The Car Challenge

[JW]

It was the fastest saloon car in the world for a while... a real beast!

[Dannie Boy]

It was the fastest saloon car in the world for a while... a real beast!

Yes faster than the Sierra Cosworth and I think a few of the BIB (the blue variety not brown) had them as patrol cars - lucky guys!!

[dtaai-maai]

Good thread, Pete. I'm not much of a petrol-head, but I'll be an interested spectator.

[PeteC]

Anyone want to take a stab at this one? Yes, it's British. Pete

[PeteC]

By the way, I don't see any reason not to allow entries about motorcycles. Yes, the base of experts on here is less than autos, but what the heck....no harm. Pete

[lindosfan1]

Thought it was an Allard at first, checked and found out it was a Lea Francis probably built about 1953 at a guess

[PeteC]

^ Yes, that was a quick one. A brand of car I never heard of until last week. Started by building bicycles in 1895 in Coventry. The 1950 2 1/2 liter pictured bottom right at the link is the model I really like, and I think is the one pictured above as well, although not much difference between the 2 1/2 liter and the 14 Sport. Made motorcycles as well. Pete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea-Francis

[Dannie Boy]

What is this car and what was special about it?

[PeteC]

Well, the number YK1437 I think means Leeds, Yorkshire, 1914. Don't know about the 37. A start...... Pete

[Frank Hovis]

Sorry to interrupt the new quiz but a little bit more on Lea-Francis.

It's not a name that jumps out as a famous car but I'm sure we've all seen one, "Surely not" I hear you mutter but does this look familiar ?

mcob2.JPG (151.19 KiB) Viewed 493 times

It's Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in a Lea-Francis in 'Monte Carlo or Bust'

and here is that same car now restored, A Lea-Francis 14.

mcob.jpg (72.13 KiB) Viewed 493 times

MOD REQUEST : if you can move this post back to the Lea-Francis quiz that would be super.

Sorry, posts are ordered by date/time of posting.

[Dannie Boy]

Well, the number YK1437 I think means Leeds, Yorkshire, 1914. Don't know about the 37. A start...... Pete

You may well be correct Pete, but I am looking at the more generic side of the car rather than this specific example (which looks in absolute top condition)!!

[Frank Hovis]

The little V badge is the original Vauxhall badge, still visible in todays Vauxhall Griffin on the flag.

[Dannie Boy]

The little V badge is the original Vauxhall badge, still visible in todays Vauxhall Griffin on the flag.

Correct Frank, so anything more about the car?

[Frank Hovis]

Only that I think Pete is wrong with his number plate identification, I think YK is Somerset and that would make the car pre-1921 when they ran out of Y registrations.

[Nereus]

I think it is a Vauxhall 14 / 40. But what is special about it I do not know, unless it is the fellow with big snoze standing behind it! And the radiator badge is odd.