Vauxhall C-Type 3 Litre 'Coupe de l’Auto'
Vauxhall C-Type in Patrick Kielty's Tractor Wars: Ferguson vs Ford, Documentary, 2022
Class: Cars, Racecar — Model origin: 
00:10:06 ![[*]](/res/star.png){kind=small}
Minor action vehicle or used in only a short scene
Comments about this vehicle
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◊ 2022-10-27 12:34 |
![[Image: 000102.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/558/000102.jpg) "The success of 'Harry Ferguson Limited' had enabled the firm to obtain several valuable motor agencies and among them was the Vauxhall agency. Vauxhall was considered one of the faster and more sporty marques at the time and these attributes were right up Harry’s street, renewing his interests in competitive motoring. Soon he had a number of successes while driving Vauxhalls in local Irish Trials and the Vauxhall company took notice, offering him a 3 litre works car to compete in the 1912 French Grand Prix." https://www.theharryfergusonlegacy.com/history/may-street-motors |
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◊ 2022-10-27 17:23 |
The car looks to be similar to this... Percy Lambert in his Vauxhall at the 1912 French Grand Prix at Dieppe shown here... Link to "upload.wikimedia.org" "(Vauxhall) prepared four smart green painted cars, with one as reserve, for the event in 1912, which was to be run in conjunction with the French Grand Prix at Dieppe, a wonderful opportunity to compete in a great international road race. These cars were numbered C12-1 to 4, built on Works Order 1935, dated 20th September 1911, with a bore and stroke of 90 mm and 118 mm respectively, with a rear axle ratio of 20:61 and running on 820x120 be tyres. These four cars were described in the Works Order record as the 3 Litre Racing Cars. These C12 Coupe de l'Auto cars were a delight to the eye and carried the famous V radiator with distinction. The Company entered Jock Hancock, Willie Watson and Harry Ferguson, later of tractor and 4WD fame, to drive the cars, but in practice Ferguson overturned his car and he was replaced in the race by Percy “Pearly” Lambert." |
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◊ 2022-10-27 17:51 |
Here another listed under 'Surviving C Types' D13 Replica Coupe de l'Auto, UK https://www.vauxhallregister.com/a-c-types.html |
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◊ 2022-10-27 23:11 |
My (not very good) Vauxhall picture book has a page for these as 'Coupe de l’Auto racing cars'. One built for 1911 race - retired early with broken connecting rod - uncaptioned b&w photo shows vertical flat grille with #14 painted on, dark bodywork, 2 side-mounted spares, Vauxhall flutes on bonnet sides and scalloped into top of grille surround. 1912 race - 3 cars entered with "short Prince Henry radiators and bob-tails". Not mentioned if or where they finished, so probably not a success. 1913 the race switched to Boulogne, one Vauxhall entered, finished 4th. No other info. Second uncaptioned photo has a pale car, very similar to thumb and main with V-1089 registration, but single side-mounted spare on driver side, no headlights but a bugle horn, white tyres. Far side bonnet flap raised, 5 blokes standing round looking like mechanics and maybe a driver, no visible racing number. Looks like a test photo. Page says 5 built in total, "not sold on open market". |
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◊ 2022-10-27 23:52 |
Main is outside May Street Motors - Ferguson's Belfast garage and as mentioned above the Vauxhall agency. |
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◊ 2022-10-28 11:01 |
We have other C-Types listed so going with that.... 1912 French Grand Prix Retired No. 33 United Kingdom Percy Lambert Vauxhall 18 Laps Radiator (in practice Ferguson overturned this car and did not take part) Retired No. 51 United Kingdom John Hancock Vauxhall 15 Laps Engine Retired No. 54 United Kingdom W. Watson Vauxhall 2 Laps Engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1912_French_Grand_Prix |
