Lot 032: 1921 CALTHORPE 10 HP MINOR

Apparently captivated by a similarly bodied Minor 10hp seen on the stand of Rock, Thorpe & Chatfield of Tunbridge Wells at the 1920 Motor Show, this charming Mulliner coupe with dickey seat was purchased new by Mr & Mrs C W Nettleton from the aforementioned firm of Coachbuilders & Motor Engineers on June 27th 1921 for the princely sum of ú555. Sold to their electrician (and fellow Tunbridge Wells resident) Mr H E Stoneham on October 10th 1924 for ú160, its next recorded keeper is Mr R G Godsmark of Louth (Lincs) who acquired it on September 8th 1955. Seemingly kept on the road by him until 1962 (or so a surviving tax disc would indicate), it then passed into the hands of the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society where it remained until December 13th 1989 when it was bought by motoring historian Michael Worthington-Williams. Put up for auction with Phillips at Alexandra Palace shortly afterwards, it was snapped up Dr M W P Ward of Harrogate for ú12,000. Relinquished by his family in 2003, it has been with the Cheshire based vendor ever since. Finished in green with grey cloth upholstery, KE 5683 is described by him as being in running order (though, it lacks a battery at present). Rating the bodywork as good and the interior as original, he notes that the transmission, chassis and wheels/tyres all "appear OK". A delightful accompanying copy letter apparently from the husband of first owner Mrs C W Nettleton to Mr R G Godsmark comments that "the car gave my wife every pleasure and it was by far the prettiest saloon in the whole district" (as well as alluding to Mr Nettleton's participation in the great Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race and the first London to Brighton run of November 1896). PLEASE NOTE: We have not had this vehicle running.