Mystery in Perth Western Australia

Dear Car Detectives,

It is time to solve a new Monday mystery. First of all, the case: Alex Selley has been handed this photo to try and identify this car. He is not able to identify the car himself, that is why he called in our help.

What are the facts we already know? ''The photo was taken about 1915 and the driver is a Mr. L. Gillespie who lived in Claremont, Western Australia. The car was registered just as a "Car" no name, with license plate C3. The "Car" was registered to him up till 1918 when it disappeared from our records. In 1916 Mr. Gillespie had become a Doctor. We also know that from 1920 his address was in the city of Perth and he was running Hudson motor cars.'' Alex already did some research himself and told us that he thinks that the name "Leslie" under the mystery car is incorrect (hence the request for identification). ''I have searched, but only came up with an American car called "Leslie" but that is about 1916, which the car in the photo I do not think is an American vehicle. So, I think the cation is wrong in the photo.'' We don't know, is he right? Now, all grab your magnifying glass and your notebook. Does anyone see any logical connections between Mr. L. Gillespie and the "Car" on the photograph? We don't think there is anyone guilty in this case, but there is something missing in this story...

Please leave your comment below if you can help us with the missing information about the "Car", Mr. L. Gillespie or the photograph itself. Your help would be very much appreciated.

Words by the editor. Photograph by Alex Selley.

Published:

Monday January 29th, 2018

Nigel Steele Scott

02 February 2018, 03:33

This car is a late 1904 but much more probably a 1905 small horsepower Speedwell. The Speedwell motor company of Knightsbridge London bought motorcars from Lacoste and Battmann and badged them under their name Speedwell.

In late 1904 they announced their 1905 models which were characterised by the elegantly shaped radiator which necessitated Lacoste and Batmann making a curved front member for the chassis to accommodate the radiator and the new bonnet which was triple hinged at the sides and in the middle, instead of large single piece on my 1904 Speedwell

The 1904 cars were largely built on flitch plate chassis as is the subject car, but the 1905 cars had both flitch plate and tubular chassis. I have sent you separately a photograph of the VCC dated 1904 Speedwell owned at the time by George Strathdee of Aberdeen. This car was delivered in Aberdeen in December 1904 and registered as as a taxi in Dundee on New Year's Day 2005. When I visited George in the 90s he had a large collection of cars including the Speedwell, but had shifted his allegiance to vintage aeroplanes.

My 1904 Speedwell was delivered new in Adelaide South Australia in late 1904 or early 1905. The serial numbers of the gearbox differential and chassis together with the bonnet of George's car were all later than my car and helped in its dating by the VCC.

I have also sent a photo of my car completing the 2008 London to Brighton car run

Mick Turner

31 January 2018, 11:52

I'm thinking 1905 Speedwell.
Thanks
Mick

John Riley

29 January 2018, 10:47

Is the rug over the driver's legs in the Gillespie tartan?

Reg Harris

29 January 2018, 10:36

Sorry,can'thelp with he name of the car. However maybe the name "Leslie" refers to Mr "L" Gillespie's first name and not connected with the car's name

Richard McDonough

29 January 2018, 10:03

Looks like a Speedwell c'1904.

Ian Murray

29 January 2018, 09:57

It's a Speedwell (not to be confused with the American Speedwell Motor Car Company)
The company began in 1900 in Reading, and was renamed the "Speedwell Motor Company Limited" and relocated to London around 1906. Production ceased in 1908. This might be a 10/12 HP with twin-cylinder engine?

Rick McDonough

29 January 2018, 09:49

I'll take a punt and say it's a Speedwell c'1904

Ariejan Bos

29 January 2018, 09:36

That car is a Speedwell. It is the new model for 1905, which according to The Autocar had been “greatly improved in appearance”. It was based on a Lacoste & Battmann chassis, which is clearly visible from a number of details. Several Speedwells of this specific model with the sharply ridged bonnet still are in existence.

Mystery in Perth Western Australia

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