Feature
on a 1933 Avon 16 DHC in India
All photos: Tom
Roach
Tom
Roach has written to me from India with news of a very rare, if not
unique, Avon bodied Standard. Tom has travelled to Mumbai to
photograph the car, and I am very grateful to be able to publish the
pictures here. The owner believes it to be a 1935 car, but my belief
is, having now seen the photos, that it is a Beauvais designed car
and at least a year earlier.
(Amendment
of 12th Jan 2004: I have now compared the under-bonnet shots of this
car with the 16Hp Instruction books of the time. I can confirm that
this is a 1933 model - The large air-cleaner is not an original
fitting - Webmaster)
Tom continues in his own words:
"Phil:
The car is a 16HP, based on what the owner told me. The photos are
attached.
Here
is my short list of what I found wrong with the car. I was not able
to start the engine as no battery was available and there was no
water in the radiator. I was, however, informed that it had been
started in the past 6 months.
-
The
tire size is 5.25 X 5.5 X18. This size is not available in India
and this is the major reason why the car is off the road.
-
The
hood frame had a modern canvas cover on it and this is in bad
shape.
-
The
wood frame needs work. For example, the hinges on the doors are
loose indicating rotten wood.
-
All
the chrome needed redoing.
-
No
tools, no jack, no starting handle.
-
Base
of the windshield is missing
-
No
ID plate.
-
LH
king pins and tie rod ends need replacing
-
Two
inches of play on rim of the steering wheel indicates that the
steering box needs overhauling.
-
Brakes
don’t work
-
Leather
interior has been replaced with vinyl
-
Instruments
don’t work
-
The
entire body, including the inside of the engine compartment has
been thickly coated with resin and this is now flaking off.
As
you can see from the photos, the car was converted to 12volts using
inappropriate components. The original 6volt parts are, however,
still on hand.
The
owner wants about 12,500GBP for the car, though I imagine would
bargain for less. This is way beyond my capabilities. Considering
the amount of work the car requires, I could afford about 1000GBP,
max.
As
the car is older than 1950, exporting it would require the new owner
apply to the Indian Government for permission. This is not as
onerous as it sounds, but would require some diplomacy.
If
you want to publish the photos, please give me credit. If you want,
I will send you copies scanned at a higher resolution than these.
Best
wishes,
Tom
Roach
Canadian
High Commission
New
Delhi
Phone:
+91 (11) 2379-2137
FAX:
+91 (11) 2379-3170
Cell:
+91 (98) 1008-1423"
So,
the car is for sale, is anyone prepared to take it on? Tyres are
available here and I am certain that the car was 12 volts originally. No doubt
Tom will be able to advise you where to find the car! Here are the
rest of his photographs:
Click on the photos
to see larger versions;
I am aware that there are other cars
and information that could be added to this site to make it more comprehensive, so if you
have material and photographs, please let me know. Please send me, Phil Homer, a
message at: Phil Homer
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