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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2010 => Topic started by: woodinsight on August 25, 2010, 03:25:04 PM

Title: SOLVED MJW #001 Chenard et Walcker 1924 with body by John Croall & Sons
Post by: woodinsight on August 25, 2010, 03:25:04 PM
This is my first posting - so bear with me until I learn the ropes!

i think the puzzle is worth two points - one for the make (easy) and one for the coach builder (harder).

This was my grandfather's car that he commissioned new in the 1920s.

Please provide as much information as possible to gain the points on offer.

Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: Paul Jaray on August 25, 2010, 04:01:00 PM
Wow!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on August 31, 2010, 12:20:14 PM
Okay, let's move up a gear to the experts level.
Don't forget this puzzle is worth two points
- one relatively easy and the other less so.
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 06, 2010, 03:01:37 PM
Still no feedback on this so it's time to move it up to the top level.
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 06, 2010, 03:36:29 PM
Help!!
I unfortunately tried to move this to the Pros section and found it in news & information. (pressed the wrong button I guess)
Can someone help with this?
Thanks
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: Allemano on September 06, 2010, 03:41:39 PM
fixed.

(BTW: please uncheck the box for 'Post a redirection topic' next time. It's an obsolete option while moving puzzles from one board to another. Unfortunately it has to be inactivated each time)
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 06, 2010, 03:49:57 PM
Hey, thanks a lot Allemano - much appreciated.

I'm really still a rookie at this level.

Okay understood.
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: DynaMike on September 06, 2010, 03:56:51 PM
The make should be a Chenard & Walcker. I've found a recent picture of what seems to be this very car, but unfortunately it didn't tell who the coachbuilder was.
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 06, 2010, 04:40:20 PM
I agree with DynaMike  ;)

The coachbuilder is British?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 07, 2010, 02:31:46 PM
Quote from: DynaMike on September 06, 2010, 03:56:51 PM
The make should be a Chenard & Walcker. I've found a recent picture of what seems to be this very car, but unfortunately it didn't tell who the coachbuilder was.

That's correct - the year is 1924
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 07, 2010, 02:33:33 PM
Quote from: João on September 06, 2010, 04:40:20 PM
I agree with DynaMike  ;)

The coachbuilder is British?

That's also correct!
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 07, 2010, 05:34:38 PM
Maybe Lancefield?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 07, 2010, 10:32:52 PM
Not Lancefield.

A small clue
- Lancefield was based in London so you have to go northwards to find this coachbuilder.
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 07, 2010, 11:24:34 PM
That´s a big name such Weymann?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 07, 2010, 11:32:28 PM
Joao, although it isn't Weymann, the coachbuilder in question actually owned another British company as well-known as Weymann
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 07, 2010, 11:43:16 PM
Salmons & Sons?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 07, 2010, 11:59:33 PM
Not that.
The coachbuilder in question is relatively obscure and was only active in the 1920s and early 1930s.
It might help if you can establish where in the UK they were based.
No more clues at the moment............
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 08, 2010, 12:18:11 AM
Compton & Hermon?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 08, 2010, 12:32:13 AM
No - but the builder's name starts with the same letter!
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 08, 2010, 12:37:33 AM
Cockshoot?

That´s a beautiful car!
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 08, 2010, 12:45:37 AM
Not Cockshoot
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 08, 2010, 12:52:31 AM
Double name like Cole & Son ?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 08, 2010, 12:55:02 AM
Yes - similar
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 08, 2010, 12:58:21 AM
Croall & Sons ?
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 08, 2010, 01:03:57 AM
Well done Joao, you finally pinned it down.
One more point for you.

I'll post more information and photos on this car shortly.
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: João on September 08, 2010, 01:15:21 AM
Thanks! I really enjoyed it!  :)

Croall owned H.J. Mulliner untill 1960 and there is a Rolls-Royce with the same design!
Title: Re: MJW #001
Post by: woodinsight on September 08, 2010, 01:23:19 AM
That's interesting - I hadn't seen this photo before.
The AV registration is Aberdeenshire, Scotland - where I grew up.
I remember many Rolls-Royces similar to this one were used as taxis in Aberdeen back in the 1950s.

Title: Re: Chenard et Walcker 1924 with body by John Croall & Sons
Post by: fnqvmuch on September 08, 2010, 05:31:18 AM
... the Cockshoot is so very like it, though.
Title: Re: Chenard et Walcker 1924 with body by John Croall & Sons
Post by: woodinsight on September 08, 2010, 07:00:32 AM
Yes I can see that.

My grandfather probably decided to commission Croall & Sons of Edinburgh to build the bodywork as he was based in Dundee.

I'll post a history of the car either today or tomorrow.
Title: Re: Chenard et Walcker 1924 with body by John Croall & Sons
Post by: woodinsight on September 12, 2010, 02:50:08 PM
Additional information -


Although my grandfather, Henry Baxter Wood, died in the 1920s I believe that he chose Chenard et Walcker on the basis of the make's victory in the first Le Mans in 1923. Reliability was undoubtedly one of his priorities.
The chassis was acquired new from the Chenard factory in 1923 and shipped to Edinburgh for bodying by John Croall & Sons, Edinburgh.

On his death, my father's oldest brother inherited the car and it was then kept at Forfar in Scotland.
It was only used occasionally and by the start of WW II it was laid up.
My father learned to drive in this car - it must have been quite an experience with brakes on the front wheels only.

Car dealer extraordinaire Bunty Scott-Moncrieff ("Purveyors of Horseless Carriages to the Nobility and Gentry") also had a house in Forfar at the time and managed to acquire the car in 1940.
It joined Bunty's collection of vintage cars and was apparently used infrequently by his wife Averil.

The current owner managed to acquire the car in 1986 and over a period of years restored it to its former glory.
The only part missing is the sun visor that probably disappeared back in the 1930s.

The Chenard is often used on rallies on the continent and is in first class condition today.

Photograph is courtesy of the Wood family.