Registration No: WC 1431
Chassis No: GS 138
MOT: Exempt

• Rare Vintage-era French cycle car
• Subject to an extensive restoration during the 1980s
• Fitted with an upgraded 1,098cc OHV Chapuis-Dornier engine and four-speed gearbox
• Eligible for events such as Vintage Montlhery and VSCC hillclimbs

Founded in 1912 by Bertrand Montet, Derby was initially engaged in general engineering and after the Great War dealt in War-surplus Harley-Davidson motorcycles. From 1921, the firm began producing lightweight Voiturettes (Cyclecars) that were fitted with the Harley Davidson V-Twin motorcycle engines with which they had become so familiar. Very quickly the marque started to produce larger models and would fit these chassis with four-cylinder, overhead valve 1,098cc engines sourced from Chapuis-Dornier. Competing with the likes of Amilcar and Salmson, Automobiles Derby exhibited a British bodied 9hp 'Sports' model at the 1923 Olympia Motor Show which was a direct descendant of their 9hp Racer that had competed in the Brooklands 200 mile race. Unfortunately, Derby failed to attract much interest at the show, but it would inspire the imagination of one Vernon Balls. Balls was a Gentleman motor racer who had trained as a motor engineer and made a name for himself by purchasing the remaining stock of Mors spares, and his business would handle all repairs and servicing for the firm right up until 1923. Later in that year, on a business trip to Paris, Balls purchased an Amilcar for sporting use and saw great potential in French cyclecars in British sporting events, and merely a few years later, his firm would become the main sales agent for Derby and market them under the name 'Vernon-Derby' from 1927. The 9hp Grand Sports Special was a slightly more updated version of the 9hp Sports Model, and featured more elegant bodystyling with louvred side-panels upon the chassis, wrap-around cycle wings and a four-speed gearbox in place of the earlier three-speed unit.

Dated to 1926, little is known about the early life of chassis ‘GS 138’, but it managed to survive some fifty years before its discovery by the previous owner in France in a dilapidated state during the late 1970s. According to the vendor, the previous owner was a very good friend of his who was responsible for the restoration of several interesting pre-war sports cars; but was particularly fanatical about the Derby marque. The rare sports car is said to have been found to be remarkably complete despite having been disassembled, so the decision was made to perform a full restoration which would continue throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. A chemical engineer by trade, the previous owner had nearly every steel part treated by dipping them in vats of Jenolite Rust Converter, a process that he had sworn by on previous restorations. After treatment, the chassis and body were prepared in Red Oxide and painted in its resplendent red by a professional coach working firm, which has survived in very fine form to this day, testament to the rust treating process that the restorer swore by.

Mechanically, the Derby was treated to the same level of attention and a full overhaul was performed on the four-cylinder Chapuis Dornier engine, which was re-bored and fitted with new pistons whilst the crankshaft was re-ground and mounted within freshly white-metalled bearing shells. The cooling system was uprated with the addition of a water pump instead of the original thermo-syphon arrangement, which fed a freshly re-cored radiator. The gearbox, front axle and back axle were completely overhauled with new components made up where necessary and the electrics were also subject to attention, with a new wiring loom fitted to power the reconditioned lighting system and period gauges set into the dashboard. Finally, a complete replacement interior was constructed with a high-quality black leather used to trim the off-set seats which is pleasingly complimentary to the red panel work.

Having completed the restoration, the Derby would remain in the previous owner’s possession up until 2019 as part of his private collection and was used sparingly whilst being maintained to a very high standard. The vendor, a long-term fan of pre-war cars and motorcycles himself would acquire it directly from the previous owner to join several interesting stablemates (including another Derby). Described by the present owner as having survived in ‘very good to excellent’ condition all round, old age has unfortunately now forced his hand with his decision to sell.

A rarity on the open market, this Derby 9hp Gran Sport is fully registered for use in the UK and presents as an interesting alternative to better known French cyclecar brands for either competition use in the many events that it is eligible for, or perhaps it would make a very eye-catching talking point as part of a private collection.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430