1914 15hp Tourer

(photos - Malcolm Asquith)

This 1914 15hp "Shelsley" car has a Studebaker body fitted.

The story of this car was reported in an article in "The Autocar" magazine published on December 7, 1945. The car was at the time owned by Mr G. W. Brewerton of Whalley Range, Manchester. He bought it just after World War I in a dismantled state and after a start on rebuilding it work stopped for many years. At an undisclosed date Mr Brewerton and his two sons recommenced work by overhauling the engine. New valve springs were made, a timing chain obtained to replace the missing original, the Smiths carburettor was replaced by a Solex and the original Eisemann magneto was replaced by a Simms. The petrol is supplied to the engine by presurising the tank by a small hand pump and the tank was made airtight. A new crown wheel and pinion with a ratio of 4.08:1 was sourced which gives a speed of 29.15 mph per 1000 rpm. The springs were found to be fully serviceable but the king pins needed replacement. The chassis was originally of the extended type but the extension section was removed during the rebuild. Nothing seems to be known of the original body but Mr Brewerton obtained one from a Studebaker which at the time the article was written had still to be fitted. The car seems to have had little use and was displayed in a garage in Blackpool for many years before being put up for sale in 1988. It was acquired by its present owner in 1994.