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PreWarMG
Australia
427 Posts |
 Posted - 09/02/2020 : 02:07:39
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So is this an Allingham Airline ?.
We are here for a good time, not a long time !. |
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PreWarMG
Australia
427 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 02:11:19
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While this is thought to be NA0540 when in New Zealand.
We are here for a good time, not a long time !. |
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KevinA
New Zealand
671 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 06:02:59
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Hi Tony
I'm confused by your logic. It's clear NA0540 has a different body to the rest (that has been known for many years) but I don't see why you deduce it was built by Martin & King rather than any one of a number of coachbuilders in Aussie, NZ or the UK. Is there more that you've not yet told us? |
Edited by - KevinA on 09/02/2020 06:14:41 |
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PreWarMG
Australia
427 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 07:15:30
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The two photos are not related to the Martin & King research on NA0540, other than to demonstrate that there are more mysteries to be solved than answers.
It's early days to jump to any conclusions. The unknown Airline with the split rear window appears to be a TA or TB, not an N-Type.
I posted the photos to see if anyone could offer any further information on either car. Nothing more. No one seems to know where the "Whittingham & Mitchell" story originated as far as I am aware.
We are here for a good time, not a long time !. |
Edited by - PreWarMG on 09/02/2020 07:17:22 |
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KevinA
New Zealand
671 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 08:08:19
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Thanks Tony
Ted was always elusive as to his logic on this. He correctly identified the differences but the rest seemed to rely on word of mouth rather than hard evidence. I prefer to deal with documented facts.
Kevin |
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PreWarMG
Australia
427 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2020 : 08:24:18
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Thanks Kevin,
I experienced similar lack of evidence in tracking down the truth behind the 2nd TA Airline Coupe many years ago, but if you keep prodding the truth often surfaces.
The latest iteration of the Original T-Series book has now addressed the issue.
We are here for a good time, not a long time !. |
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MG Perth
Australia
37 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2020 : 01:14:22
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An interesting part of Henry Allingham's career was his interest in designing car door presssings which could be applied to any number of body designs, thereby reducing costs. The pressings could be sold to any coach builder who wanted a contemporary door design. His background was as a production engineer so he was always looking at ways of reducing the cost of production. I look at those door skins and try to see another mid-1930s car in them.
Graeme |
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mgtommm
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2020 : 15:34:19
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I'd better join in on this conversation before it's too late!!
For those not in the Airline loop, NA0540 is being rebuilt as an Airline Coupè again and below pic was taken last week. It's a tough project but very rewarding. It will be finished in its original duo-red with dark red interior. Since all of the original Airline was destroyed nearly 70 years ago, we are restoring to the more common Airline style, but still an Airline Coupè!! Tommm in Ohio
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Westbury
United Kingdom
2010 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2020 : 15:52:36
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Hello, Tom.
Very satisfying to see the N type being restored to it’s original form, thanks for posting the picture.
I once had one of the Replica Airline bodies which was one of a small batch made many years ago but I can’t remember who made them, you may know as I vaguely remember speaking to you about it. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a spare N type to put the body on at the time and sold it to a chap in Holland.
I would love one of these cars but hey, we can’t have everything !!
Regards,
Chris
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mgtommm
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2020 : 17:22:42
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[quote]Originally posted by Westbury
Hello, Tom.
"Very satisfying to see the N type being restored to it’s original form, thanks for posting the picture.
I once had one of the Replica Airline bodies which was one of a small batch made many years ago but I can’t remember who made them, you may know as I vaguely remember speaking to you it."
Hi Chris, yes those bodies, I believe, unfortunately, were steel tube framed rather than ash. Further, the differences between P-Type and N-Type body tubs turned out to be far greater than I knew at the time. N tubs are the same from the belt line up, but 3" wider at the bottom and about 3" taller (under the doors).
To me they make a much more proportional looking car than P-Types.
This tub, built in England and shipped to me, had to be completely stripped of the aluminum skin to correct 12 major problems in the wood frame.
BTW, all this NA0540 information is interesting (and thanks to all contributors) but I'd sure love to see some hard evidence at some point re: its mysterious origins! I suspect if there's any more information to be gleaned it would originate from OZ or NZ.
tommm in mild, sunny Ohio
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LewPalmer
USA
3243 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2020 : 19:26:28
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Tom,
Are you sure that the firewall was squared off at the top like your photo shows? Every one I've seen follows the lines of the standard bodied firewall, although on at least the P-types, an extended weather seal channel with wooden packing pieces were added to raise the height to gain room to effectively seal under the taller bonnet.
Lew Palmer
PA1169, 2M1281 |
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mgtommm
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2020 : 21:35:20
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quote:
Originally posted by LewPalmer
Tom,
Are you sure that the firewall was squared off at the top like your photo shows? Every one I've seen follows the lines of the standard bodied firewall, although on at least the P-types, an extended weather seal channel with wooden packing pieces were added to raise the height to gain room to effectively seal under the taller bonnet.
Lew Palmer
PA1169, 2M1281
Hi Lew,
No, it is not squared off like pic shows. It starts out with this standard N firewall, though, then the outer aluminum pieces are riveted on to create the "seal". While I have the new bonnet panels, I have not started to fit them up yet and will wait till I do to finesse the firewall.
tommm |
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MG Perth
Australia
37 Posts |
Posted - 13/02/2020 : 00:31:37
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Hi Tony
I have been pondering over who could have built the Airline body of this car in Australia. It has similarities with this Bentley 3.5L body by Diskon and Molyneaux of Melbourne, Victoria. This car was built for the Australian Governor General Lord Casey and was the only Bentley with this body. Yes, four doors rather than two, a bigger car etc etc but it has a family resemblance.
I'm still intrigued as to how the Whittingham and Mitchel story began. Phil Bayne-Powell is not sure where the story came from either.
Graeme
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PreWarMG
Australia
427 Posts |
Posted - 13/02/2020 : 02:29:43
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Hi Graeme,
I think there is more in common with this car - a Wolseley Hornet Airline Coupe built in Sydney. They both have the split rear window, and similar coachlines. The Oz TA Airline was also known to have originated in the Sydney area, not Melbourne, so I suggest it might be a product of Coachcraft Bodies of Sydney. I will send you an email of further research.
We are here for a good time, not a long time !. |
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KevinA
New Zealand
671 Posts |
Posted - 13/02/2020 : 03:17:57
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| At the risk of asking a very obvious question, what do the dispatch record/build documentation file say for NA540? Assuming they still exist of course. |
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