CROSSLEY VEHICLES TODAY

1934 Golden Saloon

Photo - Peter Caunt

Photos - Mike Eyre

This Golden saloon registration number M594 now belongs to a group including Michael Crossley, a descendant of the founding family. This is of special significance as the car originally belonged to Lady Mabel Crossley, the wife of Sir William Crossley, and the number had been used on a sequence of family cars going back to a 1906 40hp model. The Golden was the successor to the 20.9 and this car was first registered on 30th May 1934 making it the youngest of the four known surviving Goldens and possibly the last made.

During its use with Lady Crossley, the car under the care of chauffeur George Feathers, was always washed when it returned home, even in the early hours of the morning, the wheels were removed and under the wings washed and leathered dry. The car was returned to the Crossley Factory in 1941 when Lady Crossley was no longer able to travel and sold in 1943 to a taxi operator. He used it until 1948 when it needed overhauling but it stayed in his Burnage, Manchester garage on blocks until the garage was demolished in about 1965 or 66. The car was bought for restoration by Peter Caunt in March 1969. The tyres all still held air allowing the car to be towed to Moston on the other side of Manchester. The car was almost back to MOT standard when sold to Ron Barton of Prestwich, Manchester in November 1981. He had the engine overhauled and the body repainted. It was sold to the present owners in 2004.

The car has since been subject to a thorough and high quality restoration under the guidance of Crossley historian Michael Eyre.

Chassis number is 42173, body number 282 and engine number 42164. The car has Crossley bodywork.