Description
1930?s Track Car Evocation ?The Croysdill Special?
Stunning recreation of a pre-war racing car, one of only three built. Its design was influenced by the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa which are incredibly rare and sell for millions.
The ?Croysdill Special? takes its name from the gentleman who built it: William Reginald Croysdill, who led an amazing life, including racing at Brooklands pre-war in his self-built special and serving in Bomber Command, first as a navigator on Lancasters and then with 96 Squadron as a radio op on Mosquitos, once shooting down a V1 aerial bomb at such short range, that the Mosquito cockpit split, leaving the crew to parachute to safety.
After VE Day, ?Reggie? turned to motor sport, because nothing else provided the adrenalin he had experienced during the war years. He raced alongside the greats of the 1930's & 40's and enjoyed some success, mostly in self-built specials using Riley, MG and Lancia components. In 1951, at the Goodwood Members? Meeting, Croysdill, in a Lamgia (an MG-engined Lancia chassis with a Rochdale body) came an impressive third behind the winner Mike Hawthorn, at the wheel of a Riley.
Being a skilled engineer, he set up and ran a successful boat building business on the south coast and in the 1990?s he decided to build himself something along the lines of the cars he used to race, with bespoke bodywork and using contemporary, well proven and reliable underpinnings from the British motor industry. He described piloting the finished Special as ?typical of a Type 59 Bugatti?.
In 1994, aged 74, Reggie retired to Toulouse, driving to his new home in his classic racing car, accompanying him in another Croysdill Special was his friend, who was delivering it to Reggie?s wife Vera, as she was already settled over there. Reg planned for him and his wife to use the cars as their main form of transport in France.
In 2000, Reggie?s Godson, Guy (Reggie was his father?s oldest friend) visited him in Carcsonne and saw the CS languishing in their garage (no mention of the other one though) and he fell in love with the unique car at first sight. As it was clearly under utilised by that time, a deal was hammered out over a bottle or two of Corbieres and the car was driven back to the UK. Guy used it for his wedding but it was then laid up in his Mother in Law?s garage in Norfolk for some years pending full re-commissioning, This happened in 2010, following an unexpected windfall and following a significant investment the car was used as his daily transport, where it never failed to create a stir at the supermarket.
Now over thirty years old, it presents in a suitably faded/ aged condition and could easily pass for more vintage origins. Understandably, it is prodigiously fast, with it?s powerful 2 litre straight six engine mated to such lightweight, streamlined bodywork.
To be clear, as far as is known, this car contains no genuine Alfa Romeo components, as in common with the builder?s earlier production protocol, modern running gear was utilised, in this instance from a Triumph Vitesse donor, which, whilst lacking antique credentials, facilitates a much easier driving experience, as well as making maintenance and spare part availability very straightforward and affordable.
Comes with full tailored tonneau cover, spare wheel, and a great history file, covering the builder?s military and racing career. Lots of invoices, including ones for lead-free valve conversion, new fuel tank, new wire wheels, and electronic ignition etc, (they total £12, 700) Inside the cockpit there is even an old-style race helmet with leather goggles, a relic from Brooklands era perhaps.
A one-off opportunity to acquire a historic racing car with fascinating provenance at a sensible price. If you like flying, this is as close as you?re likely to get with a driving licence!
For more information on this exclusive classic, call John on above number. Car located in Lytham st Annes, Lancs, Transport arranged at £1. 70 pr/ mile (one way only charged). Usual Dealer facilities.
Note. As the car was built over 30 years ago it is eligible for registration in France and other EEC Countries, evidential paperwork can be provided.
See our website Link above for Short Vid of the Croysdill (not quite up to Cecil B. DeMille standards, but hope you get the picture)
