Anyone have experience of pre-war cars?

[Mash]

I've always fancied a pre-war car to tootle about the lanes in and I'm seriously thinking about getting one in the next couple of years or so (must be an age thing). It would have to be something capable of actually making some sort of progress and therefore upwards of a 10 or 12 HP preferably. Naturally I'm not in a position to be able to afford a "proper" car like a Talbot, Triumph or Riley even and I'm thinking something from the late thirties, cars which are not true vintage and apparently not held in high regard by those in the know due to being mass produced so therefore can be classed "pre-war shite"

 

A few on my likes list are:

 

 

There's probably more, I like chunky looking stuff with Easiclean wheels and of course some of the bigger cars especially the Wolseleys might end up out of my price range too. Anyone had motors this far back? Are they a right nightmare to own or actually quite pleasant old things?

[Rocket88]

Austin 16s are good. OHV engine [same as the 4 pot Healey] reasonable brakes and steering, and a surprising turn of speed. Bit like an Austin equivalent of a Ford Pilot, but half the price. A had a dog rough one about 20 years ago, and it was a dependable old thing, even in every day use.

[RedSparrow]

Can I suggest a Morris 8? There are quite a few good ones around, my dad used to have one.

[wuvvum]

Aye, Morris Eights aren't really up to staying with modern traffic in standard form though...

 

Best pre-war car I've had as far as driving on today's roads was the Renault Novaquatre, but I don't think you'll find another one of those this side of the Channel unfortunately. Out of the ones you've posted photos of my choice would be the Vauxhall Ten - OHV engine, water pump, torsion bar independent front suspension, comfortable ride, half-decent hydraulic brakes, user-friendly controls (apart from the stupid camshaft-driven wipers). They only have a three-speed 'box and are not massively quick, but they're OK for tootling around in. Or find a Twelve for a bit of added grunt and (theoretical) 70mph capability. Minx and Austin Ten are rather crude by comparison (and even slower) and would be a bit of a culture shock if you've never driven anything that old before, but parts availibility will be better (especially with the Austin - got a head gasket off the shelf for that from a classic spares shop).

 

Never driven an Austin 16 so can't comment, but from what I've read about them (and at the risk of sounding like EccentricRichard) they have a half-decent turn of speed but are something of a gas guzzler, plus they still have beam axles and cart springs so won't be the last word in roadholding.

[theorganist]

Can I suggest a Morris 8?

 

There is a guy in my street with a couple Morris 8's (he has about eight vintage cars altogther), they seem to be quite popular from what he was saying.

 

Morris Eights aren't really up to staying with modern traffic in standard form

 

To be honest he uses one quite regularly to drive to work and on weekends and he seems to manage okay (although this in mainly on local roads), I had a ride in it one and it seemed quite nippy.

[RedSparrow]

Hmm, but I doubt a lot of stuff from the 40's is great in modern traffic!

[wuvvum]

I suppose it depends what one means by being able to make decent progress. I don't really like driving any car that isn't capable of comfortably maintaining a 50mph cruise and getting to 50 in under half a minute, but I suppose that is partly because I live out in the sticks and have to drive on fairly busy A-roads to get anywhere. If you're just pottering around town an Eight would probably be quite adequate, but for me it's not really up to much more than that. Admittedly the one I drove was quite an early one - I don't know if the Series E's gained a bit of performance?

 

A Vauxhall Ten will get to 50 in about 25 seconds without being thrashed too hard, and will then buzz along quite happily at 50-55 without grinding almost to a halt every time there's a bit of a hill. The Novaquatre would cruise at 65, but that had a far bigger engine as the French weren't restricted by our stupid horsepower laws. I'd be happy to go for a weekend jaunt in either of those - in an Eight I'd be shitting myself every time I pulled up to a busy B-road junction.

[RedSparrow]

Yeah, 'twas an E-series that my dad had.

 

Slightly pokier than the earlier ones appartently:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Eight#Morris_Eight_Series_E

(see Wikipedia for ACTUAL TRUE FACTS)

 

So basically a Morris 1000 engine then?

[theorganist]

I don't really like driving any car that isn't capable of comfortably maintaining a 50mph cruise and getting to 50 in under half a minute, but I suppose that is partly because I live out in the sticks and have to drive on fairly busy A-roads to get anywhere. If you're just pottering around town an Eight would probably be quite adequate

 

Fair point, this is mainly town driving. Then again with the traffic round here you could drive a milk float and not have a problem keeping up with the traffic.

[wuvvum]

So basically a Morris 1000 engine then?

 

It's basically a Morris Minor MM engine, but I think the Series E still used thermosiphon cooling, where the Moggie had a water pump. The 8 gearbox is completely different to the Moggie one, though, and apparently they are like rocking horse poo.

[Rocket88]

Never driven an Austin 16 so can't comment, but from what I've read about them (and at the risk of sounding like EccentricRichard) they have a half-decent turn of speed but are something of a gas guzzler, plus they still have beam axles and cart springs so won't be the last word in roadholding.

 

They drive quite nicely, even the brakes are good. Mine wasn't bad on juice, even with a leaky old carb, I got about 22 mpg out of it. They'll easily do 70 mph, and 50 is a doddle. Austin Westminster of it's era.

[trigger]

Alf892 owns this Rover (12?) that he brought to Stondon, It was stunning and looked very elegant as it drove along.

 

[wuvvum]

Those Rovers are gorgeous, but unfortunately they're not quite in the same price bracket as a Morris 8 or Minx...

[Angrydicky]

Standard Flying 12?

[wuvvum]

Good call. I love the Flying Standards - they've got some real style to them.

 

[wuvvum]

Don't know if you're after a project, but this fairly sound-looking old Minx finished on eBay with no bids last week - looks well worth £400 to me, although this is quite an early one so will have cable brakes and other amusing eccentricities.

 

[Justin Case]

Morris 10 Series M? This is an early post-war model but basically the same as the pre-war model. It's cart sprung but it does have hydraulic brakes and the ohv XPAG engine which was used in a tuned version in the MG TA. Of course Morrises were used as the base for Wolseleys, although I don't know if it was done with this one. BTW the driver looks well pleased, the passenger less so; perhaps they're better from the driving seat

 

 

[Guest]

I'd love an early 30s American 4-door sedan, something like a Chevrolet BA Confederate or a Studebaker Dictator, full-on "Ant Hill Mob" style thing. I think the most attractive pre-war cars are of that sort of design, a bit squared-off looking with a completely vertical radiator - basically before they started making the fronts aerodynamic. Plus they're usually a more imposing size than the old 20s stuff.

 

 

Excellent!

[Guest]

The War of the Worlds.

[Jozza]

Standard Flying 12?

 

I'll third that suggestion. My dad's had this one:

 

 

for 15 years and it's been near faultlessly reliable. It needed some carpentry when first bought (wooden floors + woodworm) and it's in the process of having its front suspension rebuilt (same as a Triumph 1800 Roadster so parts are surprisingly easy to find). Considering it's nearly 70 years old it's very easy to drive- 3rd/4th synchro, light steering, relatively decent brakes for the period, self cancelling trafficators and so on. It will happily sit at 60 MPH and capable of sprinting up to 70 for a little while if needed. Certainly nowhere near as decidedly old-fashioned and bizarre as something like an Austin Seven or a pre-war Riley. It has a very, very comfy ride and both dad and myself have taken it on 100+ mile jaunts to shows etc.- it even fought its way round the M25 to go the Bromley Pageant last year.

[Albert Ross]

Did you specify British?

[wuvvum]

This looks potentially interesting. It's in Autoshite condition, but it looks basically sound and it's a runner, so got to be worth a punt at the start bid.

 

 

Citroën Tractions don't come up very often at sensible money - if you fancy some vintage Frogshite, I'd suggest a Renault Juvaquatre - they were made for ages (until the 4 was introduced IIRC) but are very much a pre-war design, although later cars got the 845cc engine from the Dauphine, as used in the 4. I like these for some reason. They're highly practical, and spares availability is excellent.

 

 

 

Either that or a Pug 202. Pure style.

 

 

Damn it, I want another vintage car now.

[nigel bickle]

I've a 38 Flying Nine. Its a lovely little thing -not too expensive to buy, not difficult to drive. With it suicidedoors, windopen screen, full length sunroof and rear window blind, it ooozes character -and is pretty reliable.

 

I am,however, fitting indicators though - experience shows most don't know what a semaphore is -but I'm hiding them in the existing sidelights -and flashing the brakelight (-MGA style). No nasty extra m/cycle indicators etc.

 

Its good for a reasonable 45-but a steady 50+ is hard work -so just stay off the major routes.

[Mash]

All good stuff, thanks for the responses chaps. The Morris 10M is one I forgot actually and the black one in the photos is Hull registered too! There is a chap who brings a lovely blue one to the local shows. Flying Standards are nice too.

 

Yes I think a 50mph cruising capability is a good thing to have as I would plan on travelling say 50 miles or so to a show and I'd want to be realistic about travelling on A-roads in this case. My boss is nuts about Austin Sevens but personally I can't stand them! I'd probably stick with a British make but those Peugeots are gorgeous of course.

 

All food for thought. It's certainly something I'd like to do over the next couple of years when I've moved my fleet around a bit to free up the cash.

[michiel]

That 202 is gorgeous! The rest isn't too bad either...

 

I think I'm going to try to go back in time 15 years or so every time I'll buy or swap shite in the future; I'll never use them for everyday driving anyway.

[Guest EccentricRichard]

Hmm, but I doubt a lot of stuff from the 40's is great in modern traffic!

 

I dunno, I knew of a guy with a Morris Eight that had a supercharged Fiat Twin-cam engine and 'over 200bhp' - he lived across the road from my primary school. With under 800kg to shift, shift I bet it bloody well did... I can't remember what the wheels were, but I remember thinking they were quite large in diameter and rather wide too, with bigish brakes behind them...

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

There are some beautiful cars on this thread. I'm with Hirst on this though - how about an older American? One of my Grandfathers always ran an American car; all of them were excellent - incredibly strong and stylish cars. His personal favouite was a straight eight engined Buick Roadmaster he bought new in '49. It cut an incredible dash in metallic turquoise and white. He once struck an Austin 7 in it on a country road. The Austin bounced off and landed on its roof! The driver, my Grandfather and a few others turned it the right way round and it drove off undamaged! The Buick had a great gash on the side and cost a fortune to fix. Oh and it did 7 to the gallon round town. Don't know why I told that story...

 

There are lots of older Yanks to choose from. I should think they would keep up with modern traffic better than their European equivalent too.

[Guest EccentricRichard]

There are some beautiful cars on this thread. I'm with Hirst on this though - how about an older American? One of my Grandfathers always ran an American car; all of them were excellent - incredibly strong and stylish cars. His personal favouite was a straight eight engined Buick Roadmaster he bought new in '49. It cut an incredible dash in metallic turquoise and white. He once struck an Austin 7 in it on a country road. The Austin bounced off and landed on its roof! The driver, my Grandfather and a few others turned it the right way round and it drove off undamaged! The Buick had a great gash on the side and cost a fortune to fix. Oh and it did 7 to the gallon round town. Don't know why I told that story...

 

There are lots of older Yanks to choose from. I should think they would keep up with modern traffic better than their European equivalent too.

 

Not exactly pre-war, being a '57, but pure American car/estate porn:

[Albert Ross]

Pre Gulf War? You'd need shares in a planet to run it though.

[seth]

I had a ride in a totally stock Model A Ford coupe once. Pretty rapid actually. 1st gear is obviously very short but once it was shifted into top (third I think) there's just a wall of torque.