Lot details
Registration No: KE 5683
Chassis No: 4620
Mot Expiry: None

The only model produced by the Calthorpe Motor Co Ltd of Birmingham in the years immediately following World War One, the Minor 10hp was known for its exceptional build quality. Powered by a 1261cc sidevalve four-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed manual gearbox, its beautifully wrought ladder frame chassis was available to order with a wide range of body styles courtesy of neighbouring coachbuilder, Mulliner. Responsible for three time Le Mans winner Woolf 'Babe' Barnato's introduction to motorsport (the great man using one to score a second in class at the 1920 Shelsey Walsh hillclimb and take a win during the Whitsun meeting at Brooklands the following year), the diminutive Calthorpe proved a singularly versatile design. Sadly, survivors today are few and far between.
Apparently captivated by a similarly bodied Minor 10hp seen on the stand of Rock, Thorpe & Chatfield of Tunbridge Wells at the 1920 Motor Show, this charming Mulliner coupe with dickey seat was purchased new by Mr & Mrs C W Nettleton from the aforementioned firm of Coachbuilders & Motor Engineers on June 27th 1921 for the princely sum of £555. Sold to their electrician (and fellow Tunbridge Wells resident) Mr H E Stoneham on October 10th 1924 for £160, its next recorded keeper is Mr R G Godsmark of Louth (Lincs) who acquired it on September 8th 1955. Seemingly kept on the road by him until 1962 (or so a surviving tax disc would indicate), it then passed into the hands of the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society where it remained until December 13th 1989 when it was bought by motoring historian Michael Worthington-Williams. Put up for auction with Phillips at Alexandra Palace shortly afterwards, it was snapped up Dr M W P Ward of Harrogate for £12,000. Relinquished by his family in 2003, it has been with the Cheshire based vendor ever since. Finished in green with grey cloth upholstery, KE 5683 is described by him as being in running order (though, it lacks a battery at present). Rating the bodywork as good and the interior as original, he notes that the transmission, chassis and wheels/tyres all "appear OK". A delightful accompanying copy letter apparently from the husband of first owner Mrs C W Nettleton to Mr R G Godsmark comments that "the car gave my wife every pleasure and it was by far the prettiest saloon in the whole district" (as well as alluding to Mr Nettleton's participation in the great Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race and the first London to Brighton run of November 1896).
PLEASE NOTE: We have not had this vehicle running.