Hillman with Hill & Boll coachwork at Olympia 1929

[barrett]

It certainly looks like a body by one of the more adventurous British coachbuilders rather than a European job. I'm sure there is a way of narrowing it down - there must be a list of every exhibitor at the 1929 Show somewhere - did Hispano itself have a stand? I'd bet it didn't and this was on a coachbuilder's stand. 

[William Hearne.]

The best source for a list is the 'Motor Show' editions of both the 'Autocar' and 'The Motor'. It is important to note that the 1929 Olympia Show featured the 1930 models. The car behind the Hisso would suggest a Coachbuilders Stand as you say. As a matter of interest there were over 50 British Coachbuilders displaying their wares at the 1930 Olympia Show.

[grobmotorix]

Interesting that the lamps appear to be British Lucas of the period. There is a popular book compiled by Lawrence Dalton titled 'The 1930 London Motor Show and Paris Salon'. Pity that it is not a year earlier as every single car that was in the show is listed.

I also have this book - I doesn´t help here though...

Kopefully someone will identify this one one day. 

[pnegyesi]

I asked a friend, who's the head of a Hispano-Suiza Club:
« I would say that the mystery '29 Motor Show car is a Straight-Eight Hillman, a rare car even when new, definitely not a Hisso. »

[grobmotorix]

Oh - well, let´s hope we will solve this...

I change the title.

[pnegyesi]

There is a nice site on the Hillman straight 8. They would like to publish the photos, asking for info. Do you have any problems with that?

[grobmotorix]

No, surely not. Feel free to tell them.

[oko94]

I asked a friend, who's the head of a Hispano-Suiza Club:
« I would say that the mystery '29 Motor Show car is a Straight-Eight Hillman, a rare car even when new, definitely not a Hisso. »

Makes more sense, as it looked very small for a Hispano-Suiza.

[William Hearne.]

I feel a right wally as I owned a Straight 8 Hillman myself for a spell and I must say that when I first saw the radiator badge it did look familiar. I think that mine may have been a Vortic model. These were just one of many British cars built at that time to get around the newly introduced horsepower tax. It certainly was no 'stump puller' but for a mere 50 quid who was I to complain !

[William Hearne.]

There is a nice site on the Hillman straight 8. They would like to publish the photos, asking for info. Do you have any problems with that?

One thing that we can be certain on is that this is coach built body. The body styles offered by the Hillman company were: Tourer 2dr 2+2, Saloon 4dr. Sports Saloon also, Drophead Coupe 2dr.
As a matter of interest the specs of the Hillman Straight 8 Vortic engine were:  Bore and stroke 63 x 105 mm developing 52.5 bhp and rated [for road tax] at 19.7 h.p. so, quite a bit smaller than any Hispano Suiza built either in France or Spain.

[Oguerrerob]

I've found a site where shows the front picture tagged as Sir Henry Seagrave 1929 Hillman Straight 8 Seagrave Coupe. Mullin Bodywork

[grobmotorix]

LOCKED for you.

Could you send me the link via PM?

[gte4289]

I believe this is the image to which Oguerrerob is referring (link provided by pm). While the front image in your reply #21 appears on the same website, I am not convinced these two are the same car.

[Oguerrerob]

LOCKED for you.

Could you send me the link via PM?

PM sent

[grobmotorix]

Me too...

[nicanary]

Has anyone remarked on the front seats, which clearly fold down to make a double bed ?

PS The "Mullin" referred to for the Segrave car could be Mulliners of Birmingham, who built a lot of bodies for car makers in that area, including Hillman.

[nicanary]

Just a follow-up note to add to this puzzle. I've just found out that Alexander Keiller who was heir to the Keiller marmalade fortune, wasted much of his inheritance on failed business ventures, one of which was a system of car seats which folded down to form sleeping arrangements.

Obviously this may not be his work, but it would be the correct period, as he was active in inventing useless things between 1920 and 1940. Grasping at straws, the tartan seats in the photo would reflect his Scottish background. Although this Hillman was not on the list of cars being exhibited, does anyone have a list of the coachbuilders and accessory stands?

[Oguerrerob]

Sorry but I can not add anything to this puzzle, so after all this time, it must be unlocked

[grobmotorix]

Unlocked.

And I love the detective work of nicanary - only I need a proof...

[gte4289]

I have no proof (yet), but I suspect the body may be the work of Grose Ltd, Northmapton.

[gte4289]

I have no proof (yet), but I suspect the body may be the work of Grose Ltd, Northmapton.

For comparison:

[grobmotorix]

Thank you for your research and those wonderful photos.

However there is no presumptive evidence here at autopuzzle.com.

It is a strong hint, but not enough for a point I am sorry...

[gte4289]

Further confirmation that: 1) the car is a Hillman and 2) the photo was taken at the London Olympia Exhibition in 1929:

[gte4289]

An image showing what appears to be a nearly-identical car in an article covering the London Olympia show in 1930, but it seems more likely just an artist's reworking of the 1929 photograph above

[grobmotorix]

  Thank you!