1914 Calcott 10.5hp Light Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: MC 7861
Chassis No: 506
Mot Expiry: June 2008

The name of Calcott is all but forgotten now, but in its day this Coventry make achieved renown for a well-designed light car that was built to higher standards than most and priced accordingly. Taking the laudable but costly decision to keep proprietary components to a minimum, Calcott produced its own engines, gearboxes and rear axles in-house but relied on Mechins for chassis frames. Outside coachbuilders made the stylish bodies - in this case, P W Jenkins of Edgware, a firm known also to have bodied Rolls-Royces. A background in the manufacture of bicycles (and roller skates!) since the 1880s led to Calcott adding motorcycles to their range from 1904, and in 1913 their first car was introduced.

The car we offer is an excellent example of this first model, which had a 4-cylinder monobloc engine of 65 x 110mms (1460ccs) rated at 10·4hp (RAC), and a three-speed gearbox. Conventional in layout for its period, it was a sound and up-to-date design at launch and indeed formed the basis of the firm's production until well into the 1920s. It has a Dating Certificate issued by the Veteran Car Club of GB quoting 1914 as its date of manufacture, and was featured in an article by Michael Worthington-Williams on the make printed in the monthly, The Automobile (April 1999). Further, with the car is an extensive file recording its long history, with correspondence, and much else of interest connected with Calcott as a make.

MC9861 has been in the hands of the current owner since April 2001, and has reliably completed many events since that date, both in the UK and in Ireland and Europe. An electric starter has been fitted, the braking system overhauled and uprated, and the car well maintained. The vendor describes the engine, chassis, wheels and tyres and bodywork with leather upholstery all as "excellent", the gearbox and interior trim as "very good", and the paintwork as "good". Self evidently a very pretty car, its appearance is matched by its qualities as a practical and satisfying late Edwardian car that can be expected to continue to give pleasure and pride of ownership in large and equal measure.