1933 Crossley Torquay

Highlights
• Subject to highly extensive concours style restoration
• Reportedly over £62, 000 spent on refurbishment work
• Extremely well-presented example
• Possibly the finest surviving Torquay
• Rare and collectible model from the latter end of Crossley car
 manufacturing

The Appeal
Hailing from the golden era of British motor manufacturing, Crossley motors was quite the industrial giant. Manchester based, the marque produced everything from cars to buses to vans and made quite a name for themselves throughout the early part of the 20th century. Introduced in the early 1930s as part of the brands move towards smaller cars, the Crossley Torquay was a saloon car introduced as part of the marques 10hp series.

Stylish and well appointed, the Torquay hailed from the latter end of “Ten” manufacturing but was arguably one of the best of the series, proving to be one of the best sellers amongst buyers at the time.

The Torquay Saloon we have here today must surely be one of the finest surviving examples of the breed, having been subject to a restoration of the highest standards bringing it to a near concours factory fresh condition. A very complete 1933 model, it is reported that over £62, 000 has been spent on bringing the car to its current form, and thus it stands today as an outstanding and thoroughly rare little car.

The History and Paperwork
• First registered 05/ 05/ 1933
• Hailing from the latter end of Crossley Ten production
• Cars were numbered on the chassis from 10/ 101 - 10/ 1681, this is
 car 10/ 980
• The car was subject to a highly extensive restoration performed
  to concours style standards from 2012-2014 at a reported cost
  of over £62, 000
• The bulk of restoration work was undertaken by Gloria
 Coachworks
• Accompanied by a selection of invoices for parts bought and
 servicing work undertaken dating back well into the 20th
 century
• Invoices and work summaries for aforementioned restoration
 present
• Crossley guarantee and original instruction handbook are to
 hand
• Early MOT certificates and a classic registration book are also to
 be found in the car’s history file
• Current V5 registration booklet is with the vehicle
• Both tax and MOT exempt due to the vehicle’s age and historic
 status

The Condition
• Exceptionally well presented and likely the finest example of a
 Crossley Torquay out there
• Restored between 2012 and 2014 to a concours factory fresh
 style condition
• Finished in a charming beige brown and black two tone colour scheme
• Leather finish roof panel also finished in black
• The paint and bodywork are in excellent form, highlighting very
 little, if anything in terms of wear, blemishes or marking
• 18” spoked wheels at all four corners finished in black with
 chrome centre caps
• Rear mounted full size spare wheel
• External trim are chromework are in exceptionally fine form
 throughout with extensive rechroming work having taken place
• Glass work, lights and badging are of a similarly high quality
• The interior of the Crossley mirrors the excellent well presented
 finish of the exterior having been subject to thorough refinishing
 and reupholstering
• Simply beautiful deep brown leather used throughout on seating front and rear and the quality rear hinged door panels
• Complementing plush brown carpeting used throughout
• High quality wood finish trim, almost all of which has been re varnished or refinished as part of the restoration
• Internal gauges, switches and surrounding switchgear are in
 fine fettle and present very well with a charming honest and
 original patina to the gauges and surrounds
• Impeccable four spoke gloss black rimmed steering wheel
• Quality beige headlining which houses the trademark Torquay
 sunroof panel

The Mechanics
• Fitted with the classic 1122 cc four cylinder engine understood
 to be the Coventry Climax unit fitted as standard to the model
• This car has also been fitted with the optional preselector
 manual gearbox
• Engine and surrounding engine bay in this car naturally look to
 be in great shape having been removed from the car and
 extensively rebuilt and refurbished
• The ash frame of the car has also been repaired where required
 as stated in the restoration summary
• The body was also removed from the chassis to allow for shot
  blasting and repairs where needed
• The Crossley now fires into life with ease, idles well and though
  extensive mileage hasn't been covered by the current keeper,
  seems to drive well, with respectable performance for the era
  and good changes from the pre selector boxThe car was purchased by my Father in November 2024 who was a lifelong classic car enthusiast and owner. Unfortunately he has since passed away. It has not been driven since the purchase last year.