Topic: Galrot-26 = 1953 Tojeiro MG (MAX 500) by GM Panelcraft

[galrot]

Identify what this is and who made it for one point.

[galrot]

Experts?

[kwgibbs]

is it a british one-off?

[tobytwirl]

I think it is a Tojeiro-MG, although this particular car was later converted to Bristol power.

[galrot]

It is British, a one-off (depending on how you look at it) and a Tojeiro-MG.

Locked for tobytwirl to find who made the body and what year it is from. 

[tobytwirl]

It is known as the Bob Vincent Tojeiro (although he may not have been the first owner) and had the distinctive reg no MAX 500. Your photo was taken in 1955 and I have one of it unpainted in 1954 AT Prescott.. It may however have been made in 1953. It was fitted originally with a 1500 MG engine - you can just make out the cut out on the bonnet to clear the SUs. It is Les Mellings behind the wheel - not sure whether he also raced it
Later in 1955 it is believed to have had a Bristol engine transplant from Bob's Alta-Bristol.
Not sure who was responsible for the bodywork. Most early Tojeiro cars were bodied by Panelcraft or Maurice Gomm, but if the original owner commissioned just the chassis, (quite likely) then the bodywork was his choice. My guess is Gomm.

This photo has been on Autopuzzles before, but the reg no was not identified correctly.

[galrot]

I tried to search for all kind of Tojeiros, but I could not find this one.

The car is from 1953 but the body is not by Maurice Gomm.

[tobytwirl]

Williams & Pritchard?

[galrot]

No.

[tobytwirl]

 This was the previous entry: Solved - NEH 1635: Tojeiro-MG HAR 500 - about 1954

Struggling with the coachbuilder - the car was probably originally built for Hamish Hunter but I can find very little about it other than it still exists and is bring restored as a Tojeiro-Bristol. I always intended to buy that 'TOJ' book!

One Tojeiro-MG was allegedly built with a Corsica body, but I an pretty sure it is not this one, so was it Panelcraft?

[Carnut]

So it's almost a repost, but not quite since you're asking who made it now..:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/solved-neh-1635-tojeiro-mg-har-500-about-1954/msg202709/#msg202709

[Allan L]

One Tojeiro-MG was allegedly built with a Corsica body, but I am pretty sure it is not this one, so was it Panelcraft?

I wonder how a Toj could have had a Corsica body as I reckon Corsica Coachworks did not make it past the war. Nick Walker says the same and also says some of their people went on to be Williams & Prichard and Panelcraft.

[galrot]

This was the previous entry: Solved - NEH 1635: Tojeiro-MG HAR 500 - about 1954

Struggling with the coachbuilder - the car was probably originally built for Hamish Hunter but I can find very little about it other than it still exists and is bring restored as a Tojeiro-Bristol. I always intended to buy that 'TOJ' book!

One Tojeiro-MG was allegedly built with a Corsica body, but I an pretty sure it is not this one, so was it Panelcraft?

You're right, this is not the one with a Corsica body and it is instead by a Panelcraft. Just give me their longer name (as there were quite a few Panelcrafts around) and the point is yours. 

So it's almost a repost, but not quite since you're asking who made it now..:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/solved-neh-1635-tojeiro-mg-har-500-about-1954/msg202709/#msg202709

Hm, weird, I could not find that car when searching. But is possible to get to know where the HAR 500 registration comes from, as I have two pictures of it registered as MAX 500? Did it receive one of the plates at a later date?

[galrot]

One Tojeiro-MG was allegedly built with a Corsica body, but I am pretty sure it is not this one, so was it Panelcraft?

I wonder how a Toj could have had a Corsica body as I reckon Corsica Coachworks did not make it past the war. Nick Walker says the same and also says some of their people went on to be Williams & Prichard and Panelcraft.

I believe it was actually built by the son of the owner of the Corsica Coachworks.

[tobytwirl]

I understand the full name is FLM Panelcraft.

The 'Corsica' body was built by one Chas Stammers who was, as mentioned, the son of Corsica's founder, and had worked and learned his trade there.

Attached is another picture of MAX 500, with its rather attractive bodywork.

[tobytwirl]

Apologies, have not mastered picture sizes yet.

[Wendax]

Fixed 

[Carnut]

MAX 500 was issued very early in 1954, so it might have been allocated when the car was new (if you knew the right guy at the issuing office he would give you a nice number, like MAX 1 or MAX 500 or something, free of charge...)

As mentioned before HAR 500 was issued in 1946 so the MAX number was probably changed for HAR 500 at a later date.

[galrot]

MAX 500 was issued very early in 1954, so it might have been allocated when the car was new (if you knew the right guy at the issuing office he would give you a nice number, like MAX 1 or MAX 500 or something, free of charge...)

As mentioned before HAR 500 was issued in 1946 so the MAX number was probably changed for HAR 500 at a later date.

Thanks.

I understand the full name is FLM Panelcraft.

No, that's the wrong Panelcraft.

[tobytwirl]

Gray and Rich Panelcraft of Hammersmith ?

[galrot]

Gray and Rich Panelcraft of Hammersmith ?

I actually think it is likely by them as they made a majority of the bodies on these early Tojeiros and it is just a typo, but the quite reputable source I have mention another Panelcraft that I have not heard of before as the constructor of the body.

To help you on the way: It had the same first letter as Gray and Rich. So I'm looking for something named "G... Panelcraft".

[tobytwirl]

I am at the end of my knowledge window. I have seen 3 variations of the name - Gary and Rich Panelcraft and Grey and Rich Panelcraft being the others. I am not sure which is the correct one. Are these the typos to which you refer. 

[galrot]

No, it simply referred to as two letter name (with one of them being G) before Panelcraft.

Like this: G* Panelcraft where you replace the * with another letter.

I personally suspect it should have said GR Panelcraft as a shorthand for Grey and Rich Panelcraft as I have never heard about this other Panelcraft and this seems to be only car attributed to them, but I don't know.

[tobytwirl]

Sorry, really do not know this other Panelcraft so I would be going down the alphabet starting with GA Panelcraft.

[galrot]

Nor do I!

The letter is around the middle of the alphabet.