1939 Raymond Mays Special Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: FLN 386
Chassis No: SABTVR03783279002
Mot Expiry: June 2008

Perhaps in an attempt to capitalise on the success enjoyed by his ERA single-seaters (or own reputation as a driver), Raymond Mays chose to diversify into sports car manufacture during the late 1930s. Like William Lyons before him, Mays sourced the running gear for his new project from the Standard Motor Company. But whereas contemporary SS Jaguars made do with four- and six-cylinder inline engines, the Raymond Mays Special was powered by a 2.7 litre V8. Taken from the 'Flying 20' model, it boasted a sturdy three-bearing crankshaft, coil ignition and light alloy cylinder heads. Conscious that the contemporary motoring press felt the unit had overwhelmed its original Standard host, Mays asked his ERA (and later BRM) collaborator Peter Berthon to come up with a suitably rigid frame. Notable for its use of box-section side members and a similarly reinforced cruciform brace, the resultant chassis also employed transverse-leaf independent front suspension, a 'live' rear axle, front / rear anti-roll bars and four-wheel drum brakes.

Making its competition debut on the 1939 RAC Rally, the marque fielded a four car team consisting of three tourers bodied by R.E.A.L. and a drophead coupe clothed by Carlton. Taking the wheel of one of the tourers himself, Mays entrusted the others to fellow racers SCH 'Sammy' Davis and CM Anthony (while, the drophead coupe was helmed by L. Prideaux-Brune). Benefiting from a high ratio back axle, SCH Davis drove the cream liveried 'FLN 386' to a fine 12th in class behind assorted SS100s and BMW 328s. Despite a favourable press reception, plans for full-scale production foundered after just five Raymond Mays Specials had been made. Reputedly the prototype, 'FLN 386' was the subject of a retrospective evaluation by A.F. Rivers Fletcher in the June 13th 1941 issue of The Autocar magazine. Given his fund raising activities for the Bourne-based ERA outfit (whose workshops had spawned the car) it comes as little surprise that the article was somewhat complimentary:

"The cornering was so good that a series of tests on known bends was carried out with various different drivers at the wheel. In my opinion, this car cornered and held the road better than any other British sports car of the same type, irrespective of price, it being possible to fly round open bends with the utmost joie de vivre and yet retain accurate control".

Rivers Fletcher had an extra reason to be fond of 'FLN 386' as it was the car in which his wife Penny did her first 100mph lap of Brooklands. Such a turn of speed was no doubt why the Berkshire Constabulary purchased it from Vincents of Reading in 1946 (their supplier's plaque is still affixed to the dashboard). Forming part of the official escort which greeted Her Majesty the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) when she visited Radley College during June 1947, the tourer remained in police service until 1954. Sold off via Measham Motor Sales of 360 - 370 Kensington High Street, W14, the four-seater later migrated to America. Repatriated into the current ownership during 1989, it has since been treated to a sympathetic restoration including the fitting of a replacement but correct type Standard V8 engine. Appropriately finished in cream with brown leather upholstery, it is described by the vendor as being in "good overall" condition (though, he notes that the four-speed manual gearbox is "noisy"). Seemingly retaining much of its original interior trim as well as such nice touches as a moulded spare wheel cover, blue enamel radiator grille badge and 'RM' embossed hubcaps, 'FLN 386' is one of just two Raymond Mays Specials known to have survived (the other being the Carlton Drophead Coupe). An historic car linked to two of Britain's most famous pre-WW2 motor sport personalities, this VSCC recognised Post Vintage Thoroughbred is offered for sale with large history file and MOT certificate valid until June 2008.

PLEASE NOTE: We have been contacted by Nic Waller one of the organizers behind The Brooklands Double Twelve June 28th-29th 2008 meeting to say that the Raymond Mays Special would get a "straight through" invitation for the event.