1950 HRG 1500

Registration No: GSU 245
Chassis No: W.201
MOT: Exempt

• In single ownership from 1956 - 2005
• Less than 10,000 miles since the engine was thoroughly overhauled and converted for unleaded
• Extensive history file dating back to 1952 (including much factory correspondence)

Founded in 1936, the H.R.G. Engineering Co. Ltd. drew its name from the initials of its founders - Major Ted Halford (a contributor to the Vale Special project), Guy Robins (formerly of Trojan) and Ron Godfrey (the G in GN and the Godfrey in Godfrey & Proctor). The newcomer initially operated from the Mid-Surrey Gear Company in Norbiton and the design of its products was clearly influenced by the GN and Frazer-Nash motorcars in which Godfrey had previously been involved. The first offering was a traditionally-styled open two-seater sports car with front-mounted 1496cc OHV Meadows 4ED engine mated to a four-speed Moss gearbox and driving through an ENV spiral bevel axle. The chassis members were bought in from Rubery Owen and the steering gear sourced from Marles, while most of the aluminium over ash frame bodies were manufactured by Reall of West London. Priced at £395, the 1.5 litre HRG was half the cost of the equivalent Aston Martin and some 1,000 pounds lighter.

During 1936, the company established its own premises at Tolworth in Surrey. Two years later it launched the '1100' that was powered by a 1074cc 10hp OHC Singer unit and in 1939, as supplies of the Meadows engine dried up, it opted for Singer's 1496cc 12hp engine for what it now called its '1500' model. Car production resumed after the war and continued until 1956, with the business soldiering on for a further ten years in an engineering consultancy capacity. Figures for total production vary, but were in the region of 240, of which some 90 percent are said to survive today. The factory operated its own racing team, entitled 'Ecurie Lapin Blanc', which achieved success in such classic events as the Le Mans and Spa 24 Hour endurance races, while privateers employed the little two-seaters in such testing international rallies as the Alpine and, in particular, trials; at which examples of the breed still excel to this day.

First issued with the London number plate ‘LLR 962’ on October 12^th 1950, chassis W.201 belonged to J.M Ormrod Esq of Pickhill Hall, Denbighshire less than two years later. An enthusiastic driver, Mr Ormrod had the H.R.G. maintained by Harold Radford & Co of South Kensington and returned it to the Works for attention to the front axle, engine and gearbox. His successor, R. Purcell Esq continued to seek support from the factory and even volunteered his services to help out at the 1955 Goodwood Nine Hours! Acquired by P. F. Vermeylen Esq of Blackheath (and later Buckinghamshire) from Johnson & Brown of Bromley, Kent on September 29^th 1956 for £475, the 1500 was to remain in his care for almost five decades. The earliest MOT certificate on file dates from 1961. Laid-up for a while, a later certificate shows that the two-seater had covered an indicated 95,870 miles by 1987. Granted the number plate ‘GSU 245’ that same year (having fallen off the DVLA database), the H.R.G. was entrusted to Roundwood (Harpenden) Ltd in 1998 for a thorough engine overhaul (including conversion to unleaded) and new clutch etc. Sold to its last custodian, P. Sutton Esq, by Malcolm Elder during 2005, the following year saw the 1500 treated to new shell and con-rod bearings plus a new gearbox mount etc. Lightly used since entering the current ownership in 2019, the two-seater was last submitted for MOT testing on April 17^th 2020 at an indicated 99,797 miles (the five-digit odometer currently shows 02228 miles). Starting readily and running well during our recent photography session, ‘GSU 245’ presents as an older restoration with a pleasing patina. Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document, VSCC associate badge, continuation green logbook and history file dating back to 1952.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760