Hedley Piper
1929 Originally an H. J. Mulliner Weyman Saloon now re-bodied as an open tourer GVO36
Originally ordered by R.P.Martin Esq of Kensington although his name does not appear in the continuation logbook but only on the build sheets of which Hedley has a full set.
GVO36 has engine number A-9-E and an axle ratio of 11x50. It is noted as "Providing own coachwork" with a sale price of £1185 less 15% dated 19th June 1929.
The chassis was delivered on 26th June to "The Car Mart" 46/50 Park Lane, W1. Coachwork was by H. J. Mulliner & Co Chiswick who built a Weyman Saloon for driver and 3 passengers at a cost of £1045/17s/5d dated 23rd July 1929. As well as the build sheets Hedley also has the service notes up to 1939.
It appears to have been supplied by "Mascot Motors" whose suppliers plate is attached to the car. Its original registration UV 6551 is retained to this day.
In 1935 the owner is recorded as Lt Col John Walter Chitty of Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire. It appears from records that new front springs were supplied in 1934, coils and condensers in 1935, pistons probably in 1938 and pivot pins in 1939.
In July 1952 the owner is recorded as Mervyn Spencer Gotch of The Green, Calne, Wiltshire.
In March 1959 the owner is recorded as Lionel James Thorpe of Roundham Road, Paignton, Devon.
It seems that the car may not have been licensed after 1959 although in 1969 the owner is recorded as Colin H. McDonald of Quorn, Loughborough. He was trying to restore it and enquired of Rolls Royce about spares.
It seems that the car languished in a garage in Paignton prior to being bought by Charles Master-Curtis the previous owner who acquired it in 1993 with the intention of improving it and using it as a wedding car. There was bad corrosion of the roof and body panels. He had a new open body built in Plymouth "To make it look like Charlie Chaplin's Rolls". Massive suicide doors required a steel frame around the back to allow the roof to fold down out of sight behind the rear seats. The leatherwork was all replaced. However it was never used as a wedding car nor was it driven by Mr Master-Curtis who preferred an older 20hp that he owned. GVO36 remained in his garage on axle stands for many years.
Hedley bought it on 14th April 2022 and has rejuvenated it. New front wheel bearings, 3 new spring leaves, both front and one rear, fuel system cleaned, rewired the dynamo and the odd puncture! He took the car to Spain in 2023 doing 1200 miles without a working dynamo, relying on trickle charging overnight. Since then an overdrive has been added, LED lights and some bodywork rectified. The car is now reasonably reliable and useable as a convertible car although rather thirsty it is now regularly used. On acquisition the car showed 38135 miles and is now showing 43450 miles.
