barrett's #380 - Solved - J D Hart's Ford-based trials car

[barrett]

Who built this car, and what is it based on?

[barrett]

Up

[barrett]

Up again

[Wendax]

It is Ford-based

[nicanary]

It is Ford-based

Ford V8 flathead, I reckon!

[Wendax]

No, 1938 Ford of 1498 cc capacity, which doesn't sound as if it were the original engine.

[nicanary]

No, 1938 Ford of 1498 cc capacity, which doesn't sound as if it were the original engine.

1498cc would tally with the first Cortina engines, but this seems extremely unlikely. The puzzle photo looks like it's from the late 40s/early50s. The original Consul engine was 1508cc - this was introduced in 1950 and maybe this car has a linered-down engine from that model. A bit of an odd thing to do, when the flathead V8 was readily available.

[barrett]

Right, Ford-based special of the very early '50s. Not a V8. I'm surprised the registration still shows up anywhere, I would have thought it scrapped long before the computerisation of DVLA records!

[nicanary]

Right, Ford-based special of the very early '50s. Not a V8. I'm surprised the registration still shows up anywhere, I would have thought it scrapped long before the computerisation of DVLA records!

It could have been re-allocated as an "age-related" plate. I think if the present engine is quoted as 1498cc then it's a Kent motor from the 1960s. I have a hunch the present wearer of the plate is not the same car. 

[Wendax]

But it is listed as a 1938 car:

Vehicle details
12 Month rate: £0.00
Vehicle make :FORD
Date of first registration :02 March 1938
Year of manufacture :1938
Cylinder capacity (cc) :1498cc
CO₂Emissions :Not available
Fuel type :PETROL
Export marker :No
Vehicle status :SORN in place
Vehicle colour :BLUE
Vehicle type approval :Not available

[nicanary]

But it is listed as a 1938 car:

Vehicle details
12 Month rate: £0.00
Vehicle make :FORD
Date of first registration :02 March 1938
Year of manufacture :1938
Cylinder capacity (cc) :1498cc
CO₂Emissions :Not available
Fuel type :PETROL
Export marker :No
Vehicle status :SORN in place
Vehicle colour :BLUE
Vehicle type approval :Not available

Thanks. I couldn't be bothered! I can't find any evidence of a Ford engine of that size in that period, so possibly someone has replaced it with a later engine in order to keep the car running.

[Carnut]

Right, Ford-based special of the very early '50s. Not a V8. I'm surprised the registration still shows up anywhere, I would have thought it scrapped long before the computerisation of DVLA records!

It could have been re-allocated as an "age-related" plate. I think if the present engine is quoted as 1498cc then it's a Kent motor from the 1960s. I have a hunch the present wearer of the plate is not the same car. 

Registration numbers are never re-allocated except by special request and very much persuasion with proof that there is a very good reason to do so..

[Paul Jaray]

It's a Ford Ten based special built for trials...it was built in the North of England and bought by Mr. J.D. Hart to run in the 1951\52 season.

[Wendax]

Aaah, another one from that online archive quite en vogue nowadays. 

[nicanary]

Aaah, another one from that online archive quite en vogue nowadays. 

We shouldn't complain - it's been a new source for AP. Personally, I can't be bothered to look through it, but these photos make great puzzles. That car looked too big to me to be a 10hp sidevalve, I thought it was a V8.

[Wendax]

I don't complain! I was using some other archives myself until all puzzles from there were solved instantly by another puzzler who worked himself through that one, too. 

[nicanary]

Bumped for a reply to post #12.

[barrett]

First time I've been able to check my files - yes, it's J D Hart's ford-based trials car!