Ford based special ?

[moffspeed]

Just won some predominantly Austin Healey/Triumph memorabilia at auction. Some fabulous period photos including this one of the best man deviously planning to insert a fish onto the exhaust manifold of a wedding car Healey 100S...

Edited by moffspeed on Tuesday 23 March 21:34

[moffspeed]

..but further down the album this pretty 2 seater adorned by the chosen bride. I'm guessing early grp Ford-based special, initial thought was Dellow but I think they all had rear ends covered in spare wheels.

Any ideas?

[john2443]

moffspeed said:

Just won some predominantly Austin Healey/Triumph memorabilia at auction. Some fabulous period photos including this one of the best man deviously planning to insert a fish onto the exhaust manifold of a wedding car Healey 100S...

It's a 100, not 100S - they had an oval grille BUT it's still around - taxed until June 2021!

[nicanary]

moffspeed said:

..but further down the album this pretty 2 seater adorned by the chosen bride. I'm guessing early grp Ford-based special, initial thought was Dellow but I think they all had rear ends covered in spare wheels.

Any ideas?

Fiat Balilla ?

[moffspeed]

I think you’re right! It makes sense as the cluster of photos that I now own show several other Balillas in competition- but I’d never seen a rear end shot of the car, hence the confusion.

Those rear lights look non standard though - ? Early Morris Minor units.

[Allan L]

The Balilla has a post-war registration mark so may have been a post-war import. Anyway twin rear lamps to comply with modern British regulations were a normal modification for all pre-war cars in the 1950s/60s

[moffspeed]

Despite the kipper in the engine bay the couple got away on their honeymoon...

The big Healey squats as it accelerates away outside Worcester Park station.

Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 24th March 20:09

[Riley Blue]

moffspeed said:

I think you’re right! It makes sense as the cluster of photos that I now own show several other Balillas in competition- but I’d never seen a rear end shot of the car, hence the confusion.

Those rear lights look non standard though - ? Early Morris Minor units.

Lucas L549.

[moffspeed]

Riley Blue said:

moffspeed said:

I think you’re right! It makes sense as the cluster of photos that I now own show several other Balillas in competition- but I’d never seen a rear end shot of the car, hence the confusion.

Those rear lights look non standard though - ? Early Morris Minor units.

Lucas L549.

Thanks for that R.B. I'm sifting through this wonderful stack of photos, this one will probably tickle your fancy. a wonderfully rakish Riley Brooklands - this car is still an active racer I believe.

[Riley Blue]

moffspeed said:

Thanks for that R.B. I'm sifting through this wonderful stack of photos, this one will probably tickle your fancy. a wonderfully rakish Riley Brooklands - this car is still an active racer I believe.

Nice, very nice. When I was Googling 'Fiat Balilla rear view' and discovered that just about every rear view showed different back lights, I found a Brooklands described as a Balillia, presumably just because it was red - the blue diamond was clearly visible too.

[moffspeed]

Our Balilla enthusiast had many other photos of these little Fiats in his collection.

So here is a front view of a Balilla taking part in a Trial on Burway Hill, Shropshire. I'm guessing mid 50's, D.C. (David) Manning is at the wheel.

[moffspeed]

Our man was obviously a proper petrol head as he had an eye for the modern stuff as well as pre-war Fiats. This photo was taken by a professional photographer at a London Motor Club rally on 16th April 1955. Maybe he owned this rather tasty long-door TR2 in which case he's allowed the wife to do the hard work.

Note what looks like an Allard P2 Safari in the background, one of only 10 made.

"NRW" re-appeared as a basket case at auction about 10 years ago and was V5C'd again in 2018.