1931 Sentinel Steam Bus DG6P "Elizabeth"

Sentinel Steam Bus "Elizabeth" in service in Whitby in June 2010.

Sentinel Waggon Works, Shrewsbury, England.  Sentinel was a producer of steam vehicles from 1906 until the fifties.  Elizabeth was built in 1931 in the Shrewsbury factory of Sentinel as a Super-Sentinel flatbed lorry No.8590.  She is powered by a 2 cylinder double acting steam engine driving the rear wheels through a 2 speed gearbox and chain drive.   There is a coal powered vertical boiler in the cab.  It is rather exciting to see the flames rising in the cab as the bus goes along the road.  After nearly been scrapped in the sixties, she was converted into a steam bus and eventually authorised to carry fare paying passengers.  From 2006 to 2014 Elizabeth operated a steam service in Whitby, Yorkshire.   She has been moved to Weston-super-Mare in Southern England in 2015 where she has been rebuilt and refurbished.  She was recently introduced to the public again.  Long may she continue giving rides as the only steam powered bus in Europe to transport fare paying passengers.  She carries up to 30 passengers.  If you want a ride visit the web site of Crosville Motor Services the operator.

Austin Seven Specials

Richard Wyatt, 1931 Austin Seven Special, Course de Cote d'Etretat-Bénouville 2016.

Pour plus de photos de la Course de Cote d'Etretat-Bénouville, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the 2016 Etretat speed hill climb, click in the link abobe.

Austin Seven Specials, UK.  The Austin Seven was a reasonably priced car produced from 1922 to 1939.  It had a 750cc engine.  Partly because it was a cheap available car pre-war and partly because of the 750 Motor Club after the second World War, many Austin Seven Special have been built.  Above is a single seater version raced regularly by Richard Wyatt.  Below is a Pigsty Special also based on the Austin 7.

Paul Geering, Austin Seven Pigsty Special, Course de Cote d'etretat-Benouville 2016.

1931 MG Midget Montlhéry C-Type

Chris Cadman, 1931 MG Montlhéry, Course de Cote d'Etretat-Bénouville VHC 2016.

Pour plus de photos de la Course de Cote d'Etretat-Bénouville, suivez ce lien.

For more photos of the old cars at the Etretat speed hill climb, click on the link above.

MG, Abingdon, England.  In February 1931 George Eyston achieved over 100mph at Montlhéry in a modified MG Midget.  This led to the revised 2 seater C type Midget being known as the "Montlhéry".   The car had a 750cc supercharged engine and even the road car could achieve 90mph. 0-60mph was in about 20 seconds which was good for the era in a car of this capacity.  In 1931 this car would cost you £575.  It was wonderful little sports car of the early thirties. They were entered in many races and won a number of them such as the 1931 RAC Tourist Trophy driven by Norman Black.  They were raced at Le Mans and Brooklands as well. Great to see one today.