Abandoned cars and early caravans: two fascinating new books

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Discovering Lost Automobiles and Their Stories

As the former Curator of Beaulieu's National Motor Museum, author of dozens of restoration articles for The Automobile, and compiler of the Lost & Found pages in Classic & Sports Car for over 20 years, Michael Ware has seen some very interesting sights. This new book largely consists of stories which have previously appeared in Classic & Sports Car but, thus assembled, it makes for a handy compendium of his best finds and provides enjoyable light reading.

The first two chapters, 'Strange Locations' and 'Acquisitive Collectors', are the most interesting from a circumstantial perspective. The opening picture of an MG J2 unearthed during an archaeological dig whets the reader's curiosity, and leads into such strange tales as the Rolls-Royce 20hp on the rooftop of an Indian tower block, and another 20hp Rolls-Royce and a 1912 Renault concealed within a Georgian mansion.

While some chapters deal with with sports cars, specials, Austin and Morris, and Rolls-Royce, others follow a loosely chronological progression, and there's a lot to interest the pre-war enthusiast, starting with the experimental Maillard of 1895 and a 1901 Bertrand and culminating with a Delage D8 bodied by Chapron for Louis Breguet and a Touring-bodied Fiat 2800 ordered by Mussolini as a gift for General Franco.

The One-Offs and Specials chapters holds lots of interest. Beginning with a Packard bodied by Chapron in imitation of a yacht, for the use of fashion designer Louis Reard as a promotional vehicle for his newly-invented bikini suit, it leads us to the 1920s Marateuch, the effort of a Frenchman who wanted to build a flying car but ultimately had to settle for an ordinary car with the appearance of a fairground aeroplane, and then to the Graham-Paige inexplicably modified by Paramount Pictures to resemble a train... There are, of course, plenty of the more usual specials built around pre-war Austins, Morrises and Fords.

In order to fit so much into the book, each entry is necessarily brief, but it will make enjoyable and diverting reading for the many enthusiasts who enjoy learning about unusual cars and their remarkable stories.

Discovering Lost Automobiles and Their Stories
Author: Michael Ware
Publisher: Pen & Sword. 01226 734222 or www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
Price: £28.00. Hardback. 216 pages with 400 pictures
ISBN: 978-1399019002

Recreational Vehicles: A World History 1872-1939

The culture of caravanning and motor-caravanning is significant enough that its history needs to be understood, but even the most authoratitive pre-war car experts know little about it. Andrew Woodmansey's account of its origins and pre-war development shines a light on this overlooked topic and introduces a wealth of fascinating material.

The British conceived the recreational vehicle, but it was the French who motorised it, an unsurprising fact considering the British government's view of motor-cars. The earliest mention of a recreational caravan was in a British newspaper of 1872, and by 1885 Dr. William Stables was travelling the country in The Wanderer, a much larger and more substantial caravan than anything in use previously, and promoting caravanning not as a vagabond's way of life but as a respectable pastime, appealing to the Victorian sense of Romanticism and giving rise to the 'gentleman gypsy'.

In 1895, Émile Levassor instigated towing a caravan behind a car, but it's not known whether he actually did it. However, the following year, Prince Oldenburg of Russia, domiciled in Paris, took delivery of a carriage pulled by a De Dion-Bouton steam tractor, which led to several similar vehicles being built in France up to 1902, when internal combustion took over and Anglo-German Dr. Lehwess unsuccessfully attempted a round-the-world drive, sleeping in his specially-prepared Panhard et Levassor.

It took until 1905 for Britain to catch up, when a caravan was built on a Belsize commercial chassis. A Ryknield chassis was used for a 1906 caravan which resembled a bus. In 1909, prominent automobilist Harvey du Cros commissioned a magnificent but ungainly 40hp caravan from Austin, which was exhibited at that year's Motor Show.

The story continues on a country-by-country basis also taking in Germany, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Not surprisingly, America's chapter is very large and, besides Airstreams, contains some of the most literal interpretations of 'mobile home' and some of the most ludicrous.

Weird and wonderful creations abound. Some highlights are the four Carling Homes built by Charles Louvet of Nice between 1921 and 1934, stylish Modernist designs totally severed from the caravan's horse-drawn origins. The last Carling Home was a telescopic leviathan which could reach up to 18m in length, contrasting somewhat with the glorified wendy-house designed by Charles Mochet for use with his pedal-powered Vélocars...

Woodmansey has done full justice to his subject and anyone whose interest extends beyond cars to encompass a broader social and cultural history of road travel should be grateful for his efforts. All else aside, it contains some far better holiday ideas than you'll find in a Thomas Cook brochure.

Recreational Vehicles: A World History 1872-1939
Author: Andrew Woodmansey
Publisher: Pen & Sword. 01226 734222 or www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
Price: £30.00. Hardback. 208 pages with over 250 black-and-white pictures
ISBN: 978-1526792457

Words: Zack Stiling

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.