Theourna Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Issue 197 March-April 2002 The Story of the British Car Tag by Bryan Goodman he introduction of a compl etely new system of registration marks in September 2001 prompts this article. Doubtless there has been interference from Brussels www.autohistory.org. T involved as my country loses its independence to Europe. The feature of our system so appreciated by motor historians is the fa ct that regis­ trations are assigned to a vehicle for its lifetime regardless of subsequent owners or changes of domicile. We can look at pictures of early cars and positively identify them. Inside lt is only with the personal or cherished number owner where the system fails. In the early years some owners liked to keep their first numbers and transferred them to sub­ sequent cars. A local fri end drives with FX-3 on his car. This was his grandfather's num­ Editorial Comment 2 ber in 1904. Until 1896 Britain had severe limitations on motor vehicle use with legislators pro-horse and anti-motor car. lt was necessary for all self-propelled vehicles to be pre­ President's Perspective 3 ceded by a man on foot. He carried a red fiag , but in the last years before 1896 the fiag was not strictly necessary. His job was to hold the heads of horses while the vehicle SAH News 4 passed or to lead the horses past the vehicle. lt was to celebrate the repeal of the 'Loco­ motives on Highways Act' on 14th November 1896 that the first London to Brighton run was held. The Act allowed vehicles of less than three tons unladen weight to travel Member News 5 at the dizzy speed of 14 miles per hour. Britain's restrictions had allowed Germany and France to be well ahead of Britain in 1896. continued on page 7 "Gerald Pa lmer: 6 Multi-talented, Quiet Achiever" by Cavin Farmer Obituaries 8, 10 Terry Ehrich Larry Lehmkuhler Rick Lenz Book Review s 9 One Man's Vision: The Life of Automotive Pioneer Ralph R. Teetor Bristol Cars- A Brooklands Portfolio This three and one-half horsepower Benz car was bought by a Reigate doctor in 1900 The Billboard 11 and first registered on 1st january 1904. The author purchased it from the doctor's son in 1957. The car is still in use and the author still lives in Reigate and the car still has its original registration of P-275. The Thrill is Not Gone the purchase of another ca r. This would­ vans, which we would n't even consid­ n't be easy. After years of holding the er-on philosophical grounds, and all normal, quite utilitarian view of the car the rest. lt seemed so easy to lump them as an individually owned, or leased, all together-nondescript bodies, indis­ mode of transporting persons and ca rgo tinguishable interiors, cutesy rear spoil­ from one locati on to the next, she had ers . Of course they all had fold-down Thomas S. Jakups, Editor co me around to my rather abnormal rear seats, keyless entry and zero percent view of the car as personal chariot. She fi nancing. Oh, where was the thrilJI ou could say 2001 ended with a had bought the Celica in 1995 specifi ­ Sobered to the new rea lity of car bang at my household-the cally because of its styling and perform­ buying we visi ted several dealerships for Y bang of my 18-year-old son with ance, and in the last few years they had test drives. What we found were cars his three-week-old license ramming into bonded. A worthy replacement would with clean designs, strict attention to the side of a car driven by a woman who have to be found, and, with that $1,000 detail , excell ent performance and great expected him to see a signal she did not repair bill fres h in her mind, it would maneuverability. We bought a Honda apply and then have the courtesy to stop have to be a brand spanking new car. Prelude, which had all of the above and when she turned in front of him. o one Of course we hadn't bought a new a non-gimmicky style and common was injured, but my wife's 1991 Toyota car si nce 1986. So we excitedly pored sense simplicity to its instrumentation. Celica GT-S, upon which we had lav­ over various car magazines and buying It was, dare l say it, a desirable car­ ished $1 ,000 in repairs two days earlier, guides looking to be captiva ted. The cars and, oh yes, it was in its last year as a was totaled. seemed to fall into four categories: model-definitely a collectable in 20 After a respectable three days of tempting but impractical two-seaters, years. mourning, judy and I sat down to plan unaffordable status symbols, SUVs and -Tom jaJwps Q!J[[l~,l ~ J Issue 197 March-April 2002 Officers Publications Committee SAH Journal (ISSN 1057-1973) Dale K. Wells President Christopher C. Foster, Chair is published six times a year by the Joseph S. Freeman Vice President Taylor Vinson Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. Michael Berger Secretary Thomas S. Jakups Christopher C. Foster Treasurer Michael Lamm Subscription is by membership Beverly Rae Kimes in the Society. Board of Directors Through October 2002 Membership du es are $40 per year. Charles W. Houser Darvin Kuehl Past Editors Send dues, membership inquiries Cregg Merksamer Richard B. Brigham and changes of address to Through October 2003 Issues 1-29 Sept. 1969-(undated) 1973 James J. Schild Robert Ebert Society of Automotive Historians, Inc, Samuel V. Fiorani C. Marshall Naul 1102 Long Cove Road Through October 2004 30-50 July 1973-Dec. 1976 Cales Ferry, CT 06335-1812 USA Darwyn H. Lumley Paul Lashbrook John Peckham Leroy Cole 51-59 Feb. 1977 -July 1978 ©2002 Walter Cosden The Society of Automotive Historians, Inc. SAH Journal 60-87 Nov. 1978-Dec. 1983 Thomas S. Jakups Find the Society of Automotive Historians Editor, Advertising Manager Richard B. Brigham on the web at www.autohistory.org 37 Wyndwood Road 88-117 Jan.jFeb. 1983-Nov./ Dec. 1988 West Hartford, CT 06107 USA Christopher C. Foster Copy Deadline for Journa/198 860-236-0125 Fax 860-232-0468 118-157 Jan.jFeb. 1989-July/Aug. 1995 email: [email protected] Samuel V. Fiorani April23rd [email protected] 158-194 Sept.jOct. 1995-Sept./Oct. 2001 2 SAH journal No. 197 Show and Tell-2002 design." Although Ab jenkins set more newspaper featured a front page article than 70 new speed records with those about a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle exhib­ Auburns, the buying public did not visit ited by GM. Interestingly, three of my the showrooms with enough buying en­ friends attended the recent Detroit Auto thusiasm to save the company. Show and there were so many cars on By the end of the decade Edsel Ford display and such crowds in attendance Dale K. Wells, President . commissioned the Lincoln Continental, only one of the three could find the GM ow is the time of the year when and Harley Earl brought out the famous car am idst all the new SVVs and pickup the auto shows are displaying Buick Y-Job. The latter was strictly a con­ trucks. There may be two messages here. N new models and concept cars . cept car since it was never placed in pro­ First , alternative fu el vehicles seem The philosophy seems to be that unique, duction, but it. served to introduce styling to be in our future. Eventuall y, in 50 one-of-a-kind cars will bring out the themes which became very evident when years, 100 years, or 1,000 yea rs, the public, and they will gaze at and thirst the 1942-1948 Buick models were de­ world will probably run out of economi­ for a new car and buy the latest model of signed for production. Those styling cally available oil It has taken 100 years their choice. themes included the grille, the bombsight to bring the automobile to its present Up until the 1930s it appears the hood ornament and the fender line flowing state of hi gh technology and effici ency. auto industry was busy enough improv­ onto the doors. This latter feature was used It seems only logi cal and prudent to ing on the existing "concepts" and were by Cadillac on the 1941 60-Special sedans develop some serious alternatives before content to leave most custom designs to and the other GM cars for 1942. the oil gets too expensive or runs out. the custom body builders for those who Not to be left out of the concept Sad to contemplate, but as historians wanted something unique, different or movement, Chrysler built several Thunder­ (and, many of us, car collectors) we will personalized. The regular auto manufac­ bolt and Newport models in 1941 and probably leave our descendants a nice turers had various roadsters and phaetons took them on tour to dealers' showrooms. collection of gasoline powered antiques for the sporty crowd, but the everyday Our local Chrysler garage had a suitable only for museum display for buyer opted for a practical family sedan Thunderbolt on display and every 15 min­ lack of inexpensive fuel substitutes. or touring car. utes someone had to operate the electric con­ The second message inferred from Things changed during the De­ vertible metal top just to please the visitors. the popularity of SUV-Pi.ckup-Van mod­ pression years when many manufacturers After Word War ll there was little els is that people want and need vehicles designed special show cars for the 1933 immediate need for concept cars since that CARRY PEOPLE AND THINGS.