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Q878 - solved - HMR Special

Started by Quiller, January 03, 2015, 02:01:43 PM

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Quiller

January 03, 2015, 02:01:43 PM
What's the name of this car?

Quiller

#1
February 24, 2015, 01:34:57 PM
What do experts think?

kwgibbs

#2
February 24, 2015, 02:35:43 PM
is a british self-built one-off?

Quiller

#3
February 25, 2015, 01:29:00 PM
Quote from: kwgibbs on February 24, 2015, 02:35:43 PM
is a british self-built one-off?

Precisely!

kwgibbs

#4
February 25, 2015, 01:43:33 PM
was it based from a popular make? or his own original design?

Quiller

#5
February 26, 2015, 01:22:27 PM
I'm afraid I don't have much info on this one, but it seems to be a hotch-potch of bits concoted by the builder

Quiller

#6
April 23, 2015, 10:36:18 AM
Can a pro cobble this mystery together?

Carnut

#7
April 23, 2015, 11:16:41 AM Last Edit: April 23, 2015, 11:26:19 AM by Carnut
Looks like an Austin 7 base and an R.G.S. body? Was the builder in Scotland or is that just the donor car that was registered there?
Interests in life:  Cars, cars, cars - oh and ..er..cars

Allan L

#8
April 23, 2015, 01:09:41 PM
Quote from: Carnut on April 23, 2015, 11:16:41 AM
Was the builder in Scotland or is that just the donor car that was registered there?
I'd say it's a London reg.
Opinionated but sometimes wrong

Carnut

#9
April 23, 2015, 03:02:14 PM Last Edit: April 24, 2015, 04:19:45 AM by Carnut
Quote from: Allan L on April 23, 2015, 01:09:41 PM
Quote from: Carnut on April 23, 2015, 11:16:41 AM
Was the builder in Scotland or is that just the donor car that was registered there?
I'd say it's a London reg.

And you'd be right!
I was thinking all the 'G's were Glasgow but only a few of those at the beginning of the alphabet were, up to GG (excluding GC and GF).
VGY 477 is a London reg dating from April 1958, which probably means it's not a donor vehicle's registration, which would have been from much earlier...
It's not registered with the DVLA, which means that since it's neither on nor off the road it no longer exists!
Interests in life:  Cars, cars, cars - oh and ..er..cars

Quiller

#10
April 28, 2015, 02:44:10 PM
Well it's British, I know that much  ;)

kwgibbs

#11
October 05, 2015, 09:36:53 PM
MVM perhaps?

Djetset

#12
October 08, 2015, 08:40:36 AM
Is it MG powered?
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Quiller

#13
October 16, 2015, 04:33:21 AM
Quote from: Djetset on October 08, 2015, 08:40:36 AM
Is it MG powered?

Sadly I don't have info on the mechanicals...

jimjarron

#14
February 10, 2016, 06:23:52 AM
It reminds me of an article I came across once in a 1950s magazine about a rebodied mid 1930s Wolseley 14.

jimjarron

#15
March 05, 2016, 12:40:31 AM
This car was featured in the May 1960 issue of Practical Motorist.  It is the H.M.R. Special and was built by Mr H M Retief, of 12 Ravenscourt Gardens, Chiswick, an instrument maker by trade.  The basis of the car was a 1936 Wolseley New Fourteen.  The chassis was considerably modified, the engine was fitted with a high compression twin carburettor head, the cooling system was upgraded, MG knock-on 19 inch wheels were fitted, and the bodywork was home made using an R.G.S. Winkfield two seater fibreglass body lengthened by inserting a 7 inch section in the middle and hinging the two end sections so both could be raised for access as in the Aston Martin DB3.  The windscreen was a rear window from a Hillman Minx.  Given Mr Retief's occupation, instrumentation was very comprehensive.  The car was painted red.  Top speed was in excess of 85mph, aided by the car's light weight of 16cwt.

Quiller

#16
March 28, 2016, 04:42:15 PM
Well sleuthed, a point is yours!

kwgibbs

#17
March 28, 2016, 06:01:44 PM
I was curious what the object just in front of the windscreen was?

jimjarron

#18
April 12, 2016, 11:16:00 AM
Quote from: Quiller on March 28, 2016, 04:42:15 PM
Well sleuthed, a point is yours!

Here's the article:

jimjarron

#19
April 12, 2016, 11:20:36 AM
Quote from: kwgibbs on March 28, 2016, 06:01:44 PM
I was curious what the object just in front of the windscreen was?

The distributor.  On the Wolseley Fourteen, it was mounted rather high at the back of the engine.  Not a problem with an upright body of the 1930s but, in a sleek 1950s two seater, it just wouldn't fit under the bonnet.  As luck would have it, I happen to have a handbook for the Wolseley Fourteen (dated October 1934) and heres a side view of the engine, showing what I mean:

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