North West Casual Classics

For this month the committee have chosen a new addition John C has recently purchased: a very nice and rare 1952 Vauxhall Wyvern.

The 1952 Vauxhall Wyvern (E series) had a 1.5-litre engine producing 35 bhp, enabling a top speed of 72 mph. It featured a 4-cylinder, inline engine with 1507cc displacement. The car weighed around 1000 kg.

John C bought the Wyvern on 3rd May this year after his Corvair was written off by an uninsured driver. He had seen it advertised over the years and when it was published in a classics magazine for sale earlier this year he did some research.  He travelled down the country to see it. After looking through the thick folder on details of the restoration and being very impressed John was shown to the lock up where the car was located. When the seller opened the garage door, he decided immediately to buy it. The seller had had it and never used it or shown it and was keen to see it go to someone who would.

The car had no rust and had been restored between 2000 and 2006. There was also some history from India from a previous restoration which was to make it driveable to be brought to UK in 1992 where the original registration restored. It is believed it could have been an embassy car. The investigation into the car history is ongoing.

The car is one of only two legally registered Wyverns in the UK. There are plenty of Velox and Crestas but the Wyvern is very rare.

John C’s new car won on it’s first outing to Tatton Park in the rare and unusual category. John is currently working on the carburettor, a water leak and the ignition system – expect to see it out and about shortly. Look out for it at Walton Gardens.

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