Barrett's #214 - Solved - Tom Nelson's Daimler-Ford Special, 1935

woodinsight · December 02, 2011, 06:54:36 AM

It looks as though it could be based on a Marendaz.
Aileen Moss, mother of Stirling Moss, had a four-seater tourer specially built for her in the mid-1930s, I wonder if this is the car?

barrett · December 02, 2011, 07:41:23 AM

Not a Marendaz, it's based on a much better known marque. As far as I know the owner of this wasn't known for anything in particular like having a famous son!

woodinsight · December 09, 2011, 11:23:31 AM

Alvis-based?

barrett · December 09, 2011, 03:16:17 PM

No!

woodinsight · December 10, 2011, 04:18:20 AM

~~Bentley~~-based?
Changed my mind - based on a Talbot?

barrett · December 10, 2011, 04:37:01 AM

Are you really sure you want to change your mind?

woodinsight · December 10, 2011, 05:18:48 AM

Difficult to believe that a Ford engine would be inserted in a Bentley.....
Okay, is it Bentley based?

barrett · December 10, 2011, 08:04:37 AM

yes!

woodinsight · December 10, 2011, 08:52:20 AM

I'm a bit stumped with this one at the moment as I've had to put all my archives in store for a few months (including my book on Bentley specials).
Can I ask you if the body was by a UK coachbuilder?
I might find it this way.....

barrett · December 10, 2011, 02:39:45 PM

It was indeed. I believe the chassis originally wore a body by the same firm who built the new bodywork when the car was turned into this special.

barrett · January 16, 2012, 02:55:56 PM

A bump before this goes into the Hole.

This car started life as an XXXX-bodied* Bentley but in the mid-30s was rebuilt with an American Ford engine and rebodied by the same coachbuilder. The car was named the XXXX Special* after the man who commissioned/owned it in 1935. As far as I know, the car (or at least the chassis) still exists today.

Just looking for the coachbuilder and the name now.

*the numbers of Xs is NOT the same as the number of letters!

woodinsight · January 16, 2012, 03:19:16 PM

Adams?

barrett · January 16, 2012, 03:23:08 PM

No Adams here

barrett · May 16, 2012, 10:23:55 AM

Clue time: The builder of this special shares his name with a well-known naval officer....

woodinsight · May 16, 2012, 10:39:49 AM

Hardy?

barrett · May 16, 2012, 11:13:15 AM

Even more well-known!

woodinsight · May 16, 2012, 11:45:46 AM

Nelson?

RayTheRat · May 16, 2012, 12:05:12 PM

Chris Thomas Special?

barrett · May 16, 2012, 12:17:48 PM

Quote from: woodinsight on May 16, 2012, 11:45:46 AM
Nelson?

Correct! The Nelson special is the car.... can you work out who the coachwork was by?

woodinsight · May 16, 2012, 12:43:31 PM

Quote from: barrett on May 16, 2012, 12:17:48 PM
Quote from: woodinsight on May 16, 2012, 11:45:46 AM
Nelson?

Correct! The Nelson special is the car.... can you work out who the coachwork was by?

I'll have a go at the coachbuilder tonight/tomorrow and hopefully come up with a few possibles...

woodinsight · May 18, 2012, 04:53:52 AM

Well, there's quite a few possibilities but I'll try to narrow it down by asking pertinent questions.
In the meantime is it by Adams?

barrett · May 18, 2012, 09:38:48 AM

Not Adams, nor does it begin with the letter 'A'

woodinsight · May 18, 2012, 11:44:07 AM

One coachbuilder I came across that re-bodied a Bentley tourer in the 1930s was Carville......?

barrett · May 18, 2012, 12:08:30 PM

Nope, better known and further down the alphabet

woodinsight · May 18, 2012, 12:24:53 PM

Based in/around London?

News:

Barrett's #214 - Solved - Tom Nelson's Daimler-Ford Special, 1935

RayTheRat