usually represented–warmed-over U.S. GM styling, shrunken to fit European traffic conditions. I think it’s rather attractive considering its time period, though. However, we could all do without the side curtains. A Morgan this car is not!
I just had a thought, that at the time a capital-P Proper sports car wasn’t allowed to have wind-up windows.
Of course in the case of the Vauxhall, being cheaper was no doubt a factor.
“How many days spent on that machine turned dash?” I’m guessing it was hours, not days. It’s amazing how fast things can get done in manufacturing when they’re done repetitively.
Some wonderful old cars there. The Prince Henry car is a rare survivor. And yes, that Vauxhall shows a lot of high quality engineering. That rather changed after GM took over, eh?
Probably true, but also Vauxhall’s place in the market changed a lot too, from a premium product to a mass market. volume competitor.
Do you think the Packard dashboard would be original Paul?
Good lord, Mr 875, but you have excelled yourself here. I hadn’t any idea Aus had an original Vauxhall Prince Henry, let alone the DS ute or Austin 16.
But a Prince Henry, a local one, really? Some CC’ers possibly won’t know that this pre-WW1 car – meaning pre-1914 outside America – is immensely valuable, a veritable Koenignesegg for Edwardians.
Yet that is still not my CCOTD, or Curbside Classic Of The Day.
It’s that shabby-chic first Vauxhall, which may or may not be a 30-98 (though the front braking thingy doesn’t quite resemble the infamous “kidney box” pictured with the red diagrams, an arrangement that apparently led to fantastically useless brakes even new).
The pictured car is in every possible way desirable, a chop-top, a jaunty ’20’s low-rider, an arrogant English-skinny hedgerow-fitting rich youngster’s fast family car, an aristocratic lout’s last fling, and now a mobile art display extracted fresh and faded from some forgotten ’20’s antique cupboard, low set eyes blinking, asking where the hell it is and when on earth the next drink is coming.
I’m sure it’s probably an ambitiously-bodied Vauxhall of some lesser status that I’ve never heard of, topping out at 50mph when the wind favours it, but I don’t care. It just looks too good to wonder about what it actually is or does.
To say you’ve made my day understates things a bit.
If it is not a kidney box what else can it be? It looks like it to me, something I only found out when trying to identify the car. There weren’t many Vauxhall models made during that time, and having four wheel brakes but no wheel studs narrows the range of years.
My apologies, it is indeed the kidney box. This is turn helps date the car to at least 1924, when all Vauxhalls got 4-wheel brakes. Mind you, 4-wheel doesn’t mean they all work off one pedal as there’s also stick for the front (or back) and your choice of all or two!
I was right about it being a “lesser” Vauxhall (lesser only in not being a fabled 30-98) as I’m now confident it is a 23-60 OD. I wasn’t far off in the speed estimate too, as a lighter tourer was tested at 62 mph in ’22. Add a closed coach, and 50mph would be about right.
As for those infamous brakes, look at the Wiki entry for the 23-60, go to “brakes” which links then to the 30-98 Wiki entry. There’s a quote from a 1964 Automobile Quaterly essay on the 30-98 about those stoppers that is quite hilarious.
I’ve attached a link to an Autocar road test from 1922. Amongst testing done was one for flexibility, whereby they throttle the car down to 4mph in top and then GET OUT to jog along side!! And who said driverless tech was new?
Anyway, whatever my comments, the car you caught at Winton that day is probably amongst the very best things I’ve seen on CC. Just wonderful.
http://www.vauxhallregister.com/23-60-od.html
Glad you enjoyed it justy, it selected itself as the car to lead off with here.
And unlike most cars the aluminium skin means that it can safely wear its current patina indefinitely (just keep oiling the steel bonnet).
Great selection! That Auburn Speedster looks to be a 1928-30 model. Those were powerful and fast cars as well as really great looking. Auburn may have been the most stylish of the independents, thanks to E. L. Cord who ran the company.
That white Lark at the end is a 1960 model. One of these with its durable 259 V8 would be a great collector car – a reasonable size and built of simple and durable materials.
Those English market cars are simply fascinating to me.
A DS ute?! Is there any kind of car you australians didn´t converse into a pickup? Fantastic!
Interesting to see some old Vauxhalls, from a time before they were rebadged Opels.
Actually, I think the Citroen looks like a flower car for funerals.
Flower cars are not really something you see in Australia though. I think it is custom but will try to find out what the story behind it is.
Ok, apparently this was originally a Safari wagon, and when being imported was dropped onto the wharf. It was going to be scrapped but a local dealer, Duttons in Richmond, bought it instead and converted it into a ute.
not quite right
It had a hoist drop on the rear corner overnight (parked underneath one corner) with the rear roof frame squashed a little – from there roof unbolted and and roof frame cut from behind the B pillar to the D pillar and voila. closed in the cabin with a window out of a Holden EH station wagon and there you have the basis. It then had the Pallas effect put to it to what you see today
not quite right
It had a hoist drop on the rear corner overnight (parked underneath one corner) with the rear roof frame squashed a little – from there roof unbolted and and roof frame cut from behind the B pillar to the D pillar and voila. closed in the cabin with a window out of a Holden EH station wagon and there you have the basis. It then had the Pallas effect put to it to what you see today
AND of course – a stupendous amount of hours – which really made the wife happy
Is it just me thinking things that are nuts or is the Peugeot 504 and Peugeot 505 some of the most attractive looking cars made? They have a timeless look about them.
When the title mentioned Historic Winton, I thought it was going to be showing a vintage Winton automobile. Alexander Winton made and sold some of the earliest cars in the USA.
I have heard of Winton automobiles Leon, but am not aware if any were brought to Australia. I wouldn’t be surprised, most things seem to turn up here!
That brown 504 is a real beauty. The brown colour suits it as well. I suspect, like you, it preserved rather than restored. Can one even buy new plastic interior bits for it?
Those Vauxhalls are incredible as well. Something raw and appealing about these early cars.
Finding that DS ute quite a challenge…..
Interesting Velox/Vagabond (great name by the way) convertible.
I’ve seen this 1950 Vauxhall/Holden tourer in the UK at a couple of shows.
Yes that is the previous model, the Caleche.
Regarding the shabby-chic Vauxhall, the lower curved door edges are trailing edge in its first photo and then leading edge in the second pic. Or do I just need more sleep and less caffeine?
I see what you mean, it is quite an optical illusion I think due to the curvature of the lower body
What wonderful photos! Thank you for sharing them.
Gobsmacked! So much lovely stuff.
I’m only now realizing how little I know about pre-60s Vauxhalls. Naming a model after a German prince (doubtless related to Queen Victoria, as they all were in those days) is soooo Edwardian.
It’s probably mad but I wanted the Vauxhall Adam to be called the Prince Henry. I mean, if GM wants to keep up the charade of Vauxhall’s existence, don’t be named a car after Opel’s founder.
Some cool cars I have an early Vauxhall book sent to dealers here by GM NZ when I find it I should with luck be able to identify the mystery model, The EIP Vagabond is a 53-55 but that one is at least a 54 the 53 had the 18hp LIP engine and side opening bonnet that one has an aligator bonnet new for 54, rear quarters were the same as the four door in styling but the ute and Vagabond were only two door cars its built by the way on modified CA Bedford van chassis as was the ute, The Caleche body style the Vagabong replaced was built from the early 30s onwards by Holdens.
Austin 16 first came out in 1939 theres a 39 model in Napier the 16 story has appeared on CC previously, I remember writing it so likely nobody read it.
Hey, I remember reading it! I’ve just never seen one in Aus before.
I didn’t remember reading it but it was 5.5 years ago now, a lot of water under the bridge since then! But I had.
No such hills around when I grew up, to practice hill starts there were only a couple of gentle slopes maybe 50 metres long. Proper hills were half an hours’ drive away. At least the hill start principle is the same no matter the gradient!
There was a 25/70 Vauxhall that according to what I’m looking at was six wheel equipped and had a split level divided windscreen, it had a six cylinder sleeve valve engine cost between 1,350 and 1,675 pounds UK when that was a lot of coin,
Overall dimensions match what youve found John 875 but headlight placement is higher, 1925 – 27 it was built,
1927 seems to be the first models without Rudge Whitworth wheels so its older than that.
I reckon it’s the 23-60, Bryce. The 25-70 had hydraulic brakes, it seems.
The proportions match the 25/70 and the silly windscreen plus six wheel equipped, lights match the 23/60, it would be nice to know for sure. even the picture of a 23/60Carlton enclosed Limousine looks like a smaller car with much lighter gauge wire wheels.
Success! Spotted some photos and it is identified as a 1924 23/60 that was in the auction at the 2016 Motorclassica show. I’ve got one shot of it from the show, but I can’t see it mentioned in the auction listing or any results.
Oh, well done!
This is tangential, but the Auburn’s dash got me wondering why engine turning is called engine turning. Anyone?
I think it is from the process, using an engine driven mill or similar to produce the turned engraving. There are quite a few names for it and variations like it, eg fishscale. Be warned, googling and clicking on links may be a rabbit hole, there is some fascinating stuff out there!
Great article! That Crossley is amazing. That tiny red belt is crazy. I thought v-belts looked tiny nowadays. That looks like a rubber band or one of those hair things of my wife that the cat sends all over the house. The tan Peugeot 504 is stunning. The bullbar from the other is what I need to navigate Chicago traffic. The ’74 Volvo is interesting. Does anyone know if it was in the US with that same front end? To me it looks like VW reinterpreted by Picasso…
The Volvo 164 was sold in the US, pretty much identical to the one pictured except of course left hand drive. Available with a manual transmission (4 speed + overdrive) and fitted with the same large bumpers for the last few years. The wheels on this one don’t look factory. The 164 was covered here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics/ebay-find-1974-volvo-164e-because-swedes-need-luxury-too/
Thanks, Dman!