Looking back at the history of the automobile, no era provided more excitement than the late 1920s to early 1930s. America could indulge in Duesenbergs, Auburn Speedsters, and even V-16 powered Cadillacs for the richest of the rich, the French drove Bugattis and Figoni-et-Falaschi bodied Delahayes, whereas Her Majesty's Kingdom was blessed with coachbuilt Aston Martins, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys for its blue bloods.
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To vintage sports car enthusiasts worldwide, there is no car that can hold a candle to the Le Mans-conquering, Speed Six powered Bentley from the days of the Bentley Boys, perhaps a Bugatti being the sole exception. The price of admission to any surviving example lies between $500K and 1 Million, a price that almost doubles once a blower is at work. A period Aston Martin (never mind the rare Ulster Special!) is only marginally more "affordable," and even a Jaguar SS100, 4.5 Invicta, or Lagonda demands $200 Grand or more, if found to be in fine fettle.
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The bespoke-built, thus relatively unknown Dunsmores provide another rare alternative to a mighty Bentley. Jaguar-based Dunsmore Motor Traction Specials were being turned out at the rate of approximately 2 per year from a small blacksmith cottage situated in Stretton-on-Dunsmore, in the English Midlands. Manufactured by Old World craftsman Bill Hines with an unmatched dedication to quality and detail, each was fitted to the owner's preference while strictly adhering to pre-war appearance and chassis specification.
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Only a few Dunsmores have ever changed hands; the gorgeous example featured here, VIN *611212* is believed to be the only one residing in the U.S., titled as a 1947 Jaguar, determined by the 1947 Jaguar MkV which served as its base. After being imported to the States a few years ago, the car was a cherished centerpiece of a prominent collection of Specials until we were fortunate enough to acquire it recently. Click on the image to the left for another, XXL-sized image (a separate browser window will open) |
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Let's have a close look at this unique automobile now!
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Sporting resplendent British Racing Green livery, the boat-tailed Dunsmore shows off its breathtaking, timelessly sculptured coachwork, which is as captivating as a pre-Raphaelite painting.
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Typical for classic British roadsters, the weather equipment consists of a three-piece, snap-fitted, white tonneau cover. Those Brits are a hardy bunch, and Bill Hines once joked that he could have a good side business selling old, quality-made Royal Navy duffle coats.
Note ultra-traditional location of hand brake lever!
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Enormous 72-spoke wheels with center knock-offs are painted to match the body, have been fitted with a set of brand new, expensive BEDFORD FAMOUS COACH tyres of the size 700-17.
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The bonnet is held on by working leather straps. Hood side panels are fully removable. Engine compartment looks spotlessly clean; every component is easily accessible for routine servicing.
Jaguar's Walter Hassan-designed 3.8-litre DOHC engine is an engineering marvel as well as a visual delight!
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This particular power plant hails from a Jaguar MKII and was painstakingly reconditioned by Her Majesty's most reputable engine builder, VSE, just before the car left the Old Country. It has covered less than 2,000 miles since. Twin Skinner's Union carburettors provide the mixture, the 4.2 "Gold Head" is equipped for unleaded fuel, cast manifolds keep the noise level down; there are no annoying oil leaks. Power? North of 200 bhp, certainly adequate, to say the least!
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Close-ups of engine compartment. Check out the nicely designed copper hydraulic plumbing.
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Galvanized sheet steel and alloy form most of the body, which features a very glossy BRG finish; the rearmost part is 8mm plywood, sealed and painted before a layer of classic EVERFLEX vinyl fabric was added.
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Alloy dash sports a perfect array of old SMITHS gauges, switches, and levers. Interestingly, the complete dash assembly is easily removeable to provide access to wiring harness, if needed.
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Marvelous brass manufacturer's dash plaques, large, silver-faced 48-hour SMITHS clock, and chromed grab bar - all required options!
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Extra large, four-spoke steering wheel, electric overdrive with switch on steering column, external handbrake lever--everything is very easy to operate. Shift lever for the 4-speed-plus-Overdrive Jaguar transmission is close to wheel.
All lights, instruments, and switches work flawlessly!
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Vintage buckets seats are comfortable even for big and tall pilots, were fitted with DUNLOPILLO foam for comfort and upholstered with the finest, dark green CONNOLLY leather, piped in red. Footwells feature green salt-and-pepper-style felt carpeting, piped in red as well, and heavy duty rubber matting.
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So, is there a baggage compartment, you may wonder?
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Yes, indeed, the rear opens, alligator-style, to reveal a sizeable, felt-carpet-lined storage area behind the 12gl. fuel tank.
Note KING DICK tire jack, tool bag, and spanners.
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Dunsmore's sturdy chassis consists of a ladder frame with scuttle hoops and triangular reinforcement, where required. Drilled beam front axle features longitudinal leaf springs, rear has leaf springs as well, with inflatable shocks to adjust the ride height. A neat detail is the tow hitch. Imagine towing a teardrop trailer or vintage Norton or Triumph motorcycle behind the Dunsmore to the next show! Click on any of these images for a full-size view |
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Details of toothbrush clean, corrosion free undercarriage:
- stainless steel exhaust system
- large aluminum alloy oil sump
- beautiful, power-assisted Jag XK140 13" drum brakes
- period Andre-Hartford friction shocks
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Ready for a test drive? You bet!
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Monday, March 8, 2010 was another beautiful late winter day here in sunny San Buenaventura, and we couldn't wait to head out on the highway with the Dunsy.
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Flip up the toggle switch for the ignition, push an old-fashioned button, and the big Jaguar Six comes to life instantly. With the long-legged 3-litre Austin Westminster diff, top speed is said to be near the 115 mph mark for those who are brave enough to explore the limits piloting a pure bred, open cockpit roadster, able to touch the tarmac with a stringback-gloved hand. A true Dunsmore connoisseur would consider a Morgan flat-rad or Allard J2X a "softie" car. In fact, only one sports roadster built after WWII would compare, and that is the elusive HRG. Just like a Dunsmore, an HRG was already a collectors' item when it was new!
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While enjoying our motoring in the Dunsmore, perplexed onlookers more often than not gaze in admiration at the BRG refugee from a Golden Age of vintage sports cars. The car behaves impeccably: brakes are excellent, handling--once you've mastered the enormous turning radius--predictable, springing firm but not harsh, engine torquey and smooth. Even in traffic, the car never gets hot, thanks to the big, upright four-core radiator with thermostatically controlled fan.
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Driving the Dunsy feels a lot like stepping back in time. With the preferred, elbows-out driving position, you might even be mistaken for Jay Leno in one of his crowd-pleasers; in a nutshell, it's great fun being viewed as a true vintage motorist and adventurer, despite the superbly reliable mechanicals of your steed.
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If you always wanted to experience what it's like to pilot a 1920s Blower Bentley or 1930s Jaguar SS100, yet lacked the necessary funds or were reluctant to invest a six or seven digit amount in a car, the Dunsmore-Jaguar may present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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Dunsmore Motor Traction - Anglophile in heaven!
Addendum:
We sold this Dunsmore in March 2010 to a customer in Canada.
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