What is that? - Number Three

Another in the series of unusual cars that you may not have seen before.  This time a racing car.

I saw this car at the Crystal Palace Sprint meeting in 2010 and immediately fell in love with it.

It was built in 1947 for the new 500cc Formula that became Formula Three in 1950. 

It has a Norton motorcycle engine and is different because of its incredibly short wheelbase of only 5 feet.

The first owner was George Hartwell who took it to second place in the Brighton Speed trials of 1947.  It did a full season of 500 racing in 1948 at places like Silverstone, Goodwood and Shelsley Walsh.  It came second to Stirling Moss at Boscombe and then went on to win its class at the Brighton Speed Trials.  George raced it until 1951.  It was seen again briefly in 1953 then was not seen again until restored by David Baldock.

It is a Monaco 500 Formula Car built by the Monaco Motor and Engineering Company.  I believe the Managing Director at the time was none other than John Wyer of Aston Martin and JWA fame.

Lots more information on the 500 Owners website.  Click here.   Then go to Marques and click on Monaco.

Fantastic little car.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.