Lot details Registration No: OZ 3539 Chassis No: 181451 Mot Expiry: June 2006
Founded in 1946 by Ken Delingpole and Ron Lowe, the company that bore a partial amalgam of their surnames began life as a competition car preparation specialist with a sideline as agents to both Wade-Ventor superchargers and the HRG marque. Operating from premises in Alvechurch, near Birmingham, the duo took their first tentative steps as manufacturers in 1947 when they began building replicas of Ron Lowe's famous Austin 7-based trials special, 'The Flipper'. Announced in January 1950, the Dellow MKI marked a switch to series production. Built from reclaimed ex-WD UP3 Chromium Molybdenum rocket casings, the new model's A-frame chassis retained Austin 7-esque transverse-leaf front and quarter-elliptic rear suspension. Equipped with Ford E93A running gear (1172cc engine, three-speed gearbox, axles etc), it was clothed in a neat aluminium body by Radpanels of Kidderminster. A mud plugger par excellence, the MKI was nevertheless capable of everyday use. Distinguished by its external two-way handbrake (forward for the front wheels, back for the rears), high bonnet profile and bulbous rear wings, it remained in production until May 1951 by which time ninety-four cars are thought to have been made.
Finished in dark blue with red leather upholstery and blue carpets, this particular example is described by the vendor as being in good (engine, transmission, interior trim, wheels / tyres) to excellent (chassis, paintwork, bodywork) condition. Despite an apparent discrepancy between its bulkhead-mounted build plate which apparently identifies the Dellow "as a 1951 car" and an accompanying registration document that seemingly implies it was not licensed for road use in Belfast until 1956, 'OZ 3539' is reputed to be "very original with all E93 components except engine which is 100E". Reportedly, the "subject of a rebuild" and "un-Dellow-like" re-trim, it sports a non-standard radiator cowl. Said to be "known in Dellow circles as a campaigned car", its four-cylinder powerplant wears a combined Aquaplane inlet / exhaust manifold and a four-into-one side exit exhaust system. Currently afflicted by a non-functioning ammeter (though its dynamo is stated to be charging), this purposeful trials car is offered for sale with various oddments (including an "E93 Dellow gearbox"), MOT certificate current until June 6th 2006 and historic class (free) road tax until 30th June 2006.
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