Mystery surrounds owner of old West Berkshire car

A car restorer is trying to find out information regarding a car that was once used by Lord Iliffe's chauffer

CAN you help unravel the mystery of the oldest existing Ford 7W cars in existence which spent most of its life in West Berkshire?

A total of 41,665 Ford 7W models were built in the United Kingdom between 1937 and 1938 but very few remain.

The oldest 1937 model still in existence (pictured) spent most of its life in West Berkshire and has now been bought by Alec Edwards of Bradford, West Yorkshire, who is keen to find out about the car's early history.

This rare car was bought new from Ford agents, Pass & Co of West Street, Newbury, and was first registered on May 4 1937, a week before the coronation of King George VI.

Mr Edwards, who is restoring the vehicle to showroom condition, is hoping to find out about the car's whereabouts between May 1937 and September 1950.

He said: “Unfortunately, the name of this first owner was never recorded. Or could it have been a Pass & Co demonstrator model. What we do know is that the car spent its entire service life within the Berkshire area because it never changed taxation district.

“It is believed that the car returned to Pass & Co in the autumn of 1950 from where local motor trader Henry Wyatt, who ran the village garage in Yattendon, may have acquired it as a first car for his son who had just passed his driving test.

“From March 1953 it was owned by Lord Iliffe's chauffer, Fred Allen, father and grandfather of well-known local musicians Bernie Allen and Pete Allen respectively. The car then stayed with the Allen family in Yattendon for the next thirty years.

“Eventually the car was sold and moved a short distance to Tadley, then on to Chapel Row and Upper Basildon. It only finally strayed out of the West Berkshire area in 2006.”

Mr Edwards is now calling upon any Newbury Weekly News readers who may know of the history of this car during the thirteen-and-a-half year period between May 1937 and September 1950? He added that it may at some stage have been black rather than the present green.

If you have any information about the car contact James Williams on (01635) 564533 or email james.williams@newburynews.co.uk

Alternatively, you can contact Mr Edwards on 01274 490 770 or email Alec@zephyr2.freeserve.co.uk