Racing Horstman No. 93 – a family treasure with a mysterious past

While we’ve cherished the Horstman for decades, its early life remains a mystery. Little is known about its adventures before the 1960s, and like many vintage machines, its story is stitched together by fragments—photographs, hearsay, and the occasional clue.

One such clue is the well-known black and white image of No. 93, reputed to have been taken at Silverstone in April 1954. For years, this photo has circulated quietly, a visual time capsule featuring the Horstman in a moment of post-war motorsport revival.

But recently, another piece of the puzzle surfaced: a newly discovered grid photo, featuring No. 93 among other vintage racers at what appears to be the same event. This image came to light through an advertisement by Longstone Tyres, appearing on the back of the VSCC quarterly magazine. While Longstone could not confirm the event or location, the visual cues suggest a strong connection to the earlier Silverstone attribution.

Could this pair of photos indeed have been taken on the same day? And was that day Silverstone, April 1954?

We are now reaching out to the PreWarCar.com community. Does anyone recognize the circuit layout, the fencing, the “Daily Express” signage, or perhaps any of the other cars in the frame? Could these details help us confirm the setting and piece together more of the Horstman’s story?

Words and photos by Richard Warner