1946 HRG 1100

Lot details
Registration No: 384 UXO
Chassis No: S59
Mot Expiry: Aug 2013

On July 14th 1939 the Autocar described the HRG 9hp Two-Seater Sports as 'almost the sole surviving example of the true sports car in the old style.in other words it has the qualities that have for long been held in respect.firm suspension that gives outstanding stability,.high geared, dead accurate steering.and driving vision is just as good as it possibly can be'.

HRG launched the 1100 9hp Two-Seater Sports in 1938 as a short chassis version of their highly successful 1½ Litre model. Equipped with a twin carburettor fed 1074cc OHC Singer 9 unit these cars contributed to the catalogue of sporting successes achieved by the marque. It is thought that eight 1100s were built pre-WW2 and following the end of hostilities a large number of pre-WW2 components were used in the construction of the first post-WW2 cars. Some forty-two 1100s are believed to have been built post-WW2.

This car is understood by the vendor to be S59 which was a very early post-WW2 car composed of what is believed to be largely pre-WW2 components. Mr I. Dussek wrote in 2004 to the then owner Rod Sawyer, 'S59 was built with the engine 7680H, gearbox A4084 and rear axle HRG39.and the card is marked exported to South America'. A number of HRGs were exported by Lord Selsdon, a director of HRG, as part of a trade mission to South America. It appears the car remained in Uruguay and some documents appear to suggest it was owned by one Mr Castillo of Montevideo during the 1960s.

The car returned to the UK during the 1980s and in 2004, as part of a restoration, had much of its chassis replaced due to the poor condition of the original side members. No chassis numbers were found stamped on the original rails. This work was carried out by well known HRG restorer, Ian Mahany. The bodywork appears to have been preserved from the photographs contained in the history file and the car is now presented benefitting from a new set of wheels and tyres in 2011 amounting to some £4000.

The HRG Association in 2004 wrote, 'We conclude, that you appear to have the majority of the parts relating to S59 as supplied by HRG Engineering Company in 1946. We are not able to say categorically that it is that car'. It was explained that, 'the gearbox and back axle numbers correspond with the factory records for S59' and 'that the original block was with the car' as well as many of the other components being consistent with a car of this date. The 1100 is sold accompanied with its original block.

The VSCC have issued an Eligibility Document, on the basis that they accept many of the components are pre-WW2, which states it to be S59 but dated as 1938 which enables the car to participate in competitive VSCC events as a Post-Vintage Thoroughbred and join the exclusive ranks of the other pre-WW2 1100 HRGs. Furthermore, the DVLA have issued a V5C stating the chassis number to be S59. An attractive and rare British sports car.