The last of their kind - Britain's disappearing automotive history

Two exceptionally rare survivors including a WW2 London taxi emerge into the spotlight at the next H&H Classics sale on March 24th.

The next H&H Classics Live Auction Online on March 24th features a 1938 Morris Super Six 'G2SW' Taxi, one of only three believed to survive, estimated to sell for £23,000 - £27,000 and a 1936 Vauxhall BXL Grosvenor Limousine, one of only nine survivors estimate, £9,000 - £11,000.

Take a look here!

Paul Cheetham, Classic Car Specialist for H&H Classics who sourced both cars comments; “We are pleased to be able to bring such scarce examples to market. Whoever buys these wonderful survivors buys a classic part of British Automotive history which can only add value to them.”

About the 1938 Morris Super Six Taxi

The 1938 Morris Super Six taxi would have operated throughout the Second World War in London, and one can only wonder what stories this car could tell if only it could speak about its history.

It has undergone a comprehensive body-off restoration between 1981 and 2005, with minimal mileage covered in recent years and has been in its current ownership for approximately forty years.

Decommissioned ‘off-rank’ in 1956 by the Public Carriage Offices and thought to have had only four subsequent keepers. It is offered with old-style RF60 logbook, a quantity of past MOTs, and photographs of the restoration.

Morris-Commercial began building London Taxis to comply with Metropolitan Police regulations in 1929. The G2SW Super Six was introduced in 1938, and is unusual in being one of only two models of London taxi to have a six-cylinder engine; its predecessor, the Morris-Commercial G2S 'Junior-Six’ being the other. Only three of these six-cylinder rarities are thought to have survived, all of which being G2SW’s. The engine of these taxis was an overhead valve Morris unit mated to a four-speed synchromesh gearbox, a worm drive rear-axle, and rod-operated brakes. With coachwork provided by Morris Bodies Ltd., a branch of the Morris organisation, the standard factory style was a landaulet, and they were trimmed in leather/cloth with leather seat facings. During the Second World War, many are believed to have been requisitioned for work with the Auxiliary Fire Service. This example is one of the only three known to have survived, making the Morris incredibly rare.

‘FGU 616’ was first registered in October 1938 and operated in the London area until December 1956 when the Public Carriage Office deemed that all pre-war taxis were no longer fit for service and it was decommissioned. Understood to have passed through three owners subsequently before being purchased by the vendor in 1981, whereby the Morris was rescued from a lock-up garage in dilapidated condition.

The vendor embarked on a body-off restoration of the Super Six, with the chassis being stripped, shot blasted, and painted. New leaf springs were fitted to the front, and the rear parts recommissioned, with replacement shackle pins and bushes manufactured and assembled. The front and rear axles were dismantled and refurbished, and the brakes were re-lined. The engine was reconditioned including a re-bore, crankshaft grinding, new pistons, and bearings. The block and head were skimmed with new valve seats, valves, valve stems, and springs installed, with the engine being reassembled benefiting from a new timing chain also. Additional items reconditioned comprised the starter motor, dynamo, water pump, distributor, and autovac which was mated to a 12V electric fuel pump. Moreover, the clutch plate was renovated with new cork.

A new wiring loom was produced and fitted, before the Morris was provided with a new ash frame, with the metalwork repaired where required. The taxi further benefitted from new glasswork, re-chroming, retrimmed interior, and a new hood. A comprehensive write-up of the restoration works completed is available on request.

The Super Six benefits from retaining numerous period features including the Metropolitan Fare Regs. Co. Ltd. Fare Meter, Metropolitan Fare Table, and Taxi lights and signage, as well as having a small spares package. Offered with current V5C, RF60 logbook, a collection of past MOTs, and photographs of the restoration. A very scarce opportunity to purchase a pre-war Morris-Commercial taxi.

Vendor condition ratings:

• Bodywork: 'Excellent’
• Engine: 'Excellent'
• Electrical Equipment: 'Excellent'
• Paintwork: 'Very Good'
• Gearbox: 'Excellent'
• Interior Trim: 'Excellent'

This 1936 Vauxhall BXL Grosvenor Limousine, is one of only nine survivors known to exist and is estimated to sell for £9,000 - £11,000.

Take a look here!

About the 1936 Vauxhall BXL Grosvenor Limousine

It has been in its current ownership for 24 years, and prior custodianship from 1988-1997. The engine and clutch were overhauled in 2016 at a cost of around £3,500.

Announced for the 1933 Motor Show and available from August 1934 in two engine sizes, the three model options were the 20HP BY (111-inch wheelbase), 27HP BX (also 111-inch wheelbase), and 27HP BXL (130-inch wheelbase). The BXL has a coachbuilt body on a standard long-wheelbase chassis, supplied by Vauxhall to The Grosvenor Carriage Company, and fitted with a limousine body featuring chauffeur’s partition and fold-out occasional seats in the rear. Costing some £550 in 1934/5, a premium of £225 over the standard saloon, it is powered by a six-cylinder engine, which had the ability to reach some 72mph on a test in 1934 conducted by The Motor magazine. Transmission is by four-speed manual with synchromesh on 3rd and 4th.

Understood to be one of only nine surviving Grosvenor bodied BXL’s, with fewer than that thought to be currently roadworthy, the BXL in question was supplied new in 1936, and while its early history is unknown, the Vauxhall has been in current ownership since 1997, and in the prior keeper's possession from 1988. The Big Six is showing only five former keepers on the V5C. Finished in the colour scheme of Maroon with Black wings, the BXL has Brown leather front trim and cloth to the rear. Featuring occasional seats, rear and side window blinds, cigar lighter, glass partition, and intercom system (although this is not thought to be functional). Presented with the scarce ‘Chicken and Egg’ emblem, although this is loosely fitted.

Regularly serviced throughout the vendor's ownership, ‘JR 4433’ has been fitted with electronic ignition although the original dynamo is present should the new owner want to return to the original specification. Subject to an engine and clutch overhaul in 2016 by T & L Engineering at the cost of approximately £3,500, the Vauxhall was also provided with re-chroming, interior restoration and spring remediation when purchased by the vendor.

‘JR 4433’ is accompanied by a history file comprising of a large collection of past MOTs, several past invoices and many past tax discs. Furthermore the Vauxhall is offered with a copy of the original handbook, V5C, two sets of keys and an MOT until December 2021 with no advisories.

A scarce opportunity to obtain a very rare model worldwide.

Vendor Condition Ratings:

• Bodywork: 'Good’
• Engine: 'Very Good'
• Electrical Equipment: 'Very Good'
• Paintwork: ‘Good'
• Gearbox: 'Good'
• Interior Trim: 'Good'

View the auction here.