Les Burrows, Terraplane Special; the primotipo website suggests that this photo is from the Australian GP, Lobethal, South Australia, 1939. (photo by Hal Coulson, Herald and Weekly Times; State Library of Victoria) (Edit: the front does have a bit of a tractor look.)
Something obliquely relevant came up on Facebook: "Toyota Toyopet Race Car "Kiichiro Toyoda the founder of Toyota developed the idea in the late 40’s Japan for in the creation of racing cars based on the ladder frame chassis and running gear of a 1949 Toyopet Model SD saloon, powered by a 4-cyl 995cc (25hp) engine. "These would be built not by Toyota but by dealerships. There were plans for six vehicles but it would appear that only two dealerships took up the project, with two completely different designs. "The main purpose was to promote sales of the Toyopet saloons by taking part in automobile races, but unfortunately this failed."
I don't know anything about this car and driver other than this one photo; three exhaust pipes visible but there looks to be six exhaust tips at the back. [10th Rob Roy Hill Climb, June 7, 1946; George Thomas photo, State Library of Victoria]
Australian Grand Prix, Bathurst, NSW (probably pre-WW2) Australian Consolidated Press/Consolidated Press; State Library of New South Wales
N. Andrews driving a Stewand, 14th Rob Roy Hill Climb, 1947 [George Thomas photo, State Library of Victoria] Apart from this one photo I haven't found anything else about this car.
#1) from the current owner...Tim Williams:After 52 years off the road, 47 years of ownership and almost 5 years in restoration SNX 640 is at last back on the road, unfortunately not with the original BMW 328 engine or subsequent Coventry Climax but with the ubiquitous tuned side-valve and Buckler type C close ratio gearbox. Hopefully can now have some fun and get it to some meetings. #2) after further inquiry....I asked about the history of the BMW 328 engine. This is the reply I got...the car was built by Bill Perkins, a successful trials and hillclimb competitor in 1955 using a highly tuned ex Gillie Tyler 328 engine and Hurth racing gearbox previously used in an HRG. Records indicate that it was successfully hillclimbed from 1956-59 before being sold at an asking price of £490! ( see Lotus the first ten years and Lotus the story of the marque books by Ian H Smith.) Probably found further down in the comments of the post. #3) Then last images gives some more light on the history of the car.
Only this one photo of this car; I think the engine is a 6 cylinder MG, going by the rocker cover, the rocker cover bolts/nuts and the coolant manifold. (I was surprised to learn, recently, that there were 6 cylinder MG's in the 1930's.) 11th Rob Roy Hill Climb, 24 Nov. 1946; George Thomas photo, State Library of Victoria
12th Rob Roy Hill Climb, Apr 20, 1947; George Thomas photo - State Library of Victoria Edit: driver is G. Webber
Arthur Wylie driving his Wylie car at the 1940 Rob Roy Hill Climb; F. H. Hince photo, State Library of Victoria
Just this one photo of this car. 10th Rob Roy Hill Climb, June 7, 1946; George Thomas photo, State Library of Victoria Edit: caption to this photo is ' "Joe Dixie" driving a Fraser Nash Special'. "Joe Dixie" must be a pseudonym used by the driver.
Alf Barrett in his BWA Special at Rob Roy Hill Climb 1946, 1947 and 1948. I learn from the terrific primotipo website that the BWA was an MG TC chassis, Lancia front end and steering box, Lancia wheels and brakes and 1935 Chev truck drive shafts, powered by a 1.5 litre supercharged Meadows 4 cylinder engine from a Frazer-Nash. Primotipo also tells me that Barrett was a top Aussie racing driver back then. The middle photo is by George Thomas and all three photos are from the State Library of Victoria.
Another pic of a car I posted earlier. In this pic, on the radiator I can read 'Derby'. Same driver, same car number 8. VSCC [Victorian Sports Car Club?] speed trials, June 16, 1947; George Thomas photo/State Library of Victoria. Edit: driver is G. Webber
Great photos, from the front end and narrow rear track, this car looks like it was Frazer Nash based.
Stueeee - you are correct. The photo on the SLV's website has the caption ' "Joe Dixie" driving a Frazer Nash special, 10th Rob Roy Hill Climb'. I had seen that caption before but my notes are not well organised. ["Joe Dixie" may have been used by the driver as an alias.]
Doug Whiteford driving the Kaye Special with Ford Flathead V12 power. Photos by George Thomas and both are from 1946, the 10th and the 11th Rob Roy Hill Climbs. State Library of Victoria
It turns out my friend owns this car, he found it on a farm a number of years ago. It was a factory racer that made it's way out here in the 30's. In it's lifetime it has had 4 bodies in total, 2 single seat & 2 two seater's
Outback: that must have been quite a find for your friend. In the photo that I posted Tim Joshua might be the driver, but for some reason using the 'Joe Dixie' alias. Look at the two Cadillac photos that I posted previously: the last photo's caption says that Tim Joshua is the driver and I think there's a resemblance between him and the driver of the Frazer-Nash. With that in mind, I searched 'Tim Joshua primotipo' and a couple of references to Joshua came up on the Oz 'primotipo' website, including a photo of the Frazer-Nash.
Hercules 25 HP, 14th Rob Roy Hill Climb, 1947; George Thomas photo, State Library of Victoria. Union Jack on the bonnet; the attachment of the front of the springs looks distinctive; British chassis?
Really in joying pics of these old specials, but just realized, safety equipment never heard of. Short sleeve shirt & no helmet. Go for it & have fun
From the latest Crankhandle Club (Cape Town) newsletter: Herbert Case's 1934 Ford V8 special, shown here with its later '35 grille and Queenstown registration. Case taking the flag for second place in the 1934 South African Grand Prix at East London. Bill Ross Hudson special, I believe at the same event. Bloemfontein registration.
There's an Alvis badge on the front but it looks like Ford V8 power. Road registered but this seems to have been common for 'specials' back then. Photos by B. Rice, Australian Consolidated Press and Consolidated Press; Mitchell Library/State Library of New South Wales
Allard with Ford V8 power; independent beam front suspension? Not built in back yard or local workshop but hopefully still qualifies as a Special. It looks quite new in these photos. [edit: I have added the cockpit pic - there is a 'Running In' label in top centre of windscreen and a large 'ALLARD EXPORT' label at the top left corner] I can't identify the middle car in the last photo. B. Rice photos; Australian Consolidated Press & Consolidated Press; Mitchell Library/State Library of New South Wales [edit: Wiki tells me that the Allard is a J2 model from 1950-52; an Ardun hemi conversion was an option; Zora Duntov worked for Allard at one point.]
Yes, the Allards had 'swing axle' front suspension with the Ford beam split in the centre and 'Silentbloc' rubber/metal bushes used at the pivots. The unidentified middle car looks like it could be an MG Y type saloon.
I think he's referring to the pic of the three cars 'racing' (I think its staged). We've seen another pic of the car on the right, but not the one in the middle.
The Jalopy Journal
