Vehicles
SUNBEAM 3 litre 1913
MG TA 1937
MG M type 1930
AUSTIN A35 1956
CITROEN Traction Avant 1938
MORRIS OXFORD De Luxe 1914
AUSTIN 7 SWALLOW 1931
IBEX Record Breaker Dentz powered 1990
WOLSELEY 10hp 1937
HILLMAN Minx Mk VIII 1956
FORD TT Charabanc 1919
MORRIS OXFORD Bullnose 1925
MERCEDES 300 C 1956
BMW ISETTA Bubble Car 1959
HILLMAN HUSKY 1967
DAIMLER Limousine 1972
GENERAL ELECTRIC 1899
MESCHERSCHMITT Micro Car 1982
SCAMP 13A type Electric Car
AUSTIN A50 1956
PACKARD Straight 8 (Golfers Coupe)
MINI Woody 1959
MORRIS MINOR De-Luxe Saloon 1961
HUMBER Super Snipe 1961
CHRYSLER Evening News Van 1926
JAGUAR XJ- S V12 1989
SINGER TT 1935
WOLSELEY 15/60 1960
SUNBEAM RAPIER Fastback 1973
COOPER Sprint 1956
VAUXHALL J14 Saloon 1948
VAUXHALL 10 Saloon 1939
FORD TT Charabanc 1919
This charabanc was fitted with a three banker first, the present four replaced it in the early twenties. It could now carry 14 passengers plus the driver, and still has its hackney plate that authorises this. Its working life was spent in a hotel at Cairnbaan on the Crinan Canal carrying residents and holidaymakers on tours of the district. We found it in a collapsed bothy, and after protracted bargaining managed to purchase it. The roof of the bothy had to be jacked up, and then the chara was levered out with the help of a telegraph pole. It was then restored and performs very well. A Supaphord transfer box is fitted which gives four forward speeds in place of two.
CHRYSLER Evening News Van 1926
This was one of a fleet of seven similar vans used by the Edinburgh Evening News, the others were Austins and has long since been scrapped. Vans like this were a regular sight in and around Edinburgh until retirement in !952 when it was sold to the Sword collection. When that collection was sold it returned to the News being used for publicity, but lack of space forced a second retirement and we purchased it. It is a very smooth and reliable runner with plenty of power, but not very comfortable , most of its space being reserved for the newspapers.
MORRIS OXFORD de Luxe 1914
This is probably the earliest surviving de Luxe. It spent most of its life at a garage near London, latterly used for publicity purposes. It was driven home from London in 2 days and has since been restored. The 3 inch king pin play at the rim of the front wheels has been eliminated and the coachwork painted. It is one of 3 of its type in Scotland. Top speed is 50 mph and it will do 50 miles to the gallon.
MG M type 1930
This was probably the first cheap sports car. It is small and has an equally small engine, but if you can squeeze yourself in will give you a brisk sporty ride. The lid of the pointed tail lifts to reveal the spare wheel, folded hood and hood sticks, but little room for luggage. We found this car in Westmorland, but have not been able to trace any history. It has been restored, the bodywork is ash and plywood covered with fabric.
MG TA 1937
This is the first of the MGs to have a pushrod engine, and is a larger and more comfortable car than the previous types. It is largely original and only parts of it have been repainted.
MORRIS OXFORD Bullnose 1925
This Morris Oxford was found in an Edinburgh scrapyard in 1952 and driven home. Whilst it was being restored a letter was found behind the door trim, it had been written to the new owners aunt this led to the discovery that the car had been purchased new by Willie Dales grandfather. Since 1952 it has done a considerable mileage, and in the 60s at the hands of Andrew Cruickshank (Dr Cameron) who used it in the television series Dr Finlays Casebook
SINGER TT 1935
This is one of four cars which were built for the 1935 R.A.C. T.T. In this race they failed with spectacular results, the trouble being caused by faulty steering drop arms, which caused three to crash at the same point on the circuit. After this Singer withdrew from racing.
This car gives a firm harsh ride, but is not uncomfortable, and a superb car to drive.
COOPER Sprint 1956
This sprint car was built to attack the International Class G records, which it did driven by Wing Commander Sowrey. The records it took were: standing start mile 93.88 mph, and standing start kilometre 87.64. After these records it was used for sprinting, and at one meeting, the Brighton Speed Trial, the engine blew up. At present its engine is a highly tuned Ford, with which it was raced at Charterhall and Turnberry. We have not been able to find a correct engine to put it back to its original form.
WOLSELEY 10hp 1937
This car was left to the museum by Mr Ward who purchased it new and used it until his death in 1972. He kept a full record of every penny spent on the car, petrol, oil, road tax, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and even rags for polish. An analysis of his comprehensive record reveals that it cost him 6.51 old pennies per mile to run. Over his total mileage of 127,971 the car returned a figure of 28.52 mpg.
