The following is additional information as promised -
The unique Curlew automobile built in 1947 was a two-stroke twin cylinder car with wood framing and front-wheel drive. It was built by The Dales Motor Co., a consortium of Wensleydale businessmen headed by T.C. 'Kit' Calvert.
Mr Calvert was locally known as 'Mr. Wensleydale' and was associated with saving the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, makers of the famous Wensleydale cheese. (if you are familiar with the cartoon characters Wallace & Gromit, you will recognise the Wensleydale cheese connection)
The development of the car was carried out in secret, away from the eyes of the established manufacturers. It was rumoured that that the design was partly the work of a Spitfire aircraft engineer.
A factory was planned at Newton Aycliffe if production had gone ahead but in the event only one prototype was built.
It was registered GAJ 546 and was obviously a running prototype.
The clutch proved to be unsatisfactory and further development was halted after a considerable sum of money had been spent.
The streamlined bodywork was made of plywood on an ash frame and the air-cooled two-stroke engine was specially designed for the car. The car was nominally a four-seater but room in the rear was somewhat limited.
The Curlew almost ended up on a bonfire but was rescued by the Ripon Gazette newspaper as a piece of local history. An appeal was launched to finance restoration and keep the car in the district.
That was the last I heard of the car in 1984 and I haven't heard any further information since.
The only other (poor) photo I have -
