Description
The Crossley Regis was launched in 1934 and was one of the last models made by the Manchester-based Company. The Crossley Regis was manufactured between 1935 and 1937. Approximately 1050 were made. The overhead inlet side exhaust valve engines were made by Coventry Climax but carried Crossley badging.
The Regis was inspired by Scottish Crossley dealer Gordon C McAndrew who wanted an updated 10HP Crossley for his own use and commissioned C F Beauvais of coachbuilders New Avon to design the new body. This was fitted to a modified 10hp chassis. This design was then adapted by Crossley to produce the Regis Saloon with the original Beauvais design offered as the Sports Saloon. Both versions were shown at the 1934 London Motor Show. The Sports Saloon was the most popular choice with very few of the standard saloons made.
Both the four and six-cylinder models were launched simultaneously. The only external difference between the 4 and 6-cylinder models is the grille which has a cross-hatch pattern on the 4 cylinder and vertical slats on the 6 cylinder models. The Regis was available with a choice of 1, 122cc 4-cylinder or 1, 476cc 6-cylinder Coventry Climax engines allied to a Wilson pre-selector gearbox. A tiny handful of cars were also made with a larger 1, 650cc twin carb engine, not for general sale but for members of the Crossley family and friends. This particular car is one of those specials and is one of only two known to survive – indeed just 24 Regis cars are known to exist today. Originally capable of 75mph, the still car cruises at higher speeds than many of its contemporaries.
First registered to a Miss Baker of Orpington in December 1934, ABY 590 then had several further keepers. Between 1986 and 1992 the Crossley benefitted from a total nut-and-bolt rebuild that was to employ the services of three restoration firms and ultimately cost some £47, 000, as many bills, photographs and letters in the huge history file confirm. The car was then kept in Harlech, Wales, and became well known on the circuit of shows and rallies, winning ‘Best in Show' at its first public appearance at a historic vehicle rally in 1992. The next owner was Handel Kardas, editor of the Railway World and Transport Trust magazines and after his death in 2000, the car passed into the ownership of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Trust where it was to see service as a VIP car, transporting honoured visitors such as Dame Vera Lynn, who is pictured with the car in the history file.
The Crossley was sold by the Trust in 2009 after it developed an engine fault due to careless use of the pre-selector gearbox. The new owner had the engine stripped and rebuilt and the Crossley was later sold to one of our regular long term customers in Hull. The Crossley was part of a five car collection but covered very little mileage in its time in Hull. We later took the Crossley in part exchange in 2014 as part of a multi-car deal and sold the car on arrival to another long term customer based in Leeds. Similarly, the Crossley was part of a large collection of classic vehicles but this time it was to be driven on a regular basis. The Crossley then covered many miles across Yorkshire and attended Malton Show's first ever Classic Car Show, hosted by us July 2016. ABY 590 covered the 100 mile round trip with ease and has been a regular on the show scene over the past few years. Just part exchanged with us by an owner in Cumbria the Crossley Regis has now covered just 10500 miles since the major restoration was completed in 1992. In addition to a huge file of bills and photographs, the car also comes with copies of the original log book, a buff continuation log book from the 1960s, a large amount of technical literature, road tests relating to the model and a copy of an owner's manual. This rare and charming sports saloon is on the button and ready to go and is sure to create great interest at any vintage event and would be a fine addition to any collection. This is an unrepeatable opportunity and without doubt has to be one of the most desirable examples of the marque left to exist. Three decades after its original restoration whilst still very bright and presentable, there is now some subsurface micro-blistering in the paintwork. Hence this ultra-rare collectable Crossley is available for just £12, 795.
