Here is some information on the car, followed by more photos:
Hello Ian,
I've now had a good opportunity to look at the car that I have been offered,
I've attached a sample of the 60 or so photos that I took, so here are the
details:
UX 9251 registered on 9 October 1931, Engine Number 44439A, Chassis Number
SV6690, the body is a 4-seater Tourer.
The car has fluting at the lower portion of the upper part of the chromed
radiator cowl, the two doors are front hinged, the rear of the body curves
underneath the car, the side screens each have three sections of various
widths. The wire spoked wheels have the larger diameter outside part of the
hubs (Dunlop Magna?). The car looks like the one in the picture in the 1932
Sales Brochure on your website.
So having looked through the information that you've kindly provided me with
access, I guess the car is a 1932 Season 4-seater Tourer built in late 1931.
Features that may not be original include:
The handbrake operates on the horizontal brake shaft via a piece chain.
The front brake cables pass through Bowden type flexible outer covers
between the chassis rails and the front wheel brake backplates, there are no
pulleys.
The rear axle has hydraulic pipes going to the brake backplates, but there
is no hydraulic connection to anything on the rest of the car. There brake
cables connecting to the brake levers.
All the brake drums have aluminium fins.
Condition
The car has been owned by the deceased since the mid-1950s and was used by
him at that time, it is thought that around the early-mid 1960s when he
moved to the current house the car was stored in the south-facing
conservatory where it has remained to this day. Soon after moving there, he
dismantled the car for some reason, presumably for restoration. Generally
the car has suffered from a combination of wood-worm, dampness and drying
out, and the attention of vermin, rather than being left out in the open.
From what I could see of the underneath and from the photos that I took, the
chassis looks sound, though covered with surface rust.
There is wood-worm evidence in the wood-work and the steel body panels are
corroded in places in the lower parts, and particularly on the scuttle. Some
of the plywood to the sides of the rear seat is de-laminating. Not sure
whether there is much rotten wood. Side screen metal-ware is there but the
transparent material is yellow and brittle. Upholstery is there other than
one part of the rear seat, the leather is very hard. Hood frame is there,
but the fabric is poor.
Wire-wheels look like they need a good wire-brushing followed by paint
rather than a complete re-build. Tyres are beyond use.
On the more positive side, all four wheels go round, the clutch pedal
depresses a long way against the spring force (hopefully clutch-plate not
stuck to flywheel), the engine contains oil to the right level on the
dip-stick, the engine yielded very easily to the starting handle, all that
was holding was a little rust on the fan belt. Core plugs are all in place.
Missing bits
Fortunately, most of the car seems to be there. Significant missing items
are:-
The brass Chassis Number / Engine Number plate has removed from the
firewall. However, a Registration Book for the period June 1955 to Jan 1956
exists showing the Chassis and Engine Numbers. The chassis number can just
about be discerned on the front right hand front spring mounting.
Radiator cap is missing, I'm not sure whether this should be a plain
radiator cap, or a cap with the built in temperature gauge behind two glass
windows.
Rear seat squab or back-rest, one of them is there, though I'm not sure
which it is.
Outer cover discs for the Dunlop Magna wheels.
I will have the opportunity to go back to try and find the missing bits.
The future
It is generally accepted by those who are sorting out the deceased's estate
and clearing the house that the car should not be scrapped. From my own
point of view, I think that the bodywork is probably beyond my abilities. So
the car is available. Is there a way that it can be advertised within the
Vintage Minor community? The car is located near to Guildford, Surrey.
In terms of timescales, the house will put on the market this coming week,
though there is a still a mountain of stuff to be sorted and cleared. The UK
economy and the housing market are uncertain, so I've no real feel for
timescales or expectations. If they get a quick house sale, it is feasible
for me to store the car in my garage but I'd give the car a good soaking in
wood-worm killer first.
