The Magazine

Mother’s little helper

Again no pretty woman this Friday on PreWarCar. Today is International Women's Day, that's why we want to show you this little device. On its own it did quite a lot to help the emancipation of women. This lumpy thing is an electric starter that could be fitted on the crank which most (if not all) women found impossible to handle. In its own way this device helped women to get more freedom. The 'Ever-Ready' self-starter was only around for a couple of years. In 1912 Cadillac introduced the electric starter motor as standard fitment. By 1920 almost all automobiles were equipped with one.
Want to know more on this theme? Then try to visit the AACA Museum in Hershey. They have a wonderful exposition celebrating 'Women's History Month'.
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Friday, 08 March 2013

British saloon oozing with patina.

As discussed before, some saloons run the risk of losing their bodies in favor of creating an open-top car. Certainly not this one offered by Coys on March 12. This two-tone 1938 MG SA Saloon is not restored, but very well maintained over the years. Notwithstanding some minor improvements to make it suitable for long distance cruising, it oozes patina. Driving long distances is just what you should do with this MG. It is even allowed to participate in the Mille Miglia. But then don't do like rally ace Tommy Wisdom who in 1937, together with his wife Elsie, took an SA to Italy. They got as far as Florence, where the SA skidded and crashed on a wet road. Still the MG Car Company got some good publicity out of the accident.
The low estimate for this two tone beauty is £35,000  ($53.000 , €40.000). We envy the new owner.
 

Thursday, 07 March 2013

World's cycliest cyclecar : The Grafton

We have shown it earlier on these pages, but we can't get enough of Tim Gunn's faithful interpretation of a sporting cyclecar based on the 1913 book "How to build a cyclecar" and an article from the cyclecar magazine from 1913 telling the story of an employee of the GN works who built a 1/2 size GN using bicycle and motorcycle components. 1919 300cc JAP sidevalve motorcycle engine with racing cams - 3 speed Sturmey Archer motorcycle lightweight gearbox and ash wooden chassis frame.  The result is the bare essence of the cyclecar: not too much more weight than a light motorcycle with two extra wheels. Lightyears below the French standard which allowed for a maximum of 350 kilograms. photos courtesy The Old Bicycle Showroom

Wednesday, 06 March 2013

Are you ready to say MM-mmm !

When your heart is with vintage sports cars, you may also have this predictable dream. To participate in the mother of all vintage rallies: Mille Miglia ! And preferably with a true sports car like the one depicted. Now to get a car ready and arrange for an MM entree is only a few words on paper but in reality it isn't that simple. Alternatively here you've got a one stop shopping package.. You're looking at the very last 6C 1500 built in 1928 which came to London where Barker created this fine roadster with luggage room/dickey in 1931. In 1949 you could have bought GF2507 at a mere GBP 295 from Lord David Strathcarron in London after he had upgraded the car with the much more powerful 6C1750 engine. The new happy owner kept the car for no less than 41 years before he sold it to the current Swiss owner in 1995. After an extensive overhaul of mechanicals and electricity he campaigned the car until 2009. The Berg Trophy of Lausanne, the 1996 & 2002 Klausenrennen Memorial, Grand Prix Lausanne, Berg Trophy Davos - Flüelapass and many more. After this he decided to commission a profound restoration of the alloy BARKER body. Like the chassis the body was repainted in the dark Alfa rosso as found behind the Autovac tank. As you can imagine the price asked for a car like this is a bit steeper than in '49. But with the car comes a mouthwatering bonus: a guaranteed entree to the Mille Miglia 2013.  So if 16-17-18-19 May still are open in your calendar and you are on pleasant speaking terms with your bank, you may want to consider this opportunity...

Tuesday, 05 March 2013