1947 cars optional extras, is Les Spencer on here?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 3:56 pm
A chance conversation last year brought up the subject of a 1947 14 six light saloon I used to own. The car had the twin horns and central pass light of a sports saloon and my recollection was of details with the car that it had been supplied with these from new.
This, I was told, was fanciful but in my reading through the last 57 years of Freewheels, I did discover an options list from 1939 on Page 3381 showing this very arrangement as a factory fitted option at £5.10/-, as were suitcases, dual oil gauge/thermometer, various steering wheels, knock on wheels, adjustable front arm rests etc.
I have looked for an equivalent list post war but have not come across any, so far. However, my recollection was that by the time of the late 1947 cars, the firm were really keen to sell off the stocks of bits pertaining to what were soon to be the old models and the options may have been discounted further.
In Freewheel of Oct 2018 I see on the front cover Les Spencer's 1947 14, first registered 22nd September 1947, therefore properly 'late', with the same arrangement and I am wondering whether the owner (or someone else?) knows if this was original to the car, or not.
There is also a 1946 10 being advertised, shortly to be auctioned by Cheffins, with the same arrangement. The 1939 leaflet does make it clear that the dual horns and central light was available on all models although I appreciate fully that in the 60s and 70s, a set off a scrapyard Sports Saloon would be a cheapish option.
My reason for going through these back copies was to find some history on the cars I own currently and also to find references to people I have known but not forgotten. I am hoping to maybe write a short article for Freewheel about what I have dredged up.
This, I was told, was fanciful but in my reading through the last 57 years of Freewheels, I did discover an options list from 1939 on Page 3381 showing this very arrangement as a factory fitted option at £5.10/-, as were suitcases, dual oil gauge/thermometer, various steering wheels, knock on wheels, adjustable front arm rests etc.
I have looked for an equivalent list post war but have not come across any, so far. However, my recollection was that by the time of the late 1947 cars, the firm were really keen to sell off the stocks of bits pertaining to what were soon to be the old models and the options may have been discounted further.
In Freewheel of Oct 2018 I see on the front cover Les Spencer's 1947 14, first registered 22nd September 1947, therefore properly 'late', with the same arrangement and I am wondering whether the owner (or someone else?) knows if this was original to the car, or not.
There is also a 1946 10 being advertised, shortly to be auctioned by Cheffins, with the same arrangement. The 1939 leaflet does make it clear that the dual horns and central light was available on all models although I appreciate fully that in the 60s and 70s, a set off a scrapyard Sports Saloon would be a cheapish option.
My reason for going through these back copies was to find some history on the cars I own currently and also to find references to people I have known but not forgotten. I am hoping to maybe write a short article for Freewheel about what I have dredged up.