The Pre-War Car Thread

[KiwiAlistair]

On 20/04/2025 at 05:23, Rustybullethole said:

Quite a bit on c and c

A

Lovely Nippy 7

If you have to ask you can't afford 

Ulez exempt van

Schutte Bentley looks like a bad copy of the classic Shitte De Ville.

[garethj]

8 hours ago, bnseven said:

I have an old nail, its much older than me and whilst is of a pre war type, was actually made after end of the war as an update of a pre war car. Its not terribly original what with having no doors and smaller wheels but is a lot of fun on a sunny day,  maybe being a "sportier" model makes it a bit more entertaining than an old saloon. would want to have to go to work in it everyday mind...

I’ve long lusted after a TC, probably from watching Diamonds On Wheels as an impressionable kid.  Prices remain strong, unfortunately, and parts for a restoration are eye watering.

[bnseven]

18 hours ago, lesapandre said:

An HRG? 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HRG_Engineering_Company

[edit : it's an MGTC but with smaller wheels and altered front wings. Very cool]

It is indeed an mgtc with little wheels and cycle wings

[lesapandre]

Lovely. Better looking than the original IMHO.

[meshking]

Spotted this winner on his commute home on Thursday

[D.E]

13 minutes ago, meshking said:

Spotted this winner on his commute home on Thursday

A pre-1913 Model T with touring body. Nice!

[D.E]

Any of you got a spare million?

1936 Hoffman X-8 Prototype

Quote

At the core of this unique vehicle is Hoffman’s revolutionary X-8 engine. This 168.4 cubic inch powerplant, with four pairs of cylinders in an “X” configuration, is the only known example of its kind in existence. Capable of generating an estimated 75 to 90 horsepower, this engine layout—positioned just ahead of the transaxle—allowed for balanced weight distribution and stable handling. The narrow-angle configuration and a single two-barrel carburetor fed all eight cylinders, delivering an effortless and surprisingly responsive driving experience. Given its unconventional setup, the X-8 also features an ingeniously arranged drivetrain and an advanced suspension system designed for an unmatched blend of comfort and stability.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Something nice that you don't see every day has come up for sale in Norway.

1933 Opel 18B 1,8  £12,404

https://www.finn.no/mobility/item/411040862?ci=1

[Dyslexic Viking]

Another rare pre-war Opel has come up for sale here in Norway. It is for sale at auction and needs everything to get back on the road and the engine is in parts. But whether it can get back on the road is another matter because I'm guessing it's been off the road since the 1960s and the owner is dead so getting this re-registered could be a nightmare and possibly impossible.

1937 Opel Super 6 

 

The top one shows an oil change taken in August 1962 with the next oil change at 62,700km which is probably at least 162,700km considering how old the car was then. The one below is unclear but I think is 86,000km date unknown. So my guess about it being parked in the 1960s seems to be correct.

https://www.finn.no/mobility/item/412361877?ci=1

[D.E]

classic cars humber 12 HP

Quote

Since these pictures were taken a lot of work has been done and the only reason its for sale is illness, I am 87 and devoped a heart problem.

 

The brass radiator has been polished

Radiator cap made and new thermostat fitted in the cap £400.

The engine striped and checked over including skimmed head valves ground in.

Converted from magneto to distributor. £600 (to be completed)

Oils replaced, plugs,plugs etc. new exhaust.

Seats recovered with leather £1000.

Tyres and tubes £600

New Headlights,side lights and tail lights.

Petrol tank cleaned and lines replaced and Autovac cleaned and tested.

The brakes, Dash polished instruments replaced or repaired

New battery and some wiring completed,

Dash board polished and instruments repaired or replaced

Hood hoops remade wants finishing.

Much more

COLLECTION WITHIN THREE DAYS

Exchange Smart Car

[D.E]

Two Salmsons:

1924 Salmson AL

1924 Salmson VAL 3

[wuvvum]

7 minutes ago, D.E said:

1924 Salmson AL

 

[artdjones]

10 minutes ago, D.E said:

Two Salmsons:

1924 Salmson AL

1924 Salmson VAL 3

Those little French sports cars from the early twenties don't look very robust.

That's an Amilcar, for sale in Spain.

[wuvvum]

They're basically cyclecars, aren't they, like Barrett's Palladium?  They were all rather lightweight and spindly, that was the nature of them

[artdjones]

58 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

They're basically cyclecars, aren't they, like Barrett's Palladium?  They were all rather lightweight and spindly, that was the nature of them

They  are much better than a cyclecar, which tended to be really crude and flimsy, with cheapness their only advantage.

That's a Carden, one of the least bad ones.

Palladium bought out a prototype cyclecar, but Barrett's one is a proper car, 12hp I think, which usually means 16-1800cc, and much more substantial than the Salmsons  above.

[artdjones]

A couple of unusual cars on Done Deal - a very rare Lea-Francis fabric saloon, and a 1937 Renault that's been in a shed for 20 years at €4000.

[wuvvum]

Difficult to tell from the photo which model that Renault is - all the medium-sized 1930s Renners used basically the same body. 

[artdjones]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Difficult to tell from the photo which model that Renault is - all the medium-sized 1930s Renners used basically the same body. 

According to the ad, it's a Celtaquatre.

[wuvvum]

Ah, the Celta is the bASe model with the little engine.  They're a tad underpowered.

[artdjones]

A nice Humber Snipe for sale in Co.Laois, looks like it hasn't been reregistered yet.

[High Jetter]

@The Vicar ?

[Six-cylinder]

My 1933 20/25 has been out of storage this week and managed 135 trouble free miles on 3 trips out.

[The Vicar]

On 21/06/2025 at 05:33, artdjones said:

According to the ad, it's a Celtaquatre.

Is there a link to this or is it already sold?

[barrett]

On 18/06/2025 at 16:12, wuvvum said:

They're basically cyclecars, aren't they, like Barrett's Palladium?  They were all rather lightweight and spindly, that was the nature of them

On 18/06/2025 at 17:21, artdjones said:

They  are much better than a cyclecar, which tended to be really crude and flimsy, with cheapness their only advantage.

That's a Carden, one of the least bad ones.

Palladium bought out a prototype cyclecar, but Barrett's one is a proper car, 12hp I think, which usually means 16-1800cc, and much more substantial than the Salmsons  above.

It sort of depends on who you ask. In 1912 during the cyclecar boom the Autocycle Union in the UK and Federation Internationale des Clubs Motorcyclistes in France agreed on a set of criteria for cyclecars (for competition purposes) which were: Group one, large cars: max weight 350kg, max capacity 1100cc; and Group two, small cars: max weight 300kg, max capacity 750cc. Technically things like Amicars and Salmsons fit into the former category, but by the early 1920s small design had moved on so much that they couldn't really be compared to the cyclecars of 1912. In France people would still definitely refer to them as cyclecars, but in the UK these days they'd be classed as light cars (under 1500cc, less than 30bhp by VSCC rules) but really they were just small sports cars built for fun with an emphasis on competition.

There are lots of grey areas though. For my purposes (I'm writing a book on the subject) I would say a cyclecar can't have a four-cylinder water-cooled engine and shaft drive*. Anything with belt/chain/friction drive counts even if it has a four-cylinder engine (of less than 1500cc). Similarly, shaft drive is okay if you have an air-cooled engine or a single- or twin-cylinder engine. I think if there is some direct connection to motorcycle technology in the drivetrain or engine then you can argue the case for something being a cyclecar (I know there are four-cyl and shaft-driven bikes, don't @ me!). Most of the longer-lived cyclecar makers eventually started making proper light cars so there is often a bit of crossover even within single makes.

*except if it has a silly number of wheels, I suppose...

[artdjones]

29 minutes ago, barrett said:

There are lots of grey areas though

There are lots of cars that are definitely much better than cyclecars, by the British definition, but have some cyclecar like features. Like the Rover 8 with its air cooled twin .

 

[artdjones]

5 hours ago, The Vicar said:

Is there a link to this or is it already sold?

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/renault-celtaquarte/39872535

 

[lesapandre]

3 hours ago, barrett said:

It sort of depends on who you ask. In 1912 during the cyclecar boom the Autocycle Union in the UK and Federation Internationale des Clubs Motorcyclistes in France agreed on a set of criteria for cyclecars (for competition purposes) which were: Group one, large cars: max weight 350kg, max capacity 1100cc; and Group two, small cars: max weight 300kg, max capacity 750cc. Technically things like Amicars and Salmsons fit into the former category, but by the early 1920s small design had moved on so much that they couldn't really be compared to the cyclecars of 1912. In France people would still definitely refer to them as cyclecars, but in the UK these days they'd be classed as light cars (under 1500cc, less than 30bhp by VSCC rules) but really they were just small sports cars built for fun with an emphasis on competition.

There are lots of grey areas though. For my purposes (I'm writing a book on the subject) I would say a cyclecar can't have a four-cylinder water-cooled engine and shaft drive*. Anything with belt/chain/friction drive counts even if it has a four-cylinder engine (of less than 1500cc). Similarly, shaft drive is okay if you have an air-cooled engine or a single- or twin-cylinder engine. I think if there is some direct connection to motorcycle technology in the drivetrain or engine then you can argue the case for something being a cyclecar (I know there are four-cyl and shaft-driven bikes, don't @ me!). Most of the longer-lived cyclecar makers eventually started making proper light cars so there is often a bit of crossover even within single makes.

*except if it has a silly number of wheels, I suppose...

Book sounds interesting keep us posted.👍

[lesapandre]

Well loved 1930 Ford Model A up for sale in UK.

https://ebay.us/m/9xEiRP

[Joey spud]

https://ebay.us/m/amXXyO

I think this sad looking big Austin would make a great everyday car for pottering around the village.

[barrett]

20 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Book sounds interesting keep us posted.👍

Eat healthy food, gets lots of exercise, cut down the fags and booze and you might just live long enough to see it... (If I live long enough to finish it)