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[ SVVS NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION ASSISTANCE
SERVICE ]
::
The SVVS Website currently receives
approximately 500,000
hits a year and the "HELP
PAGE" is internationally the most
visited 'page' on the site. We receive numerous e-mails from historians
and motoring enthusiasts from all over the world with the request to
identify vehicles from old photographs. We can help with identification
of Classic cars because most of us are old enough to remember them as
new, and owning Vintage or Veteran vehicles, many of us, and/or our
associates, are also specialists in own make or type of vehicle -
These Help Pages are therefore devoted to some of the interesting enquiries
received, and information that we have provided :
Page
32 below relates to enquiries received
during
2010. Click
on picture to enlarge
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1902
Renault 8HP Tonneau
Photo sent to us by Dale Russell,
Scottsdale, (USA) dated 1916. The man in
the driver's seat was his grandfather. He was born in America but lived
and worked for most of his adult life in South Africa, specifically
Johannesburg. Dale thinks his preference would have been for an American
or possibly British manufacturer. Do our members have any ideas what the
make and model may be? --
Neither, but French. Side mounted radiators
indicate cca
1902 Renault 8HP Tonneau.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1903
De Dion Bouton Two Seater
Photo recaived from Peter A Forbes (UK)
asking if we can identify the car
driven by his grandmother, (then Miss Phyllis Allen), who he believes
was the first woman to hold a driving licence in Essex. The photo was
taken probably 1910/11. When were driving licences first introduced in
the UK? --
Licences were introduced in 1903 via the Motor Car Act. Car
registrations followed the following year. The car is a cca
1903 De Dion Bouton. P 144 was issued
by Surrey County C early 1904.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1905-7
Unknown Forecar
Photo sent to us by Mrs Ann Viney,
Bordon, (UK) showing
husbands grandfather driving and grand mother in the chair. They
lived in Headley and she wondered if they had a day at Southsea and
hired the vehicle? -- BK
238 was issued by the Portsmouth CBC but dating records have been
lost. The all important motorcycle is hidden
by the forecar. Not normally possible to identify bikes from
forecars as bodies would have been made by external coachwork
companies. Probably 1905 /06 /07.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1907
Albion 24'30 Landau
Photo received from Andrew Rusack (UK)
asking if we could identify his
Great Grandfathers car. GG was Wilhelm J C Rusack who was the founder of
Rusack's Hotel in St Andrew's, Fife. The photograph was taken outside
Rusack's Hotel garage c1905. --
Bit later. Early Fife registration details have been lost but from shape
of the radiator this car was made in Glasgow, Scotland, being a cca
1907 Albion 24'30 Landau. Became
Leyland in 1951, and Albion lorries were made to 1972.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1907
Hallford'Liversidge Bus
Recently contacted by Stanislav Kiriletz relating to his enquiry in 2005
on a double decker bus at the St Petersburg Exhibition in Russia in
1907. We had no positive identification but suggested a bus made by the
London General Omnibus Company (LGOC). Stanislav has obviously been
investigating his photo further and replied with the following comment:
" Identification is not correct! Now I know answer! It is not
AEC, it is
Hallford (Licence of Swiss lorry Saurer) ; body of
Liversidge.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1907
Gobron Brillie perhaps
More photos received from Jim Derham-Reid
from British Columbia (Canada).
Low resolution photos make identification frustrating. Grandfather
Thomas Forrest Liversey bought a Gobron Brillie without a body in
1912/13 and designed a body for it. Family believed it was a G-B because
Gramps said so. -- One
thing all our experts seem to be agreed on from the rad is is that it is
not a Gobron Brillie. I note that badge and odd filler cap
match. John Warburton wonders a Crossley?
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1911
Argyll Light Fifteen Tourer
Interesting photo sent to us by
Nick Butler (Australia) of
a car driven by his grandfather (as chaffeur) when he was about 19. The
photo was dropped by grandfather at the battle of Messines (about
7th June 1915) and picked up by a soldier from Belfast. It was returned
to grandfather 14 years after the war. --
Registration
BC1217 is a Leicester County Borough Council registration but dating
records lost. Bulkhead suggests car is a Scottish cca
1911 Argyll Light Fifteen Tourer.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1914
Metallurgique Landaulette
Photo sent to us by Anthony Darling (UK)
who is currently digitising the
family photo albums of his and his wife's families. This photo shows his
grandfather who was employed as a chauffeur/mechanic in the 1920's and
1930's to a wealthy family who lived in Redcliffe Gardens, Kensington,
London. --
This is a rather nice Belgian car, a cca 1914 Metallurgique Landaulette,
which was to be, but was not, made in England. Registration is early
1914, issued by London County Council.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1916
American Fiat Model 55
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle
which appeared in an American film " Mata Hari " made in 1931,
where the vehicles are being investigated by IMCDB. Said to be
Greta Garbo's greatest film - based on true life story of the
exotic German spy, Mata Hari working in Paris. --
Actually quite a difficult car to identify
as it looks American but supposed to be European. John Warburton
eventually identified it as such, cca
1916 American FIAT Model 55 , made in
Poughkeepsie, USA.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1922/3
Bentley 3L Tourer
Photo sent to us by Anthony Darling (UK)
who is currently digitising the
family photo albums of his and his wife's families. This photo shows his
grandfather who was employed as a chauffeur/mechanic in the 1920's and
1930's to a wealthy family who lived in Redcliffe Gardens, Kensington,
London. --
This is a rather unusual early Bentley, a cca 1923 Bentley 3L Tourer,
which seems not to have the standard Vanden Plas body. Bentley
deliveries started in 1921, - so within first 300 cars.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1922
Kelsey 5 Person Touring
Interesting photo sent to us by Gretchen
Anderson, Bellingham, WA (USA) from a diary
of great aunt's road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles in May 1923 (there
were 6 people in two cars). It took them an entire month going about 100
miles per day. None of the photos are identified. --
Nobody could crack this one either side of the pond until a lead from Dr
Watson of AACA. Not a positive ident, but we are almost sure it is a cca
1922 Kelsey 5 Person Touring, made New
Jersey 1920-4.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1923
Morris Cowley Bullnose
Photo sent to us by Linda Cox (UK)
who has "just found our brilliant website" and who is
currently researching a very well looked after Victorian/Edwardian
family photo album. The owners of this car were very wealthy newspaper
owners who lived in North West Leicestershire when this photo was
taken. --
Registration is not visible but we can
confirm from the small headlamps on the wings there for two years only,
and a bullnose rad, that this can only be cca
1922/3 Morris Cowley.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1923
Morris Cowley Two Seater
Photo sent to us by Brian C Warren (UK)
recently found in one of his mothers photo albums. She died 8
years ago and there are no relatives alive in that generation. He does
not know who the driver is, the make of the car, or where it was
registered. Can we help us trace the owner please?. --
We can advise that the car is a Morris Cowley Two Seater and that the
registration was issued by Somerset County Council in very early
1923. Only the DVLA may be able to help tracing original
owner.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1923
Ford Model T Touring
It is interesting how often pictures of
groups in cars are taken without showing the radiator. Quite obviously
people are more important than cars (sometimes!) but it does not help
with identification of the car; such as this photo from Caoimhghin O
Croidheain (Eire).
Photo taken in Kerry, Ireland, is of his grand uncle driving what was
thought was a Crossley Tender, told since that it is not. Would you have
any idea what car it is? It would help date the photo. -- cca
1923 Ford Model T Touring.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1924
Jowett Model C Tourer
Photo sent to us by Trevor Harvey (UK)
asking if it is possible to identify this
car. I friend thinks it may be a bullnose Morris but Trevor is not so
sure. The photo was taken at Ottershaw on Fletcher land by the
Fletchers. Unsure of the people names but lady on left looks like his
grandmother Harvey, could be visiting the Fletchers.
-- The
registration is Essex CC issued in 1925 but by the starting handle arrangement
the car appears to be a
cca 1924 Jowett Model C Tourer,
possibly the 7/17.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1925
Wolseley 11'22 Tourer
Photo sent to us by Nick Booker (UK)
asking if we can identify
the car containing his grandparents (neither of whom could drive! )
photographed late 1920s/early 1930s. The registration is Bournemouth CBC
(they lived in Poole) but precise dating records no longer available
(November 1924 - July 1929). Could be a 1925 Wolseley although the
radiator mascot looks wrong but this could be a personal one. --
No front brakes so yes, cca
1925 Wolseley 11'22 Tourer.
Bugatti mascot?
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1925
Wolseley 15 Tourer
Photo sent to us by Brian Pritchard (UK).
It was taken in the late 20's in Dwygyfylchi, near Penmaenmawr,
Caernarvonshire [now Gwynedd] North Wales. It shows his grandfather, who
was a chauffuer to Sir Thomas Artemus Jones J.P. [1871-1943]. Look
forward to finding out the make and model. --
Four louvers on the bonnet so this is a cca 1925 Wolseley 15
Tourer.
Wolseley initially sheep shearing machines. Vickers bough Wolseley
motors 1901, and Morris bought them in 1927.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1925
Sunbeam 3L Tourer
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle
which appeared in an American film " The Betsy" made in 1978,
where the vehicles are being investigated by IMCDB. The
plot involves a family automobile manufacturer who pin their hopes for a
return to profitability on a new model. Said to be based on some members
of the Ford family of Detroit; obvious parallel is apparently Olivier
playing a Henry Ford like character.
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This car is a cca
1925 Sunbeam 3LTourer, from Britain.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1926
Austro Daimler 617 Tourer
Another cinema screen grab of a vehicle
which appeared in a Russian Film " Miss Mend" made in 1926,
where the vehicles are being investigated by IMCDB. The
plot involves three reporters and an office girl trying to stop a
bacteriological strike by powerful western business leaders against the
USSR.
--
This car was made in Austria and new when the film was
made, being a cca
1926 Austro Daimler 617 Tourer. It seems to sport
the then very fashionable Tulip Phaeton bodywork.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1927
Austin 7 Top Hat Saloon
Another photo sent to us by Dave McDonald (UK).
He has just received this photograph of his wife's Great Great Aunt and
Uncle. There is no date on the photograph but both of the people
were born in 1870, so it was probably sometime in the 1920's or
1930's. --
' Diddy' car so has to be a cca
1927 Austin 7 Top Hat Saloon. Called
'Top Hat' because of upright, formal straight-sided coachwork, panelled
in aluminium to save weight, and with elaborate cloth trim unusual at
time. Bulkhead lights.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1928
Buick Chassis
Photo sent to us by Phil
Haywood, Burton-on-Trent (UK) saying
he recently acquired this Buick
rolling chassis with a story that it
was once used to mow the grass on a golf course and a deceased gentleman
in Yorkshire did the restoration work. Does anyone remembers the car or
owner? There is no number plate or paperwork so any info would be
appreciated.
-- Radiator
is of the 1928 pattern but nothing about the back end suggests it was
ever a lawn tractor ! Google: Pattison tractor.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1929
DeSoto Six
Sometimes our enquiries are made doubly
difficult by being unclear or small. Occasionally we only get a part of
such a photo, and without background: "attached photo might
have been taken around 1930, but that's only a wild guess judging by
possible ages of my relatives. Does the photo provide enough clues for
an identification of the car? Wes (Australia). -- Well,
an incorrect broken mascot does not help, - but from the louvres
we can advise the car was a USA cca
1929 DeSoto Six.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1931
Morris Oxford Six Saloon
More photos received from Jim Derham-Reid
from British Columbia (Canada).
Unfortunately all photos are received in near lowest resolution possible
which makes identification frustrating. This photo is of his Grandmother
next to what his mother thought was an Austro Daimler, in
Cheshire. --
Sorry, no. This is a Morris, a British car,
which Chas Moody confirmed as a cca
1931 Morris Oxford Six Saloon. The
badge on the radiator is a winged symbol which was used only
1930/1.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1947
Ford Mercury Coupe
Photo sent to us by Donnie Osborne (USA?)
asking our help in identifying his father's car. He is putting together
some scrap books with newspaper clippings, letters, and photos but
doesn't know much about old cars, Picture was taken ca. 1950 and father
passed away last October. Mom is in a nursing home and cannot help him.
-- Our friends at AACA were able to
pinpoint the car down to a 1947/8
Ford Mercury Coupe from the beltline
trim quarter way, instead of going to the end.
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IDENTIFICATION AND
DATING:1910
Unknown Chassis
Photo sent to us by Anthony Darling (UK).
Wife's grandfather sitting in what could be a Napier car. Grandad worked
as an export salesman for Napier and took a car on a sales drive to
South America, mainly Argentina, probably not this one. -- Very
little to see but our John Warburton doubts
it to be a Napier. The double
drop chassis suggests late Edwardian for formal coachwork or
taxi. Mudguards and bonnet 1910, and 6-bolt detachable
steel wheels 1919; Austin is a possibility?
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PHOTOS NOT YET IDENTIFIED:
 YOUR
H E L P IS NEEDED PLEASE !
As can be seen from our Help Pages we
normally do succeed in identifying practically all vehicle photos which
we receive. Occasionally some photos may take time and very occasionally
we get stuck. Clicking on the photo
on the right opens the page
containing some photos we are yet to crack ! Any
help would be very much appreciated.
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| Links to interesting sites: Click
on any hyperlink to be taken direct to their site. |
Fascinating site on all things steam: http://stanleysteamers.com/
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Identification of Mystery
Motors - Mystery Cars requiring Identification - Identification
of old Motorcars - Identification of old Car Photographs - Photos
requiring Identification -
Oldtimers from times gone by - Mystery Vehicles - Mystery
Motorcars -
Identify Classic Cars - Recognize Cars - Recognise Old Cars
Antique Autos, Classic Cars, Anciennes -
25 - 757 |
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Copying & reproduction of photographs on the Help Pages is
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The information
contained in these pages has come from many different sources including
books, magazines, advertisements, sales brochures, web sites,
manufacturers and personal contacts. While we have tried to make sure
that any information given is as accurate as possible, we cannot take responsibility for any errors or omissions. If you
know of any facts which are incorrect or any subjects or details which can be elaborated on,
please
contact us.
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