Original 1934 Le Mans

[Peter McKercher]

A little colour fun with KV 9790. Looks like the young lady is most likely the fellow's daughter. It's always interesting to see what details emerge when colourizing.

[mikeC]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/singer-nine- ... :rk:1:pf:0

[darcy]

Found, thanks.

[telco.2]

Here's another photo I've just found in my collection - 1934 Alpine Trial I think.
And whilst I'm on the subject, does anyone out there know if Jackie Astbury drove a 4 seater in any competitions?

[cdk84]

I Love these vintage photographs. Thanks, Bill, so much for posting this.

Brings it so much to life for me that I find myself craning my neck to hear what the fellows are saying.

Cheers

[telco.2]

Hi folks
It's a pleasure to share these photos; but the thanks must initially go to Reggie Tongue's widow who allowed me to borrow his albums to obtain copies in the first place. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of places but this was pencilled under the photos in the album
1 & 2. 1934 Jack & Jill trial UK
3. 1934 Alpine Bolzano
4. 1934 Alpine Zagreb
enjoy!
Bill

[Peter McKercher]

Absolutely fabulous pictures Bill

[Peter McKercher]

Bill
I find this photo absolutely captivating. The cars, of course, are wonderful, but the throng of enthusiastic and curious young bystanders is delightful. I can only imagine what it would have been like to have been there back in the day. Love the Baker perusing the scene. Thank you for sharing.

[robertctayler]

Not the Promenade Percy I thought she was!
Just before Christmas I received an email from Martyn Wray to say that he had been contacted by a previous owner of my car looking for more information and would I be prepared to share some photos. He had found photos of AVM894 on the web at Stowe 2014. I have owned AVM894 since 1967 and of course got in touch with the previous owner, but I was fascinated that he had found the car on the web. So I googled AVM894 and have found a treasure trove of information including of course your blog. As a result of my research I ordered a copy of Reggie Tongue's autobiography "High Speed Diary" which contains a wonderful "blow-by-blow account of the 1934 Alpine Trial. Reggie was a bit dismissive of the Le Mans as underpowered for the task in his opinion, however frankly I consider it an amazing achievement to have driven to Nice to start the rally, then Nice to Aix, to Interlaken, to St. Moritz, to Venice, to Zagreb finishing in Munich - 12 Alpine passes up to 9,000 ft and 1,810 miles without faltering, apart from several punctures. Quite a feat which earned AVM894 a Silver Gilt Plaque. I have to admit not to having been able to get her over "The Notch" at Stowe, despite several attempts!
I just wanted to thank you for the post and for the photos of my car in 1934. Reggie picked up AVM 1 week before departing with the works team to Nice. He ordered her specifically for the Alpine Trial when DS Barnes had turned him down for a works car. It was prepared by the works as a Special Speed model with the extra spot lamp and dual water and oil temperature gauge for mountain climbing. She now has a 1935 Special Speed engine but still has the dual water and oil temperature gauge.
If you have any more photos, please do let me know.
Bob

[Phillip]

Welcome to the site Bob!

And congratulations on discovering the rich history of your Le Mans. I have to confess the AVM prefix tugged at my memory banks and now I know why. I never put two-and-two together though. Amazing!

Cheers,
Phillip

[Peter McKercher]

Congratulations Bob. I had no idea we had a pre war Singer with competition history in North America. Bet you're looking at her with a whole new set of eyes now.

[telco.2]

Yes Bob, Congratulations indeed! She looks as good as the day Reggie bought her...
kind regards
Bill

[Phillip]

AVM also went on to enjoy a stint in film and TV, featuring most notably as the car driven by Michael York in 'A Man Called Intrepid', made in 1979.

A teenager at the time, I worked on the film and looked after Bob's Singer while it was in the care of the production company. We spent many hours shooting interior dialogue scenes in the old Pathe studio in Montreal with a fake background rotating on a huge drum. Michael York and Gail Hunnicutt were in the Singer and David Niven and Peter Gilmore in a Roll-Royce.

That gig got me into the film business, as well as a side-line supplying classic cars to production companies for films. In all the years I worked in film, this was one of my favourites as I got to hang out with David Niven, who was an absolute gentleman and full of amazing stories from the golden age of film. His biographies are brilliant!

I also recall taking AVM to a TV commercial shoot, but Bob may recall better what that was for.

Quite a history!

[robertctayler]

The Eaton's Fall collection photo shoot!
Somewhere I have a picture of AVM being driven off by Michael York with Gail Honeycutt (a voluptuous lady) trying to get herself and fur coat into the passenger side- with the top up! Phil if you still have those old pics I would love another copy.

I must say it is all a bit overwhelming. Interesting analogies in that Reggie was a Mancunian and I spent 4 years in Manchester where I achieved an engineering degree. Then Reggie was in the Oxford University RAF Air Squadron from whence he gained his flying experience and I gained my wings and private pilots licence in the Manchester University RAF Air Squadron. Reggie certainly was a colourful character of his era and not only survived 30's automobile racing but also as one of the "Few" in the Battle of Britain flying Spitfires then on to becoming a Rolls Royce test pilot.

I recommend his autobiography "High Speed Diary" by Eric Dymock". I managed to get a copy over Christmas. Fascinating!

[Phillip]

LOL! Yes! There it is!

Amazing story Bob. You need to write it all up for NASOC NEWS! (Cheap hint!)

I'll dig around to see what photos I can find...