CG #53 - 1924 Drainpipe Special

[Craig Gillingham]

For 1 point, tell me about this car.

For another point, tell me where this photo was taken.

[Craig Gillingham]

Up to Expert level.

[bentleybob]

Car is a Vauxhall OE30/98 shortened for hill climbing

[Craig Gillingham]

Car is a Vauxhall OE30/98 shortened for hill climbing

Partly right, it's a special based on a 30/98. But it has a name, Locked for you, until your next reply.

[bentleybob]

No idea at all, not my area of expertise, feel free to unlock, please

[Craig Gillingham]

Ok, Unlocked.

[sixtee5cuda]

Picture was taken at the start of the Rob Roy Hillclimb in Victoria, Australia.  The giant brake shoes were put in place late in 2009.  Can't find the car yet, but this info will help someone.

[D-type]

Was the Vauxhall named "Fifty bob"?

[Craig Gillingham]

Picture was taken at the start of the Rob Roy Hillclimb in Victoria, Australia.  The giant brake shoes were put in place late in 2009.

Correct, 1 point for you. These brakes shoes used to be at the start of the Templestowe Hillclimb, and were erected there in 1958.

[Craig Gillingham]

Was the Vauxhall named "Fifty bob"?

No, sorry, It's not "Fifty Bob", although you've given me a good idea for another future puzzle car!

[Craig Gillingham]

Up a level.

[pnegyesi]

Are you sure it is a 30/98? It seems Rob Roy entries had fixed starting numbers - it did not change from race to race.
So I tend to believe No2 belonged to Michael Farrell who raced a Vauxhall 14/40. He advertised his car recently, saying:
"Details for 1926 Vauxhall 14/40
Buy my 1926 Vauxhall 14/40 and tour Australia or I can ship it to you! The car has been rebuilt with a shortened chassis and two-seater body a few years ago. Also hydraulic brakes were installed. -12V convertion -Coil ignition -Holden differential The body work is in a great condition and the engine is very reliable. "

[Craig Gillingham]

I know the car your referring to (the silver 14/40), but this puzzle car is completely different. I must admit, I never really take much notice of race numbers.

This car started out as a 30/98, but it's been modified quite a lot. There are a couple of web pages dedicated to this car, so it isn't anything totally obscure.

[Allan L]

I'd have said 14/40 too and agree with Pál that it looks like Farrell's car, a photo of which (in the same place!) appears in an Australian set:

[Craig Gillingham]

I can assure you, it's a different car.

To help you both out, Here's a photo of the puzzle car, probably taken in the late 50's.

[Allan L]

OK and in that case I can say that there may be an OE 30/98 engine and radiator there, but almost everything else you can see isn't from that car!

[Craig Gillingham]

OK and in that case I can say that there may be an OE 30/98 engine and radiator there, but almost everything else you can see isn't from that car!

That's right. The firewall, gearbox and diff are also 30/98. But that's about all.

[pnegyesi]

Is this Patrick Ryan's Vauxhall?

[Craig Gillingham]

Is this Patrick Ryan's Vauxhall?

No, sorry.

[pnegyesi]

It is called the 30/98 Drain Pipe Special.


The Drainpipe Special was built from an original 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 (OE 221) that had crashed some time in the late 1940's / early fifties. The wreck was acquired by Bill Chadwick who scrapped the chassis and body & built a totally new & more rigid chassis of his own design. The new chassis frame was made from steel tubing thus its nickname of Drainpipe Special.

[Craig Gillingham]

Yes, that's the car. Another point for you.