1921 Vauxhall 30/98 E-Type Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: XK 1413
Chassis No: E418
Mot Expiry: None

Named after the area of London where the marque had first set-up workshop, Vauxhall have made vehicles from 1903 and first moved their production facilities to Luton in 1905. On that year, the celebrated Lawrence Pomeroy joined the firm and was to become a highly successful Chief Engineer before leaving for the US in 1919 and, later, joining Daimler. Clarence E King, who had worked for Adams and Lorraine-Dietrich, replaced him at Vauxhall. Indeed, so successful were the Bedfordshire manufacturers that, by 1920, they employed some 1400 people who built 780 motor cars.
This sidevalve 30/98 - entered by the Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb Trust with all proceeds from its sale to benefit the Shelsey Trust - first left Vauxhall's Luton works 19 December 1921. Fitted with standard Velox sporting tourer body, it was then first registered in London in late March 1922, although the identity of the first owner is not known to the 30/98 Registrar.
On record is the February 1929 acquisition by the May Brothers garage in South London who, shortly afterwards, sold it on to J Hutchinson of Bournemouth for £70. Details of the rest of the car's owners up to the Second World War are not known. By 1946, however, the at the time known to have been mechanically complete rolling chassis was among a number of other 30/98s owned by marque enthusiast Tim Carson at Hartley Wintney.
By 1952 - by which time it had been rebuilt with shortened chassis, fitted with Riley Redwing bodywork and re-registered - chassis number E418 was in the ownership of J W Pannell, who used it in VSCC events, the car later passing to John Rowley who also used it in competitions. John Milner bought it in September 1964 and, during his ownership, the car became a familiar sight at VSCC meetings, Milner keeping it for a number of years before purchase by the last owner.
In recent years, it has been the subject of a complete rebuild to original specification with well replicated and dimensionally correct Velox sports-tourer bodywork crafted by E J Peppercorn. Although originally leaving the factory without any front brakes, the acceptable upgrade for this model of having a suitable axle with front brakes, albeit not of Vauxhall manufacture, has been carried out.
The car is now reportedly in excellent roadworthy condition with, and unusually for a vehicle of this vintage, the major mechanical components all originating from the same motor car which has much continuous history recorded with only a few gaps. Current condition of chassis, open tan painted bodywork with wings finished in brown and brown leather interior are described as being good, the wheels and tyres also good, and the electrical equipment working, while both 4 1/2 litre four-cylinder motor and four-speed manual gearbox are reportedly also in good order.
Included with the vehicle are a great many spares. Among new items are a set of tyres and beaded edge wheels, which will need respoking for the 30/98 before use; an inlet manifold casting; some new leather off-cuts following a recent retrim; some matching-colours body paint and a 30/98 umbrella; eight boxes of assorted spare parts and hand tools with such used components included as a 3.1 crown wheel and pinion; spare leaves for the road springs; sundry engine spares such as valve blanks, front shock absorbers, two tie bars, a wheel hub and various special-purpose hand tools and gaskets and screws and nuts. The vehicle also has a ringbinder containing workshop notes, bills for work done, and photographs. There is also a ringbinder of technical information on the 30/98 together with a Vauxhall Centenary poster, two videos and a sweat shirt.
Please note that the Shelsey Walsh Archivist opened the process of retrieving the original registration number for this sensational vehicle and, although at the time of going to press we had not received the V5 registration document, the Trust has been notified by the DVLA that the original XK 1413 registration will be reinstated and it is currently tested and taxed for the road until July next year.
It is important to note that to make this vehicle even more 'extra special', H&H Classic Auctions have arranged with the Trust that the successful purchaser, provided that it is purchased at the auction, will receive in addition to the car and its spares: five years free membership of the Midland Automobile Club; one free entry for this car only to a Shelsey Walsh event on a date to be agreed with the Club Secretary and the buyer will also be granted certificated custody of one square yard of tarmac, number 1413 and normally costing £125, on a free of charge basis.
H&H Classic Auctions are extremely pleased to be selected by the Midland Automobile Club and the Shelsley Walsh Trust as their chosen auctioneers and H&H Classic Auctions are charging no fees whatsoever on the sale of this vehicle - no sellers commission or buyer's premium - whatsoever.
PLease note: The number of the yard given by Shelsley was chosen so that it matched the registration number.