Lot Ended
Description
Unique coachwork by Creed; historic car full of interest; quality body
restoration including professional paint
This intriguing car started
life as a standard factory 401 which left the works in January 1952. It was
delivered to Boshier and Pattenden Ltd in Chapel Field Road, Norwich as their
demonstrator and registered EVG 500. The two directors of Boshier and
Pattenden were the moving force behind the Snetterton Motor Circuit and were
extremely well connected - including selling Jaguars to Archie
Scott-Brown.
Just six months after delivery the car was
involved in a serious accident on the Norwich-Dereham road, driven by Peter
Pointer, an enthusiastic rally driver and part-owner of the Boshier and
Pattenden dealership. He was giving an airman a lift home who was tragically
killed in the accident.
The damage to the bodywork was significant,
although the chassis and running gear remained intact, and as a six-month-old
car at a time when cars were scarce and expensive, it was destined for another
life.
We understand that it was Peter Pointer who had the car rebuilt,
handing it to 'a tuning expert' Mr D Creed of Shepherds Bush who built it into
the car we see today. An extract from Autosport in January 1954 shows the new
car and claims a 110mph maximum....
By 1965 it was maroon and living in
New Barnet, changing hands in 1975 to Mr Waldron of Birmingham before joining
the Brian May collection sometime in the early 1980s.
Brian described the
car as having poor paintwork and was 'a bit tatty' when he got it which is why
he didn't use it much before deciding on a rebuild.
It had appeared at
the Bristol Owner's Club Concours in 1976 and caused quite a stir, the Manager
of Bristol Cars commenting that it had lost its original bulkhead post
accident, the first coachbuilt Bristol he had seen built in that
way.
There is some history on file which includes the buff logbook
(continuation) and the old style V5. There are also photos of the body
restoration which has been completed to a very high standard. At the time of
writing, what you see in the photos is what you get, so there is an interior to
sort out and a power train - not an issue with the alternatives on offer in
tomorrow's parts sale.
With so much of the hard work done, this
distinctive car deserves to live again.
Contact matthew.parkin@brighwells.com