A Vale Special, previously belonging to Allan Gaspar, in the process of being restored by Dave Cox in 2005.
The Vale Motor Company was established in 1931 by Pownoll Pellew (later 9th Viscount Exmouth) as a 'gentleman's hobby' in a rented workshop behind The Warringtonpub in Maida Vale.[4] The project was initially funded by Pellew (helped by his mother and his actress girlfriend Kay Walsh) and his two business partners Allan Gaspar (with help from his bank manager father), and Robert Owen Wilcoxon[5][6] (thanks to early film proceeds of his film actor brother Henry Wilcoxon).[7] It was Henry who designed the striking Vale Motor Co. badge.[8]
The cars were initially handmade and based on Triumph Motor Company components. What made the car 'special' was its low-slung chassis, considered a remedy to the poor road-holding of small sports cars.[9] The first cars used the 832 cc side-valve engine from the Triumph Super 7 fitted to an 84-inch wheelbase chassis bought in from Rubery Owen, semi-elliptic leaf springs all round, and the hydraulic brakes and axles from the Triumph.[10] The top speed was only 65 mph (105 km/h),[11] which was too slow for serious sporting events: so from 1933 a 1098 cc, overhead-inlet, side-exhaust, four-cylinder, Coventry Climax engine was offered, followed in 1934 by the 1476 cc six-cylinder version of the same engine.
Most of the cars had lightweight two-seater open bodies with fold-flat windscreens, but a four-seat version on a long-wheelbase chassis, called the 'Tourette', was available with the larger-engined versions.[12]
In 1933 a new model, the Vale 'Vixen', was proposed with a larger engine size, longer 102 inch wheelbase on a stronger chassis, a redesigned steering system and other improvements. The blueprint exists, but a complete car was never built.[13]
Around 55-60 cars had been built by the company when production stopped in 1935, though some have suggested that there were more, up to 80.[14]
Dave Cox: Ave Atque Vale - the story of the Vale Special
Hon P. I. E. Pellew, 9th Viscount Exmouth - The history of the Vale Special.
Robert Owen Wilcoxon - an account of his last day at Dunkirk.
December 03, 2023
vale, special, sometimes, just, vale, british, sports, made, between, 1932, 1935, maida, vale, london, overviewmanufacturervale, engineering, companyproduction1932, 1935approx, madedesignerp, pellew, chief, mortimer, assistant, body, chassisbody, styletwo, sea. The Vale Special sometimes just Vale was a British sports car made between 1932 and 1935 in Maida Vale London 3 Vale SpecialOverviewManufacturerVale Engineering CompanyProduction1932 1935approx 100 madeDesignerP I E Pellew chief S F Mortimer assistant Body and chassisBody styletwo seat tourerfour seat tourer Tourette PowertrainEngineTriumph 832 ccI4Coventry Climax 1098 cc I4Coventry Climax 1476 cc I6Transmission4 speed manualDimensionsWheelbase84 or 102 inches 2134 or 2590 mm 1 Length132 inches 3352 mm 2 Width55 inches 1397 mm 1 ChronologyPredecessornoneSuccessornone Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp A Vale Special previously belonging to Allan Gaspar in the process of being restored by Dave Cox in 2005 The Vale Motor Company was established in 1931 by Pownoll Pellew later 9th Viscount Exmouth as a gentleman s hobby in a rented workshop behind The Warrington pub in Maida Vale 4 The project was initially funded by Pellew helped by his mother and his actress girlfriend Kay Walsh and his two business partners Allan Gaspar with help from his bank manager father and Robert Owen Wilcoxon 5 6 thanks to early film proceeds of his film actor brother Henry Wilcoxon 7 It was Henry who designed the striking Vale Motor Co badge 8 The cars were initially handmade and based on Triumph Motor Company components What made the car special was its low slung chassis considered a remedy to the poor road holding of small sports cars 9 The first cars used the 832 cc side valve engine from the Triumph Super 7 fitted to an 84 inch wheelbase chassis bought in from Rubery Owen semi elliptic leaf springs all round and the hydraulic brakes and axles from the Triumph 10 The top speed was only 65 mph 105 km h 11 which was too slow for serious sporting events so from 1933 a 1098 cc overhead inlet side exhaust four cylinder Coventry Climax engine was offered followed in 1934 by the 1476 cc six cylinder version of the same engine Most of the cars had lightweight two seater open bodies with fold flat windscreens but a four seat version on a long wheelbase chassis called the Tourette was available with the larger engined versions 12 In 1933 a new model the Vale Vixen was proposed with a larger engine size longer 102 inch wheelbase on a stronger chassis a redesigned steering system and other improvements The blueprint exists but a complete car was never built 13 Around 55 60 cars had been built by the company when production stopped in 1935 though some have suggested that there were more up to 80 14 See also editList of car manufacturers of the United KingdomReferences edit a b Culshaw Horrobin 1974 Complete Catalogue of British Cars London Macmillan ISBN 0 333 16689 2 Dave Cox Ave Atque Vale the story of the Vale Special p 63 Dave Cox Ave Atque Vale the story of the Vale Special Cox p 18 Robert Owen Wilcoxon was killed at the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 Cox p 156 Cox p 26 Cox p 27 Cox p 11 Cox p 30 p 59 Cox p 63 Cox p 42 Cox pp 59 61 Cox p 147 Bibliography edit Cox Dave 2006 Ave Atque Vale the story of the Vale Special Berkshire Martin Publications ISBN 0 9553010 0 9 Culshaw Horrobin 1974 Complete Catalogue of British Cars London Macmillan ISBN 0 333 16689 2 Georgano N 2000 Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile London HMSO ISBN 1 57958 293 1 External links editDave Cox Ave Atque Vale the story of the Vale Special Hon P I E Pellew 9th Viscount Exmouth The history of the Vale Special Robert Owen Wilcoxon an account of his last day at Dunkirk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vale Special amp oldid 1051546389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
