1934 English Ford Model Y, Not Model A or Model t

A one of a kind. custom built English Estate Woody Pick-Up Truck with an equally unique and interesting provenance. A true find for your collection! This vehicle was first registered in Wiltshire. England in April 1934 and wears its original registration plates. WV 5298. The car had originally been a 1934 Fordor Deluxe. chassis number Y57536 and Briggs body number 166/2799. It appears to have been originally supplied by Henlys. as their badge is on the grille with the original registration number WV 5298 stamped on it which matches the plates on the vehicle. In approx. 1936 the car passed into the hands of the Earl of Suffolk. He was born in 1906. Charles Henry George Howard. and lived on a 10. 00 acre estate. Charlton Park. to the east of Malmesbury in Wiltshire. He would have been about 30 years of age when he took over the car. He was obviously keen on shooting and fishing as he had the car converted to a rather smart pick-up to carry items for same around the estate. The pick-up was kitted out by a Cirencester shop by the name of “E&F” Sporting Goods. whose name is on plaques on each side of the cab. The shop supplied shotguns and fishing equipment for the vehicle. It is not thought that the Earl travelled many miles in the car and it was most likely stored away during World War II. The Earl was killed during WWll doing unexploded bomb disposal and history has it that the car was sold to a Mr. J. D. Long who had married the daughter of the gamekeeper of the Earl’s estate. Mr. Long exported the car to Colorado (USA) when he moved there in the 1950′s. In 1992. the car was acquired by a Colorado antiquities dealer from Mr. Long who had retired to Mexico. The most recent owner bought the car from that dealer in Februaryl 1992 at which time the car was running and in pretty good condition. The Owner completed a frame off restoration in June 1993. Located in the bed of the pick-up is a wicker picnic basket and/or fishing creel and a cork grip/reel mount bamboo casting rod (3 connecting pcs. inside canvas sleeve). Also fitted to the truck is a canvas golf bag containing wooden shafted golf clubs. Behind the driver’s seat of which the seat back folds forward is a brass tyre pump; brass fire extinquisher; a holder for four spare sparkplugs (Wipax with blue porcelain); tyre tools and emergency starting crank. The dash is original and contains a center mounted 70 mph (gotta love British “chins up” optimism!) speedometer showing 25. 97 miles. flanked by an Amperes gauge on the left and a vertical glass vial type Petrol Gauge on the right. Gauges are by Cooper Stewart. London. Other dash controls include pull starter and choke knobs; toggle switches for lights. wipers. and electrically dash operated “trafficator” type turn signals mounted on the outside of the cab in front of the doors. All working The conversion from sedan to pick-up was most likely carried out by the estate carpenter as there is no sign of a coachbuilder’s plaque (unless it was Henlys). The rear of the cab is a box-like structure with aluminium sides and a wooden rear. rather than a welded sheet of metal that one may have expected from a professional coachbuilder. although aluminum is a material commonly used by English coachbuilders of that time. This truck is in very good running and driving condition and readily starts. It is clean and rust free both above and below. It was stripped to bare metal in 1992-1993 and received its current green livery along with a re-finish of all the woodwork. Specifications include: Engine: 933cc Flathead In-line 4 cylinder gas engine; single carb (engine was apart during restoration. timing chain was replaced as was all engine needed). Transmission is a floor shifted 3 speed (plus reverse); synchronized in second and third. The rear end had the ring and pinon gear replaced during restoration along with a new driveshaft to differential coupler. The clutch is also new. Brakes: Mechanical on all 4 wheels; not new but have very good linings and work well. Wheels/Tyres: 17″ steel spoke wheels (spare wheel and tyre are included; tyres are 4. 50 x 17 (2 of the tyres are new). Radiator was recored during restoration. Battery is 6 volt; positive ground; wiring replaced in 2012. Generator and starter work well as do all lights. Dimensions: Width 3′ 8″; Length 11′ 7″; Height 5′ 4″ Right Hand Drive The car is registered with the “Y&C” Registry in England. and recognized as the only one like it.