AVM 894

[Peter McKercher]

Bob Tayler dropped over to check the progress on my '34 Le Mans. We had a great chat about that as well as his discovery that his '34 Le Mans AVM 894 was the one driven by Reggie Tongue in the '34 Alpine Trial. Here's a wonderful shot of the beginning of the event showing Bob's car in its original livery.

[cdk84]

Hi Peter,

I think you know how much I enjoy period photos whenever they surface.

Was the original photo colorized or did you add that touch? If so, was the intention to highlight the 'subject car'? Is that thought to be Reggie Tongue in the cap, wearing such a winning smile?

Thanks for posting this one.

David

[Peter McKercher]

David,
Yes that is Reggie and the hi-lited car is most likely his and the one that Bob currently owns. I say most likely, as this one is fitted with a quick release rad cap which Bob's does not have. However, these are things that change over time. Yes I did the colourization. Here is the completed image as well as AVM 894 sitting out front of what is possibly Reggie Tongue's cottage. Bob assumes the body colour was originally apple green as he found that colour on the underside of the bonnet.

[darcy]

Hi, Your colourisation is great, what tools/software are you using, I loved the way you did the spokes?

[Peter McKercher]

Thanks Darcy. Using Photoshop.

[telco.2]

Hi folks,
That's definitely the car outside Reggie's home - when the car was brand new. The photo was from one of Reggie's original photo albums and was labelled as such. Reggie's widow very kindly loaned me the albums so I could copy the Singer photos.
kind regards to all
Bill

[Peter McKercher]

Thanks Bill. Yes, Bob has Reggie's book with that shot in it. What he is not sure about is whether the car in the other photo is the one that he now owns. It seems likely, but the registration plate is not visible.

[telco.2]

Hi Peter,
As I have a pretty large enlargement of the original, the car in the second photo looks more like a KV reg to me, but as you say it's difficult to be sure
Do you know anything about the OD reg Singer 9 sports I mentioned on another post?
regards Bill

[Peter McKercher]

Sorry Bill, I don't.

[robertctayler]

Just a follow up to your post Peter, I believe the Alpine Trial competitors all had to have the radiator caps sealed to ensure coolant was not added, which may explain that AVM had to have the sealable cap for the competition. Later photos of the car in the Inter University trials show AVM's radiator with a regular cap. As you suggest, probably replaced by Reggie as more stylish! Bob

[Peter McKercher]

Thanks Bob. Makes sense and certainly interesting to know about the rules. Here's another shot of yours and mine together. A pretty pair. Bookend '34s.