My grandfather was a keen amateur photographer from the 1920s until his death in 1966. He left around 650 negatives which I've been digitising over the past few weeks. This one came up last night:- The older lady is my grandmother and the younger is one of my aunts. I've no idea about the car or the gentleman although it's tempting to think he's the owner. Can anyone help with the identity of the car - No.20 in some rally or exhibition, the owner and the venue. I reckon the photograph would have been taken in London sometime between 1950-55. ...and for the comedians amongst us, no, the bloke isn't Caractacus Potts...
The grille should be easily recognized by the real experts, me thinks it's a continental make (steering wheel on left hand side) Wouldn't mind to have it in my garage! All the best, Wim
Bet the box on the running board had a couple of old tilley's inside. Or at least a couple of nice little stoves.
No expert but the radiator and bonnet are reminiscent of a Morris. Not so sure the steering wheel is on the left, that would place it a long way from the drivers hands. The bodywork looks custom made. Send it off to the Vintage sports car club - they'll nail it.
That bloke looks like Tommy walsh before he went on the beer. Probably giving a quote for a dropped curb.
I think it is a left-hooker and therefore foreign. I also reckoned on coachbuilt bodywork, although the mudguards and running boards seem very wide. I'll try the VSCC tomorrow. Cheers...
Thanks, Terry - SVVC were very quick to respond and asked me to supply a higher resolution image than the one you see here. Doing that, it became clear than the word 'Harrogate' appears under the figure 20 on the front of the car. That number is clipped onto a metal plate which shows VC?? and 191?. Even part of the registration number is visible - ST? So that was sent to them and again very quickly, they came back with the identification. This car is, of course, a 1910 14hp Metallurgique Speedster first registered in 1911 with the number ST 303 (Inverness). In 1955 the owner was C R M Hardy (no idea who he is/was but no relation, sadly). The car is known to the VCC but hasn't been seen for very many years. So check your garages and outbuildings, fellas - I reckon it's still lurking around somewhere out there. The SVVC Mystery Cars page (like our mystery lamps) with my enquiry and the identification is shown here. The full reply from Bozi Mohacek of the SVVC:- "Hi, Thanks your Email and the interesting photo/s. We have now had an opportunity to study the enquiry and can advise that details of what we have determined will shortly be on our Help Page http://www.svvs.org/help61.shtml. Hope this is of interest. The confirmation of my diagnosis by one of our venerable VCC sages who has access to old members lists goes as follows: Bozi, A very desirable sporting Edwardian! This Metallurgique has been known to the VCC since the 1950s, in 1955 it belonged to C R M Hardy, and in 1979 and some years thereafter to one H E Gordon, no addresses to hand. Mr Gordon may still own it, and it has not been seen for very many years. You are correct it is a 14hp and was dated back in the 1950s as 1910. Registration number ST303 (Inverness), issued mid-1911 which could be right, slow to sell perhaps or maybe the date was a little optimistic! Kind Regards Bozi Mohacek" Given that Van den Plas were Belgian, I'm surprised you didn't recogise the car, Wim - and fancy Mick not recognising Harrogate...
A good result getting to the bottom of it, good link from Terry eh maybe he's back on the meths David
David, I believe your car is now at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg museum and it was featured in the 1965 film "The great race". Pictures and more info can be found HERE Edit: in your picture, although black and white, I would say that the car was silver in colour. So it seems strange that they would change the colour so dramatically to red when they restored it. If it were red originally would it not be a darker shade of grey in a black and white photo?
Matthew, that's absolutely fantastic! - I honestly thought you were taking the p*ss until I clicked on your link. You are truly a KING amongst men! I'll let the SVVC know and the info can go back to the VCC... Edit: Never mind the respray - the car now appears to be right-hand drive! I suppose it was actually RHD in my original image but it did look like a left-hooker...
Matthew, you have missed your calling! Fantastic information for you David, you must be chuffed to have it - pity you didn't have the car though.
