Lot Ended
Description
Stirling Moss competition history; originally built by Cannon for
Colin Taylor; BMC A-Series engine with rare Aquaplane head; sympathetically
restored with various new parts; interesting history file; eligible for Historic
Sporting Trials events
Trialling (or
‘mud-plugging’) was the first form of motorsport to take place in Britain after
the end of the Second World War. The format started with
modified road cars but quickly progressed to purpose-built specials and the
whole scene became immensely popular involving such household names as Colin
Chapman, Sidney Allard, Graham Hill and Tony Marsh, as well as creating its own
heroes.
Amongst the many competitors of the
1950s, one name quickly came to the fore – Cannon. A Tasmanian who had settled
in the UK as a farmer, he soon got involved in the trials scene. Achieving
considerable success behind the wheel of a self-modified Cotton Special, it was
not long before he started making cars to his own design.
Assembled at the wonderfully named Crooked Chimneys in West Peckham,
Kent, the resultant Cannons were renowned for their light weight, strength and
agility. Based around a spaceframe chassis and clothed in bare aluminium, most
Cannons used Ford running gear. Available as body/chassis units or as complete
cars, they provided stiff competition to the likes of Dellow, winning the RAC
Trials Championship and scoring numerous victories in their heyday. With total
production estimated at just 100 to 120, survivors are now few and far
between.
Mike Cannon was a man with many
interests, among them being photography, and he worked closely with professional
photographer and trials enthusiast Colin Taylor, one of the leading motor sport
photographers of the time. In 1972 Cannon built the car you see here for Taylor
which he competed with from 1973 onwards.
It also
has something that other Cannons cannot claim: in 1973 a celebrity trial was
organised and Stirling Moss (no knighthood back then) drove the car partnered by
Autocar’s editor, Peter Garnier. The car comes with photographs of the occasion
including one autographed by Stirling Moss himself, plus other photos of Taylor
competing in the car.
The previous owner
discovered the car languishing in an orchard in 2000. He had intended to restore
the car but never got round to it, the Cannon subsequently appearing in a
Brightwells sale in April 2017 which is where our vendor acquired
it.
He has since sympathetically restored the
car, retaining as much originality as possible, as detailed in notes and an
album of photos on file. The aluminium body is original and retains its original
paint and period Semperit graphics. The nose cone is also the authentic
fibreglass Cannon item and retains its original badge. These items were
carefully removed and stored while the car was stripped to the bare chassis
which was shot blasted, waxoil injected and repainted.
The BMC A-Series 1,098cc engine (which has a rare aluminium Aquaplane
cylinder head) was completely rebuilt with new pistons, bearings, timing chain,
oil pump, water pump, starter ring gear etc. The Aquaplane head was also skimmed
and rebuilt with new valve springs, valve seats re-cut, valves re-faced etc.
Other new parts include: clutch assembly and
master/slave cylinders; SU carburettor; 3-branch exhaust manifold; electric fuel
pump; starter motor; alternator; electronic distributor, coil and leads;
reconditioned radiator with electric cooling fan; battery isolator switch,
starter solenoid and other switches.
The rear
axle is a BMC item with a 5·4:1 diff and a Cannon A-frame conversion; the front
axle is Cannon's own with Ford stub axles, hubs and drum brakes, the whole lot
being rebuilt with many new parts, including the cables for the fiddle brakes.
The coil-over suspension is also new with adjustable shock absorbers all round,
Hagon at the front and Protech at the rear.
The
wheels (19” front; 15” rear) have also been refurbished with new cast aluminium
centre sections and new rims as required. All six have also been fitted with new
tyres and inner tubes.
Since the
restoration was completed the Cannon has been taken to various shows, including
the Stirling Moss Tribute event at Brooklands in 2021, where it always draws
lots of attention, the car’s history being illustrated on show boards that come
with the car. It has also competed in a few trials, including one at Wotton (as
pictured).
Historic trials cars have become
hugely popular since the creation of the Historic Sporting Trials Association.
The Historic Class is often oversubscribed and a new class – Post-Historic – is
now being promoted for cars built between 1971 and 1978. This Cannon is not only
eligible but is also sure to be competitive in the right
hands.
A rare and interesting machine in its own
right, this Cannon also represents the only opportunity most of us
will ever have of buying a car with Stirling Moss competition history for
an affordable sum!
For more information
contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com