PREVIEW - Scammells May Auction

Words: Mike Ryan

Photos: Scammells Motoring & Collectables

Following their Classic & Muscle Car Auction in April, Scammells Auctions have another important auction coming up in May, made up of a selection of vehicles to suit the more discerning automotive enthusiast, including rare and valuable restored examples of the Vauxhall and Isotta Fraschini marque, as well as vintage vehicle projects.

If you’ve ever witnessed or participated in the Bay to Birdwood Run, you’ll know that South Australia has a diverse range of vintage and veteran vehicles, many in either fully restored or remarkably well-preserved original condition, and what’s on offer in ‘The Vinall & Sanders Collection’ auction that’ll be conducted by Scammells this coming 20 May is evidence of that.

Leading the way are an Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 and Vauxhall 30/98, both of which are in restored condition. A 1922 Delage, 1955 Bentley, an Austin 7 racer and two C1920s Minerva projects are also on offer.

1922 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8

Founded in Milan by Cesare Isotta and the Fraschini brothers (Vincenzo, Antonio and Oreste) in 1900, Isotta Fraschini’s first automotive offering was a humble single-cylinder 5hp model, but they soon broadened their range and made a name for themselves in racing, too, including a victory in the Targa Florio and runner-up finish in the Vanderbilt Cup, while the marque’s entry in the early days of the Indianapolis 500 is alleged to have included Enzo Ferrari in the driving roster.

After World War I, Isotta Fraschini repositioned themselves as a premium marque - Italy’s Rolls-Royce – and added to innovations they’d already pioneered, like four-wheel brakes, with the first straight eight engine to be offered in a regular production model.

That model, the ‘Tipo 8’ (Type 8), debuted in 1919 and would be the sole model Isotta Fraschini offered from that point, remaining in production until 1934, initially with a 5.9-litre straight eight, then an enlarged 7.4-litre version from 1924, along with other additions and improvements, defined by 'Tipo 8A' and 'Tipo 8B' monikers.

Like many of their contemporaries, Isotta Fraschini only offered cars as running chassis during this period, with a variety of premium local carrozzeria adding the bodywork, mainly Castagna and Sala in Italy, but with coachbuilders from Europe, the UK and even the US bodying these premium automobiles, too.

The 1922 example going to auction with Scammells comes from the first generation (chassis #237) with the 5.9-litre engine, so is almost certainly one of the handful of these premium cars known to be sold new in Australia in the early 1920s.

This car’s earliest history is unknown, but it has resided in South Australia for around 90 years, as Edwin ‘Ed’ Sanders, the late father of the vendor, recalls seeing it in his neighbourhood when he was a teenager in the 1930s.

Back then, Tipo 8 #237 was in regular use by its owner, but by the time it passed to a gentleman named Jack Watts in 1952, the car was in need of refurbishment, including repairing a damaged rear guard following an incident with a tram in Melbourne.

In a far cry from its original purpose, Watts used the car to transport vegetables, then started disassembling it with a view to restoration.

Sanders had been interested in buying the car since he first saw it, but it wasn’t until 1963 that Watts agreed to sell. By then, #237 was in pieces and Sanders made multiple trips to Watts to find stashed away parts that would enable him to complete the car’s running gear and body. The only part found to be missing after countless trips was the rear guard damaged in the tram incident, so Sanders made a replacement himself, using a wooden buck and the other guard as a template.

After a restoration that took years, Sanders owned the car for a further 59 years, taking it on leisurely drives through the Adelaide Hills when he wasn’t enjoying his Norton motorcycles as a member of the Veteran & Vintage Motorcycle Club of South Australia.

While the Isotta hasn’t run for around five years, it would only require light recommissioning by the next owner to be enjoyed again.

With its flamboyant radiator badge, distinctive crested guards and bright red touring body, this very rare car would make for an impressive sight at any vintage and veteran automotbile gathering, as well as a pleasurable drive for events like the Bay to Birdwood Run.

1925 Vauxhall 30/98

Back when Vauxhall was a premium sporting marque, not mass-market transportation, the ‘30/98’ model was the ultimate expression of that image, with performance to match or better anything that Bentley, Sunbeam or Alvis could offer in period - and priced accordingly.

The 30/98 was born from Vauxhall’s successes in reliability trials in 1908 and was always an elite model for the sporting motorist, with just under 600 chassis produced between 1913 and 1927.

The example to be auctioned by Scammells comes from the estate of David and Laurie Vinall of South Australia, but this car’s original owner was the impressively named Thomas Lloyd Forster Rutledge of New South Wales.

A former ANZAC who was wounded at Gallipoli and would later serve as a politician in the NSW parliament, Rutledge still held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel when he purchased a 30/98, chassis #OE238, direct from Vauxhall in Luton, England, on 26 May, 1925.

Being from a wealthy landowning family, Rutledge was one of the few back then who could afford such a car, which in bare chassis form cost around £1,000, with a further £300 for the factory Velox body Rutledge ordered for #OE238, while a new Austin Seven could be had for approximately £175.

As a 1925 model, Rutledge’s 30/98 had the overhead valve (instead of side valve) 4.25-litre four-cylinder engine that was introduced in 1922, matched to a four-speed manual gearbox; a combination that, depending on the body, could propel the car to speeds of up to 135km/h (85mph).

How often Rutledge drove #OE238 in England before shipping it to Australia is unknown, as is the mileage he covered here, but what is known is that he sold the car in the 1940s, after which it passed through three other owners before Laurie Vinall acquired it in 1965.

Despite multiple owners and competition use (most likely sprints or hillclimbs), what was then a 40-year-old car was still in good condition - good enough for Vinall to actually drive it home to Adelaide from Sydney. Similarly long drives followed, including to Albury and later Brisbane for rallies.

Changes and improvements made during Laurie Vinall’s ownership included an engine overhaul, installation of a lighter flywheel and a chassis repaint.

With Laurie’s passing in 1985, #OE238 went to his son David, who has maintained it in the same condition and appearance since, including the polished bare metal touring body with red guards, 23-inch wheels and burgundy leather interior, so it comes to the Scammells auction ready to enjoy immediately, with a range of spare parts to be included with the sale.

Other Lots

From the same family as the Isotta Fraschini, three other vintage cars consigned for this auction include a pair of C1920s Minervas, both of which are rolling chassis and would require a full restoration.

The fourth car from the Sanders estate is a 1922 Delage, which was fitted with a distinctive dual cowl tourer body by ‘The Sphinx’ coachworks of Millswood, South Australia, before it was sold to a grocer in Mallala, SA, for what was a substantial £800.

By the time its third owner acquired it in 1958, the Delage had depreciated to the point it could be had for just £60. That third owner was Edward Haywood of John Martin’s department store fame, who loaned the car to a friend in the early 1960s, with whom it deteriorated after years of outside storage.

The Delage's next owner, Tom Beare, was given the car for free, on the condition he restore it, which Beare duly did before it went to Victoria with a new owner in 1993.

The Delage’s next owner had a new petrol tank fabricated after acquiring it in 1997, along with other servicing work, before it came into Sanders’ hands in 1999.

Sanders part-exchanged his C1930s Delage D6-11 for the 1923 tourer, so was familiar with some elements of Delage mechanicals; enough to know the engine block needed replacement in 2004. Later, the clutch was rebuilt with new friction discs, but was switched back to the original discs and linings for better drivability.

The final vehicles of interest in this special auction are a 1955 Bentley S1 saloon and an Austin 7 with a Meteor Sports body.

May Auction

Scheduled for Saturday, 20 May (selling from 10:00AM SA time in-house and online), the vehicles in The Vinall & Sanders Collection auction are sure to attract national – and even international – interest. Pre-bids can be lodged now.

To register for bidding, see more photos and details on every lot in this auction, go to: scammellauctions.com.au