Tag Archives: Vincent

More Homemade Than Most – Trenberth Vincent

In 1951 Murray Trenberth set out to design and build today’s featured competition car from his premises in South Australia.

Trenberth Vincent, Kerry Horan, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

The 35lb frame was built from 3 inch tubes, with a wheel base of 86″ front track 50″ and rear track 49″.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

The lower front wishbones were made from square tubing while the top were fabricated from sheet metal, Murray also fabricated his own uprights which are connected to the wishbones by rose joints and the tiny one off rack and pinion steering.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

The rear swing axle suspension was fabricated from tubes and originally suspended by rubber cut from 6″ by 16″ inner tubes, today bands from truck tarpaulin fasteners are used, Murray incorporated roller bearings into his rear hubs, he was also responsible for devising all of the drive components.

Trenberth Vincent, Kerry Horan, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

Murray based the braking system on photograph’s of pre war Mercedes Benz Grand Prix cars which includes four specially cast nickle chrome brake drums with alloy wheel centres, cast alloy brake shoes, dural wheel cylinders and stainless steel pistons, he even made the chromed steel copies of Renault wheel rims that bolt to the brake drums.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

Adelaide Vincent agent, Sven Kallins was given the responsibility of supplying a new 80hp Vincent Black Lightning V twin engine and gearbox for running in the up to 1 litre / 61 cui class and a Vincent Comet engine was upgraded to 35hp competition Series C Grey Flash spec and coupled with a Norton gearbox for the up to 500cc / 30.5 cui class as seen in these photographs.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

All of this hard work paid off, on his debut in the car Murray recorded fastest time of the day at Collingrove Hillclimb in South Australia and went on to win the South Australian Hillclimb championship, finish second in the Australian Hillclimb championship, record the out right lap record at Port Wakefield Circuit in South Australia, finish fifth in the 1955 Australian Grand Prix, 1st in the 1956 Reno Trophy Altona Circuit, Victoria, among 150 race, sprint and hillclimb wins.

Trenberth Vincent, VSCC Spring Start, Silverstone

In 1960 Australian Speedway Sidecar champion Don Willison bought the Trenberth Vincent and raced her up until his death in 1973, Kerry Horan, seen driving the car in these photographs at Silverstone and Castle Combe, became the Trenberth Vincents sixth owner in 1990.

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Imports – Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance

Welcome to the third and final installment of our trip to Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance courtesy of Geoffrey Horton who has kindly shared his photographs from the event.

Rolls Royce 20/25 Vincent Van, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Among the imports this I find this 1933 Rolls Royce 20/25 Vincent Van charming in much the same way as the Paper Boys 1929 Rolls Royce Twenty I looked at earlier this year.

Bentley 4 1/4 Sports Saloon, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Austin and Barbra Kilburn’s 1938 Park Ward bodied 4 1/4 litre ‘Derby’ Bentley chassis #B165LE was awarded third place in the Bentley class.

Cisitalia 202 Aerodynamica Berlinetta, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Eight of the top nine positions in the 1947 Mille Miglia were secured by cars with an engine capacity of less than 1100 cc / 67 cui, this Cisitalia 202 Aerodynamica Berlinetta driven by Inico Bernabei and Tullio Pacini finished 2nd in class and 3rd overall behind the winning 3 litre Alfa Romeo and the class winning sister Cisitalia 202 Spyder driven by the legendary Tazio Nuvolari and Francesco Carena.

Allard K2 Roadster, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Winner of the Arcane Oddities and Rarities class was David Rossiter who’s 1951 Allard K2 Roadster strikes a pose above.

Jaguar XK140 FHC, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Despite his 1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC SE/MC looking more pristine than ever and being fitted with an all important otter switch judges decided to award Geoffrey and Gayle Horton 2nd place in the Jaguar Sports Cars class, I’m sure you will join me in offering them sincerest congratulations and better luck next time.

Porsche 911 E, Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance

Finally above is a 1970 Porsche 911 E, I believe chassis # 911 022 0224, belonging to George Jewett who was awarded 3rd in the Porsche class.

My thanks again to Geoffrey Horton for sharing the photo’s that have graced these photo’s for the last three days.

I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 1975 Formula One challenger. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Lightweight – Buckler Daimler DD2

In 1957 Buckler started manufacturing frames for it’s DD2 model like the 1958 example seen here at the Bristol Motor Club’s Family Club Day at Castle Combe.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

This was built as a “lightweight” at the Buckler works for Les Hall.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

DD2’s were fitted with a variety of motors including Ford, Daimler , MG and in one instance a Vincent V twin from a motorcycle.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

It is thought Les Hall’s car originally had a Morris motor fitted.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

DD2’s were fitted with a variety of proprietary fiberglass bodies, today’s car is fitted with a Mistral body, others were made by Falcon, Convair and AKS to name a few.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

At some point today’s car was acquired by Malcolm Buckler, son of founder Derek, and shipped to the Isle of Isle of Man sans motor on top of a cargo of building stone.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

Later the car was acquired by Malcom’s brother in law Kieth Ambrose and his son Simon credited with putting the car back on the road with a Daimler V8.

Buckler Daimler DD2, BMC Family Club Day, Castle Combe

It is thought that a journalist Mr (Alan ?) Burgess may have been the first person to fit a SP250 Daimler V8 to a DD2, it thought this car might have been used for drag racing, but evidence in the form of a race programme or photographs have yet to surface to confirm this.

If you have any information to support this hypothesis please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Lightweight” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a BRM. Don’t forget to come back now !

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