Flying 12 Feature

1937 Flying 12 Drophead Coupe, belonging to David Poole

My thanks go to David Poole from Devon on this occasion. He owns this Flying 12 Drophead Coupe. 

Personally, this one is very interesting to me, because it appears to be the identical model to my own, on the Flying Light 12 chassis of 1937. That makes it the only other drophead I know of with the identical  specification. That means it has a beam front axle and pre-waterfall radiator.  My requests to find any further survivors of this model have so far drawn a blank.

The restoration work carried out on his car is described below:

The story of the restoration continues in David's own words:

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE RESTORATION OF MY 1938 DHC FLYING 12

Having rebuilt the engine and reconditioned the ancillary parts dynamo starter motor distributor fuel pump carburettor, etc - fairly simple apart from sourcing the parts and extensive machining block head crankshaft etc. The engine has been refitted to the car on new engine mounts which are the same as some models of MG and available new, the rear engine steady I could not source so had the rubber bonded to metal plate by local rubber company.

FRONT END

New steering box fitted, purchased from club member, new king pins and track rod ends fitted. I had to go back quite a few years to remember how to ream the king pins but they seemed to have turned out ok.

HOOD

The hood when I acquired the car was seized solid and most of the wood work rotten but usable as a pattern. Some of the metal was rusted beyond use after copious use of penetrating oil and blow lamp and drilling out the rivets which were replaced by small nuts and bolts as each rivet was removed as the mechanism seemed to resemble a Chinese jigsaw puzzle and I was not confident of getting it back together if completely disassembled. Likewise each badly rusted part was removed one at a time used as a pattern and then a new one refitted. I have a good friend who is an excellent carpenter and as the woodwork was beyond my skills he made copies of wood work from kiln dried ash. The hood is now nearly ready to be recovered.

TRANSMISSION TUNNEL

No trace of tunnel when car was purchased. After forming the shape with pipe lagging gaffer tape old socks and anything that came to hand I spent many days making a paper mache cover. This in turn was taken to a local boat builder who made a fibre glass cover from my mould. The clutch operating rod was missing so I made a new rod and pivot on the lathe. Finally I would like to thank all the fellow club members for all their help advice and spare parts without which a restoration like this would not be possible.

As can be seen from the photos there is still a fair bit to do.

Some helpful advice to anybody thinking of doing the same - DON’T START 

would I do it again - OF COURSE.

It is interesting to note that David's car has no welded seam extending from the corner of the door back to the wheel arch, it would be interesting to know if that is correct? As there was no metal in my sills, or the panel above for that matter, (!) I had no idea what was correct, other than the brochure which does appear to show a seam. though it is by no means that clear. Does anyone know which is correct?

In all other respects the bodies appear to be identical 

Best of luck with finding the missing parts David, I hope that you will send me more pictures of the car as the rebuild continues, so that I can add them to this page. Please drop by to see our car anytime, and I have a few parts for you, including a petrol filler cap, and hubcaps - if you need them. Helping each other is what the club is all about, after all!