Southern Counties Historic Vehicles Preservation Trust

Southern Counties Historic Vehicles Preservation Trust

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Hi, my names Dave. For a while now I have been looking for a vintage car and have been publishing my search online. www.vintagevehicle.co.uk I am looking for abandoned restoration projects, rolling chassis, basket cases and the like. My search has been to no avail so far but I havn't given up. I was hoping you might know of any such cars lurking in barns or with other club members. Thank you very much. David Treadwell Tele: 01264 860380 or vintagevehicle@hotmail.co.uk
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I've recently started a group to acquire a historic Southdown coach for preservation. It's 11 x 2.5m single-deck, and has MoT and tax, so we're looking for secure covered accommodation, preferably with easy access, power/water and a bit of storage room for spares etc. Our members are based in Croydon, Reigate and Reading, so South London, East Surrey and the M23 or southern M25 arc would be ideal. Grateful for any other intelligence about possible sites - feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be able to help. Regards John Roberts.
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Hello. I am searching the Internet for information on a car with the name of "The Wombat" from about the year 1932. Have you any thoghts regarding it? It was very streamlined for it's time. Thank you for your attention to my question,for more information contact, dbj15@dc.rr.com
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I am trying to locate a car my grandfather built from scratch in 1947/49, for sporting trials and some circuit racing in southern england until the mid 1950's . The registration was RPA 539, and was named the M&H special (after Murcutt and Harris), and was registered we believe the following year with the DVLA, although they have been unable to find any record of it so far. My grandfathers name was Charles Henry Harris, although he was known as Harry, or CH to close friends.
The engine was retrieved from a sunken boat in Chichester harbour, which took 2-3 visits including being hauled up from the boat below using a winch. and then a full rebuild was done, to obviously include drying out and removing any rust etc from the engine. The chassis was from a pre war Austin 7 straight from a scrap yard, and was also modified to suit the car and style of driving. The car was made for car trials in Kent Surrey and Sussex, in events that were known as ?mud plugging?, which you can see from a couple of the pictures where the mud must have been close to a metre deep, unlike some of the trials today. The car was at times known to be used in local circuit racing aswell.
The M&h special, with its 1172 cc sidevalve Ford engine on an aquaplane head, twin SU's were mated to a Wolsey 4 speed gearbox. My grandfather competed with the likes of Bernard Dees of Croydon, and Percy Barden to name a couple of people of that time. Percy Barden was a well known Builder who owned a large estate in Maidstone, which was also used for car trials before it was developed it into the massive housing estate.
Another name that comes to mind is Rex Chapple, who was an undertaker, Rex drove with his glamorous wife as passenger. Rex from Bromley in Kent, was like many others drivers from that period, from Kent Surrey and Sussex who gave up their Sunday for pleasure after such a hard War. After the War my grandfather won a Engineering scholarship to study at Walthamstow College, and then as a young man later served his apprenticeship at AMC in Plumstead, and like many after the war started his own car business (in Redhill). He was soon working for Rob Walker of Pipbrook Garage Dorking repairing the race cars that had been damaged either the week before or during practice, including Rob Walker's stable of race cars. In later years he worked with Alf Francis who was head mechanic at Pipbrrok garage, a tempermental eastern eurpean perfectionist. This brings me onto the M & H special, which was a very well designed car for all intents and purposes. All of the chalk technical drawings were on the workshop doors and looked as if they had come straight out of a Ford factory. At an airfield sprint event, my grandfather and uncle started talking with a guy who had a car which looked very similar, he and my grandfather chatted, he turned out to be Colin Chapman of Lotus. Charles Henry Harris, or Harry, was born in 1908, and lived in London until his family was bombed out in 39, then moving to Redhill in Surrey, and lived to the ripe old age of 86. He was also and was a member of the 750 motor Club. It would mean a great deal to me and my family if we could find this car, or any news about it. anything would be very gratefully received. Yours faithfully, Nick de Meyer. E-mail: dynamicmotion1@hotmail.com
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Hello All, I'm looking to assist someone in rebuilding/restoring or maintaining a classic vehicle. I'm not to fussed what! I've always wanted to do a restoration myself but due to my living arangements I am unable to. I'm 36 with some mechanical experience. I have owned a few series II Landies and enjoyed tinkering. I live in Leigh nr Tonbridge and Ideally I'd like to help someone within a 15 mile radius. If you or someone in this club knows of a project that I could assist with, please drop me a line.
As I work full time, weekends are best for me but some evenings may be possible.
Thanks in advance. Paul, contactable via paulcritcher@tiscali.co.uk
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My name is Jonathan Chapple and I'm a writer from Bath, England. I'm currently in the process of going over the first draft of a novel I've written that's set in the 1930s. It's sort of an old school Boy's Own adventure novel re-modelled for younger readers.
Cars feature somewhat predominantly but sadly, I'm a complete novice when it comes to classic cars of any variety - from makes and models to the actual practical side of how they differ technically from modern automobiles. Research is obviously a major part of writing any historical fiction but endless internet searches aren't turning up anything substantially helpful. I'm not really sure if your website goes into this sort of thing but I was hoping that you could help point me in the right direction of any non-fiction titles I could purchase (or websites or e-mail addresses of appropriate people or even any assistance you yourself could provide) that might help me get to grips with the practical nitty-gritty of driving a car in 1935, right down to the detail of what to do when and in what order. I really don't know anything - from how a driver started the engine to whether the car doors had locks. This may all seem like fairly obvious, fundmental information but without an easy, reliable source for this information at hand and no prior knowledge of the subject I'm at a complete loss. Thanking you in advance,
Jonathan Chapple
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Have you any info on how to decode bedford cf chassis nos . I need to find out when they where built and where regards Gethin Hamer contact E-Mail gethinhamer@aol.com
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I'm looking for a set of wire wheels for a Model T Ford speedster, would be gratefull for any leads. Thanks Charles. E-mail: charlesharwoodmatthews@btinternet.com
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NTET TRACTION ENGINE REGISTER BOOK
Mr Brian Hames, 2c Hever Avenue, Horley, Surrey, RH6 8DB, Tel: 01293 822014 or Mr Derek Bishop, C/O SCHVPT, THE TRUST CENTRE, EAST HILL LANE, EFFINGHAM ROAD, SURREY, RH10 3HZ, TELE: 01342 714864
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RALLY PLANNING - For anyone who helps to plan and/or organise rallies, the following Website is a must..... www.planning.dtlr.gov.uk/consult/ucotup/08.htm. This site has all you need to know about the new rules and regulations concerning the use of farm land for rallies, car boot sales and other activities - 'they' are trying the back door approach to stop us again!
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MECHANICAL SERVICES, Motor mechanic with 30 years experience in motor trade, mainly BL and Ford willing to work on 1950's, 60's, 70's classic cars at reasonable rates, please telephone 01273 708139
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MACHINING SERVICE FOR SMALL PARTS, VALVE GRINDING, Telephone, 01273 833286
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TRIMMING - VINTAGE & MODERN SPECIALIST, materials new and old, anything under taken - hoods, seats, carpets and repairs, Tel: 077699 41280 (ASHINGTON)
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Turners Trade Paints Ltd, Unit 4 Martindale Industrial Estate, Hawkesgreen, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 7XN, Although a relatively new firm our staff has been supplying the paint industry for over 20 years, specialising in car touch-up spray and brush coated enamel paints at very competitive prices. We realise the difficulty experienced by motorists/enthusiasts when trying to obtain spray paint for vehicles over a certain age. Our staff can supply any colour or shade of paint to meet any requirements. Should you require any further information please contact us at: 01543 577168 or fax 01543 506152, Regards, Bill, Pete & Russell, (Turners Trade Paints)
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VEHICLE VALUATIONS - DISTANCE NO OBJECT, Veteran, vintage or classic, contact Brian Page MIMI, Classic Assessments, Briary Croft, Mill Road, Battisford, Suffolk, IP24 2LT, Tel: 01449 672854, Fax: 01449 762859 or www.classicassessments.com
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BEST ELECTROPLATING - MARK EATON, UNIT 1, COLUMBIA WORKS, FLEMING WAY, WEST SUSSEX, RH10 9JU, Tel: 01293 532843 or www.bestelectoplating.co.uk
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MOTORCYCLE CARRIERS & TRANSPORTATION DOOR TO DOOR, Traders Delivery Service For Antiques, Parcels, Motorcycles, Stationery Engines, Automatic Lift Into Van, Transportation To & From All Parts Of The UK, Contact Richard Curtis, Tel: 0208 398 3681 for a quotation
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GENERAL MACHINING, To Make Parts For Older Cars & Motorcycles, Reasonable Rates, 45 Years Experience, Tony, Tel: 01444 242437 (Burgess Hill)
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MECHANICAL SERVICES & REPAIRS, For All Types OF Classic Cars Including Rolls & Bentley, Please State HH Member When Contacting Them, Also HAve A Colletion & Delivery Service Available, Motorline, The Workshop, Heighton Street, Firle, Nr Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6NZ, Tel: 01273 858999 or www.Motorlinw.uk.com
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CAR HANDBOOK SPECIALIST (EUROPEAN), Large Comprehensive Stock Of Manufactures Original Handbooks, Also Workshop Manuals & Parts Books For Cars From 1930's Onwards, All In English, For More Details Contact, Tony Spencer, 49 Oakdene Drive, Tadworth, Surrey, KT5 9NH, Tel: 0208 337 7452 or spencer@handbooks.demon.co.uk
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RALLY PLANNING - For anyone who helps to plan and/or organise rallies, the following Website is a must..... www.planning.dtlr.gov.uk/consult/ucotup/08.htm. This site has all you need to know about the new rules and regulations concerning the use of farm land for rallies, car boot sales and other activities - 'they' are trying the back door approach to stop us again!
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