Lot Ended
Description
Recent
£25k overhaul; 5 new tyres; original RHD car made in Canada for the New Zealand
market; well-known on the UK show circuit; believed one of only three in the UK;
starting promptly and running well on site
This 1929 flagship DeSoto
Sports Roadster (often referred to as the ‘Espanol’ or 'Conqueror') dates from
the first year of the K Series production. The spec includes a straight-six
175ci (2800cc) 55hp flathead engine, 3-speed manual sliding gear transmission,
Lockheed hydraulic brakes, ignition lock, brake light and steering hub controls
for headlights with glass protection covers. The soft top is a good quality item
with a glass rear window.
It was originally built in Windsor, Canada in
right-hand drive form for export to Cambridge, New Zealand where it was first
registered in December 1929. The car remained in NZ until 1982 when it was
imported into the UK and gained its current DFP 460 registration.
Under the ownership of the late Colonel JD Carter in the North of
England she was known as 'Daphne' and was in daily use and a frequent entrant to
rallies including the 1997 Vintage Classic Run from Manchester to Blackpool.
Daphne also won First in Class trophies in Auto Trader American Car
events in 1997 and 1998.
Following Col. Carter’s
death in c.2006, Daphne was placed in a historic car museum until sold at
auction in 2014 to a Professor Jeffery of Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. He
treated her to a thorough recommissioning which included a full brake overhaul;
new inner and outer front wheel bearings and seals; new oil and filter; HT leads
and distributor condenser and a new 6-volt battery with snap-on terminals.
Other bills include a reconditioned clutch centre and pressure plate,
cylinder head skimming and rebuild (machine shop tested), attention to NST
armature/drive and core plug and water hose replacements.
Our
vendor acquired Daphne via Brightwells in 2021 (for considerably more than
the guide price suggested here). In late 2022 he sent her to Setford &
Company of Southampton for a thorough check-over to fix any faults. This
ultimately cost over £25,000 and included: engine tune and service; carb
rebuilt; autovac rebuilt; new water pump; recored radiator; overhaul of the
wiring system; windscreen wiper repaired; complete new exhaust system; five new
Waymaster tyres plus much else besides.
Only reluctantly for sale due to
illness, this impressive Sports Roadster comes with a good history file and a
wonderful period pichnic hamper for days out in the countryside. Given the vast
recent expenditure, it should be a fine way to get around in the long hot summer
that lies ahead of us. It has been starting promptly and running nicely on
site.
Daphne is believed to be one of only three such cars in
the UK so you are unlikely to see another for sale any time
soon.
Consigned by James Dennison - 07970 309907
- james.dennison@brightwells.com