Vauxhall's Historical Significance

The 1910 Prince Henry Vauxhalls are seen by many as the first British sports car.¹ In particular, the Vauxhall Motors 1910 20hp Engine C10.2. plays a unique part in British motoring history.²

A detailed paper about the ‘lives’ of engine C10.2. and chassis A11-517 has been prepared with an extensive list of references.² The following information briefly outlines the very impressive competition results of engine C10.2. between 1910-1912. This is followed by information about the export of the engine in chassis A11-517 to Australia in 1912, and the car accident about 15 months later, after which the crashed parts were out of sight and mind.² Some 68+ years later, a collection of Prince Henry Vauxhall parts was sold at Kyneton (Victoria, Australia) which were later identified by reference to the Vauxhall Motors Erection Shop Records, as engine C10.2. and chassis A11-517.² ³ Then after an extensive effort to gather information and find period appropriate parts, in 2023 a restoration of the parts as a replica of the 1911 Russian Trial Car, C10.2 A11-517 was completed.² ³

In April 1910, Vauxhall Motors introduced new C10 20hp 3-litre engines.⁴ As a means of marketing Vauxhall cars, the already well-established involvement in competition events (speed races, reliability trials and hill climbs) was continued.⁴ At this time, Vauxhall Motors modified competition engines frequently and there are very few factory records about changes made to engines, with different bodies, drivers and road registrations.² ³

In June 1910 engine C10.2. was in one of the three Vauxhall cars that were part of the Prince Henry of Prussia Trial which travelled 1200 miles on very poor roads with *“… an impressively reliable performance…”.*¹ ²

In addition to the many already established speed ‘wins’, on 26 October 1910, at Brooklands, 20hp engine C10.2. was in the first car to cover the flying half mile at 100.08mph.² ⁴

Percy Kidner (Director of Vauxhall Motors) drove the car with engine C10.2. in the Russian Reliability Trial of September 1911 over 1400 miles and won in his class.² ⁵ Then in February 1912, C10.2. was the engine in one of two cars entered in the Great Winter Reliability Trial of the Royal Swedish Automobile Club (600 miles) *“… which was regarded as a highly successful event for Vauxhalls…”*² ⁶ The motoring conditions in each of these trials were extremely challenging, which is further testimony of the performance of these cars, with engine C10.2. being common to each of the trials.² ⁵ ⁶

The Vauxhall Motors Erecting Shop Records were and remain a record of immense importance in relation to early Vauxhalls. Engine C10.2. and chassis A11-517 had a ‘Manufacture Date’ of 8/11/1911, which implied that the vehicle was then ready for sale.³

However, it is also noted that engine C10.2. was used in the Swedish Reliability Car Trial – hence was not available for sale until after that time in February 1912.² ⁴

Vauxhall Motors sold cars to the British ‘Colonies’ and the assembly of these, aside from modifications deemed necessary for the rigors of driving in the Colonies, sometimes included various mixes and matches of components no longer required by the factory.² ⁷

This partly explains how the assembly of engine C10.2 (with an extensive competition history in the UK and Europe) and chassis A11-517 (believed to be a reconditioning of the Russian Reliability Trial car) came about as a vehicle readied for sale to the Colonies.²

It is understood that H.V. McKay (owner of Sunshine Harvesters and Sunshine Motor Cars in Victoria, Australia) purchased this car.² In a book outlining the history of Melbourne, there is reference to McKay driving a Vauxhall while electioneering for a position in Federal Parliament in early 1913, and a newspaper record of McKay winning a hill climb at Wheelers Hill on 13 September 1913.² ⁸ There is another newspaper article which reports that McKay was driving the Prince Henry Vauxhall when he had an accident near Mangalore on 1st December 1913.² It appeared that the crash caused significant damage, as the car was not repaired nor the parts heard of again until the purchase of Prince Henry Vauxhall parts by Australian veteran Vauxhall enthusiast, John Ellis in 1981 at Kyneton (Victoria).² ³ When Ellis had the parts sand blasted, the now visible part numbers revealed that, with reference to the Vauxhall Motors Erecting Shop Records, the car was listed as engine C10.2 and chassis A11-517.³ In the collection of parts, of particular note was the original camshaft, stamped C10.2. which the owner of the car still has.² ³

Ellis liaised very closely with Nic Portway, British author of seminal books on early Vauxhalls to try and establish the history of C10.2.² ³ Portway visited Ellis in Adelaide in 1995 and 2001 and therefore was familiar with the parts that Ellis had bought. After considerable detailed ‘sleuthing’ Portway has indicated in writing to Ellis that he believes that the evidence is that Ellis has the ‘mortal remains’ of C10.2. A11-517.² Ellis has also documented all the details of the car that support this opinion.² ³

A complete restoration using original parts, period appropriate parts and in a few instances, replicas of original parts (including a new radiator and reverse engineered replica of the Russian Trial car) was undertaken by David Ford in 2023.² ³ He is a professional restorer of veteran and vintage cars, with a particular interest in Vauxhalls (Barry Ford and Sons, Stanthorpe, Queensland).² ³ He reports that the car runs really well – better than some 30-98’s!

David has indicated that he is happy to respond to any questions about the restoration.