boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) It looks like Harold Steptoe may have indeed not only lived, but owned a scrapyard! But I’m intrigued by the little soft top sports car abandoned on the pile of scrap cars. It looks far too modern to be in amongst the rest of the salvage. Any ideas? Kevin Edited October 31, 2021 by boxofbits Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 A35 ? Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Good guess Mick certainly around that period, but the back end looks longer and more sculptured, and the wheels don’t look Austin? I wondered if it was a Jowett of some description? Whatever it is, pity it ended up there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, boxofbits said: Good guess Mick certainly around that period, but the back end looks longer and more sculptured, and the wheels don’t look Austin? I wondered if it was a Jowett of some description? Whatever it is, pity it ended up there! I thought Jowett too but wheels dont look right, also front wings are different and the front lifts as one piece. Stuart. Edited October 31, 2021 by stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 1950’s Ford 10 special? (E93a) The windscreen pillar looks a bit homemade. There were 101 models to choose from in those days. Mr. Steptoe looks like he’s about to punch the photographer. Charlie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 38 minutes ago, stuart said: I thought Jowett too but wheels dont look right, also front wings are different and the front lifts as one piece. Stuart. Hi Stuart Yes the rear wing looks slightly squarer on the Jowett and maybe a bit longer overall. But very close. Don’t know whether you agree but it looks like a production model to me and not a one-off special.., and definitely a British yard? Agree Charlie, Steptoe don’t look too ‘happy ! Could it be European? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 36 minutes ago, Charlie D said: 1950’s Ford 10 special? (E93a) The windscreen pillar looks a bit homemade. There were 101 models to choose from in those days. Mr. Steptoe looks like he’s about to punch the photographer. Charlie. But they were mostly fibreglass werent they? Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 This is an Austin A40 Sports Convertible which I’ve never seen tbh, but don’t think the lines match, but must be around this era 1952. Apparently this was designed with the help of Jensen. Have to keep an eye open at the NEC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 The wheels look like Morris: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Its a Buckler MK X as they were ally bodied Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 6 minutes ago, stuart said: Its a Buckler MK X as they were ally bodied Stuart. Think you’ve got a result there Stuart! I’d never even heard of them, but having looked it up, made by Derek Buckler Sports Cars. Apparently he used Ford E93a running gear which explains the wheels. You weren’t for off the mark Charlie! Agree very like Morris wheels too. What a pity no one saved it. http://bucklercars.com/ Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 This is one of his models. Makes you wonder whether Colin Chapman was influenced by it for the Elan. Lovely design for the era. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Just now, boxofbits said: Ford E93a running gear which explains the wheels. Those don't look like E93a wheels though Kevin - they had oblong slots not segment holes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 17 minutes ago, RobH said: Those don't look like E93a wheels Agree Rob, After I wrote "Ford special” I looked up pictures of the Pop and Prefect and noticed that the wheel hole shape was different. I then spent ages looking for wheel holes that matched, but found none. Nothing to stop Mr. Buckler’s customers fitting different wheels though. I tend to agree with Stuart, but I think the windscreen pillar looks different. But again, if the body was sold as a kit there was noting to stop the home builder making his own screen frame to save a bit of money. 1950’s kit cars and specials were mainly Bitzas from what I’ve seen. (This reall is a fun way to spend a wet Sunday afternoon.) Charlie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 According to Motorsport, Buckler didn't do bodies though he did recommend suppliers, so there would be many variations car to car. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1985/35/buckler Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Not a Somerset then Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 (edited) You scampered off early Roger, didn't get a chance to chat Bob Edited October 31, 2021 by Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 A bit frightened to drive home in the dark. I did look for you when I left but you were hiding somerwhere. We'll catch up another day. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 You should get some decent LED headlamps Seriously, I drove home from Bexhill last week in the dark, & did not have a problem with seeing ahead of me. What reflector (lamp) units do you have ? Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 My CheapochinkylEDS work well. I had my one beer and thought I would get home and put the car to bed in the light. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 2 hours ago, RogerH said: Not a Somerset then Roger Kind of Roger. There’s one upside down at the back… Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 4 hours ago, boxofbits said: I’d never even heard of them, but having looked it up, made by Derek Buckler Sports Cars. Kevin, Not sure of your age, but for my friends and myself the late 1960’s was a time to dream about sports cars, and Ford Specials and Austin 7 Specials were the only option we could afford There was one in for sale in Leamington Spa for (I think) £50. My dad told me “No way are you having that thing!” (He would be the one to insure it.) So I did not buy it. The registration (I still remember…) was LUV 21. My £50 would have been a good investment (Had I still got it.) I used to walk past an abandoned Austin 7 special (Fiberglass body) on my to work every day. It was sitting in a factory car park, so eventually I went in and asked if it was for sale. They told me if I could take it away I could have it for free. I took it home, cut up a Triumph Herald chassis to make it fit under the body, but eventually gave up and scrapped it. However, here is a site to show the cars we could have bought in those days. https://www.fordspecials.co.uk/index.html Charlie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dic Doretti Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Have just fitted a similar set of wheels to my Citroen. They are Rubery Owen Easiclean wheels and popular in the 1940s and 1950s and correct for a 1949 Slough built Citroen. Cheers Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted October 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 49 minutes ago, Charlie D said: Kevin, Not sure of your age, but for my friends and myself the late 1960’s was a time to dream about sports cars, and Ford Specials and Austin 7 Specials were the only option we could afford There was one in for sale in Leamington Spa for (I think) £50. My dad told me “No way are you having that thing!” (He would be the one to insure it.) So I did not buy it. The registration (I still remember…) was LUV 21. My £50 would have been a good investment (Had I still got it.) I used to walk past an abandoned Austin 7 special (Fiberglass body) on my to work every day. It was sitting in a factory car park, so eventually I went in and asked if it was for sale. They told me if I could take it away I could have it for free. I took it home, cut up a Triumph Herald chassis to make it fit under the body, but eventually gave up and scrapped it. However, here is a site to show the cars we could have bought in those days. https://www.fordspecials.co.uk/index.html Charlie. You’re right Austin 7 and Ford E93a did yield a lot of parts for Specials back then, as were Standard Triumph parts. Good times. I can remember if you couldn’t buy a road going car, a quick scour of the neighbour’s gardens would usually turn up something cheap up on blocks. Failing that the local railway goods yard! Sounds like Luv 21 would’ve been a good investment. Perhaps you could’ve tweaked it to read Luv2! I think I paid £40 for a Standard 8 with a 10 engine back then...albeit in a very sorry state! Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deggers Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 1 hour ago, boxofbits said: I think I paid £40 for a Standard 8 with a 10 engine back then . . . Brings a tear to a fellow's eye seeing how much some of these "old crocks" are worth today. There goes a nice little addition to the pension pot! Advertised on Carandclassic.co.uk this week : 1947 3.5 litre Jaguar MkIV. Yours for £65,000. Deggers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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