www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com WINTER 2016 WHITTLE’S ‘LITTLE TURBOJET GREY FERGIE’ THE INVENTION THAT THE TRACTOR THAT SHRANK THE WORLD REVOLUTIONISED FARMING IT’S A MATTER OF RECORD AUSTIN-HEALEY’S SUCCESS AT BONNEVILLE Dealer Spotlight 3 It’s A Matter Of Record 4-7 Classic Motorsport 8-9 New News From BMH 10 Classic Character 11 Whittle’s Turbojet 12-15 ‘Little Grey Fergie’ Is 16-17 70 Years Old Perfect Presents For 18-19 Petrolheads Above: ‘Bentley Boy’ Glen Kidston enjoyed much success at the wheel of WO’s cars, but had a spectacular accident in ‘Old Number One’ during the Ards TT of 1929 (Photo: LAT) Motoring Classics reproduction in whole or any part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission of the publisher This issue’s cover story recalls the epic winning the 1930 Le Mans race with is strictly prohibited. The publish- PLAYMINI speed record campaign conducted Woolf Barnato. He was also a record- er makes every effort to ensure by Donald Healey and his team on the breaking aviator and WWII submarine the magazine’s contents are correct 3 2 Bonneville salt flats in 1953, 1954 and commander who repeatedly cheated 3 but can accept no responsibility The Japanese love traditional Brit- FIA cars for sale. Constructed with me- specification examples – just as they 1956, and the role of unassuming for- death on land, in the sky, and on and for any effects from errors ish products and the classic Mini ticulous attention to detail and all the would have exited Longbridge or mer WWII RAF pilot Roy Jackson-Moore, under water for 32 years, until lady luck or omissions. comes high up their wish list, as knowledge accrued from Bill’s many Cowley in the day.” now 91 years young, who retains fond finally deserted him over mountains Nick Paddy established to his ad- years of competition, they cost around NB Motoring Classics is the printed memories of this golden period in the in South Africa. Surely few lives of any Other items that helped kick-start vantage back in the early ‘90s. £35,000 less engine – to which you and online publication of British Motor history of the Austin-Healey marque. length have been more action-packed? Playmini and are still available today are can add another £30,000 or so for a their Maximiser stainless steel exhaust Heritage and its retail trading arm. Issigonis’s baby was in his blood – dad winning powerplant from Swiftune. The systems and twin-carburettor kits – the We also celebrate two truly brilliant Brit- Still wondering what to buy your car-ori- Graham worked for Downton Engineer- Publisher: company can also create replacement latter feature either 11/ of 11/ inch ish inventions: ented friend or loved one for Christmas? ing and was a founding member of 4 2 British Motor Heritage Limited, MKI Mini shells courtesy of a donor car SUs and come ready to bolt straight Well fear not, for help is at hand in the Moss Europe – and it was one he’d Range Road, Cotswold Business and whatever BMH panels are required. on. Amazingly, all the above and much 1. It is 75 years since Sir Frank Whittle’s form of the Motoring Classics website, restored to perfection that sparked Park, Witney OX29 OYB, UK The lead time is six to eight months more is handled by just three peo- jet engine first took to the skies. His via which you can quickly and easily pur- an invaluable relationship with Sanwa Tel: +44 (0)1993 707200 ple: Nick himself; Andy Gamble who’s genius shrank our planet and, had chase anything from a leather key fob to Trading; Japan’s largest Mini parts and the cost a cool £12,000-£13,000, Email: [email protected] been with the company 24 years; and officialdom given him half the support he a replacement MGB bodyshell, or model and accessory company. “They lacked but, as Nick points out: “Interest in the ‘new boy’ Neil Smallridge who’s been deserved, it would probably also have Morris 1000 to a top-quality MG watch a reliable supplier, so I sold my car early Minis is growing fast and, while Editorial: shortened WWII and saved countless – the choice is almost endless at www. enthusiasts once wanted customised on board for a mere 20 years. For Gordon Bruce Associates and all other worldly possessions lives. For whatever reason, his inesti- motoringclassics.co.uk, as we reveal cars with fat arches over big wheels, more information on this fascinating Email: [email protected] to establish Playmini and meet their mable contribution to aviation is still yet on pages 18/19. the trend is now for standard company see www.playmini.co.uk. Web: www.gordonbruce.com demands. Twenty six years later we to be fully recognised – we make a tiny are still supplying them with parts for contribution to changing the tide Add MD John Yea’s final report on BMH’s Design and production: Classic Minis, BMW Minis and Land 2016 motorsport season, plus news of Rovers. We also export Lotus, Jaguar, Flipside Group 2. What Whittle was to flying, Harry a new five-speed gearbox conversion for www.flipsidegroup.com Caterham and Aston Martin items to Ferguson was to farming, and it’s 70 the MGB, and there is hopefully some- another major Japanese wholesaler. years since his innovative three-point thing for everybody to enjoy. All told, the land of the rising sun ac- linkage and hydraulic depth control were counts for no less than 80 percent of combined in the immortal ‘Little Grey Fer- A very happy Christmas to all our business and requires 2000 kilos Follow us on: gie’ tractor and revolutionised the world our readers! of air shipment every two weeks and @MotoringClassic of agriculture a 20ft sea container every three.” AUSTIN-HEALEYS AT BONNEVILLE, 1956. AUSTIN-HEALEYS AT Motoring Classics Our Classic Character this time is Glen Motorsport is close to Nick’s heart Kidston. A man of many talents, he and has created another string to the is arguably best-known as one of the Playmini bow. Not only does he race an CARROLL SHELBY, ROY JACKSON-MOORE, DONALD HEALEY CARROLL SHELBY, ‘Bentley Boys’ whose most memora- Gordon Bruce FIA Classic Mini with former Mini Miglia ble achievement with the marque was Editor champion Bill Sollis, but they also build COVER PHOTO: L TO R: TRUST) HERITAGE (IMAGE COURTESY OF BRITISH MOTOR INDUSTRY www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com quick to spot the potential this market of- Jackson-Moore recalls: “I was working at Austin contributed to the budget and a IT’S A MATTER OF fered his company, and for 1951 joined the Austin headquarters on 57th Street plan was hatched. forces with the Nash-Kelvinator Corpora- when Donald arrived and said, ‘you must tion to produce the Nash-Healey espe- be Roy and you are going to drive me BONNEVILLE, SEPTEMBER 1953 cially for it – indeed, the Nash is cred- half way around America in my car’, and Renowned as the venue of herculean ited with being America’s first post-war that’s exactly what I did for the next few record achievements by the likes of Ab sports car; beating the Corvette by two weeks. We covered thousands of miles Jenkins and John Cobb, the Bonneville years. In the Healey 100/4 he saw a car and the new Healey was very well re- Salt Flats in Utah comprise a flat sea of of far broader appeal that could neatly ceived – not least at the New York and salt covering 3,000 square miles some fill the gap between the MG TD and Jag- Miami Motorshows.” 4,228ft above sea level. The area is only uar’s XK120, which by 1952 were earn- operable for a few weeks each year and ing plenty of dollars for their respective It was Captain George Eyston, a director all record attempts have to be run and UK manufacturers. of Castrol and three times holder of the verified by the American Automobile RECORDAnd not just one either, but the hundreds broken by Austin-Healeys world land speed record, who suggested Association. Even minor undulations in So in 1953 he had Cunard ship the first record breaking would be a potent way the surface can be dangerous, so it is at Bonneville in 1953, 1954 and 1956 – Motoring Classics four pre-production 100/4s to New York of further publicising the newcomer in levelled before every attempt, while the recalls this golden period of the marque with the help of Roy and set forth on a promotional tour. the USA, and Bonneville the best venue. altitude inflicts an automatic power drop Jackson-Moore, now 91 years young, who was involved throughout. Continued overleaf> 4 5 Above, L to R: Carroll Shelby, Bonneville 1956; Bonneville’s official timing stand; the 1954 100/4 Endurance Car in full cry; the 1956 team with the 100/6 Endurance Car (Photos: MPL, National Motor Museum; and others). Right: The 1954 Streamliner that went on to record 192.62mph (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum) Donald Healey’s eponymous company 100mph), and, subject to a suitably en- newcomer was immediately renamed the built a prototype two-seater sports car couraging response, Healey planned to Austin-Healey 100. for display at the 1952 London Motor- build production versions in-house at his show. It was based on Austin A90 At- factory in Warwick.