1934 Crossley Regis 6

Description

• UNSOLD at Auction February 2024
• 9,000 miles since restoration
• £47,000 spent
• Photos, letters, invoices in a large history file
• Detailed ownership history
• Show winner

Some classics are simply ubiquitous. Beetles, Minis, Jags are just a few. There is a vanishingly small chance you’ll see one of these fabulous classics coming the other way. Very few were made. Even fewer survive.

This Crossley is historically important. According to the Crossley Regis Register, this actual car “is the second oldest Regis to survive.”

Background

Crossley Brothers Limited, Manchester built their first motor car in 1904. These were upmarket vehicles. Their focus was concentrated on vehicles for the middle classes. The marque gained popularity with British royalty.

The genesis of the Crossley Regis arrived when Scottish dealer agent Gordon C. McAndrew wanted a bespoke Crossley 10 for his personal use. He commissioned C. F. Beauvais of New Avon Coachbuilders to design the body. Crossley put Beauvais’ design into production priced at £365.

Launched in 1935, the Regis came with the fabulous Coventry Climax engine. Reports suggest a few dozen cars were built to special order with 1,650cc engines. This is one of them. A Wilson pre-selector gearbox and automatic clutch were standard equipment.

History

• First registered 21 December 1934
• That date is interesting. Crossley didn’t officially launch the Regis until 10 days later in 1935. It is reported that these early cars were only available to “family and friends” of the Crossley family.
• We are advised:
• First registered to Miss Baker of Orpington
• This Crossley then had three further keepers
• In 1972 Ron Wilsdon (founder of the Transport Trust) owned this Crossley
• Between 1986 -1992 this Crossley underwent a “total nut-and-bolt rebuild at a cost of £47,000”
• Bills, photographs and letters in the huge history file confirm this
• The car was then kept in Harlech, Wales
• It was known on the circuit of shows and rallies
• In 1992 it won Best in Show at its first outing
• The next owner was the editor of ‘Railway World’ & ‘Transport Trust’ magazines, Handel Kardas
• Handel passed away in 2000 and the Crossley passed into the ownership of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Trust
• It was used by the Trust as a VIP car
• The legendary Dame Vera Lynn is pictured with the car in the history file
• In 2009 the Trust put the Crossley into storage because some ham-fisted oaf crashed the gearbox and caused an engine fault
• After a period, it was sold, and the new owner had the engine rebuilt
• The Crossley passed to another owner in Hull where it formed part of a collection
• The Crossley then passed in 2014 to an owner in Leeds where it joined another collection

During its time there, we are told it was driven on a regular basis, attending shows and events. The Crossley has covered in the region of 9000 miles since the major restoration in 1992. Our vendor has enjoyed owning it since 2021.

Documents

• Copies of the original logbook
• A buff continuation logbook from the 60s
• There is a large amount of technical literature, including road tests
• A copy of an owner’s manual
• Invoices
• Photos

Inside

The interior is what you’d expect from a manufacturer who successfully targeted royalty – regal.

• Tasteful dark blue leather
• Given the Crossley’s mature years, the seats and door cards are remarkably good
• There are, of course, the usual marks which we think add rather than detract
• The woodwork is in good condition
• The inside is a throwback to a disappearing age of craftsmanship with some lovely original features

No-one would build a car like this today

Outside

Being truthful, we are taken with the looks of the Crossley, who wouldn’t be

• Beauvais’ original design holds a real air of elegance
• Sweeping wings and gracefully sloping boot
• Dual tone paint means the curves have taken on a fluid-like quality
• Complemented by a matching spare wheel cover on the boot, the wheels set the whole car off

Mechanicals

• We are told the Regis runs and drives well
• There is a marvellous video so you can judge for yourself
• The Coventry Climax engine needs little introduction. We all know the engine went on to power F1 cars in the 60s
• 1640cc JMC type engine
• 48bhp
• Zenith carburettor
• Overhead valve inlet, side exhaust operated by single camshaft
• Coil ignition
• Newton centrifugal clutch
• 12-volt electrics
• Wilson pre-selector gearbox

As this restoration is now about 25 years old, as you’d expect it has picked up the odd blemish, this is common sense really.

Summary

A rare and rather special car. Not only is it a running, driving, useable piece of British motoring history, it is historically significant. This actual car features prominently on the Crossley Register website. For a while, a Crossley Regis was on display at the Manchester Science Museum.

The demise of Crossley only came about because the demand for hand-made cars was declining. Ford and others were banging out mass produced cars and the writing was on the wall.

This is an unrepeatable opportunity, isn’t it? The second oldest remaining Crossley.

The lucky new owner has one job really. To be the custodian of this wonderful British classic and see it to its Centenary in a few years’ time.

We all looked at this classic when it came to us. We’re proud the owner chose our platform to bring it to market. One cheerful member of the team quipped, “I hope I’m in as fine fettle when I reach 100”. We’re too modest to reveal who that team member was – it begins with Crabbers.