October 2015

OCTOBER 2015

The Official magazine of the GOLD COAST ANTIQUE AUTO CLUB

ORIGINAL GOLD COAST SWAP 2015

This issue contains: Latest club news. Events. Historical stories. Members adds. & much more.

Crankhandle News Crankhandle News 2015

GCAAC COMMITTEE

Position Name Phone Email President David Mitchell 5577 1787 [email protected] Vice President Peter Amey 0407 374 196 [email protected] 5525 0250 Secretary Liane Francis 0402 997 005 [email protected]

Treasurer Colin Hayes 5525 3312 [email protected] 0409 825 913 Rally & Competitions [email protected] Director

Dating Officer Bill Budd 5535 8882 [email protected] 0409 358888 Publicity Officer John Talbot 5578 9972 [email protected] Editor Peter A. Jones 0413 379 410 [email protected] Spare parts & proper- Graham Tatter- 5554 5659 [email protected] ty sall Librarian/Historian Barry Stalker 5537 6476 [email protected] Hall & Social Officer Pam Giles 0400 278 807 [email protected]

Gold Coast Antique Auto club: PO Box 228, Mudgeeraba, Qld, 4213 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.gcaac.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Coast-Antique-Auto-Club https://www.facebook.com/originalgoldcoastswap Club meetings are held 2nd Monday of every month (except January) at 7.00pm for 7.30pm start. Visitors welcome Street Address: 238 Mudgeeraba Road, Mudgeeraba Q 4213 (directly opposite street Milky Way) Patron: Reg Schuster Life Members: Graham Hetherington, Peter Harris, Peter Taylor, Jim Hession, Don Parks, Margaret Hession, John Wood, Graham Tattersall. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed within are not necessarily shared by the editor or officer of the GCAAC. Whilst all care is taken to ensure the technical information and advice offered in these pages is correct, the editors and officers of the GCAAC cannot be held responsible for any problems that may occur from acting on such advice and information.

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PRESIDENTS REPORT After a recommendation from a long term club member , a unanimous decision by the committee and our members, I am delighted to advise that our club has a new very popular Life Mem- ber, Graham Tattersall. Graham for many years has been a tireless, behind the scenes worker and this has helped so much with the smooth running of our club. He has always been first to get there for our meetings and events and always last to leave. We could always just leave it to Graham and Pamela and it would be done, thankyou Graham for your total commitment to the smooth running of our club . Last Sunday 20th was our ‘’Powder Puff`` Ladies day rally . We had not had a Ladies day event for a long time and after the success of this one I am sure it will become a regular annual event. Peter Amey resurrected the ladies boot trophy made by Leo that had been in the display cabinet unused for 10 years. It was a beautiful fun day with lots of laughs, great to see the ladies driving on the short rally in the older cars. The driving tests organised by Wayne Robson were also no problem to our girls. Thanks also to John & Peter for organising the run and Pamela and Graham for the lovely BBQ, salads,sweets and table decorations . John Wood`s midweek run on the 26th August to the Beenleigh Historic Village was enjoyed by about 40 members from our club and the MG club . It was great to visit the Village again, lovely morning tea and the best damper I have had in a long time. The historical movie of early Beenleigh was most interesting especially the part on the early life of the rum distillery, luncheon was at the RSL club followed by the drive back to the coast. AUTORAMA is now less than 2 months away and PLEASE members we do need your entries in NOW. We have programs to print which list all the entrants information so please do us a favour and get that entry in, even if you can only make it for one of the 2 days that’s fine. There is an entry form with this magazine, we have reduced the cost where we can to entice you , DO IT NOW. Thank you. Cheers , Happy Motoring, David Mitchell.

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EDITORIAL Well here we again another month on Autorama and Christmas is getting closer, have you got your Autorama entry in as only 100 cars can enter. Both the Sunday and mid-week runs are attracting more and more members each month. So why not come along even in your modern car if your classis is not running, I often take my modern as the poor old Austin still needs that new clutch which I will look into next year. We could not make the Power Puff Day as I needed to visit my mother on the Sun- ny Coast, so on the way up we called into The All British Car Display at Tennyson, Brisbane. A great display as I have not been there for 3 years having been overseas on holi- day for the last 3 events, and it was a good time to meet up with fellow Austin Club members. I will put up some pictures in the next newsletter, showing some of the great old British classics. The club run in October looks like a great days event and I plan to attend even in the Commodore (Austin), I look forward to seeing you there. Cheers Peter aJ

It is with sadness that I advise that we received advice that one of our members, Jack Whittaker has a passed away.

Our thought go out to his wife Nancy and family at this time.

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GCAAC EVENTS OCTOBER 2015 7 October Committee meeting - Clubhouse @ 7pm

12 October General Meeting and Supper—Clubhouse @ 7.30pm

18 October Gold Antique Auto Club Coast & the Gold Coast MG Car Club are having a combined run to the RAAF Amberley Avia- tion Heritage Centre on Sunday the 18th October 2015. Entry to the Aviation Heritage Centre is a Gold coin donation. BYO Morning Tea. Lunch is at the Raceview Tavern at a Cost of $12.90 for Seniors and $14.90 for others. It is a buffet roast or cold meat and salad. We need to know the number of people going to the Heritage Centre and Lunch to John Talbot on 07 55789972 or Email [email protected] Also I need your email address to send you a Aviation Heritage Centre form to fill in [It is 1 form per car] which you need to bring on the day with photo ID for everyone over 16 years of age.[ it is for security at the main gate no form or ID no entry.

28 October October mid-week run meet club house 9am for 9:30 start

NOVEMBER 2015

4 November Committee meeting - Clubhouse @ 7pm

8 November General Meeting and Supper—Clubhouse @ 7.30pm

14/15 November Autorama details on web site and in newsletter

25 November October mid-week run meet club house 9am for 9:30 start

DECEMBER 2015

2 December Committee meeting - Clubhouse @ 7pm

13 December General Meeting and Supper—Clubhouse @ 7.30pm

TBA Christmas Party

Don’t forget Autorama get your entry in soon as this event is limited to 100 cars only, enter now to et a place in this years event. Also keep in up to date with our 2016 swap, log in and like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/originalgoldcoastswap Pictures and details added often Crankhandle News 5

SWAPS 2014 12th September Gympie Swap Meet, Gympie Showgrounds, Gympie 13th September Beaudesert Swap Meet, Beaudesert Showgrounds, Albert Street, Beaudesert 29th November Beaudesert (Little Athletics) Swap Meet, Beaudesert Show-

Information copied from the Betterautorubber.com.au, web site WHAT’s ON 2015 most of these events are not for historic registered vehicles check with secretary first 29 & 30 August COFFS HARBOUR CENTENARY OF RAIL, Celebrating 100 years of rail to Coffs Harbour in 2015. 2 to 5 October Garter Belts and Gasoline - Rockabilly Rod & Kustom Show, http://www.garterbeltsandgasoline.com.au 16 to 18 October Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival http://www.tamborinemtncc.org.au/tamborine-mountain- scarecrow-festival-2015/ 4 to 6 December Shannons Murwillumbah Motorfest and Swap, http://coolyrockson.mybigcommerce.com/shannons- murwillumbah-motorfest-and-swap/

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Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera

This Tucker Torpedo replica Tucker beams. Oddly, the small hinged sections “replica” might be one of the ugliest on the roof are meant to open to avoid monstrosities ever put together. Howev- hitting your head when getting in or out. er, we might extend some leniency to the creator, as the vehicle isn’t actually trying to replicate the classic look of the 1948 Tucker 48 (a.k.a. ‘Torpedo’). Instead, it is attempting to reproduce an earlier prototype from 1946 that actually features that weird, trident nose. According to the sell- er, his uncle built the car as a labor of love and supposedly used actual plans from Tucker as inspiration. Underneath all of the crazy changes is a 1971 Buick Riviera powered by a 455- cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Buick V8. Some of the replica’s odder modifications include the front fenders that turn with the wheels and the fin running down the back. All three headlights work, but the one in the middle is only for the high http://www.thevintagenews.com

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August midweek run to Beenleigh Historic Museum, over 24 cars and members attended, followed by lunch at the local RSL -Bowls club. Thanks John and Wendy for a great club run.

Photos Peter aJ Crankhandle News 8

Burleigh Heads Day Respite Centre Visit On Wednesday 2nd September a group of our caring members gave up their time and energy to take their cars to the Burleigh Heads Day Respite Centre, at the re- quest of the Centre Manager, as a Father’s Day treat for some of their clients. A varied selection of Club cars were on display and our presence was very much appreciated by all. The centre put on a magnificent morning tea, evidenced by the number of corn-fritters devoured (inhaled) by our President David Mitchell. Unfortunately Don McTaggart’s newly polished Daimler experienced some slight damage due to an errant wheelchair, and one over-enthusiastic lady decided to use David’s Vauxhall as a Bongo Drum, but all-in-all the day was a great success for all involved. Just prior to leaving one gentleman offered us some money to assist with our club fund raising, but given his unfortunate mental state, this very kind offer was refused—Bless!! Once the visit was completed 10 of us decamped to the Burleigh Bears Sports Club for a hearty lunch and a few coldies. If this opportunity comes up again I would recommend you to get involved as it was very satisfying for both our members and those less fortunate than ourselves. Attendees:David Mitchell, Sil Sicuro, Col Hayes, Peter Amey, John Talbot, Barry Chinnery, Geoff & Nee Shepherdson, Don McTaggart, Gareth Hausfield, Keith & Jean Bailey Col H

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$1,500 · reluctant sale in USA

1970 Austin America 2 dr. Automatic. Professionally converted to a pick-up. Excellent 1275cc engine, reasonable body and interior. Needs transmission work but still drives. Parts are available for the transmission and comes with a work shop manual. Good tires and brakes. Sacrifice at $1500. Call me for more details. Editors note:- The Austin America is the Morris 1100/1275 sold in the USA. Sold only with 1275cc engine and in 2 door form If my body were a car

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull… But that’s not the worst of it. My headlights are out of focus, and its especially hard to see things up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me house to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here’s the worst of it. Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter either my radiator leaks or by exhaust backfires. Keith Fulton

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Ladies Powder Puff Run

Today (September 20th) was the 'Powder Puff Run' for Lady Drivers was resurrected for the first time since 2004. Nine Lady Drivers participated in a short run around Mudgeeraba followed by morning tea. Then there was a series of 8 trials on our oval organised by Wayne Robson, before a BBQ lunch which was enjoyed by 30 people. First Lyn Neuen- dorf, 2nd Lyn Talbot & 3rd Pam Giles.

Photos and words by Lyn N, photos can also be seen on the clubs Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold- Coast-Antique-Auto-Club Crankhandle News 11

And along came the ANT (ADO19)

Early Prototype Ant (1966) The whole engine and four speed gearbox along with a transfer box would have com- Mock-up of the Ant (1964) promised the ground clearance if it had not been inclined backwards. It had high and It was in 1964 that work started on the Ant, low ratios and the drive to the rear wheels designed by Sir Alec Issigonis for the then could be disengaged if only 2 wheel traction BMC. Sir Alex Issigonis had already applied was needed as this would save on fuel and for various patents in 1962 which mainly also gave the vehicle a higher speed. covered the transmission aspects of the design. Conceived for two markets, one being One interesting point of the design, was that for military use as the Moke had been re- the steering rack had a centre pinion so jected by the Army mainly because of its ground clearance and only two wheel drive. One feature that the Army had asked for was that the passengers seat would fold- down flat, so allowing a stretcher to be car- ried It was also thought that there could be a market for a small Land Rover type vehicle. So the Ant which was based on the 1100 platform was only 3ins longer than the Mini at 10ft 3ins. If this vehicle had reached the market place would it have been the start of a new vehicle that would have become a cult like the Mini. Power was from the 1098 cc A series en- Fully Engineered Prototype gine, but later this was changed to the 1275 could be used for both right hand and left cc version. Althought the larger engine gave hand versions. The front suspension, by tor- only 2 hp more, the torque increased from sion bars, with the one end fixed on to a cra- 61 lbs at 2,000 rpm to 69 dle attached to the transmission housing. So lbs at 3,000 rpm. The engine is tilled in affect the whole engine, transmission and backwards, as can be seen from the above front suspension could be removed as one picture. (Note the rocker filler cap). unit, The rear suspension used a single tor-

Crankhandle News 12 sion bar that was held in the middle and the ly in 1968 three prototype vehicles were ends fixed to each wheel unit. sent by BMC to Australia and New Zealand for evaluation by the Armed Forces. One Braking was by means of 8 inch discs at the stayed in Australia for reasons unknown, front and drum at the rear. Ride was fairly and the other two came to New Zealand. A neutral with minimum roll or pitch. which by Soft-top model went to the Auckland Austin all accounts proved fine. dealer Seabrook Fowlds, this was then loaned to the Kaingaroa Logging Company It had front disc brakes with drum on the which was located at Rotorua, North Island. rear and 12in wheels. So this unique vehicle This evaluation appears to have shown that became the world's first 4 x 4 trasverse- there was a weakness with the transmis- engined that was light and compact making sion. it suitable for airborne operations. The other a hard-top model went to P H Some experimental prototypes were built, Vickery, the Austin agents of Invercargill. and after evaluating the test results it was The two examples in New Zealand were decided to move to the next stage. This was sold to private buyers. The white coloured to build 30 pre-production fully engineered Invercargill vehicle was purchased by a lo- prototypes, whilst this was happening a de- cal farmer Alfred Walmsley and used on cision was made to order the tooling so as Stewart Island. It was later purchased and to prepare for production with the bodies to now owned by Geoff Sneddon of Dunedin. be made by Nuffield Metal Products in Bir- mingham. Then came the merge between BMC and The 30 pre-production build was to be done Leyland who owned Land Rover, so the Ant by Methods Proving Department at Adder- was looked at by the new management in ley Park Birmingham. Shown below is the 1968 as been to close a competitor to the cradle that was constructed, the body was Land Rover range so the project was can- celled before production got underway and bolted to the cradle which then allowed the most of the vehicles were broken up. Ac- body to be rotated, which made the fitting of cording to the Heritage Motor Centre at components easier. Gaydon there is only two in the UK, one in the museum and one private owner whose vehicle I have photographed, with five others around the world.

As with many concepts from the design stu- dios of BMC at Longbridge in the 1960s, they were way ahead of their time. It makes me sad that the management did not have the vision to bring these concepts into production, the Ant been one such example. Final Pre-Production Version The various prototypes were then dis- http://www.austinmemories.com patched round the world for evaluation. Ear-

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Ferry Road Diner Now that the Ferry Road Diner has closed and our club went there a cou- ple of times, let have a look at the history of the American Diner.

A diner is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of American life, especially in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and in other areas of the North- eastern United States, as well as in the Midwest, although examples can be found throughout the United States, Canada, and parts of Western Europe. Diners are characterized by offering a wide range of foods, mostly American, a distinct exterior structure, a casual atmosphere, a counter, and late operating hours. "Classic American Diners" are often characterized by an exterior layer of stainless steel—a feature unique to diner architecture. The first diner was created in 1872, by a man named Walter Scott. He decided to sell food out of a horse-pulled wagon to employees of the Provi- dence Journal, in Providence, Rhode Island. Scott's diner can be consid- ered the first diner with “walk up” win- dows that were located on each side of the wagon. Commercial production of lunch wagons began in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1887, by Thomas Buckley. Buckley was very successful and became known for his "White House Cafe" wagons. Charles Palmer received the first patent (1891) for the diner. He built his "fancy night cafes" and "night lunch wagons" in the Worcester area until 1901. Inspired by the streamlined trains, and especially the Burlington Zephyr, Roland Stick- ney designed a diner in the shape of a streamlined train called the Sterling Stream- liner in 1939.[1] Built by the J.B. Judkins coach company, who had built custom car bodies,[2] the Sterling and other diner production ceased in 1942 at the beginning of American involvement in World War II.

Two Sterling Streamliners remain in operation: the Salem Diner at its original location in Salem, Massachusetts and the Modern Diner in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. As the number of seats increased, wagons gave way to pre-fabricated buildings made by many of the same manufacturers who had made the wagons. Like the lunch wagon, a stationary diner allowed one to set up a food service business quickly using pre- assembled constructs and equipment.

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Until the Great Depression, most diner manufacturers and their customers were located in the Northeast. Diner manufacturing suffered with other industries in the Depression, though not as much as others, as people still had to eat, and the diner offered a less expensive way of getting into the restaurant business as well as less expensive food than more formal establishments. After World War II, as the economy returned to civilian production and the suburbs boomed, diners were an attractive small business opportunity. During this period, diners spread beyond their original urban and small town market to highway strips in the suburbs, even reaching the Midwest, with manufacturers such as Valentine. In many areas, diners were superseded in the 1970s by fast food restaurants, but in parts of New Jersey, New York, the New England states, Delaware and Pennsylvania the independently-owned diner remains relatively common. During this period, newly constructed diners lost their narrow, stainless steel, streamlined appearance, and grew into much bigger buildings, though often still made of several pre-fabricated modules and assembled on site and still manufactured by the old line diner builders. A wide variety of architectural styles were now used for these later diners, including Cape Cod and Colonial. The old-style single module diners featuring a long counter and a few small booths sometimes now grew additional dining rooms, lavish wallpa- per, fountains, crystal chandeliers and Greek statuary. The definition of the term diner began to blur as older, pre-fab diners received more conventional stick-built additions, sometimes leaving the original structure nearly unrecognizable as it was surrounded by new construction or a renovated facade. Businesses that called themselves diners but which were built onsite and not prefabricated began to appear. These larger establishments were sometimes known as diner-restaurants

Whilst in Anchorage back in 2014, we came across this Diner. Not to the traditional design, but it did look good

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Bonhams Parkside factory in 1920 while on an official visit to Coventry; he was shown Lot 110 - 1929 Armstrong Siddeley, 30 around by John Siddeley and ordered a hp Mark II Shooting Brake. 30hp model, which was followed by two Registration plate UL 10, chassis further 18hp cars in 1922. Built in 1928 #12567, engine #15270. and delivered in January 1929, 'UL 10' AU$130,000—AU$170,000 was taken to the Duke and Duchess's Scottish home, Birkhall on the Balmoral Originally the property of HRH The Duke of York, later King George VI estate, where it was used for three 1929 Armstrong Siddeley 30hp Mark II years. Shooting Brake Registration no. UL 10 Chassis no. 12567 Armstrong Siddeley had been created in Engine no. 15270 1919 by the fusion of the mighty Arm- strong Whitworth engineering combine Footnotes and the Coventry based Siddeley-Deasy Motor Manufacturing Company. Manag- This Armstrong Siddeley shooting brake ing director John Siddeley's son Ernest was ordered new by HRH The Duke of had toured various car factories in the York, later King George VI, a devotee of USA in 1919 and the first Armstrong Sid- the Coventry marque since its earliest deley model - the 30hp - benefited from days. The Duke had first visited the the knowledge he had acquired. Indeed, Crankhandle News 16 the fledgling firm even went so far as to came into the current titled vendor's fam- acquire Marmon Series 34 for evalua- ily's ownership in 1936 when it passed to tion. Although quite different from the the third owner, Sir Aymer Maxwell, the Marmon engine in detail, the six-cylinder 8th Baronet of Monteith (his youngest Armstrong Siddeley power unit had a brother was Gavin Maxwell, author of lengthy stroke and overhead valves like 'Ring of Bright Water'). Their nephew, Sir its American counterpart. The car's dis- Michael Maxwell, 9th Baronet of Mon- tinctive V-shaped radiator was the work teith, is the current owner. Sir Aymer of renowned motoring artist, Frederick found the car for sale in a Glasgow gar- Gordon Crosby, while its Sphinx mascot age and used it until 1939 when a uni- was a carry-over from Siddeley-Deasy, versal joint broke. 'UL 10'was then laid one of whose Knight sleeve valve- up in a barn on the estate until Sir Mi- engined models had been described as chael, the current vendor, disinterred it in 'silent as the Sphinx'. As one would ex- the mid-1960s and got it running again. pect of a company pre-eminent in the field of aero engine manufacture, Arm- In the early 1990s the Armstrong Sid- strong Siddeley built cars to the highest deley was loaned to the famous historic standards and soon gained a reputation racer and car collector, Neil Corner for for quality, its advertisements proudly use on his grouse moor. Neil totally re- declaring: 'You cannot buy a better car'. furbished the car, stripping and rebuild- Its Royal patronage was well deserved. ing the engine with new bearings, piston rings, etc and renewing the brake lin- Introduced for 1925, the 30hp Mark II ings, tyres, radiator, upholstery and so was a development of the original 30hp on. The owner has described its perfor- model of 1919, inheriting a heavily re- mance as 'exhilarating and exciting ra- vised version of its predecessor's ther than competitive', continuing: 'I do 4,960cc six-cylinder engine while at the not think anyone has dared to try going same time gaining four-wheel brakes. A over 60mph but it will hold eight in the favourite of the carriage trade, the 30hp back and two up front. The top gear per- remained in production until 1931, by formance is really very good.' which time some 2,700 had been made. Its original logbook shows that this car For many years this historic motor car was first registered to 'HRH Duke of was loaned to HM The Queen's San- York', whose address is given as '145 dringham Motor Museum on the Royal Piccadilly, W1'. The type of body is rec- Estate in Norfolk where it was one of the orded as 'shooting brake', indicating that most popular exhibits (see correspond- the car was delivered in this configura- ence on file). Its current mechanical con- tion and is not a later conversion. The dition is not known and thus careful re- second owner (from 1932) is listed as commissioning is advised before return- one George Balfour of Chiselhurst, Kent ing it to the road. and then Dunalastair, Perthshire. 'UL 10'

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Festival Dates Fri- day 16th – Sunday 18th October 2015.

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Supper Roster 2015-2016

Pam needs members to ar- range suppers for our monthly meeting, if you are able to help please contact her on 0400 278 807

October - Judy Frey February - Member Wanted November - Pam Giles March - Member Wanted December - Member Wanted April - Member Wanted

Club Merchandise Club Shirts $15:00, Club Jackets $25:00, Bumper Badges $20:00 Window Stickers $1:00 Contact Graham Tattersall on 5554 5659 or see him at a meeting to purchase any of these items

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* 1974 VW Superbug 1600 $1995.00 Good condition but needs attention. Restored 10 years ago, Contact Fernando for more information on 5537 1888 ** Engine hoist $200 ONO contact Janet of 55305969 *1983 Toyota Corona S/W. Good engine, automatic. Best offer. Gareth 55381148 * Nine Renault workshop manuals as listed below- Renault 760 by Scientific Magazines, Renault Dauphine by Renault (factory), Re- nault R10 by Intereurope, Renault R4 by Autopress, Renault 9 & 11 by Haynes, Re- nault 16 by Autobooks, Renault 18 by Haynes, Renault 12 by Haynes and Renault 30 by Autobooks, $65 ono for all nine, contact the editor.

Stories and your adds for the club newsletter, email the editor, all adds will run for 2 magazines, if you want to re-list contact the editor Peter A. Jones 0413 379 410 or email hem to the editor

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4213 Qld Mudgeeraba 228 PO Box to return If undeliverable Coast OfficialThe of the Gold Magazine Antique Inc. Club Auto

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