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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2023 => Topic started by: barrett on November 19, 2017, 09:27:11 AM

Title: Barrett's #397 Vauxhall or Bedford special of D G Groves
Post by: barrett on November 19, 2017, 09:27:11 AM
What's this car called, who built it and what powered it?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on December 14, 2017, 07:00:50 AM
Up
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: D-type on December 18, 2017, 05:54:39 PM
Lister-Maserati from 1956?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on December 19, 2017, 04:59:49 AM
Not that
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: Willie McCrum on December 21, 2017, 03:22:26 AM
MG based ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on December 21, 2017, 05:19:25 AM
No
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: Allan L on December 21, 2017, 06:54:04 AM
I remember Len Terry's early Ford 10 powered Terrier cars had a similar apperance but with cycle wings at the front.
Perhaps it's one of those.
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on December 21, 2017, 09:03:07 AM
It's not built by anyone well-known, and it is based on fairly unusual underpinnings
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 03, 2018, 06:11:21 AM
Pros?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 03, 2018, 09:44:43 AM
British underpinnings ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 03, 2018, 11:44:43 AM
Indeed
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 03, 2018, 12:10:30 PM
Underpinnings from a BMC car ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 03, 2018, 12:28:04 PM
No
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 03, 2018, 12:32:25 PM
Underpinnings from a Rootes car ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 03, 2018, 01:04:42 PM
No
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 03, 2018, 04:10:21 PM
Underpinnings from a Standard-Triumph group car ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 03, 2018, 04:25:35 PM
Not that
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 03, 2018, 04:50:32 PM
Are underpinnings actually from a car ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 04, 2018, 07:53:48 AM
Good question - I believe they are not!
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 04, 2018, 08:12:10 AM
Are underpinnings from a commercial vehicle ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 04, 2018, 08:43:15 AM
Yes!
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: pnegyesi on January 04, 2018, 08:45:40 AM
from a Bedford van?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: oko94 on January 04, 2018, 10:31:37 AM
Underpinnings from a Commer van ?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 04, 2018, 11:17:41 AM
From a Bedford, yes!

Pal, I'll give you a 24 hour lock from now but I don't think it will be easy to find, After that it's open to all again
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: pnegyesi on January 04, 2018, 11:55:37 AM
Is there any info available online or should I try my collection of Thoroughbred and Classic Cars magazine :)?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 04, 2018, 12:15:41 PM
I don't think there is anything online. That's the wrong magazine to look in, too...  ;)
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: pnegyesi on January 04, 2018, 12:53:52 PM
CLassic & Sportscar?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 04, 2018, 02:21:34 PM
No not there either I'm afraid
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: pnegyesi on January 04, 2018, 03:34:16 PM
then you can unlock easily :)
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on January 04, 2018, 04:37:37 PM
I'm working on the idea that's it's a Bedford PC engine, or an early CA. Basically a Vauxhall unit, and they were quite popular in Australia.

Was this car built in Australia from British parts?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on January 08, 2018, 07:49:37 AM
You're right, it's a Bedford engine (I don't know which model) but it was built in the UK
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on April 10, 2019, 05:56:52 AM
I've just come across something that may be a lead.

Is this the Pick Special?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on April 18, 2019, 04:12:05 AM
 :bump:
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on April 18, 2019, 05:46:13 AM
I'd forgotten this one.. I'll have to check my files, but I don't think so!
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on April 18, 2019, 06:31:26 AM
I'd forgotten this one.. I'll have to check my files, but I don't think so!

I have to admit the car looks a bit later in date, but in the 1954 Brighton Speed Trials there was an entry from a Mr. Pick of his eponymous car, said to be powered by a 3.5-litre Bedford truck engine. I can find nothing else about this car on the net.
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on April 30, 2019, 05:08:39 AM
I'd forgotten this one.. I'll have to check my files, but I don't think so!

Did you manage to find your source, or is this a definite "no" ? I desperately need a point - the kids haven't eaten for days.............
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on June 03, 2019, 12:31:09 PM
I'll try again - is this a later incarnation of the Harbedvis, built by R F Harwood using an Alvis chassis and a Centric-blown Bedford engine?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: Carnut on August 06, 2019, 02:47:18 PM
** Bump **
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: D-type on May 03, 2020, 01:45:19 PM
BUMP   :bump: :bump:
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: knewit on September 15, 2021, 05:01:29 AM
Lister "flat iron" with a Bristol engine
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: nicanary on September 25, 2021, 05:43:59 AM
Lister "flat iron" with a Bristol engine

The OP has only been an occasional visitor to AP for the past 12 months. We all hope he is well.

It may be some time before any questions are answered, but meanwhile I will point out that we have already established that this car is powered by a Bedford commercial vehicle engine.
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: gte4289 on September 07, 2023, 01:10:31 AM
Entered as the 3,298 cc Vauxhall of DG Groves at Silverstone on 6 June 1959 with registration DG 1966.

By the way, Groves raced a very different looking "Vauxhall Special" in 1953 and 1954, also with registration DG 1966 (#79 below). That car used to be the Cadillac-powered Cripps Special (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/solved-mjw-826-cripps-cadillac-v8-special-1950). Based on the registration, can we assume the puzzle car was built on the earlier Vauxhall Special (which was built on the Cripps Special)?
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: barrett on September 07, 2023, 05:46:32 AM
Entered as the 3,298 cc Vauxhall of DG Groves at Silverstone on 6 June 1959 with registration DG 1966.

By the way, Groves raced a very different looking "Vauxhall Special" in 1953 and 1954, also with registration DG 1966 (#79 below). That car used to be the Cadillac-powered Cripps Special (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/solved-mjw-826-cripps-cadillac-v8-special-1950). Based on the registration, can we assume the puzzle car was built on the earlier Vauxhall Special (which was built on the Cripps Special)?

Great find. I have misplaced my original source and the computer on which I had all thse puzzles is long dead, but you've definitely found the car. I remember my source saying it was Bedford-engined, not Vauxhall-engined but who knows. It also seems the car had a name, as per my original question, but I have no idea what this was - so we'll call it solved for now!
Title: Re: Barrett's #397 Vauxhall or Bedford special of D G Groves
Post by: gte4289 on September 07, 2023, 10:50:06 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: Barrett's #397
Post by: gte4289 on September 07, 2023, 05:36:00 PM
I remember my source saying it was Bedford-engined, not Vauxhall-engined but who knows.
Bedfords were built by Vauxhall, so Bedford engines were technically Vauxhall engines. 3,298 cc sounds terribly large for a Vauxhall-branded car of the period, so it was probably sourced from a Bedford truck and Groves just entered it as a 'Vauxhall' special for some reason or another. (Regulations? Made more sense for a race car?)

It also seems the car had a name, as per my original question, but I have no idea what this was...
I agree that it must've had a nickname. Script reading "[___?___] Special" is visible in the puzzle image, as well as in one of the images I posted. The first word is too blurry to make out, but it's clearly not 'Vauxhall' or 'Bedford.' 'Wicked Special' maybe?