1920 Vauxhall D-Type Tourer

The first new Vauxhall model, the 30/98, was built in 1913 as a better, faster, and more practical development of the Prince Henry, but its career, as a production car, really belongs to the years after the end of the First World War.

The original 30/98 was solidly built, which made it heavy, but it was also fast, and combined impressive performance with good road holding by the standards of the 1920s.

The first owner of this D-Type was Mr. E.K. Bowan of 'Wargundy,' Craboon, New South Wales, Australia. The car was sent Down Under as a rolling chassis and bodied locally with special coachwork and an extended top to provide shade from the intense Australian sun.

For over three decades it was at the outback sheep station Barkly Downs in the ownership of Mr. Joe Draper. It was acquired by Mr. Frank Aston in the late 1960s. Mr. Gavin Campbell purchased the car in 1989. A comprehensive restoration soon followed.

Since the late 1990s, the car has been well preserved by collectors in the U.K. and the U.S. it is painted in its original colors of green with black fenders, black Rudge Whitworth center-lock wire wheels, green leather upholstery, and a black top with green piping. There are period accessories including bullet market lights, nickel-plated drum headlights, a single right-hand side-mount spares, Vauxhall gauges, Smiths clock, Watford speedometer, CAV switchbox, and a radiator mascot of the flag-carrying Vauxhall griffin.

Power is from a side-valve inline four-cylinder engine that develops 60 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed gearbox.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction presented by Bonhams. Unfortunately, the car would leave the auction unsold, as a buyer willing to satisfy its reserve was not found. The car had been estimated to sell for $60,000 - $80,000.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010