Topic: Solved - NEH 3531: A.R. Scott's single-seater Ford Special - 1950

[Carnut]

What's this, by whom, from when and where - for 1 point?:

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[Carnut]

Experts?

[AlexFrance]

German car?

[Carnut]

German car?

I can see what you're thinking, but no, it's not German!

[AlexFrance]

Is it from the UK?

[Carnut]

Is it from the UK?

Yes!

[shamrock]

is it the AUTOCARS Ford special , driven pre war by Leechman

[Carnut]

is it the AUTOCARS Ford special , driven pre war by Leechman

Sorry, I'm away from home at the moment and forgot to bring my file with me..
I don't think that's what it is though, but I'll confirm when I'm back again on Tuesday.

[Carnut]

is it the AUTOCARS Ford special , driven pre war by Leechman

Sorry, I'm away from home at the moment and forgot to bring my file with me..
I don't think that's what it is though, but I'll confirm when I'm back again on Tuesday.

I was right - that's not it!

[Carnut]

Professionals?

[serra]

It is A.R. Scott's Single Seater Ford Special by F Willson McComb probably year 1951

[Allan L]

is it the AUTOCARS Ford special , driven pre war by Leechman

Well it may not be that Ford special, but I assume it is one - it's got Ford wheels which nobody would use unless they had Ford axles and you wouldn't choose to use Ford axles unless most of the rest were Ford.
Edit to say "well I'm right so far as it goes" and well-done serra

[nicanary]

I also had that image on file. I don't think Wilson McComb built the car, more likely the magazine article about the car was written by him.

[Carnut]

I also had that image on file. I don't think Wilson McComb built the car, more likely the magazine article about the car was written by him.

Yes, I figured so too; I figured it was A.R. Scott who built it but I didn't actually have the proof.
I'm amazed that these pictures are just so easy to find as it takes me many hours to dig them out..

[Allan L]

I also had that image on file. I don't think Wilson McComb built the car, more likely the magazine article about the car was written by him.

Yes, I figured so too; I figured it was A.R. Scott who built it but I didn't actually have the proof.
I'm amazed that these pictures are just so easy to find as it takes me many hours to dig them out..

Yes Wilson McComb was associated with MG if anything, but did write on all sorts of stuff for (e.g.) Autosport.
Was it really a UK special? I don't think we ever has a single-seat formula that would have been suitable for a Ford special. There was an Irish formula and perhaps it was also used in Northern Ireland - I don't know, but Nicanary probably does!

[nicanary]

The title of the magazine article suggests it was built in Northern Ireland (i.e. Ulster). Most Ulster drivers would have ventured south into the Republic for racing events at places like Dunboyne and the Curragh, and because competitive cars were in short supply a lot of the racing would have been on a handicap basis.

Thus the popularity of Ford Specials and the like. It's interesting that the car is described as a hybrid - it almost suggests that the chassis is something other than Ford. (I was just too late to get my answer in on time - I had found the car some time ago when looking for something else (the old story), but now I can't find it again!)